War of Hearts(97)

Guilt suffused him. “It was a poor choice of words, Thea. It willnae happen again. I will make it clear to the Canids and everyone else that I want this.”

Finally, she met his eyes, and his arms automatically tightened around her when he glimpsed the sadness behind all her ferocious pride. One day, Conall vowed, one day he’d take away that pain in her eyes for good.

“I don’t want to be the reason you lose them. I couldn’t live with that.” She shook her head and her voice dropped to a whisper. “We can put it off, but the inevitable truth is that I’m immortal and you’re not. And I’m a danger to this pack.”

Anger burned in his gut. “I dinnae care about your immortality. Maybe I should but I dinnae. Life is short anyway, Thea, and we should be grateful that we share something few people ever get to have in this life. And if I must leave the pack to protect them, I will. What I willnae do, ever, is choose them over my mate. End of fucking story. I willnae say it again.”

“I don’t know if I can live with that.”

“Then you must, because I cannae live without you.” He cradled her face in his hands. “Right now, we all need each other to get Callie and James back. So I need to know before we walk in there if you’re willing to help me share your story about Ashforth. Not everything,” he promised, “just enough so they understand the danger Callie is in.”

Thea studied him a moment and then nodded. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make this harder for you.”

Love for her ached in his chest. “Thea, you’ve spent six years burying your feelings. No more. No matter what they are. You tell me. I dinnae want you to hide from me ever.”

She relaxed into him and Conall felt much of his own tension drain away. “Okay,” she whispered.





*



The wait in the empty dining hall for the Canids seemed to stretch forever but it was probably only a few minutes before Peter, Sienna, and Richard strode into the room.

Conall and Thea stood from the table where they were seated as Peter led his children. Before he even reached them, Peter’s stoic expression faltered.

He drew to a halt, his son and daughter following suit with twin expressions of confusion.

Peter sniffed the air and his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. “Well, this is unexpected.”

“What?” Richard scowled. “What’s going on?”

Conall, realizing Peter knew, stepped forward. “We have much to discuss.”

“Not really.” Peter gave him a disappointed smile. “When you meet your true mate, you meet your true mate, Conall. Nothing anyone can do about that.”

He flicked a look at Sienna, but her expression never wavered.

Richard, however, blew. “What the fuck? What the fuck are you talking about?”

Peter held up a hand to quiet his son. “Conall has found his true mate. Rare,” Peter said to Conall, his eyes flickering to Thea, “but ours is a large pack. My beta and his mate are true mates and I recognize the mingle of scents.” He took a step forward, his countenance hardening. “I must ask, however, if you knew about this before our agreement.”

Conall reached for Thea’s hand and she took it, drawing into his side, her eyes on Sienna Canid. He couldn’t read his mate’s expression. “This is Thea Quinn.”

Sienna frowned. “The woman you were hired to find for that businessman?”

“Aye.”

“She’s not even a werewolf.” Richard stared at Thea in disgust and Conall had to tamp down the urge to punch him. “How can she possibly be your mate?”

Ignoring him, Conall spoke to Sienna. “I am sorry to break the betrothal, but I hope you understand.”

She shrugged, as if she didn’t care. “I think it’s better you meet your mate now than it happen after we were married, don’t you?”

He felt Thea tense and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Nodding at Sienna, pleased by her pragmatism, Conall turned to her father. “I still think our packs could form a worthy alliance.”

Peter nodded slowly. “Let’s discuss.”

“First, Thea and I have to speak with the pack. My sister and my beta are in trouble. I could come to Colorado, after everything is well here, to meet with you so we can discuss?”

The alpha studied Conall and Thea, then surprised Conall by replying, “If this is to be a worthy alliance, then it should be from the beginning. If your sister is in trouble, Conall, let us offer our services to you.”

In that moment Conall knew it would not be a mistake to form an alliance with this wolf. “That’s decent of you, Peter. Thank you. I’ve called my pack. They’ll be here in a few hours and then I’ll explain all. You’re welcome to attend that meeting.”

“This is bullshit,” Richard snarled. “We’ve been waiting here for fucking days and now he’s throwing my sister over for a fucking non-wolf.” He bared his teeth at Thea. “But she’s something. I can feel it.”

The growl burrowed up from Conall’s chest, but it was Thea who stepped forward, energy crackling from every part of her as her eyes bled gold. The air became almost suffocating with the pressure of the power emitting from his mate. “You’ll show respect to Alpha MacLennan while you’re in his territory or I’ll make you show respect.”