Chapter 39: : Chapter 122

~Kade~

The warriors armed up around the border. I put more protection around the hospital and set one leader with his group around the house.

I ordered everyone else to stay inside until instructed otherwise. Justin and I were paroling the border and waiting for his arrival.

Enox had been in contact with Clara, and she let us know that Nathiael had left the pack and was heading here to bring Jackson’s body back. However, I wasn’t planning on letting him leave.

The sound of footsteps running toward me with a puffy breath and frustration radiating from her body had me turning around. I groaned when I saw the anger in her eyes. Before a single word left her lips, I put my hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t,” I said and glared down at her.

“You can’t be serious with this? He’s an Emberclaw!” Anna said loudly in disbelief over our preparations.

“So is Justin,” I said and gestured to him. Justin winked, and Anna rolled her eyes.

“He’s the King of the Emberclaws. You don’t know how many people he’s bringing. You can’t do this, Kade. You’re putting everyone at risk, yourself especially,” she said.

I looked around at everyone getting ready for the wolf hunt, and my chest swelled with pride over what I saw. They were about to go up against one of the most dangerous werewolves in history, yet they displayed not one ounce of fear.

“I don’t care; we’ve got this. You don’t have to worry,” I said and turned away from her.

I walked back into the house and groaned when I heard Anna following behind me.

She was fuming as she reached out and grabbed my arm to stop me from walking any further.

“You’re going to get yourself killed!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. Her cheeks were flustered from the blood rushing to her face, and her finger dug into my arm. My parents walked down at that moment, and Cara stepped out into the hallway.

“You need to back the fuck off, Anna,” I growled and stepped closer. “That is an order.” Her jaw dropped, and her eyes sunk, but only for a second.

“Fuck your orders. You’re walking into a suicide mission. It’s a trap. He wants you, Kade, and you’re going to give him exactly that!” A growl rumbled out, and my wolf stepped up at the sign of disobedience and disrespect.

“You better watch yourself. I am the Alpha, and if you have a problem with how I run things around here, you’re more than welcome to leave and go back to your old pack.” A grin pulled my lips, and I looked down at her furious face. “Oh wait, I’m the Alpha there too. You’ll do well to remember who’s in charge.” I turned around and was met by my mother’s hard glare.

“There’s something else here. What is going on with you?” she asked and stepped down the stairs.

“I’m busy,” I said.

“You’re not busy being a leader right now, Kade. You’re not acting as an Alpha. You’re acting like a broken child who has lost his way.” Her way of speaking to me in front of people had my fists shaking by my side.

I felt my blood boiling in my veins, and I clenched my jaw as hard I fucking could without breaking it. I looked around to see who had heard but realized that the only people there were my family.

I raised my head and looked back at her. My mother raised a brow and smiled. She never would’ve said those things if there were others around.

“You’re scared, and it’s okay, my love, but don’t lose yourself trying to win over him, or all hope will be lost. You must keep it together,” she said and cupped my cheek.

“I know what I’m doing.” I was still the Alpha; my word was law, and I was doing what I thought was best.

“Dude, I have to admit this may not be the best idea,” Graham said. Since he returned, he and Mason had been tied to the hip. Mason shrugged a shoulder and nodded.

“If he has even three warriors with him, we’re outnumbered. Especially now that Danielle’s in the hospital,” Mason said.

“Yeah, I mean, there’s a reason you sought help from the other Alphas,” Cara said.

Everyone was chiming in with their opinions, and it pissed me off that my own family was more frightened of this dick than my warriors were. I never would’ve tried anything if I didn’t think it could work. He was one person and fine. Suppose he brought a few warriors to retrieve the body. It would still give us an edge… wouldn’t it?

“You know they’re right. You’re just fighting them out of spite.”

I’m not fighting them. I’m doing what a leader does.

“And what’s that?”

I lead.

“Nah, a leader doesn’t lead his people into their untimely deaths.”

Is that really what you think we’re doing?

“You heard the warning from Clara. This guy is something else, something that even we should be afraid of.”

“What will it be?” my father asked.

“I believe in the plan,” I said and raised my head. However, a sting in my chest and a heavy feeling falling into my gut made me question that statement.

Anna scoffed loudly and flung her arms in the air.

“How can you be this stupid! This no longer has anything to do with you wanting to protect the pack. Jackson’s attack scared you. Danielle could’ve died, and that broke your heart, but if you do this, then the person who should be your focus is lost forever. Layla will never come home. Is that really not on your mind anymore?” she asked in a breath. Her eyes sunk back into her head, and her shoulders slumped.

I gulped and pressed my nails into the palms of my hands.

She shrugged her shoulders, and her eyes gazed at me with a look of defeat.

“Whatever. If you don’t believe me, then ask yourself, how the fuck did Nathaniel even find out that Jackson is dead?” Anna turned and walked out of the house.