Chapter 39: Chapter 38

Lanie Xander looked at me like | was actually crazy.

“No way that’s happening. What makes you think that you, an eighteen-year-old she-wolf from an average family, can save me, the Alpha of the entire Constantine Pack?”

Go ds, he was so arrogant.

And right now, | had no time for that.

“And in case you forgot,” his voice dropped to a low warning growl, “You're still our mate. We can’t just ‘let you go.”

That’s what they thought.

They'd change their minds soon enough.

| wouldn't give them a choice.

“You don’t want to be with me, and | don’t want to be with you, | said plainly. “So let’s fulfill the High Elder’s decree and move on with our lives.”

This wasn’t entirely true, and Lily knew it, too, | could feel her pawing at my insides.

You would climb right back into bed with them. You want to experience that pleasure again, she reminded me.

She needed to shut up.

But she was right, which was why | needed to get away from these guys, and fast. The more of them | had, the more my resolve to leave might crumble.

Zane narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down “What exactly are you proposing here?”

Xander shot Zane an icy glare.

“She’s proposing nothing! We don’t take orders, we give them.1 Xander brushed past me in a huff.

“lm done with this conversation.

He started down the hall, but | couldn’t let him leave yet.

I'd overheard their conversation with Alice...If Xander thought | wouldn't use it to my advantage, then he was st upider than he looked.

I'd tell him so if | needed to And | could only imagine how well he’d take it...

I “Fine,” | said, “then I'll tell the High Elder that Alice isn’t your true mate. Xander froze. “And that she’s refusing to do her Luna duties”

Xander whipped around, his eyes flashing a furious crimson, and Zane’s fists clenched at his sides.

But they wouldn't act on their rage.

Thad them both cornered “Something tells me the Council won't take that news too well.”

“You wouldn't, Lanie,” Xander roared.

Zane leapt in front of him before he could charge at me.

“Let me get this straight... you’re blackmailing your Alpha and Beta?” he asked me.

Technically, that’s what | was doing.

I But | had no intention of running to the High Elder myself unless | really had to.

There was too much at stake for me, too, If | launched a complaint against my mates and the Council didn’t believe me, then they might not take it out on only me... they might take it out on Selena, too.

“Look,” | held out my hands in surrender. “I can take on all Alice’s Luna duties and give her the credit. You both were too blinded by lust to see it at first, but you know she doesn’t want to care for this pack”

Xander let out a dissenting snarl, but | knew it was all for show.

Neither of them were actually arguing with me because | was right.

“Alice doesn’t want anything other than the Luna title and to be treated as special for being the Alpha and Beta’s mate.” |

continued. “She doesn’t love you, she loves the status you give her If | could’ve dropped a mic, | would’ve And if I'd been anyone other than Xander’s mate, he might've ripped me to shreds.

| might not have had the kind of power an Alpha or even someone like Alice had, but | sure as hell could talk my way out of just about anything.

Xander and Zane locked eyes. They were desperate to communicate privately.

Too bad, boys “You sure have a lot to say, Xander told me in a cold, detached voice. “But why should we believe you'll actually do any of “Let me prove it.”

| thought of Selena, alone at home now that | was gone, counting down the days until she’d be mated, too.

She was the ultimate reason fd uphold my end of our deal “You won't have to tell anyone you f u cked up by taking Alice as your mate, and she'll look like the perfect Luna”

There it was all out on the table, take it or leave it.

“But?” Zane asked me, the intensity of his gaze practically burning a hole in my retinas.

“But if | do that,” | said, “then you have to let me go”

“Did you forget the part where you have to produce pups, too? Xander demanded.

| hadn't forgotten, but | wished | could.

“When Alice gives you pups and becomes the perfect Luna,” | explained, “no one will look twice at me anymore. Everyone.

including the Elders will see that you guys were right in choosing Alice, and then you can publicly reject me for not being a fit mate.”

| took a deep breath.

“And you can banish me from the pack forever.”