War of Hearts(96)

“Some members are already here.” She gestured to the cars. “When we heard no word, Mhairi and Brodie called out to the pack to regroup.”

He nodded, pleased, because that was exactly what he expected of his delta and interim lead warrior in the absence of the alpha and his beta.

The sound of gravel underfoot brought Grace’s head up toward Thea. She frowned. “Is this her?”

“Aye, but things arenae as they seem, Grace.” Conall moved past her to take Thea’s hand. “Grace, meet Thea. Thea, this is Grace. Grace is family, not just pack.”

Thea’s hand tightened on his and she held out her other to Grace. Conall almost grinned because his mate was not the type who could paste on a smile to reassure someone. Her inner anxiety made her scowl at Grace. “Nice to meet you.”

Grace studied Conall’s hand in Thea’s. Confusion marred her brow as she slowly stepped forward to take Thea’s hand and as she did so, a gentle wind blew up from the loch. Grace sniffed the air and her eyes grew wide.

Her head jerked toward his. “Conall.”

Mating was rare. Conall’s mother and father were the only mates the pack had known for a hundred years. Not even Grace and Angus, who were as good as. Yet, Conall knew Grace understood. She smelled their scents. Having been friends with the previous alpha couple, she knew what it meant.

“It was quite a surprise for us too,” Conall told her dryly.

“Oh, Conall.” Worry darkened Grace’s eyes. “What does this mean?”

“We have quite a story to tell. That’s why I’d like as many pack members here so I only have to tell it once. And so we can come up with a plan … to get Callie and James back.”

Grace’s eyes flew to Thea, wariness in them that Conall did not appreciate. The expression made Thea try to pull out of his grasp. He tightened his hold on her.

“She’s my mate, Grace,” Conall confirmed, his voice hard.

No one would mess with his mate, emotionally or otherwise.

Grace gave him a sharp nod. “That’s all well and good, but we have to get my lass back.”

Callie would be Grace’s priority and Conall understood that. “We will.” He gestured to the house. “While you call the pack, Thea and I need to meet with the Canids. I presume they’re still here.”

The older wolf’s expression grew concerned. “Aye, they’re still here. I doubt they’ll find this news particularly welcome, Conall.”

“It cannot be helped.”

Thea tugged her hand again and unless Conall wanted to hurt her, he had to let her go. He scowled down at her as she refused to meet his gaze. Instead, she stared longingly out at the loch behind them.

“Grace, go inside, please. Ask the Canids to meet me in the dining room. Make sure it’s empty. And then send out the call.”

“Of course,” she muttered before striding back to the house.

Conall turned into Thea and took hold of her hips to hold her against him. She frowned up at him as her hands came to rest tentatively on his chest.

What was going on here?

“Talk to me.”

Thea lifted her chin in defiance. “She doesn’t like me.” She said it without betraying emotion of any kind, even though Conall knew she was trying to withdraw to protect her feelings.

In that moment, he wanted to lay her over the hood of his car and show her how much it didn’t fucking matter what anyone thought beyond the two of them. Yet, he realized reluctantly that of course it mattered that his pack accepted Thea.

She may not be a werewolf, but she was an alpha of a sort in her own right.

The pack would have to want to follow her for this to work.

“She doesnae know you. And right now all she’s thinking about is what she’s been told by Ashforth, but mostly she’s just thinking about Callie. Grace’s husband Angus was my father’s cousin. We never knew my mother’s parents, and our paternal grandparents died before we were born. Grace and Angus are like our grandparents, and so Grace’s first thought will be of Callie. However, once we explain everything, they’ll come around. They have to.” He bent his head toward her, his own expression hard. “I am the alpha and they will respect my choices.”

“But you just said it wasn’t a choice.” Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“What?”

“When Grace said the Canids wouldn’t be happy about this”—she gestured between them—“you said ‘It cannot be helped.’” Her smile was bitter and hard and cut Conall to the quick. “That’s selling it a little differently to how you’ve been selling it to me.”

Realizing his mistake, Conall cursed himself. “Thea,” he said, gentling his tone, “I didnae mean it like that.”

“Maybe you did.” She attempted to pull away and he wouldn’t let her. Her face flushed with exasperation. “It’s not as if we both were looking for this and it has totally fucked everything up. Let me go.”

His arms banded tight around her as he whispered against her mouth, “Never, lass.” He gave her a little shake, his heart pounding at the mere thought of losing her. “I will never, ever let you go, unless you want me to. And I hope that day never comes.”

She stopped struggling but was still stiff in his arms. Thea focused on his neck, specifically the scar. “I can’t go in there if you’re going to make me feel like you were trapped by this.”