Logan swallowed hard. “Perhaps not.”

I let him go, turning to Anika. “What’s happened in Vail will have thrown the packs into chaos. The Nightshades aren’t loyal to Emile Laroche. They’re loyal to my father. My family.”

Connor was nodding. “Good girl.”

“What are you proposing?” Anika asked.

“Guardians need alpha leaders. The bonds of the pack are what make us fight so well. The Keepers made a serious mistake by killing my mother and deposing my father. We’ll exploit that mistake.”

“Don’t they know their packs well enough to avoid such an error?” the hawk-faced man asked.

It was Ren who answered. “Their pride makes them believe their rule is absolute.”

Anika turned to Logan, who had scrambled to his feet. He glared at me, but gave a reluctant nod.

“And you believe that you and this boy can be the new alphas?” Anika’s steely gaze was on me. “Both packs will follow you?”

“We are the alphas. One Bane, one Nightshade. The packs will follow us. We can unite them and lead them against the Keepers.” In truth I wasn’t at all sure they would, but it was the only thing I could think of that might convince the Searchers to welcome Ren.

“There are those still loyal to Emile,” Logan said, rubbing his throat where my tight grip had left bruises. “You won’t sway them all.”

I kept my focus on the Arrow. “We can sway enough. Enough to make a difference.”

“It’s Monroe’s plan, Anika,” Connor said. “This is the revolt he wanted to stage from the beginning.”

“I know,” she said. “Very well.”

She crossed the room to stand before Ren. “Welcome, Renier. Your father was a good man.”

“No.” Shay’s eyes were wild. His knuckles were white as he clenched his fists.

“Shay, please,” Adne said. “This was always the plan Monroe hoped for.”

“I can’t go along with this,” he said. “It’s not what Monroe wanted. It’s what the Keepers wanted, forcing them to be together. Calla doesn’t belong with Ren.”

Ren bared his teeth at Shay. “She does. She always has.”

“I will kill you before I let you touch her.” The air around Shay was rippling again. “You aren’t the only alpha and you know it.”

My breath caught in my throat. Shay understood. His wolf instincts were teaching him faster than I ever could have anticipated. He was the interloper, and he was ready to challenge Ren for rule of the pack.

“Give it your best shot.” Ren smiled, just as ready to accept that challenge.

Shay stepped forward, only hesitating when Anika drew her sword, barring his path.

“Someone throw a bucket of ice water on these two,” Connor said.

“Calla,” Adne said. “Make them stop.”

The truth of her words was like a slap in the face. I could stop them.

Pushing past Anika, who sheathed her sword, I stood between Shay and Ren.

“Listen to me, both of you.” I placed a hand in the middle of each boy’s chest; their heartbeats thrummed against my fingertips. “This ends now.”

“Of course it does,” Shay said. “You have to choose.”

“He’s right,” Ren said, looking past me to glare at Shay. “Choose, Calla.”

“I won’t choose,” I said. “Not yet.”

Their hearts both skipped a beat in sync, revealing their shared uncertainty. A wave of giddiness washed over me. I was the alpha, and I didn’t have to submit to anyone. I finally was able to follow my own path, a destiny I could discover for myself.

“I don’t need a mate,” I said, measuring my words. “I need soldiers. You two are the best I know. I need you. Both of you. Will you fight for me?”

Neither boy answered. They glared at each other, both waiting for the other to make the first move.

I let my words drop into their silence like stones into a deep well. “Will you fight for me?”

Shay frowned. “Always, but—”

“No buts,” I said, turning to Ren. “Will you?”

“You know I will.” His eyes were wary.

“Ren leads the pack. He’s the key to cementing this alliance with the wolves still in Vail,” I said. “Shay gets his hands on the Elemental Cross and leads the Searchers into battle.”

I glanced at Anika, who nodded.

“What about you?” Shay asked.

I smiled. “I’m the one who makes sure we all get along.”

“Good luck with that,” Ren growled.

With a quiet laugh, I moved my hands from each of their chests to grasp their wrists.

“I don’t need luck,” I said. “You’re going to swear to me that you’ll help and not hurt each other. You’re about to make a blood oath.”

“Uh . . . what?” Shay stared at me.

“Until this war is over, winning it is all that matters.” I pulled on them until they were standing face-to-face, inches apart. I could feel the tension pouring off each alpha. The scent of sunlight and thunderstorms swirled with the smoke of autumn bonfires and sandalwood.

“Heal each other,” I said.

“No,” Ren said.

“I need my warriors whole. You made each other bleed.” I ignored Ren’s bewildered expression. “Now undo the damage.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Shay grimaced.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m not kidding.” I stepped back, folding my arms over my chest. “Until I choose a mate, I’m the only alpha here; I’ve made it clear that I’m not making a choice right now. You two answer to me. Prove your loyalty. Heal each other.”

“I don’t believe this.” Ren groaned, but he bit his arm and held it out to Shay.

“No way.” Shay started to back off, but I snarled.

“Do it.”

“Damn it, Cal. You’re heartless,” he said, biting his own wrist.

“I know.”

Shay and Ren glared at each other, eyes locked as they drank each other’s blood, bonding them as packmates even though they still despised each other.

“Nicely played, alpha,” Logan murmured.

As much as I wanted to level a stony gaze on the Keeper, I couldn’t stop my own smile. Something inside me was running free, wild and howling its joy.