Page 16 of Mortal Mate (Shadow Shifter)

“As is your thirst for power. I’m curious. How did you get Steele to agree to this?”

Maddock’s gaze darted to Dannika. “She will become Colton’s mate and unify the clans.”

Dannika launched at Maddock with glowing green eyes. Raine grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back. Black mist rolled off her skin. Her claws extended from her knuckles.

Her willingness to oppose Maddock never ceased to amaze him. She didn’t understand the power of the alpha. Not that she shouldn’t oppose him; she shouldn’t be able to. Her demon should acknowledge its leader, but she ignored the natural order at every turn.

“You prick! I’m not some trophy you can pass off when you feel like it,” she snapped.

Raine pulled her against his body. “That’s never going to happen. She is mine.”

Colton hissed at his father. “Why would you do this? I had asked Dannika to reconsider the trials, but I would never force her to mate me.”

Steele held up his hand. “I made the sacrifice so your children can shift into both species. This is an opportunity unlike any other. Our clan members will understand.”

Dannika attempted to grab Steele. “I’m not some piece of meat. None of you will decide who I have sex with, let alone if I have children.”

“It’s not happening. I don’t care what Maddock or Steele says. This goes against everything we believe in,” Raine said.

Colton nodded. “I agree with Raine. You can’t force Dannika to choose a cougar.”

Steele grabbed his son’s arm. “You don’t understand. There’s something about her. It’s more than her just being a female. We have to protect her.”

Colton growled at his father. “I agree, but this isn’t how we do it. Denouncing her rights regardless of which clan she is in is a betrayal of everything our forefathers believed. They died for their mates. They didn’t abuse them. They would never have condoned this.”

Maddock looked away. “Your reference to the past isn’t relevant. Our shifter forefathers were not on the brink of a reaper war.”

Raine shook his head. “If you disregard our core values, then we are no better than the reapers we fight. You knew I wouldn’t agree to this.”

Maddock smirked. “True, but you will be the next overlord for the combined clans. I suggest you act like it. I warned you there would be a sacrifice. This is it. “

Raine’s form bulked out as his alpha threatened to emerge. Black smoke rolled off him in waves, licking the air above his head. The burn of betrayal would be returned with a flurry of violence. “I will never give her up.”

Maddock nodded. “I assumed you would need time to adjust.”

Raine looked down at Dannika’s angry eyes. As soon as they met his, they filled with compassion. With their shadows touching, she felt his betrayal. His anger. His need to protect her.

There would be no clan unification. There would be blood and violence.

He ran a hand down her back. “I will not adjust. I will join Ryder’s clan, the bear clan, until I establish my own, and I will take Dannika with me. Many of the current wolf clan members will join me. This isn’t the beginning of clan unification—it’s the end of the wolf clan as we know it.”

“You are a true alpha, Raine,” Maddock said. “I did not expect your compliance, but even an alpha must do what’s best for his clan. Of course, I can’t have you running off, and I don’t need Ryder complicating this transition.”

Raine’s chest rumbled with the displeasure of his alpha. “I wasn’t giving you a choice. I’m leaving, and I’m taking Dannika with me.”

Maddock motioned with two fingers. “I’m sure you think so.”

Shadow wrapped fingers reached inside his back, clutching his heart. He had never liked Ruger, but Raine had never believed Ruger would use his shadow power against one of his own. Raine’s shadow warrior shouted out in contempt, as Ruger paralyzed it within Raine’s body, unable to come to its host’s defense.

His human heart fluttered before it stopped beating.

CHAPTER7

The birds scattered from the trees when Dannika screamed. The wind ceased as if holding its breath. Betrayal echoed in the breeze as Raine crumpled to the ground.

Behind him, Ruger retracted his hand. The smoky fingers coalesced into a human hand as he backed away. Ruger’s eyes blazed with triumph and hatred as they focused on Dannika. Contempt laced his words as he spoke. “I warned him that no good would come from his fascination with you.”

Dannika knelt beside Raine and shook his shoulder. No breath left his body. He was like a wooden statue: smooth to the touch, but devoid of life.

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