“No, but I know what I actually did, and I know why I did it.”

“They said you turned Lance Parker over to the thunderbirds and let them kill him. Cal says you tried to kill Alex, and that you cut up Colin’s face. Is…is any of it true?”

Jace sighed. “I never tried to kill Alex. I was just defending myself and Faythe.”

“But you did the rest of it?”

He leaned against the tree again, and I could see his frustration in profile. “I don’t know what all Cal’s told you, or what you believe, but you’re my mother, and I was kind of hoping you’d take me at my word, even if my version doesn’t line up with his. Cal framed us, Mom. Lance killed a thunderbird, and Cal set us up to take the fall. We had to turn Lance in to keep them from slaughtering the rest of our Pride and killing Kaci Dillon. We did what we thought was right. And I stand by that.”

Patricia was quiet for a long moment. Almost half a minute. “I’m sorry you were put in such a difficult position.”

“I’m still in that position. Cal’s put Kenton Pierce in charge of the south-central Pride and kicked us out. We’re living in the free zone, Mom. All of us. Women and children included.”

Her sharp inhale spoke volumes. “That can’t… That’s not safe, Jace. You have to send the women back. Kent will take them. I know he will. Or we will. Send them here.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the tree trunk, but Jace answered without even glancing at me. “They won’t go. I need to talk to Cal, Mom. I have to work something out. Can you put him on the phone?”

“He’s…” Springs creaked as she sat on what sounded like a bed. “He’s not here. He’s still helping Kent get everything set up in Texas. But don’t call him there, Jace. Not unless you’re going to send the women to us. If you come back into the territory, they’re going to arrest you, and Cal says… Jace, he doesn’t think he can keep the other Alphas from giving you the death sentence. Treason is a very serious charge, and they don’t seem inclined toward mercy.”

I nearly laughed out loud. Cal couldn’t convince the others to go easy on us? Patricia Malone was either in serious denial or completely brain-dead.

“I…” Jace faked a hesitant pause. “Thanks for the warning. I guess I better lay low for a while.”

“Yes. But thank you for calling. It’s good to know you’re okay.”

“Thanks. Can I call you again, just to check in?”

Brilliant! If Patricia were inclined to tell Malone that we called, he’d be ready to take advantage of another call later, but hopefully completely unprepared for the imminent attack.

“Please do. I love you, Jace.”

“Love you, too, Mom.” He flipped his phone closed and shoved it in his pocket before turning back to me, and when he did, his fists were clenched at his sides. “I hate what he’s done to my mother. To my father’s Pride. And he’s completely warped Melody.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, wishing I knew how to comfort him.

“Let’s hit the road. I don’t want to lose any of this anger before I see Calvin.”

My anger was in no danger of fading. In fact, I was confident I’d still be marinating in rage until Calvin Malone spat out his bitter last breath.

Thirty-two

I was a bundle of raw nerves, buzzing with bloodlust, drowning in impatience, and cranky from spending nine hours stuffed in a car. Again. Jace and I were in the lead, with Michael and Holly in the backseat. Behind us, Owen drove with Ryan, Manx, Kaci, Des, and Mom. Parker, Vic, Dr. Carver, and Brian rounded out our caravan in Vic’s car.

We’d considered leaving the women in the free zone, to keep them as far from Malone as possible. But the truth was that they’d be no safer there—largely unprotected and surrounded by strays, most of whom had never even seen a female of their own species—than they would be inside the south-central territory. So long as Malone died without ever finding out they were there.

I wondered if the others were all as restless as I was. So far, Jace and Michael seemed to be taking everything in stride, though I knew from the tension in Jace’s arms that he couldn’t be as calm as he looked.

“So, you guys do this all the time, right?” Holly asked, leaning forward with a hand on the back of my seat. “This fight is no big deal? It’s not really dangerous?”

I glanced from her to Michael and decided to let him field that one.

He sighed. “We fight a lot, yeah, but this isn’t a normal fight. It’s more like a war. Or at least a battle. Calvin Malone and his men kicked us out of our home and our territory, and we have to take it back by force.”

“But you’re just going to beat some guys up, right? No one’s going to get…killed?” When Michael didn’t answer, she turned on him, and I saw the horror on her face in the rearview mirror. “Michael, have you killed people?”

“Not by choice,” he finally answered, and Holly’s mouth opened and closed, without producing any sound. “We do what has to be done to protect ourselves and the rest of our Pride. That’s just the way it is. I’ll explain it better when I get back, but I don’t have time right now.”

Because Carey Dodd’s house had just come into sight at the end of the street.

“But what if you don’t come back?” Holly demanded, as Jace turned into the driveway. “Who’s going to explain that to me?”