Chapter 29

The fire has died down, and my territory is nothing but ash. The bastard Alpha was thorough and torched the woods on both sides of the river. I shake Gypsy awake. “Gypsy. Listen.”

A sound like thunder shakes the ground. We look around. Her dad is still asleep, and that bastard Greg begins to stir. Gypsy knits her brows as she looks up at me. “What is that?” I shake my head; I have no idea.

The sound is getting closer. The old bastard begins to chuckle. I kick him to his back, his arms and legs tied behind his back. “What do you have to laugh about?” He sneers at me. I grab him by the throat. “Talk, old man.”

“My pack is on their way,” the coward tells me. I punch him in his jaw for good measure. I try to link my father. He cut me off, so he has to be the one to reestablish the link. “Father. Come on.” I whisper to myself as he continues to ignore me. I push the link harder. Sweat begins to pour over me as I push with all of my might. I feel the connection snap into place.

“Ashton?” He doesn’t feel happy to hear from me.

“Father. The Pine Ridge Pack are on their way. They dug a tunnel through the canyon. That fucking alpha is the one that set fire to our territory. I have him tied up in the cave you found me in.”

Father growls through the link. “We’re on our way.”

I look down to Gypsy. “Look after your dad and stay behind me. We’ve got more trouble coming our way.” She nods then helps her dad into a sitting position. He looks around for the sound that is getting closer and closer.

I pull the pathetic excuse for an Alpha to his feet just as battle cries rush out of the tunnel. The Beta leads their warriors out of the cave. I grip the Alpha’s throat and yell out to the crowd. “If you want your Alpha dead, take one more step closer. The Beta holds his arms out at his sides, stopping them from making any move.

Gypsy’s father takes a step forward to stand by my side. Their warriors growl and spit at their feet. “Your Alpha has been lying to you. Do you know what happened to your packs?” Some of the warriors look to each other, trying to figure out what he’s talking about.

I look up to see my pack stealthily crossing the river, getting closer. I link my father. “You’re going to want to hear this.” Father’s eyes lock with mine. He gives the signal, and everyone stills, waiting for a signal.

“I’m not about to go to war over this piece of shit,” I speak out to the crowd. I speak to the Alpha. “Tell them what you were doing here tonight.” He glares and refuses to speak. “I have no problem killing you now.” I release my claws; they dig into his skin, drawing blood to prove my point.

He swallows hard. “I burned this pack to the ground. Serves them right for coming after us in the first place.” The crowd cheers. Idiots.

I squeeze tighter to get him to focus. “And who started the fires at their packs?” Gypsy’s dad asks.

The Alpha attempts to growl, but I choke it off. I click my tongue at him. He side glances me. “The way you answer determines how fast you die. Either you talk, or I make you talk. Would you rather die slowly? Or would you rather answer a few questions and possibly live?” I grip one of his fingers that is still tied behind his back and snap it backward. He yells in pain. I take hold of another. “Are you going to answer?” When he says nothing, I snap it back.

“I did," he barely answers.

I grip another finger. “What was that? I don’t think they heard you in the back.”

He growls but answers. “I did.”

Gypsy steps beside me. “Why did my father kill Alpha Edgar?”

The Alpha clenches his jaw. I flick one of his broken fingers to remind him that I’m not playing. “Because he discovered what we were doing.”

I look over his pack. They’re looking around to each other with confusion written all over their faces. “And what is it you were doing?” I ask as I continue to watch the crowd.

“We dug tunnels to the packs then burned the territory. Then we brought the refugees into our pack.” Some of the warriors begin to separate themselves from one another.

Gypsy crosses her arms over her chest. “Why didn’t you give me to the Canyon Ridge Pack when they wanted to kill me?”

I scrunch my eyebrows. I never even thought to ask that. “I protect my own." Gypsy steps in front of him and then slaps him across the face. I break another finger. “To kill the warriors of their pack so it would be easier to take control of them.”

Gypsy shakes her head at him, but I’m not finished yet. “How did you know our territory?”

The Alpha’s eyes look to my pack that is gradually getting closer. “I had a spy.”

My father growls and stares daggers at Gypsy. I shove my claws into the Alpha’s shoulder and then drag my hand down his back. He cries out. “Trixie. Her name is Trixie. Hunter was sleeping with her for information. She told us where the border was. She told us everything.”

My father’s mouth falls open as do about half of our warriors. “I’m sorry, son. I should have listened to you," my father tells me through the link.

“Pine Ridge Pack. Gypsy and her Father are not your enemies. We, the Canyon Ridge Pack, are not your enemies. Your enemy is right here in this cowardly piece of trash. He is responsible for burning down our homes, our packs, and for causing the deaths of many of our friends and families at every turn.” I look to my father then continue to speak. “Let us be united. Let us end the feud brought on by your own alpha.”

Both packs begin to cheer. Gypsy steps forward. “The Canyon Ridge Pack has lost everything tonight. They have nothing—no food, no clothing, not even a glass of water. Let’s extend a hand of friendship and invite them to join us in our pack.” No one objects.

My father approaches us as people begin to file into the tunnel. He hands over two pairs of shorts for me and Gypsy’s father. “Father. I would like you to meet my future mate, Miss Gypsy Rose Campbell.”

My father looks to Gypsy. “I’m sorry for my part in all of this mess. You are good for Ashton. I know you’ll make him happy.”

Gypsy’s beautiful smile spreads across her face, and she reaches up to give my father a hug. He softly chuckles but returns the hug.

Once she pulls away, she looks between me and her father. “What do we do with Hunter, Trixie, and Alpha Greg?”

My father takes hold of Alpha Greg. Gypsy’s father answers her. “We’ll take him to the cells for now. We can let the new Alpha decide.”