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reached the center. All conversation ceased entirely as he took his spot. The group slowly circled
around him until they each took a seat on the grass.
I m Reid Bennett, your new Itan.
You re a wolf, a male shouted from the back and Reid held onto his control by a thread.
Thank you, Captain Obvious. Yes, I m a wolf. Yes, I killed your Itan. Yes, I killed his brothers.
And yes, I will kill the last who still evades me. He paused, attention drifting over the bears before
him. I was going to come up here and explain my past. I was going to tell you I ended a wolf pack
for harming my sister. That I destroyed half of a hyena pack because of what they did to my mother. I
was going to explain how I came to be here and lay out why I will make your clan a good Itan.
Another pause, one giving them a chance to absorb his words. But the truth is, any other male
who stood before you, the last Itan s blood on his claws, wouldn t have to answer a single question.
This means I will not, either. You can choose to stay and follow a wolf who claims this position by
death or you can leave. You are welcome to request assistance from the Southeast Itan. In fact, you
can use my cell phone to make the call. He dug into his jeans, and tossed the device toward the
group.
Speed dial one will get Terrence. He knows me, he sent me, and he ll help you get away from
me if that is your choice. If I find out you were part of the madness that overtook this clan, I will force
you out myself. And no phone call will save you then. Seconds ticked past, no one moving. Some
would. Maybe not while they were all gathered together, but he didn t doubt that some would leave.
If you stay, I will remain dedicated to you. No one will hurt you and if they dare, the pain you
experience will be avenged on the idiot who was dumb enough to touch what belongs to me. You are
mine. You will be mine. I am not crazy. I am possessive. I do not glory in blood, but in retribution. I
do not enjoy violence, but welcome it with open arms when it comes to someone who harmed
someone I claim.
If that means I strike out at one of our own members, then that s what it means. No crime will
remain unpunished, no matter the offender. You will be safe from me and from yourselves.
He let the quiet envelope them, let it drift over them, and he drew in the scents that flowed from
the bears. There was anger and fear. Happiness and concern. Emotions he expected. Emotions he
welcomed.
Then there was another. A twisted, sticky, burning hate that crept into his pores.
Ezekiel.
He d come, the stupid bastard.
Good for Reid. Not so good for Zeke.
Think about what I ve said. Consider your options and make your own choices without threat of
retribution. For now, I m going to run with my mate, he held up their joined hands, showing off the
fact that he and Evie stood together. And I m going to claim her. So, to preserve a little of her
modesty, I ask that you hunt north. Evie and I will head south.
What about the& A timid female voice drew his attention and she slowly rose to her feet.
What about our& She trembled and cupped her stomach protectively.
Evie gave his hand a gentle squeeze so he let her handle this one, allowing her to pull her hand
free before she padded toward the shaking bear. Soon the woman was in his mate s arms, soft shushes
reaching his ears until she no longer shook and then it was his mate who turned and spoke to the
gathered bears. If you have children from or are pregnant with children fathered by my uncles or
Patrick, they are welcome here. No one is going to throw you out. You belong to us. All of you. Two
feet, four feet, or still in the womb, you are ours.
Some of the fear bled away with his mate s words and he knew he could not have picked a better
stronger female had he tried. Evie was perfect. Deliciously, lusciously, perfect.
She turned to him, their gazes clashing and he hoped she saw the emotions that filled him.
Possessiveness, sure. But there was happiness. Desire. Need. Something he might think of as love, but
he wasn t sure what that emotion felt like. It was what he felt for his sister, but more. So much, much
more. Indescribable yet so basic. It encompassed everything inside him and yet left a part of him
empty.
The part that was supposed to come from her. The other half of his soul.
It was love then. That s what others called their mates. Soul mates.
That s what they had.
And he was about to put it at risk.
Evie whispered to the woman and then passed her off to another obviously pregnant female. His
gut churned, his ache to destroy Ezekiel growing by the moment. He d already destroyed the others,
but at least he had one left to massacre.
He couldn t wait.
Soon Evie was at his side once more, her fingers twined with his, and he knew it was time. He
turned his head and spoke to Asher. Do it. His Enforcer immediately spoke into his phone, passing
on Reid s message, and he spoke once more. Look to the west. Not a single person denied him,
each bear turning to stare behind them and then a fireball of red and yellow exploded into the sky, the
fire burning high and bright. That is your past. It s gone. Destroyed as if it never existed. And I,
dozens of eyes were now trained on him. I am your future.
Evie elbowed him. We, she hissed and it was exactly what the crowd needed. A handful of
chuckles passed through the crowd, smiles accompanying the sounds.
We are your future.
Chapter Nineteen
Hell yeah, they were the clan s future.
I am your future.
Evelyn would give him a future. Six feet in the ground, that was going to be his future.
I am your future.
Ha!
Evelyn stomped through the foliage, Reid on her tail, but thankfully silent. Self-preservation,
probably.
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