40. Ryan

The old camping ground was alive with tension. All twenty-one Packs from the northeast were here. They all knew about Jem's demise and were here to witness the crowning of Brock and Hayley as the new Alpha Pair of the Three Rivers Pack. The other Alphas weren't stupid, though. They all had their equivalent of Derek. They knew about Mai and me and were waiting to see what would happen.

A central fire pit lay at the heart of the camping site, a relic of countless human and Shifter ceremonies. At the moment, it lay cold and dormant, waiting for the spark that would set the night ablaze.

I scanned the perimeter, spotting my enforcers hidden in the shadows. Mason was poised like the predator he was, muscles taut and ready.

I went over the plan in my head. Every step had to be perfect, every movement synchronized. Mai's life depended on it, and I couldn't allow anything to go wrong. The image of her face, determined to save Sofia, to be a good Alpha, haunted my thoughts. I couldn't fail her.

Derek's footsteps crunched behind me, snapping me back to reality.

"They'll be coming from the south-western road," he said. "Brock and Hayley should be here in the next ten minutes."

"Any news from Jase?"

Derek shook his head. I'd sent Jase to follow the convoy of cars leaving Three Rivers. He was supposed to track them here and then meet up with us.

My gut twisted with a growing sense of unease. "Everyone's ready, right?"

Derek's steely gaze met mine. "Relax, brother. We have everyone here. All our supporters, even Wally and Thomas."

I glanced at him sharply. "Who's watching Sam?"

Thomas had brought Sam out of his coma last night. He was weak, but he was going to be okay.

Derek shrugged, looking out over the campsite. "I couldn't keep him away. You know what he's like."

Shit.Sam was in no state for this fight.

"Mason will look out for him. Ryan, we've done everything we could. Now we have to let it all play out."

I nodded, knowing he was right. Derek wanted Sofia back just as much as I needed Mai.

It was time to act, not doubt.

Derek's hand landed on my shoulder. "We won't make any mistakes. We've got this."

His confidence should have reassured me, but instead, it gnawed at me, feeding my anxiety. Something felt off, a nagging doubt that I couldn't shake.

I glanced back at the old camping ground, the ghosts of the past whispering in the wind.

I had to trust in the plan, in Derek, in myself. But most of all, I had to trust that Mai was still alive.

My heart pounded restlessly as I turned away from Derek. The bond between Mai and me, once a comforting warmth, now felt like a cold, tight knot in my chest. I reached out to it, trying to feel her, to check she was still alive.

The connection was there, distant and faint but undeniably present. It told me nothing, though, not how she was or where she was, just that she was still alive. I'd been obsessively checking the bond since she gave herself up, each time fearing the worst, each time relieved to feel her still there.

The ache in my chest deepened, a longing for her that was both painful and fierce. I wanted her safe, back by my side, where she belonged.

Derek's words echoed in my head, a reassurance and a challenge. "We've got this."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. We had to succeed. We had no other choice.

A convoy of cars appeared on the south-western road, kicking up dust as they drew nearer. This was it. I grinned in anticipation. Derek and I both had an overdue appointment with Brock.

The cars came to a halt. The doors opened, and one by one, they emerged. Brock's smug smile, Hayley's cold eyes. Then, Sofia, hauled out of another car, disheveled but alive.

But no Mai.

My breath caught, a sharp stab of panic slicing through me.

"Mai's not there," I muttered. "She's not with them."

Derek's eyes scanned the cars. "Are you sure?"

I reached for the bond, desperate this time. It was there; she was still alive, but it was faint. She wasn't here, wasn't anywhere near here. "I'm sure," I snapped, anger and fear rising in a deadly mix.

Derek looked at me. "All our plans were based on rescuing Mai and Sofia, then challenging Brock and Hayley for the Alpha pair."

I knew what he was asking. I had to make a decision, one that could change everything. Trust that Mai was okay, that she would get herself out of whatever situation she found herself in, and stay here and challenge for the Alpha pair? Or follow my instincts and find Mai?

There was no choice. The thought of Mai in danger overpowered everything else. I had to find her, to protect her. She was my mate, my responsibility.

Derek's voice broke through my thoughts. "What about the Meet? What about the challenge?" He already knew the decision I would make.

"I trust you to handle it, Derek," I said, my voice firm. "You have to stall them; buy us as much time as you can. We'll be back before the end of the Meet."

"Ryan—" he began, but I cut him off.

"Just get it done."

And with that, I turned. I knew what I had to do.