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“That’s not what I’m suggesting,” he interrupts, holding up his hands like he’s trying to placate a cornered animal. “I only mean that, as long as Samson lives, I can’t leave you unprotected here. Now that I know you’re within his striking distance. Now that…now that word is most certainly going to spread about what you are to me.”

I scoff. “I’m not anything to you.”

Something strange flickers in his gaze. I don’t have a name for it, but it almost looks like pain. Or guilt. Regret, perhaps?

Probably none of the above.

“At the very least, you’re the mother of the next Greenbriar heir.”

“Thanks for reducing me to the function my womb has performed for your almighty pack.”

Rowan sighs. “Our pack.”

“I’m not—”

“The point is,” he continues, blasting through my protest. “You can’t get rid of me, so don’t bother trying. I have to head back home for a day or so, but I’ll be back. I promise you that. In the meantime, be on your guard. Not just for Noah’s sake, but because…”

When he trails off, I wonder what could have possibly been the intended end of that sentence. Because he doesn’t want me to get hurt? Because he cares about me? I can’t bring myself to believe it. The only reason he’d want to keep me safe is because it would cause him physical pain if I died. The Mating bond would sever once and for all, and he’d spend the rest of his life feeling incomplete.

He’s protecting himself by protecting me. That’s all.

“Fine,” I tell him, wrenching open the driver’s side door. “Don’t worry about it, Rowan. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

Without waiting for his response, I slam the door shut.

Chapter 10

Rowan

After escorting Alina and Noah home by following at a respectful distance in my truck, I head back to Greenbriar territory, where I have to step right into an important pack meeting.

“It’s true, Alpha,” reports Lillian, one of my father’s Betas. “The Blackburns appear to be pushing into the Whiterose borders in the west, taking advantage of their perceived weakness. The western villages are where many of their older folks live. The Whiteroses, I mean.”

Lillian looks worse for wear. She’s just returned from a scouting mission, and it’s clear that she hastily chucked on some clothes after shifting back into her human form without bothering to clean the mud and stray foliage out of her fur.

I glance at my father now. He’s frowning deeply. I’m trying not to fidget. My skin feels warm and itchy, like I’m wearing a wool sweatsuit. The confirmation of Blackburn aggression makes me want to shift and run at top speed to Alina.

For now, however, I need to be here.

“Any signs of violence?” my father asks.

Lillian cringes. “No, sir, but only because it seems that violencehasn’t been necessary. Given how, uh, mature the Whiteroses are, it looks like they have simply been doing their best not to get in the way.”

“So, the old farts are clearing a path directly to the heart of their territory,” mutters Cal.

“Quiet,” I grumble at him, even though I was thinking the same thing.

Cal presses his lips together.

My father sighs. “It’s unfortunate. It’s happened throughout our history, of course. Packs struggle to reproduce enough younglings. Perhaps due to too many males. Or not enough males. A lack of urgency, on occasion. Sicknesses, plagues, whatever. Before they know it, the majority of the pack is walking boldly toward death. I think Henry is aware that this problem hangs over his pack, but I’m not certain he knows what to do about it.”

“He’s going to let the Blackburns take over their territory if he doesn’t figure it out,” I comment. “Either that, or he’s going to let us fight the battle for him.”

My father frowns, but he doesn’t disagree.

Just like that, I can see it happening. The Blackburns sweeping in, eating up territory where the Whiteroses don’t have the numbers or the strength to prevent it. That’s why Samson has been biding his time for years, I’m sure. He’s been waiting for Henry to get even older, for his Betas to age past their prime. He’s been playing the long game.

I need to get Alina and Noah out of there.