33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Cain

O ur new connection is both the weirdest feeling I've ever had and the most natural. My protective side loves knowing exactly how she is feeling and being able to discern how far away she is. The ability to mind-link with her means that most of our morning is spent in literal silence while we talk about all kinds of things.

My wolf feels settled for the first time in months, and there is a strength simmering across the bond. I can sense her wolf reaching for mine and know we will be a force together.

Flipping the grilled cheese in the pan, I feel the heaviness of the conversation we need to have and know the words must be spoken out loud.

"So, have you decided whether you want to stay in Vegas?" I ask, desperately aiming for nonchalance and trying to shield my feelings from her.

"I thought that was obvious with my choice to be Awakened and Mated to you," she says, confusion showing in her scrunched brow.

"Not sure it was obvious. I told you I would follow you wherever you wanted to go. I didn't know if Boston was still something you wanted," I say, plating her food and walking it over to her.

My grilled cheese is no match for Presley's, but it's edible.

"Even if Boston was still an option, which I doubt it is as ‘flaky' as I've been already. I can't imagine taking you away from your family. The pack is your family. I feel it when I think of them because I've lived those memories, too. We can't abandon them, especially now that I'm the reason the whole pack is in trouble with the LLC," she says, guilt sliding out of her.

"You aren't the reason for that. I am. I broke the law taking you out of there, and don't get me wrong, I would do it again in a heartbeat, but it definitely left Dante in a tight spot. I'm sure there are warrants out for me by now," I say, not wanting to hide the truth from her. When we decide to leave here, I will have consequences to make amends for, with the LLC and with the pack.

"Warrants? Like you could go to jail? Is there wolf jail?" she asks, panic slipping into her voice.

"There are, in fact, confinement facilities, and we can be put there, but for something like this, I doubt that would be the punishment. I embarrassed them by taking you; they will want to save face somehow. We will cross that bridge when we come to it. What I'm most worried about is the pack. With Marlo being given authority over you and me breaking that, he will have the freedom to retaliate against the pack. He could start a war," I say, the gravity of that sitting heavy on my heart.

"Can Dante beat him? In a war, I mean," she asks, rubbing her hand on my arm to soothe some of my growing worry.

"One on one, sure. Dante is strong and younger, but Marlo has one of the strongest wolves of his generation. So it wouldn't be easy, but I think he could win. Pack against pack, I don't know. Most of our alliances wouldn't be willing to join us in a war if we are on the wrong side of the LLC. Marlo's allies won't have that problem, so he will have more resources than we do. He also isn't known for being a law-abiding citizen, so where we would try to preserve the lives of the innocent, he wouldn't have such compunction. He's not a good man, and he works with even more bad men. We would lose hundreds if not thousands of wolves trying to fight him." I finish, anger filling me at the idea.

We could be losing them right now.

No, Dante would have called for me.

Wouldn't he?

Bri: We need to protect them. We need to stop this.

She sends directly into my mind.

How?

Cain: I'm not sure we can. If we join them, the LLC will come for me, bringing even more problems.

Bri: We can't let the pack sacrifice themselves for us if we won't even show up to protect them.

Cain: I understand that. I don't want anyone dying for me.

Bri: Can we talk to the LLC? Can we go to them directly to plead our case? We're Mates; you said that matters to them. Maybe they will understand and change the ruling. Then Marlo won't have a reason to attack. Or if he does, at least we will have allies to fight with.

I'm unsure when the conversation went from speaking to mind-link, but the transition was so smooth that I didn't even notice we'd changed.

Her idea isn't bad. Going straight back there and revealing the Mate Marks proves her right to be with me. They couldn't ignore it if it were in front of them.

"You want to turn ourselves in to the LLC without knowing the consequences?" I ask, pride filling me at her resilience. Her willingness to do what's right. Her belief in justice.

"If it can save the pack from war, I think it's our only choice. I don't want to spend my life running. Not anymore," she says, pushing her now empty plate away from her. I'm not sure when she ate it, but her sandwich is gone, and she stands waiting for my answer.

"I will run with you to the ends of the Earth, or I will stand by your side and fight until my last breath. My choice will always be you, Firefly. So, if you want to take on the LLC, we can leave tonight," I say, meaning every word.

"My whole life has been about running away from the pain. I need that pain to mean something. Not only that, I want to start causing some," she says, grabbing the discarded plate and walking to the kitchen.

"Then we fight back. We take our power back. We protect what's ours," I reply, understanding that the LLC won't change their minds easily, but knowing if anyone can make them see reason, it's her.

Ready or not… here we go…