Page 120 of Contested Crown

Less than a fair fight because I was faster, stronger, and when I started to shift, my claws bit deeper. The woman, Evelyn, stepped back when she saw my wolf starting to come out. She put her hands up and moved herself out of the fray. Another member of her crew did the same, and I ignored them in favor of the other two.

I grabbed one by the throat, lifting him off the ground and practically shouting the word, “Submit.”

He went limp, gasping for breath, his body still.

The other was grinning at me, even as Joel and Pablo circled him. He held up his phone. “You’re going to be in it soon. I textedeveryone.”

I dropped the wolf I was holding, and he crawled over to Evelyn and the other wolf who’d come to my side.

“Good,” I said. “Because I don’t want to have to say this more than once.I’mthe alpha. I’m in charge. And I’m reclaiming the Emperor Wolf throne. So either you’re with me, or—” Dark magic circled the wolf with the phone, and his eyes went wide before he disappeared, the cell phone clattering to the ground.

“Either you’re with him, or you’re the enemy of both of us,” Cade said coolly. “Understood?”

ChapterThirty-Nine

The other wolves gaped, Evelyn looking between me and Cade, her frown carving deep between her brows. She glanced at the boys, but Samuel and Joel were nudging each other, and Pablo crowed, gleeful.

“That’s how it’sdone, son!” Pablo bumped shoulders with Samuel, and they were shrieking in joy.

Evelyn frowned, her displeasure at their attitude clear, and I rolled my eyes up. Yeah. I knew they weren’t the best, but they were a start, and they were loyal to me, even though the pack was only a few minutes old.

I walked across the sidewalk and picked up the phone that had been dropped when Cade transported the wolf to who knew where. I hoped it wasn’t the middle of the bay, but wolves could swim, I told myself.

The text was still open on the screen, and I snorted. I’d been afraid that he’d texted Declan, but he hadn’t been that bold. JD’s answering text was on the screen.

On my way.

“JD is coming.” I held the phone out to Cade, but he only raised an eyebrow.

“JD! JD’s ass is about to get whooped! He’s going to find out who the new alpha is in town!” Pablo high-fived Samuel, and I tried not to obviously wince.

“We need a plan,” Evelyn said. She glanced at Cade before returning her eyes to me. “Are you his consort?”

Everyone went silent, and I shook my head. “No.”

Her shoulders relaxed just enough that I could tell she’d been nervous. Backing a werewolf alpha was one thing. Backing a mage was something different.

“We’re working together. He’s helping me because Declan screwed him too,” I said. It was true, although only part of the truth, and they could all smell us on each other.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, and the wolf with her—Tristan, I was pretty sure—glanced between her and me. So, he was loyal to her, not necessarily to me, which was good to know.

“Okay.” She drew the word out, but her acceptance made the other wolves relax. Then she raised her eyebrows again, and I nodded.

A plan. We needed a plan.

“JD is going to bring as many of the crews as he can wrangle. We took down two so far. That leaves four.” I glanced at Cade. Four would be a lot. That was closing in on twenty wolves, if JD didn’t ask Declan to send some of his own guys.

“Three,” Samuel corrected.

“That’s right,” Pablo said.

“JD wrecked one of the crews by getting most of them arrested.” Joel made a popping sound with his lips and mimed putting up his hands.

“We’re looking at sixteen wolves, then?” I asked Evelyn.

She nodded and pulled out her cell phone. It was pinging with notifications. “What should I tell them?”

I blew out a breath. The smart move was to tell them nothing, to let our element of surprise be our advantage. But I also wanted to see how many would stand with me. How many could I turn to my cause without having to fight them?