Page 200 of Blood Day

To anyone else, I would have replied,Not one I care to share.

However, Jolene wasn’t like the others of this world. He valued honesty and old-fashioned morals. It was why I often went to him when I needed to deliver one of Silvano’s infamous messages to Alpha Walter.

Jolene didn’t approve of the new world order or how the lycans had degraded their family relationships. It made him an ally when I needed him.

And I needed his cooperation right now because there were few others in this clan that I could trust.

“I need to retrieve something that belongs to me,” I told him.

“Something or someone?”

“Someone,” I admitted, holding his dark gaze. “MyErosita.”

His thick eyebrows met his silver hairline. “I see,” he murmured.

He didn’t ask any questions or otherwise comment, just studied me for a long moment and eventually nodded.

“You’re going to need more than information; you’re going to need help. And you’ll need it quickly, as I assume you’re here to ensure the bond remains intact.”

“Yes.” My response applied to all of the above. “She’s assigned to the moon chase.” Unless one of the lycans inside the compound decided otherwise.

They could take whomever they desired. Fuck and kill and maim. But knowing Lily, she was doing her best to keep her head down.

It took physical restraint not to break down our mental wall and check on her, but I couldn’t risk anyone picking up on our connection.

She needed to remain quiet.

Obedient.

Hidden.

Mine.

“The first moon chase is scheduled for next week,” Jolene said. “But there will be minimal participants. Walter likes to space them out for further enjoyment. The largest moon chase will take place after Edon’s coronation.”

“I’m not waiting that long,” I told him. “Every minute she’s in there is another minute she’s in danger.”

“Then perhaps you shouldn’t have allowed her to be taken here.”

“Silvano didn’t give me much choice in the matter.” He would have killed Lily far faster than the lycans would. Keeping my distance from her was the only way to ensure she survived long enough for me to truly save her.

Which I intended to do now.

With or without Jolene’s assistance.

There were always other lycans I could bribe. I’d only come to this one first because of our history.

And because I suspected that he possessed a soft spot when it came to mates. He’d once been involved in a rare triad with two other lycans. Only one of them was still alive today. While she didn’t reside in Clemente Clan, I knew they still spoke to each other.

Because he had given me several messages over the years to send to her.

That’d been our working agreement—I repaid his favors by sending his encrypted notes to Claudette. I didn’t understand what game they were playing, nor did I care to figure it out.

What mattered to me was his usefulness.

And, in this case, his admiration for mate bonds.

“So what’s it going to be, Jolene?” I pushed off the wall. “Can you help me or not?”