Page 7 of Conall (The Sunburst Pack #3)

Una nodded eagerly. Etta’s right. If Chimera is accelerating their timeline, all those people they placed in other packs could be in danger.

Too eager , some traitorous part of Conall’s mind whispered. She’s too eager to keep the focus on external threats .

All the more reason to push forward with the asset recovery initiative, Malcolm said. We’ve identified the one Chimera’s records called Asset D3 in the Stardust Pack and contacted the Ironwood Pack about their journalist. We’re still waiting on responses from Blackthorn and Cross Timbers.

And Dr. Chen? Sarah asked. Have we made contact?

That’s the geneticist, right? Nick asked.

Yes, and we haven’t heard back from him yet, Larissa answered. Dr. Weiss is our go-between there. He’s proceeding cautiously, given Chen’s history with Chimera.

Conall listened to the discussion, aware that he should be fully engaged but finding his thoughts repeatedly straying between Nadine’s accusations and the unexpected number of pack members who seemed suddenly interested in gathering detailed security information.

They’re just being responsible , he told himself again. When your pack is threatened, everyone steps up .

But in the back of his mind, Nadine’s conviction that someone inside Sunburst was working against other packs refused to be silenced completely.

And below that, a persistent awareness of her existence somewhere out there tugged at him, distracting him. Was she still in Sunburst territory? Had she fled back to wherever she came from? Was she safe from the operatives, or had they captured her after they’d been separated?

He shouldn’t care. She’d accused him and Quinton of betraying their pack, had all but proclaimed them enemies.

Yet he couldn’t stop the low-level worry that hummed beneath his skin—or the growing unease about whether her accusations might contain more truth than he wanted to admit.

Could I use that awareness to track her?

And more troubling, What if she’s right about there being a traitor, even if she’s wrong about who it is?

Conall? Larissa’s voice snapped him back to attention. Are you with us?

Yes, sorry, he said quickly. Just processing.

I asked if you’d be willing to help Anders analyze the security footage from yesterday, she repeated. We need to identify those operatives if possible.

Of course. Conall ignored the look Quinton shot him.

Dammit. He was never distracted during pack meetings. Never lost focus when pack security was being discussed.

And Quinton had noticed.

The rest of the meeting proceeded with updates on pack business—the upcoming full moon run, training schedules for the younger wolves, maintenance issues at the Old Packhouse.

Throughout it all, Conall struggled to keep his attention focused.

As the meeting concluded and pack members began to disperse, Quinton nudged his shoulder.

You sure you’re okay? You seem distracted.

I’m fine. Just tired from yesterday.

You’d tell me if there was something more, right? Quinton’s dark eyes, identical to his own, searched his face.

Guilt twisted through Conall’s gut. Of course. No secrets. That’s always been our rule.

Quinton studied him a moment longer, then grinned, his serious expression dissolving into mischief. Well, maybe the Stardust Pack not showing up is for the best. I heard their alpha has quite the crush on you.

What? Conall blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation.

Oh, come on, Quinton teased. You know Dylan Montoya has had her eye on you since that interpack conference last year. Anders said she practically drooled every time you walked by.

He’s imagining things. Conall dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. Dylan was just being diplomatic.

Right, ‘diplomatic.’ Quinton used air quotes, his grin widening.

Yes. Which you’d know if you’d been there last year.

That’s why she specifically asked if you’d be present when their delegation arrived.

Drop it, Quin, Conall said, more sharply than he intended.

Quinton raised his eyebrows, surprised by the vehemence in his twin’s voice. Okay. Touchy subject. Got it.

Sorry, Conall sighed, running a hand through his hair. I’m just… It’s been a long twenty-four hours.

No problem, Quinton said easily, though his expression still held a hint of confusion. I’m going to help Una with training this morning. You good to work with Anders on that footage?

Yeah. Conall nodded. I’ll catch up with you later.

As Quinton headed off, a small fissure in their usually seamless connection trembled through Conall.

It wasn’t just the lie about the mate bond. It was the feeling that, for the first time in their lives, they were on diverging paths.

The thought left him cold.

Problem? Anders said from behind him.

Conall turned to find the lead guardian watching him with that penetrating gaze that suddenly seemed more disconcerting than usual.

No, Conall said automatically, then amended, Maybe. I don’t know.

Anders gestured toward the hallway that led to the building’s converted basement. Walk with me. The security footage isn’t going anywhere.

They moved through the building in silence, Anders’s presence oddly comforting despite his reputation for emotional detachment. The former military man had always maintained professional distance from the pack, focusing on his duties rather than personal connections.

At least, until Etta had arrived and turned his well-ordered world upside down.

You know, Anders said conversationally as they descended the stairs to the basement, I used to think I had everything figured out. My role. My purpose. My place in the pack hierarchy.

Conall made a noncommittal sound, unsure where this was going.

Then Etta showed up, Anders continued, his voice softening slightly at the mention of his mate’s name. And suddenly, nothing was as straightforward as it had been.

They reached the basement, where multiple workstations hummed with activity. Anders led Conall to a quiet corner, away from the other pack members working at their stations.

Sometimes the strongest bonds can be challenged when unexpected connections form, Anders said. Even twin bonds can be tested when a mate bond appears.

Conall froze. What are you suggesting?

I know what it looks like when a shifter meets their mate, Anders said mildly. That glazed expression. The constant distraction. The way your scent has changed subtly since yesterday.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

You don’t have to tell me who it is, Anders said. That’s your business. But take it from someone who recently went through this—fighting the mate bond only makes it harder in the long run.

There’s nothing to fight.

Anders raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. If you say so. Just remember, some connections are meant to challenge us. To help us grow beyond what we thought possible.

Nothing could ever come between me and Quinton, Conall said firmly. We’ve been each other’s whole world since birth. No other connection could change that.

Sure. But in my experience, the universe has a way of shaking up even the most established relationships when the time is right.

Conall thought of Nadine—her fierce eyes, her hatred of his pack, her absolute conviction that he and his twin were traitors.

Nothing about their connection felt right. It felt like a cosmic joke, a cruel twist of fate designed to torment them both.

Let’s just focus on the security footage, he said, turning toward the nearest workstation. We need to identify those operatives.

Anders allowed the subject change, but as they settled in to review the previous day’s security data, he left Conall with one last observation.

Change is inevitable, Conall. The question isn’t whether your relationship with Quinton will change—it’s whether you’ll both adapt and grow stronger through that change, or let it break you apart.

Conall said nothing, but the words echoed in his mind as he forced himself to focus on the security screens before him.

In the back of his mind, his wolf paced restlessly, yearning for a connection he refused to acknowledge, even as it etched itself deeper into his soul with each passing hour.