Page 65 of The Reluctant Alpha

"You're okay with this?" Bayer asked, still looking stunned.

"More than okay," I assured him. "The pack needs this. Our children need this."

Bayer was quiet for a moment, studying my face with an intensity that made my skin warm. "You're sure this is what you want? Not just something you're settling for because of...circumstances?"

I recognized the real question beneath his words: Are you doing this just because of the bond? Because you're trapped here? Trapped with me?

"I've never been surer of anything," I told him honestly. "This isn't settling, Bayer. This is...finding where I belong."

The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and something like hope flickered in his eyes. "You'd be amazing," he said softly.

"We both would," Emery added, nudging my shoulder with his.

Phoenix cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the matter at hand. "This is excellent news for the future. But right now, we need to focus on making sure we all have a future."

And just like that, the brief moment of joy receded as reality crashed back in.

"What's the plan?" I asked, straightening my shoulders. "And don't tell me to hide in a closet somewhere." I paused. "I've been out of the closet since I was about eight."

Em snorted. "You were never in the closet."

Bayer made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl, but Phoenix held up a hand. "No one's hiding," he said firmly. "The silver-skins suggested joint patrols, focusing on places the revenant might hunt. We monitor, we wait, and when it feeds again, we strike."

“Starting when?” I asked.

Bayer met my gaze. “Tonight.”

Chapter eighteen

Bayer

We went back into the main room and Rhys immediately filled Ben in, talking so quietly I wasn't sure even the shifters would be able to hear. It suddenly occurred to me that it might be a gift of Rhys's. I would ask Phoenix later.

"So, I'm just supposed to sit here and worry while you're out there hunting a murderous vampire zombie?"

Phoenix tried to hide his smile at Danny's description, but Emery didn't bother concealing his amusement.

"You'll be with Emery," I said, choosing to ignore the “zombie” comment.

Danny crossed his arms. "And what if it's a trap? What if the silver-skins are setting you up?"

"That's why we're forming mixed teams," Phoenix explained. "No one goes out alone, and each team has at least one wolf and one bear. Bayer, myself, and Draven will all lead teams with the three silver-skins."

I nodded. "I'm taking Eric with me—he's one of my strongest bears—and Shiloh and Tobias. Axel will be meeting us."

"Shiloh?" Danny asked, his brow furrowing.

"Shiloh is one of our gamma wolves," Emery explained. "She's our best tracker besides Phoenix."

I could see Danny turning this over in his mind, looking for loopholes or ways to argue. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But you have to promise to stay in contact. Regular updates."

"I promise," I said, relieved he was being reasonable for once.

"And you have to take these." He pulled something from his pocket—three small glass vials filled with a clear liquid, each attached to a leather cord.

"What are these?" I asked, taking one and examining it.

"Holy water," Danny replied with a straight face.