power to make it happen. Iâm not forcing you. The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice for him?â
I stepped back, my thoughts spiraling. âGive me time,â I said, my voice quiet but firm.
Her smirk was back. âYou have until tomorrow by nightfall. After that, the deal is off. Cause heâd probably be dead⦠I donât wanna ride a dead man, no matter how juicy he looks.â
I gritted my teeth as I turned to face my warriors, âLet us go.â
âGo?â Evelyn growled as she held my hand.
I nodded at her, âWe canât fight them⦠we are outnumbered and we still wouldnât get the antidote, Dane would die and we too will die.â
Evelyn huffed as she kicked a tree stomp. âCalm down⦠Evelyn,â Trajan said as he passed stood beside us.
As we left, her voice called out light and taunting. âTick tock, Luna. Tick tock.â
We made our way back to the edge of the forest, Kaidaâs laughter ringing in my ears. I stopped abruptly, my chest heaving with suppressed rage.
The warrior started to build a campfire. We needed to rest and wait till dawn before we moved back to the pack.
âAre you okay?â Trajan asked, low.
I shook my head, my words in a struggle to find expression. âSheâs playing games, not just that, Trajan, but trying to break us.â
âSheâs trying to break you,â Evelyn gently corrected.
I turned to her, the storm in my chest overflowing into my voice. âWhat am I supposed to do? Agree to this madness? Sacrifice Daneâs dignity for his life?â
Trajanâs eyes were level, though his jaw clenched. âItâs not a decision for you to make alone. You have the pack to consider. Dane gets a say in this too.â
I let out a bitter laugh. âHis choice? You know what heâd say. Heâd take the deal just to prove a point. Heâd put himself through this humiliation and call it loyalty.â
Trajan sighed deeply. âAnd what about you, Aurora? What are you willing to sacrifice for him?â
Evelyn cuts in, âWe canât let her call the shots like this. Itâs a trap meant to humiliate us⦠to destroy Daneâs legacy and undermine yours.â
âAgreed,â one of the younger wolves said, his voice shaking, yet firm. âBut what do we do instead? We canât let Dane. die.â His words stumbled, and he looked down to the earth.
The low rumble of a growl, another wolf joining. âWhy not call her bluff? Storm her camp, take the antidote by force.â