Chapter 28

Sig metme at the corner of our building when I returned from my run.

"How is she?" I asked after changing forms.

"There is much to tell." He pushed off the building and studied me intensely. "You must stay in control."

I braced myself for the bad news.

"Sage is with the healer now. However, Anton had Miriam removed from the Manor two weeks ago."

For years, our healer had kept a room in the manor. She'd always been available to service the elite members of the Pack. The others had needed to wait patiently until she returned to her cottage to provide them aid.

"Talia does not believe the delay in treatment caused any adverse reactions."

"Why would he evict Miriam?"

"Why does Anton do many of the things he chooses to do?" Sig let out a frustrated sigh and quickly shook his head. "Now is not the time for this discussion."

"There is more?"

"Anton demanded that you report to his office upon your return."

Ideally, I would have waited an hour or two, had a meal, and centered myself. However, I knew this was not the time to delay meeting with Anton. "Then, we will go." I turned on my heel, knowing that Sig would follow.

Anton was seated behind the hand-carved desk that had once belonged to our father.

I walked directly to the desk and bowed my head. "Leader."

"Second."

I raised my head.

"I have been waiting for you to join us."

There was no reason for me to explain the delay.

Anton was furious that his evening had been ruined. He would take out his anger on us without a second thought. "What were you thinking, ruining my ball? Embarrassing me in front of the elite!"

I cared nothing about the ball or how Anton's feelings were ruffled. Charles Burke had attacked my mate. "How did Burke gain access?"

Sig moved closer to my position, standing two steps behind and to my right. He did this to stop me from attacking Anton.

"He is not a prisoner locked behind bars," Anton replied coldly. "However, he disrupted my ball. I ordered him to return to his room with a guard on the door."

"Have you reconsidered your stance on providing sanctuary?" I bit out.

"I have been most patient," Anton's voice rumbled. "Has his father paid us a dime?"

"He has not." I did not add that I knew he never would. If Travis Burke had any money, he would spend it coordinating Charles's safe passage. "We have been tracking the rewards offered for the delivery of Charles to Novus."

Anton's bloodshot gaze met mine as his greed took over. "No one would find fault with me. I cannot house the disrespectful male for free."

"You did as contracted, and Travis Burke has not kept up his end of the bargain. Charles was told he could not attend the ball, and yet he did and attacked an attendee, causing a disruption. The Burkes are ungrateful and disrespectful.

"I will confirm the current rewards and forward the information to you." I purposely did not word it as a question. I could see no other alternative than to deliver Burke to Novus.

"Your human…how did she find Burke?" Anton asked, slyly blaming Sage.

"He attacked her. She had no prior knowledge of the male."

"She somehow managed to arrange an assignation behind your back—and this is the human you wish me to accept as a suitable member of the Redds and worthy of joining with the Second of my Pack?" His voice got louder with each word.

"Sage needed to use the facilities. I was escorting her to the back stairs, which was closest. On our way, we were intercepted by Marceau, who droned on and on. I did not wish to upset him on an important night." It would not hurt to pander to Anton's ego. "Our discussion meant nothing to her; she was excused to take care of her need."

"Talk of our concerns would confuse the human."

I was using his ill-formed opinions. "Marceau kept talking until I heard her scream and found Charles assaulting my female."

"Now, she is soiled." He pursed his lips after making this announcement.

"She was attacked by a male with a history of assaulting those who are weaker than him," I countered. "She is a victim."

"Do not allow your sympathy for her to cloud your judgment. Joining with a human is bad enough for our bloodline, but now that Burke has sullied her, it is unacceptable." He made a low growl. "He ruined my ball. There is no telling what my guests will say."

I had to press my point. "Now is the time to rid yourself of his ungrateful ass. He allowed his baser needs to disrupt the ball. Your guests were enjoying themselves, dancing, and drinking. It should be talked about as the party of the decade. Those not invited will be envious." I needed to pull back. I was going overboard. "Expel him. It will show your power, and we may be made richer."

"I will consider your opinion." Anton turned in his chair, giving me his back.

The meeting was over, and I did not waste a moment leaving his office.

Sig and I stayed silent on our walk to my office.

The moment the door slammed behind us, I screamed, "Fuck." I hated that things were out of my control.

"You need food." Sig opened the door and summoned a page to place the food order. "Say nothing until after you've eaten."

I wasn't sure how I felt about being ordered by Sig. However, I could not find fault with his suggestion.

Not much time passed before a knock sounded at my door.

"Enter," Sig told them.

Two maids entered, pushing a cart.

My stomach growled loudly. Sig was correct; food might help.

As the staff finished placing the dishes on the table, Talia entered my room.

She was freshly showered, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she headed to the table. "Good. I'm starving."

We ate in silence and quickly.

When I finished, I sat behind my desk. It made me feel that I had a little of my power back.

Once Sig and Talia took the chairs before me, I asked, "Does she live?"

"Yes." Talia studied me for a long moment. "If her wounds had been fatal, I would have told you that before we ate."

"Thank you for…for seeing to her needs," my voice husky with emotion. My mate lived.

"I sent guards," Sig said, "to patrol the area around the cottage."

"I saw four as I was leaving," Talia said quietly. "But none of Anton's."

I waited for several more beats. "Did she say anything?"

Talia shook her head. "No. She was unconscious."

Sig filled the silence. "You can see her tomorrow, er, today."

"I doubt she will wish for that," I told them grimly.

"Don't," Talia snapped. "You are upset, and it is understandable." She held up her palm to stop my interruption. "Do not make the mistake of assigning feelings to Sage while she is unconscious."

"My mate could have died," I thundered.

"She didn't," Talia responded in the same tone.

"You claimed her," Sig pointed out.

"We didn't petition The Lady. It is not binding," I reminded them.

"You care for her," Talia began, "and she returns those feelings." She turned to Sig. "Once she understands our ways…" She cleared her throat. "It was a public claiming; it is the way for some."

"You need sleep. Tomorrow, you will see your mate. Everything will work out," Sig told me kindly.

A fist pounded on my door.

Sig answered, and a voice announced, "Anton Redd, Leader of the Redd Pack."

Sig and I exchanged glances. Why so soon? And why had he deigned to seek me out? We stood and waited for Anton to make his entrance.

A beat after he crossed the threshold, we dipped our chins.

My half-brother looked around my office with disdain. "This space is small."

I didn't respond. Instead, I asked, "How may I serve?"

"I want you to take that thing to Novus," Anton decreed.

I was surprised by his rapid change of mind. "I will make the call." I dipped my chin.

"Make it soon," Anton ordered.