Chapter 191: Chaotic News Rounds (Lucky's POV)

The mood in Wyatt’s office was dramatically dire.

Wyatt had fallen back into his office and taken his seat as we’d approached. Kelley sat on one side of him, and Shasta sat on Kelley’s other side. I took my spot on Wyatt’s right side, and Eros took his on my right side. In addition to the normal group, Sirius, Alistair, and Fenrir were seated across from me. Their expressions were grim as they looked up at us.

“No Finn?” Eros cocked his head to the side.

My mate shook his head, “He returned to assist Nadine.”

“Will he be back?” I asked.

“No way of knowing,” Wyatt’s face turned grim as he looked up to address the entire table, “I’m sure this attack on the Brokentooth Howlers isn’t a fluke. This is targeted. It’s easy to say that Nadine’s connection to me is the reason for it, but I get the feeling it’s something else. Ideas?”

Just as I opened my eyes to speak, Nadine’s voice flooded into my mind. They took Mike. Wyatt’s head jerked to look at me, and I gave a low nod, letting him know she’d also sent it to me. She was surprisingly calm given the circumstances, but that wasn’t surprising. That was just Nadine— quick to cry, last to panic.

“Scratch that. They’ve taken Mike,” Wyatt cocked his head to the side, eyes raking over Sirius, Alistair, and Fenrir, “Any idea why the fuck they would do that?”

Alistair shook his head while Fenrir spoke, “He’s a human. There isn’t a single use for him I could think of,” as I opened my mouth to argue, he quickly added, “To the council, that is. Not in general, my queen.”

A shadow appeared over Fenrir’s shoulder. Finn stepped out from the depths, straightening his suit jacket as he did so. Without missing a beat, he looked to Wyatt and me, “Clear the room, please.”

Without a word coming from Wyatt, everyone aside from the two of us scurried out. Once the door was shut firmly behind them, Finn sighed and took a seat across from Wyatt and me, “I know that Nadine let you know that they captured Mike.” his accent was thicker than usual, “We have much to discuss about this attack and other things.”

“Like what?” my mate’s voice was tight.

“I am not the only realm walker that exists,” Finn pursed his lips and shrugged, “Or, rather, there are others with gifts similar to mine.”

“How is that relevant?” My voice was soft as I reached under the table and placed my hand on Wyatt’s thigh.

“Transporters exist. Portal weavers and realm makers also exist,” Finn furrowed his eyebrows. “It would appear that Mike is not as human as you all thought. Is it true that his father was Desmond?” Wyatt and I exchanged a look, then nodded slowly. The Vampire King nodded slowly, “It is likely they came to the same conclusion I did. The Elder Council, I mean,” he added quickly, “They most likely took Mike because he harbors some magickal ability from his father.”

“If they already have Reawakened, what could they possibly need more magick for?” I croaked, eyes wide.

Finn smirked, “That, I don’t know. I didn’t figure you’d want the others to hear this, given that he is Nadine’s mate.”

My eyes bulged. Wyatt schooled his expression more smoothly than I did, but his surprise registered for a moment, “I appreciate your discretion. Do you have any idea where they might strike next?”

“They’re building an army. Yes, they already have one,” Finn sighed, “But yours is larger and more powerful. They need more strength to defeat you.”

Before Wyatt or I could respond, the door to the office swung open. Shasta ran in, blonde hair frizzy and falling in loose piles around her face. Her face was a blotchy red, her blue eyes puffy and bloodshot. Breaths hitched in her throat as she worked to control the sobs wracking through her body.

I leapt to my feet, “Shasta? What’s wrong?”

Wyatt stayed seated as I rushed over to her. Finn watched silently, dark eyes scanning over Shasta’s protruding belly. His eyes narrowed as his head cocked to the side. Shasta fell to her knees, fresh tears falling as I neared her.

She threw herself into my arms, “It’s Kelley. He’s gone.”

My body went completely still. I could hear Wyatt’s breathing cease, anxiety flooding down our bond. Softly, I asked, “What do you mean, Shasta?”

“He came into the room and started throwing things into a saddle bag,” she pulled back enough to look into my eyes, “He told me that he’s done with all of this. That he can no longer stand behind Wyatt,” her gaze flickered back to my mate, who let out a low growl, “Kelley asked me to go with him.”

“And when you told him no?” Finn arched an eyebrow.

I knew why he had asked it. Shasta reeked of decay. Something within her was dying. The question caused a gut-wrenching sob to escape from between her lips as she screamed, “He broke our mate bond. And he left. Just turned and walked out, like it didn’t affect him at all.”

Wyatt leapt to his feet, “He can’t have gotten far.”

Before I could ask what he meant by that, Wyatt shoved off the ground and jumped over the table. He shifted midair, and I could hear the sounds of a few other wolves joining him in the hallway.

I pulled Shasta to my chest, running my hand over her hair, “Finn and I are going to take you to Vincar, okay?”

There was no response aside from her sobbing.