Page 14 of When Two Worlds Collide (Fated Mates, Stubborn Hearts #1)

“We haven’t acknowledged the bond. We’ve agreed to prioritize negotiations.”

Riva laughs dryly. “The Moon Goddess disregards your agreements. She has selected your mate.”

“This discussion concerns the prisoners. Not my personal matters.”

“All things interconnect,” Mira murmurs. “The attack, the bond, the negotiations.”

I restrain a frustrated sound. “I need practical counsel. Should she participate in questioning prisoners?”

“Yes,” Kota responds immediately. “Let her witness our traditions directly. Let her help shape justice.”

“If we disagree on punishment? ”

“Then you’ll discover whether she truly bridges worlds,” Riva says. “Or remains bound to just one.”

I depart with more questions than answers. Sunlight now fills the sky. Warriors return from patrol, reporting no additional settler movements. The wounded rest. Cubs play far from the prisoner pit.

I return to the healer’s tent. Inside, the injured wolves sleep. I move past them to the screened area where Ember rests.

She sleeps on the pallet, auburn hair spread across furs, her features more relaxed than I’ve ever witnessed. Silver burn scent mingles with medicinal herbs, and beneath everything, her distinctive fire-spice fragrance my wolf identifies as his mate’s.

I should leave her undisturbed. Instead, I move closer, drawn by something beyond rational thought. In sleep, the barriers separating us—diplomat and alpha, civilized and wild, duty and desire—seem to dissolve.

My hand reaches to brush hair from her face. The moment I touch her skin, she opens her eyes, instantly alert.

“Zane.”

“How’s your injury?”

She sits up, flinching slightly. “Improved. Vira’s medicine helped.”

“Good. The prisoners remain secured. The diplomatic guards at the border demand their release.”

“Let me speak with them. Explain the situation.”

“After we question the prisoners. Together, as agreed.”

She examines my expression. “You truly mean it. You’ll actually include me.”

“You defended my pack. You’ve earned this right.”

“What if I advocate leniency? ”

“I’ll consider your perspective. But these settlers targeted cubs, Ember. They crossed an unforgivable boundary.”

“I understand. But executions won’t resolve anything.”

“Neither will releasing them without consequences.”

“Then we find a compromise.”

“Compromise. A very council concept.”

“Perhaps the council could learn from wild clans, and wild clans from the council. Maybe that explains this.”

“This?”

“Us. Our connection. Perhaps it’s not a mistake or curse. Perhaps it serves a purpose.”

Her suggestion impacts me profoundly. Could the Moon Goddess have created this impossible bond deliberately?

Before I can respond, commotion erupts outside. Shouts, growls, running footsteps. I push through the tent opening with Ember following.

In the camp center, Marcus confronts a group of council guards—ten armed personnel, led by a tall man with auburn hair and gold-flecked eyes unmistakably similar to Ember’s.

Kade Steelclaw has arrived for his sister.

My warriors form a protective circle. Cubs and elders retreat to shelters. Marcus stands at the front, visibly restraining aggression.

“Kade!” Ember rushes past me toward her brother.

Kade’s expression transforms from fury to relief. “Ember. Are you injured?”

“A minor silver burn. Nothing serious.” She positions herself between the groups. “Why are you here?”

“Councilor Thorne informed me you warned the wolves. When you didn’t return, I feared the worst.”

“The battle wounded me. Their healer treated me. ”

“Battle?” Kade narrows his eyes. “You fought against settlers?”

“They attacked cubs and elders, Kade.”

I step forward beside Ember, close enough that our combined scent becomes obvious to any shifter.

“Steelclaw. Your sister warned us of the impending attack at significant personal risk. She defended my pack against unprovoked violence. She has our gratitude.”

Kade inhales, detecting our mingled scent. His expression shifts from surprise to understanding to controlled neutrality. “Alpha Blackthorn. I appreciate your... attention... toward my sister. But we must return to the council immediately. Emergency session addresses this incident.”

“The settlers attacked us,” Marcus states. “Our traditions determine their punishment.”

“The council will determine appropriate consequences.”

“Not within our territory. The attack occurred here. Our justice applies.”

“After proper interrogation,” Ember adds. “We’ve agreed to question suspects together to identify who organized this attack.”

Kade looks between us. “Together.”

“Yes. This affects both our peoples. We must collaborate to prevent derailing peace negotiations.”

“The peace negotiations may already be compromised,” Kade says grimly. “Another incident occurred. The Mountain Bear clan attacked a logging camp in eastern territories. Forty-three dead.”

I absorb this information with shock. Forty-three dead. Ridge Stormcrow escalating beyond border disputes to outright massacre.

“When?” I demand .

“Last night. Concurrent with this attack. The council suspects coordination.”

“Impossible. My pack maintains no contact with Mountain Bears.”

“Not your pack specifically,” Kade clarifies. “But wild clans generally. The theory suggests emerging clans coordinate attacks.”

“Ridiculous. Mountain Bears would slaughter us as readily as settlers. Ridge Stormcrow respects no boundaries except his own.”

“I believe you,” Ember says. “But the council needs to hear this directly from you, Zane.”

“They’ll hear it during tomorrow’s scheduled negotiations.”

“Tomorrow might prove too late. The vampire-dragon alliance pressures the council for immediate military action against all wild shifter incursions. Delay could result in alliance forces surrounding your territory by nightfall.”

The threat seems clear, as does the trap. Abandon my territory to attend a council meeting which is potentially already determined? Or remain, risking guilt by association with Mountain Bears?

“The prisoners stay here. But I’ll address the council. After we question the attack leaders.”

“We lack time?—”

“Make time. One hour for questioning. Then I’ll accompany you to the council.”

Kade glances at Ember, who subtly indicates agreement. “One hour,” he reluctantly concedes. “We depart immediately afterward.”

“Agreed. Prepare the main prisoner for questioning.”

As Marcus complies, I notice Kade watching Ember with confusion and concern. He senses something changed between us, without understanding what or how deeply.

I lead them to a small clearing with a wooden chair prepared. Two warriors bring forward a settler, broad-shouldered with a hardened face and callused hands. They secure him.

“This is Bran Thornfield,” Ember identifies. “He owns the largest farm near the eastern settlement.”

The man spits toward her feet. “Traitor. Fighting for beasts against your own kind.”

“My kind don’t attack cubs.”

I step forward. “Who organized the attack?”

He remains silent.

“You came prepared. Armed with silver. You knew our layout. Someone provided information. Who?”

His heartbeat accelerates, but he maintains silence.

“Shadow Wolf justice for attacking cubs means death. Cooperation might reduce your punishment.”

“Leniency from savages?” He laughs harshly. “I’ll take my chances.”

Ember steps beside me. “Twenty settlers attacked this camp, Bran. Only you possessed a detailed map. Only you directed others. Your companions identify you as their leader.”

His eyes widen.

“If you led this, you bear full responsibility under both council and Shadow Wolf traditions. Others claim they followed orders, leaving you facing the harshest punishment.”

“I wasn’t the leader,” he quickly responds. “I simply followed the plan.”

“Whose plan?” I demand .

He hesitates. “Fletcher. Councilor Fletcher from the council. He provided weapons, camp layout, everything.”

Ember inhales sharply. “Councilor Fletcher? He sits on the senior council.”

“He claimed these wolves planned to attack settlements. Said we needed to strike first, eliminate them before they eliminated us. He said the council was too weak to protect us, that we needed to act independently.”

“And you believed him?” Ember speaks with tension.

“We’ve seen what wild shifters do! Stories from the East, the Mountain Bear massacres?—”

“We are not Mountain Bears,” I interrupt. “We’ve harmed no settlers since arriving in this territory, not yet anyway.”

“Fletcher said it was just a matter of time. Said all wild shifters are identical—savages who’ll murder us while we sleep.”

A council member orchestrating attacks against a clan during active negotiations? This makes no sense—unless someone wants negotiations to fail.

“We must bring this information to the full council immediately,” Ember turns to Kade. “If Fletcher works against official council policy?—”

“It’s more complex,” Kade interrupts. “Fletcher commands significant support. Many council members believe all wild clan incursions require immediate military response.”

“Based on what? Prejudice?” Ember gestures around. “Does this resemble a war party? We have cubs here. Elders.”

“I understand. That’s why Alpha Blackthorn must address the council directly.”

I consider the prisoner, then Ember and Kade.

A council member deliberately sabotaged peace talks.

Mountain Bears are escalating attacks eastward.

The vampire-dragon alliance is demanding military action.

And amid everything, an impossible mate bond connecting me to a diplomat who should be my enemy, but instead risked her life for my pack.

“Marcus, secure the prisoners. No further questioning until I return.”

“You’re going?”

“I must address their council directly. You command until I return. Double guards on cubs and elders. Prepare for anything.”

He indicates agreement, though I detect his unease.

I turn to Ember. “Can you travel with your injury?”

“I’ll manage.”

“Then let’s proceed. The sooner we reach the council, the sooner we expose this plot and resume negotiations.”

As we prepare for departure, I pull Marcus aside. “If I don’t return by nightfall, assume negotiations failed. Move the pack deeper into northern territory.”

“You suspect detention?”

“I suspect nothing remains certain. Protect the pack, regardless of circumstances.”

He clasps my forearm in loyalty. “Watch yourself out there, Alpha—fire panther included. No matter the bond, her primary loyalty remains with the council.”

I observe Ember speaking quietly with her brother. “Perhaps. Or perhaps she stands between worlds, just as I do.”

With that, I turn from my pack and territory, following an unexpected path toward civilization, toward politics, toward an uncertain future where ancient enemies might become allies, and where the woman who should be my adversary might instead be my destiny.