Chapter 111 THE UNKNOWN ROAD
DEREK’S POV
“Close the door,” Amber said the moment I stepped in.
I did. The lock clicked, loud in the quiet room.
“You shouldn’t be on your feet,” I said.
She let out a short laugh. “You missed the part where I almost died.”
That hit harder than I expected. I clenched my jaw. “I missed everything.”
Her eyes flicked to my neck, to the mark. “You didn’t miss us. You feel that they don’t lie.”
“I feel rage,” I said. “I feel happy they’re alive, I feel sick that I wasn’t there.”
The bond stirred as I felt her flinch before she spoke.
“I didn’t keep you away to punish you.”
“I know,” I snapped, then breathed in. “I know. That doesn’t stop it.”
She crossed her arms. “You asked to hear the plan, so listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“We merge the packs. Quietly and fast before the council moves.”
I laughed once but it was sharp. “Absolutely not.”
Her eyes hardened. “Derek…”
“No,” I said again. “You don’t erase two packs because it’s convenient.”
“It’s not convenient,” she shot back. “It’s survival.”
“You’re forcing people who don’t trust each other into one den.”
“They don’t have a choice.”
“That’s the problem.”
Her anger hit the bond like heat. “And what’s your solution? Wait until someone takes a shot at our pups?”
My hands curled. “Don’t use them like that.”
“I’m protecting them.”
“By turning them into leverage?”
She stepped closer. “I carried them, I bled for them. Don’t question my motives.”
“I’m questioning your methods.”
Silence stretched. I felt her thoughts pushing at mine. Routes and names, risks as well. I shut part of it out.
“Who else knows?” I asked.
“No one.”
That scared me more than anything else she’d said. “That’s insane.”
“It’s controlled.”
“It’s lonely,” I said. “You’re doing this alone.”
Her voice dropped. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You had me.”
She looked away. The bond tightened.
“You weren’t here,” she said quietly.
That cut. I swallowed. “I’m here now.”
“For how long?” she asked. “Until this gets ugly?”
“It already is.”
She sighed. “Say yes or say no.”
“I say slow down.”
“I say we don’t have time.”
I stepped closer. “Then we find time.”
She shook her head. “You’re reacting like a mate not a leader.”
“And you’re acting like a leader who forgot she has a mate.”
Her breath hitched just as the bond hummed hard.
“I need you with me,” she said.
“I won’t be dragged,” I replied. “But I won’t walk away either.”
She studied me. “That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only honest one I’ve got.”
She turned away from me as I felt it through the bond before she spoke.
“You’re afraid,” I said.
“Don’t do that,” she muttered.
“You can hear me too, don’t pretend otherwise.”
She exhaled. “Fine. Yes, I’m afraid.”
“Of the council?”
“Of losing control,” she admitted. “Of losing them.”
The image hit me without warning. Two tiny heartbeats, warm and safe. My knees almost buckled.
“Damn it,” I whispered. “You can’t just…”
“You asked to understand.”
I pressed my palm to the table. “When can I see them?”
She hesitated.
“Amber.”
“Not today.”
My anger surged and she felt it instantly.
“Easy,” she said. “You lose control, you prove my point.”
“I’m not a weapon,” I growled.
“No,” she said softly. “You’re their father.”
That stopped me cold even as I knew that things would never be the same.
“I won’t agree to this merge,” I said. “Not like this.”
She turned back. “I didn’t ask for permission.”
“Then why lock the door?”
She didn’t answer right away. I felt the truth before she said it.
“Because I wanted you to stand with me.”
“I will,” I said. “Just not blind.”
“What if I fail?” she asked.
“Then we fail together.”
The bond settled, heavy but steady.
“I need time,” she said.
“You already took it.”
She winced. “I need more.”
I nodded slowly. “You get one chance to show me this won’t burn everything down.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then I stop you.”
Her jaw tightened. “Even if it splits us?”
“Especially then.”
Silence again. There was no shouting or threats. Just the truth.
“You’d choose them over me,” she said.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “And you would too.”
She gave a tired smile. “Good.”
I stepped closer. “I want guards I trust on rotation.”
“Agreed.”
“I want eyes on every meeting.”
“Fine.”
“And I want to see my pups soon.”
She looked up. “Soon.”
“That’s not a date.”
“It’s the best I can give.”
I leaned in, forehead touching hers. “Don’t shut me out again.”
“I won’t,” she said. “Don’t disappear.”
“I won’t.”
The bond pulsed, sealing it.
I pulled back. “This isn’t over.”
“I know.”
I unlocked the door. Before leaving, I sent her one clear thought.
I will protect them with or without your plan.
She sent one back. Then don’t make me your enemy.
I walked out knowing the next move would break something. I just didn’t know who yet because if I knew, I realized it wouldn’t be the same as it was before.
“So what are we going to do about all of this?” I asked.
There was a knowing look on her face but yet again, it just seemed like she wasn’t ready to talk to me about it which was weird because I couldn’t think of any reason why she was keeping things like that from me. I hated not knowing, not even an hint.
“Will you keep them here? Will you train them here?” I asked.
I was scared not knowing the answer to that but at the same time, I was sure that whatever she was doing had to be in all our best interest.
“It depends on how accommodating the pack is but one thing I wouldn’t allow if for my pups to be treated the way I was, I would hate that.” She said.
What she said was unders
tandable but at the same time scary because I knew she would kill anyone who ever stood in her way.
A NEW WAY