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I had promised Christa that we would figure this out together, but in the back of my mind, I knew the chances of me walking away from this encounter were low. I couldn’t deny the deaths I had caused or any of the other crimes I had committed. Now, Sparkle Hollow was here to collect.

“Colson Marsden, you have some explaining to do,” Alpha Lex said.

“Alpha Lex,” I responded, doing my best to keep my voice even despite the threat to my pack and family. “We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet. Welcome.”

“Save it,” he hissed. “I don’t need your false politeness. I know of your crimes against Sparkle Hollow and its allies, and now I find out you have added more to that list. We demand retribution.”

“I’m aware of the crimes I committed ten years ago. The deaths of your allies was a tragic mistake that I have regretted every moment of every day since it happened,” I admitted truthfully.

“Your regret doesn’t bring them back!” Lex shouted.

“It doesn’t,” I agreed. “But neither does this.”

I waved my hand at the infiltrating wolves, poised to attack my people as they stood in a defensive position behind me and Christa. Even if I was prepared to give in to Lex’s demands that I pay for my crimes, I couldn’t forget my duty. I was an alpha now, and I couldn’t abandon my people.

“Do you think because it’s been ten years, you are going to be forgiven?” Lex asked.

“I don’t expect forgiveness,” I admitted. “But sometimes circumstances change. You’re an alpha, so you must understand. At times, an alpha must place his duty to his pack above all else—even his own conscience.”

“If I believed you had a conscience, your argument might hold more weight,” Lex replied. “But your willingness to participate in more crimes against us since then doesn’t bode well for you.”

“What crimes?” I demanded.

He pointed at Christa and Jenny, rage evident on his face as he spoke. “You have ambushed our allies, stolen our property, and kidnapped two members of our own pack. You will face the consequences of your crimes—all of them—starting with releasing Christa and Jenny Lionel.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Come now, Colson,” Lex said, exasperated with my continued defiance. “You know what happens next if you refuse. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. For your sake, choose wisely.”

The wheels in my head were turning as I tried to figure out how to get out of this situation without anyone else getting hurt. Lex wasn’t responding to my diplomacy in the way I had hoped. He had always been considered a level-headed ruler, from what I had heard, but nothing I said had made an impression so far.

When it came down to it, I knew I would fight to protect my pack. But for all my claims to the contrary, my priority was Christa and Jenny. I had promised to hold them higher than everything else, and I would stand by that vow. Anything I had to do to keep them, I would do.

“It isn’t his choice alone,” Christa stated, stepping forward to address her old alpha.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Lex replied dismissively.

“Oh, really?” she countered, crossing her arms in front of her. “It seems like the only reason you’re here is because Alpha Franco told you where I was. Or are you telling me that after ten years, an alpha with your resources is only just now discovering that he has an enemy living so close to his territory?”

Lex’s face reddened at her barbed attack, and I could see her plan was to make him question his own decisions.

“Of course I knew where Colson was living,” he waffled. “But my duty is to protect my pack. An attack on a neighboring pack is unacceptable without new evidence against him.”

“So you’re here because of his supposed ‘kidnapping,’ is that correct?” Christa asked.

“We’re here to bring you home,” Lex replied.

“Then your job here is done. You can leave.” She waved her hand dismissively.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your information wasn’t complete, so I’ll fill in the blanks for you,” she replied. “I am here willingly—as is Jenny. We are not being held against our will. As of today, I am the luna of the Marsden pack, and you are trespassing on our territory.”

She spoke with an unmistakable command. I felt pride welling up within me at how easily she held her own against an alpha who had relegated her to the sidelines for so many years.

“Even if you are here of your own accord, that doesn’t erase his past crimes,” Lex replied.

“No one can erase the past, but Colson has paid his debt for those deaths. For the past ten years, he has lived in exile, banished from Sparkle Hollow and separated from his true mate and his child,” Christa said.

Lex looked startled at Christa’s revelation and glanced between me and Jenny. I hadn’t intended to reveal any more about Jenny to them, but I could see the benefit of Christa’s honesty. Lex needed to know how much had been taken from me so he would know I hadn’t been living a life of ease and luxury after running away from their punishment a decade ago.

“His child?” Lex asked. “Is this true?”

“Yes,” I said.

Jenny had moved closer to me as the conversation expanded to include her. She was standing partially behind me, still holding my hand tightly in her own. I could sense that she was afraid of the situation, but she was holding her head up high.

Lex took a few steps closer, a look of curiosity on his face as he examined Jenny’s face. His eyes flickered to my own, and I could see that he was looking for a resemblance between us.

“Ten years ago, Colson and I were in love,” Christa said. “We were going to spend our lives together and start a family. When your father attacked him and chased him away from Sparkle Hollow, he robbed me of the chance to tell Colson about my pregnancy, and he tried to steal Jenny’s childhood from her. I’ll be damned if I let you finish the job.”

Lex turned back to speak with his advisors in hushed tones as Christa and I looked on nervously.

“Are they going to make us go back to Sparkle Hollow, Mom?” Jenny whispered.

“No,” Christa said, reassuring her. “We’re not going anywhere. This is our home. We protect our family.”

“Good,” Jenny replied, nodding.

“I’ve considered your story,” Lex said, addressing us once more. “Given the marriage between you two and your shared child, we will leave.”

Excited chatter from the Marsden pack met his declaration, but he wasn’t done yet.

“However,” he continued, “our alliance with Franco’s pack does not extend to you. An official banishment will be decreed for all members of the Marsden pack. You are not welcome in Sparkle Hollow. Anyone found on our territory will be immediately imprisoned.”

I nodded at him, understanding the implications of what he said. It made little difference to me or the rest of the pack, but Christa and Jenny would never be able to visit the home where they grew up. To be a family, they were required to cut all ties with their past. It was a steep price, but as Christa squeezed my hand, I knew it was one she was willing to pay.

“We accept your terms,” Christa responded.

“If any threats are made toward Franco’s pack, know that Sparkle Hollow will respond with the full force of our power—as will our allies,” Lex added.

“We have lived in peace with Franco’s pack for some time,” I reminded them, aiming my explanation in Franco’s direction. “We have no reason to quarrel with you.”

“See that it stays that way,” Franco warned.

Without another word, Lex shifted into his wolf form and howled for his people to follow him. As they disappeared down the street, I breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to reassure my pack that all was well.

“Let’s all go back inside,” I announced. “It’s done.”