The front door opened, and Zyga and Jeb filed in, followed by the Gray Oaks' beta from yesterday, who had introduced himself as Eric.
From the dark looks and stern gazes leveled at him, they must have overheard the argument in the kitchen. The tension that wafted in after the trio was thicker than resin. Jan could almost slice through with his nails.
Though Ivan still stood on the other side of the room, the three faced Jan
at the counter. No one took a seat. Their rigid stances and tense jaws indicated they were spoiling for a fight.
Jan sighed, fast becoming weary of dealing with Ethan's truculent pack. He straightened, squaring his shoulders against the trio, and waited for them to make the first move. The already small living area suddenly felt too cozy for the vampires and the werewolves they faced.
"Gentlemen," Ivan said, his voice sharp to penetrate the stalemate. "We have matters to talk about."
He only got a glance from the three wolves before they went back to glaring at Jan.
A vein ticked in Ivan's jaw, then he moved over to stand in the middle of the standoff, forcing everyone's eyes onto him. "As we discussed yesterday, the people from the European Council would have landed by now. I haven't contacted my men about their whereabouts yet. But the offer to tucked Ethan away at one of our secure facilities stands."
Zyga shook his head. "A wolf without a pack is a dead wolf. Even if you keep him safe, the solitude alone will drive him insane. Besides, we protect our own," he added, glaring at Jan.
"I'm not leaving Ethan behind," Jan stated with finality.
Zyga scoffed. "Funny... seeing you all protective now when you're the one hurting him the most!"
Jan had guessed right. The snooping wretches, they must have had their ears to the walls.
Unable to come up with any suitable reply, Jan clenched his teeth and swallowed his words.
"What my brother meant is," Ivan intervened, "even though your numbers are formidable, the Canadian territory is vast. It'll be a challenge to watch him and the rest of your lands 24/7. You'll need as much help as you can get."
"Oui, one of the men they sent is a Chasseur de Loup, the council's assassins, trained specially to hunt wolves. I met him once during the French Revolution. Let's just say he was responsible for several heads present at the guillotine." Louie added.
"You think we can get Alpha Ryden to loan us a couple of vanguards?" Eric asked the old tracker.
"Doubt it. He wants Ethan's head almost as much as he wants this one dead." Zyga bobbed his head in Jan's direction.
Jan had previously worried that the alpha's order to catch him may have been orchestrated by more nefarious minds hiding behind him. But he was getting the impression that Ryden was working based on nothing but his own fury. "If he wants us so bad, I don't mind paying him another visit with Ethan."
A dark look crossed Zyga's features. "And you think killing Ryden will solve everything?"
Jan shrugged. "It'll solve at least one problem. Or two."
"No, it doesn't. It'll create a hundred more. We live in a hierarchical and honor-based system. If Ethan kills Ryden, he'll have to take on the role of alpha."
Louie's forehead furrowed in confusion. "And isn't that good? From what I hear, he was next in line for the role before your Ryden intervened."
Jeb sneered at the French vampire's response, his lip curling upwards to expose a canine tooth that had yet to fully retract.
YOU ARE READING
Blooded Mate
Fantasy[[MATURE CONTENT]] Pack, family, mate. Loyalty, respect, honor. These are the words that form the foundation of the wolf society. At six years old, Ethan had to choose between his Alpha title and his survival on the night of his father's death. As a...
