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“I never would,” I said, interrupting Cassidy before she could keep chewing me out. “I’m going to tell him I’ll trade him the role of clan alpha in exchange for Harley.”

Cassidy’s dark eyes narrowed. “Okay… Then what?”

At least she was listening to me now. That was a good sign. “Then, once he’s accepted the trade and we have Harley, I’ll issue a challenge on the spot, kill him, and take the clan back.”

This was the best plan I had. It’d keep Harley and Dylan safe, and I’d remove the threat of Sean forever. Giving up the clan, even for a moment, wasn’t exactlyideal,but it was what I had to do.

“What if you lose the challenge?” Cassidy asked.

“He won’t,” Hawk said.

“You can’t guarantee that,” she said.

“We can,” Striker said. “There’s no question.”

“He’s whooped my ass more than once,” Hawk said, “and that wasn’t even a real fight.”

Cassidy didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “And how do you know he’s going to accept the challenge? What if he says ‘screw you, the clan’s mine’?”

“A challenge isn’t optional,” I said.

“We’re medieval like that,” Striker said.

Cassidy raised her eyebrows, but I nodded in confirmation. “It’s not a question. It’s a command. If you refuse to fight in the challenge, you automatically forfeit. It’s a way to prove you are worthy of leading the clan. If you refuse, you’re obviously not.”

“You’re sure this will work?” she asked. “You’ll get Harley back and deal with that sicko who kidnapped her?”

“I will,” I said. “It’ll work.”

Sean’s ego was his weak spot. He thought he had me on the ropes, but he wasn’t a real leader. He didn’t think like a leader. He was self-centered and impulsive, and his delight over thinking he had finally won the clan would outweigh any logical thinking.

Cassidy sighed. “Okay. As long as you’re sure.” She rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I want my friend back, Ace. My sister.” She swayed a little on her feet as the adrenaline drained from her posture. Striker hopped over the bar with a nimbleness he rarely displayed and steadied her with a gentle hand on her elbow.

The clan members arrived and filed into the clubhouse, speaking in low, concerned voices.

“Why don’t you take Cassidy outside for some air?” I said to Striker. “After the meeting, we’ll go back to my house. Dylan should be awake by then.”

Cassidy nodded. Striker grabbed her coffee and guided her out onto the back deck.

Hawk and I exchanged a look as they left. If Cassidy really was Striker’s fated mate, these next few weeks were going to be interesting.

That wasn’t something I could worry about now, though. The clan members settled into the clubhouse, and I stood up to tell them what I’d just told Cassidy. Just as I’d expected, noteveryone was happy with the plan—it was a risk to use the clan as a bargaining chip. But everyone knew Sean had to be taken care of for good, and everyone knew I’d be a stronger alpha with my fated mate at my side.

It never should’ve come to this, but it had. And now I had to deal with it.

The clan was in agreement. It was tentative, sure, but they’d have my back.

All that was left to do was contact Sean to set up the “trade”.

After the meeting, I stepped onto the back deck. Cassidy was leaning against the railing, coffee in hand, as she looked out over the lake. Striker was next to her, but he kept a respectable distance between them. When he glanced back at me, I could have sworn I saw a faint flush on his face.

Jeez. If Striker was looking like that, it had to be the real deal.

“Cassidy, thanks for waiting. I’ll take you back to my house.”

Striker moved to say something, but I shook my head minutely. “You too, Striker. I want to make sure we leave some enforcers at the house.”

Striker grinned, grateful to have a reason to stick to Cassidy’s side. I knew what he was going through—his dragon was probably howling at him to stay at her side and ensure she was safe and happy, to not let her out of his sight ever again. For a regular human, that behavior could come off a little… Well, a little creepy. Having him tag along was the best way to keep him around her without risking his dragon chasing her down.