Page 107 of Starting a New Life

“It’s too dangerous.”

Nix raised his brows. “Your Alpha fighting a death match against another Alpha is okay, but a small group of shifters and me infiltrating a pack to get a single person out is too dangerous?” Nix’s eyes glistened, the air around him charged with static. “If it weren’t a mage we’re planning to rescue, but… let’s say Nick here, who was being held as a fucking slave with an iron collar around his neck, would you still argue that it’s too dangerous? Would it be too dangerous if the prisoner in question were human? When exactly is the risk appropriate, and when is it too dangerous?”

Heath squirmed, and my heart ached.

He was the only one in this room who hadn’t been linked to the barrier yet. The only one who hadn’t immediately signed up. I’d internally waved it off as a scheduling conflict, but… maybe I shouldn’t have. The way he avoided both Nix’s and my eyes now told me a lot.

That my mate was right, for one.

Secondly, I needed to be way more vigilant when it came to my pack and Nix. He was a part of us. Just like the human mates. Just like Angelo and Paul—neither of whom were wolves.

“It’s too risky because he’s a mage,” Heath finally said, eyes trained on the map of our territory. “Who’s to say he won’t fight us if we try to grab him? Mages are dangerous.”

Heath might as well have slapped Nix the way my mate flinched.

“Mages are dangerous?” he asked, eyes glowing with rage. “Mages? It wasn’t mages who hunted me for months. It wasn’t mages who abused Connie. It wasn’t mages who shot Nick. It isn’t a mage Gray needs to fight to keep Connie with us. It’s shifters.”

Angelo cleared his throat. He had one hand on Heath’s arm as if silently ordering him to stand down while his eyes were trained on Nix.

“I’m with you,” he told Nix, cracking a smile, albeit a sad one. “I hate the plan. It’s reckless, dangerous, and more than a bit stupid. But you’re right. If we were talking about an abused shifter, there wouldn’t be a discussion about whether to leave them behind, so there shouldn’t be one now. There’s someone in desperate need of help, so we’re gonna help. It’s what this pack does.”

“Thank you,” Nix said with a nod.

“The plan is madness,” Paul said, shaking his head. “A half-assed attempt to get everything you want. But I feel like we should be happy that you’re here trying to come up with a plan instead of running off alone to fight that Alpha.”

The whole table snorted, a bit of tension draining away.

I was about to call for a vote when Oakley looked at Connie and Nick. Both teenagers were huddled together, holding hands as they listened to what was going on. Everyone could smell Connie’s fear, but we were too polite to address it.

“What do you think?” he asked, voice kind and calm.

A good call. I completely forgot that I’d wanted to ask Conrad about his thoughts on the whole spectacle.

Connie looked at Nick, then turned to my mate. Nix nodded at him, a small encouraging smile on his lips.

“I…” Connie swallowed, eyes wide as he looked at me. “I don’t want you to die for me, Alpha.”

“I’m not gonna die.”

Connie bit his lip, hand trembling in Nick’s. “Of course, Alpha. I mean… I… I don’t want you to risk your life for me.”

“I’m risking my life to fight for what’s right. And you having to go back to suffer more abuse is not right,” I explained. “I would fight for everyone here at this table. And everyone here at this table would fight for me. It’s what pack does. But I need you to know what could happen. If Otto does not accept defeat, I might have to kill him.”

Connie swallowed, his hand tightening in Nick’s.

“I know,” he whispered, eyes shiny. “Nix told me. I… I thought about it. If you have to kill him, it’s not your fault—it’s his. He can admit defeat. But if his pride doesn’t let him, that’s his character flaw.”

Sorrow blossomed in my heart as I listened to Connie and saw the raw grief on his face. He expected his brother to die. And in a way, I bet he thought he himself was responsible.

Another thing I needed to talk to Oak, or maybe rather Nix, about.

“Understood.” I nodded. “So, you’re okay with my plan?”

Connie looked at Nick, then at Nix. “Yes, Alpha,” he said clearly, though his voice was a bit thin. “And I’m in favour of getting Callum out.” He looked at Heath, lip wobbling. “That’s the mage. He’s… I don’t think he’s dangerous. Definitely not as dangerous as my brother and his enforcers. He’s mostly quiet and always sad. My biggest regret is that the thought of taking him with me never even crossed my mind.” He swallowed, and a tear rolled down his face as anger filled his features. “I have to live with that. I could’ve done something. And I didn’t. But I want to now.” Connie turned back to me, squaring his shoulders. “I’ll help you. I can go with you.”

That boy.

Unfortunately, he would have to come, not to get Callum out, but to be present during the fight because—as disgusting as it was—he was the prize.