37

O n any other day, my patience would have dried up by now. I'm barely keeping it together because, even though Leera is doing an amazing job and I want to see her in action, this isn't how the men and I get information. We don't calm them and ask nicely. After everything she's put Leera through, I should be surprised she's able to be that compassionate with her. But it's just her. It's who Leera is. It's her presence and spirit. She's a Luna down to her soul.

With that thought, I find myself able to relax and wait a little longer before jumping in.

“Too late for what?” Leera asks, offering India another sip of water.

India accepts the water before she visibly works to gather herself for whatever she has to say. I straighten myself in preparation for the weight of what could have brought her here like this.

She speaks slowly and clearly when she says, “I heard him say that they were working with dark witches. That they will never stop until they've seized control of Zabella, Sabbax, the human realm, and...”

“And what, India? I'm losing my patience,” I snarl before I can stop myself.

Leera narrows her eyes at me before returning to India. “It's okay. What are they planning?”

She looks Leera right in the eyes when she says, “He said that they have to do whatever it takes to complete the prophecy . He said they’re coming for Roman. He said they’re done playing nice. They’ll start killing innocent people, no matter the species, until you do whatever they need for the prophecy to be met. I didn’t even know there was a prophecy. I-I swear, I didn't know about all of that. I thought this was just about me being queen. I had no idea it was more than the throne. I never th...I never thought they were capable of this.”

All I can say without losing my shit is, “When.”

She shakes her head. “He didn’t say. I came as quickly as I heard.”

“Why now? You’ve been working with them for a long fucking time, India. I’d say probably just over five hundred years, if I had to guess.” Her flinch answers that question. “You knew he killed her, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I knew, okay! They’ve been training me for this my entire life! I just wanted to be a queen! Yes, I wanted you to myself, but the Goddess had other plans. Obviously. But I don’t know how many people they’re planning to kill or have already killed. I don’t know anything about a prophecy. I don’t know what they plan to do with the power. He said...” She chokes on another broken sob. “He said that since I couldn't do my part, I was no longer needed, and they might as well get rid of me too!”

Now it all makes sense. India has only ever cared about herself and the crown. But she only finally told us what's going on and came to us because her life is now on the line as well.

“Roman, we have to do something,” Leera pleads.

I raise a single eyebrow at her. “Why should we help her? She made her bed.”

“Roman Razboinic,” Leera scolds as she stands to her full height and plants her hands on her hips. “While she is obviously far from one of my favorite people, there is a big difference between wanting to knock some sense into someone and letting then die when we can do something about it.”

“Roman, please. I promise to stay out of your way or help you all in any way I can; just please don't let them do this. I'll be a better wolf. Whatever you want, I'll do it. Please,” India begs.

I snarl to myself at the thought of helping her. After everything she's been a part of, can I really help her?

Leera will never forgive you if you just let them kill her, Benny replies. Apparently, I said that part to my men.

What do all of you think? I intentionally ask them this time.

Slate's the first to respond, We'll have to help her, or we're no better than they are. She may also have more useful information, like why Avram’s scent is never found.

Shit , he's right.

I roll my neck in irritation. “We'll help you, but not at the risk of Leera or our lives. We're leaving for the pack’s full moon ceremony tomorrow morning, so we'll have to find somewhere for you to stay. You're not staying here without anyone.”

“I'll ask Khaos if she can stay with him or his pack while we're gone. We'll only be gone a couple of days,” Leera pipes up, and the confusion on India's face would be comical if it wasn't for the bomb she had just dropped on us.

I nod. It's not going to be as easy as she thinks. If India truly wants our protection, she's going to have to provide information, and she's going to have to swear her loyalty. Not to me. To Leera. She'll have to create a pack bond with her, preventing her from betraying her in any way. We'll address that when we return from the pack.

“India, we have information that we need from you. We'll get that and handle any other concerns when we return. Leera, can you go ahead and get in touch with Khaos so we can confirm she has somewhere to stay?”

I don't like this, Andrei chimes in.

We just don't like her, the twins add in unison.

I don't either, but Slate and Benny are right. We can't stoop to their level, and Leera would never forgive us if we just let them kill her. No matter how much easier that would make my life.

“I'll do anything you all want; just please don't let them kill me!” India continues to cry.

“I'm on it,” Leera announces as she pulls her phone from her pocket to call her brother.

Slate takes his laptop and moves to sit on the floor in front of India to get as much information from her while she's still agreeable.

Benny hands me a glass of whiskey as I take a seat at the barstool next to him on the island.

“How did life get so fucked up so quickly?” I ask no one in particular.

“Eh, it was getting a bit boring there for a while; we needed something to spice things up a bit,” Benny chuckles. “I mean, let's face it, Boss, before Leera showed up, you were only existing for hockey and the pack. You weren't happy. You were barely even living.”

He's right, but I won't say that, so I just grunt in agreement and take a swig from my whiskey.

“Right now, we need to focus first on Leera's likely shift tomorrow tonight. It's going to be a lot for her, and with her going all her life without shifting, I don't know how painful it will be.”

Benny nods.

“Did you pack the things I asked for?”

“Yep,” he responds, popping the P for emphasis just when Leera comes back into the room with that smile on her face that makes my heart stop.

“Khaos wasn't happy about it, but he agreed to let her stay at his pack’s house until we get back. He said if she'll catch a flight, he'll pick her up from the airport. Make sure she doesn't use her credit cards or anything.”

Nodding to myself, I say, “Slate, can you throw together a fake identity in time so she doesn't have to use her name either? That way, they can't track her.”

“I think so, Boss. Let me start on that now then.”

With a plan of action in place, we set to finish getting ready for tomorrow.