Chapter Nine

“Psst. King.”

King frowned in his sleep, and then eased his eyes open to find Wreck standing at the door of the tent.

The Alpha gestured for him to follow him out, and the tent flap closed.

He looked down at Katrina, nestled all warm and snug against his chest. Well, this was going to be impossible. Thankfully, they’d gone to sleep with the sleeping bag unzipped, and hers laying over the top of them, so he didn’t have to mess with the zipper.

As carefully as he could, King untangled his legs from hers and pushed slowly out of the sleeping bags.

“Is it time to wake up?” Kat asked in a sleepy voice.

“No,” he whispered, tucking the covers tightly around her like she was a little burrito. “I’ll be back in a minute. Keep sleeping.”

“Okay. Come back home soon. I’ll keep your spot warm.”

Come back home . He watched her in the dark. This wasn’t home in the traditional sense. They were out in the middle of nowhere in Alaska for one night. But the way she’d said home …God, she was beautiful.

Katrina’s scar was visible here in the dim light before dawn that saturated the tent in gray light. Her dark eyelashes were resting on her cheeks, and she wore this soft smile on her full lips. Her hair was all fanned out behind her. He couldn’t wait to see her sleeping comfortably in one of his T-shirts, somewhere warmer perhaps. Montana was cold this time of year, but not as cold as Alaska was.

Please let Wreck tell me I’m in . He sent up the silent prayer as he exited the tent. He zipped the flap so no more cold air would come in.

Wreck was by the tree line, waiting for him. The look on his face said it wasn’t good news. Shit.

King cast one last glance at the tent, and her word repeated in his mind. Home.

When he was close enough, Wreck gripped his shoulder and shook him slowly. “Let’s take a walk.”

“I’m not in, huh?”

“It’s not my call,” Wreck said softly. “The whole reason I was waiting on a decision was because the Novaks and Damon want one thing, and I really want another. I lost.”

“What’s the word, boss?” he asked low as they wove through the woods. “Tell it to me straight.”

“Lucia sees Cash. She saw him from the beginning. She’s tried on my behalf, but she can’t see you with us. Neither can Beaston. Neither can Weston. Damon was already out because of your lack of remorse about killing your brother.”

“Half-brother,” he corrected him. “Not that it matters, and not that I’m begging a place in your Crew. I don’t do that, but you should know the real story so you don’t think I’m just cold. Brant was from a different mother, out of state. I didn’t meet him until I was twenty years old. He was four years older than me, and a piece of shit from day one. I tried for the brotherly relationship for a while. I wanted it. I was an only child up until then, but he was different around women. He didn’t respect them. Didn’t value them. Thought he would make a run for heading up the family group, and I had no interest in it before then, but I started fighting for it just so he wouldn’t have control over the females. He would’ve wrecked the entire culture they were trying for, and would’ve used his power to disrespect multiple mates, so I pushed my silverback into fighting. It was for a noble mission, right? I was going to be a protector? Even if I was just planning on protecting the family group from my brother?

“It’s noble to me.”

“Yeah, well, when you train your silverback to fight, when he’s not naturally inclined to claim a family group, you do some damage. I just didn’t want you to think I snapped and killed a family member I’d known all my life. I killed him after he hurt a woman, and I’m cold about it because I know the world is better off for not having him in it. You should know that if I had to go back, I would do it again. If Damon can’t understand that, tell him to look up pictures of Mariah. Mariah Frey. She pressed charges. The pictures of some of the damage done to her exist.” He huffed a frozen breath and looked back toward the campground, not visible through the thick trees. “Katrina mentioned coming with me.”

“That’s her choice—”

“It’s not mine.”

Wreck frowned. “What do you mean? Anyone with eyes can see you’re bonded.”

“Yeah, and it was caused by the medicine they gave us in the prison. It’ll fade. Give it a few weeks and we will be out of the fog of it all, and then what? She’ll be building a family group with a stranger who feels like a stranger.”

“I don’t think—”

“You don’t have to think about my decisions. She’s safe with you. She can heal. She can move forward. Maybe find a mate the right way. Kat is good, Wreck. I can tell. She’s down-to-her-bones good, and the world needs more women like her. I can’t drag her away from the opportunity to be in your Crew. That’s not caring about somebody. If I did that, I would never be able to forgive myself. She wouldn’t even have to resent me. I would resent myself. Can you understand? If it was Timber, what would you do?”

Wreck scratched the scruff on his jaw and looked back at the camp. “I would do what kept her safe.”

King offered a sad smile. “Same.”

“What do you want to do? How do you want to play this?” Wreck asked.

“I’m not good at goodbyes, and she is stubborn. She will tether herself to me and throw her future away. If Lucia doesn’t see that, it’s not meant to be her story, you know?”

“No goodbye then?”

“Nope. Can you do me a favor though?” King asked.

“I already told you I would get you where you want to go.”

“Good. I know where I want to go.”

“Where?” Wreck asked.

“Back to Cold Foot Prison.”

Wreck’s frown consumed his entire face. “Why?”

“I have some unfinished business there.”

Realization struck the Alpha’s face, and he lifted his chin higher into the air as he stared at King. “You’re going after Rook.”

King didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. The Alpha was built protective like he was. He knew.

“Fuck, I wish you were meant for my Crew,” Wreck murmured. “I would’ve made you Second.”

King allowed a small smile. “I’m good, as long as I know she’s good. Take care of Kat, will you?”

Wreck ducked his chin once in a nod, and then offered his hand for a shake. “Give them hell in Cold Foot.”

King tried his best to ignore the absolute devastation in his chest at losing Katrina. He swallowed hard and shook Wreck’s hand. “Give the world hell with your Crew.”

“I think I figured out a name for this Crew,” Wreck said as he walked away.

“Yeah? What to?” King called after him.

“Cold Foot Crew,” he said, turning. “You will always be my pick, King.”

King watched the Alpha walk away through the trees, back toward camp.

Cold Foot Crew. Cold Foot. Katrina would be a part of something epic, and King would always miss her, and would always wish well for her Crew.

But first, he needed to make sure all of her loose ends were tied up.

And that meant Rook needed to learn his place at the bottom of the food chain.