The moment Zev looked up, all eyes jumped to his face. Waiting for him to judge them. To pass sentence on them. He was weary of blood and death. Of fighting. He had lost friends this day—they all had. But these men had lost everything. They were no longer Lycan and most Lycans wouldn’t welcome them home. Even if the council ruled to lift the death sentence on the Sange rau, there would be prejudice until education finally won the old ones over.

Their free will was taken from them. They tried to fight against Xaviero’s orders. Some embraced his rule, while these did not. You can see marks on them. Some of them were disciplined by the mage. His disciplines are brutal. Cruel, Branislava informed him.

I will not force them to join my pack. They’ve had enough of others making choices for them. They can make up their minds.

Most likely they’d heard the conversation with his grandfather, but he was held to that promise—not any of them.

Slowly he stood up and made his way to them. The row of Sange rau—no, not that—they were Hän ku pesäk kaikak. “In spite of what others have told you, in spite of every ancient belief, a mixed blood is not an abomination. Just as a Lycan can make the choice to become a rogue werewolf, and the Carpathian can make the choice to become a vampire, you also have a choice in how you want to live. At this moment, you are considered Hän ku pesäk kaikak, which means ‘guardian of all.’ I am Hän ku pesäk kaikak. I make no apologies for this. I take my role very seriously. I guard all species. Lycan. Carpathian. Jaguar. Human, and yes, even mage.”

One man stepped forward. “I’m Caleb,” he introduced himself. “We fought for the mage and have committed terrible crimes.”

Zev nodded his head gravely. It would do no good to dismiss things done in battle. “War brings out the worst in all of us,” he agreed. “Especially when we have no choice. Xaviero took your will from you. In some ways, he took all of our wills, forcing us to fight against one another. He was a powerful mage and he had centuries of planning the downfall of our people. He made you pawns and turned you into the thing you were taught to hate the most. That doesn’t mean he should continue to rule you. You all have choices to make.”

“Where can we go?” Caleb asked. “My pack will never accept me back. I have no family to go back to.”

The others nodded.

“It is entirely up to you. I can teach you the ways of the elite hunter. With me, you can learn the ways of the Carpathian so that your skills will improve even more. You will be expected to understand the full meaning of what it is to be a guardian of all and to live your life with honor. You are free to leave now and choose your own way. If you choose the way of the Sange rau and you decide to go rogue or vampire, we will hunt you down and kill you. That is a fact I cannot deny.”

“Are you saying you would have us?” Caleb asked. “All of us? After what was done here?”

“Xaviero and Xayvion did this. You were victims of his cruel magic. We all were.” Zev shrugged. “Look around you. Do you see condemnation? That is not the way of the Carpathian people. You are both Lycan and Carpathian. Your loyalty must be first to your pack and then to both species if you remain with me.”

Gregori stirred, but said nothing when Mikhail flicked him one telling glance.

The twelve men looked around the battlefield. Carpathians had called down the lightning to burn their dead, and Lycans had chosen to fuel the ceremonial pyre to incinerate their dead. Rolf, the other council members and the pack leaders huddled together. Some shot the twelve suspicious glances, but no one challenged them as they talked with Zev.

“They will not accept us,” Caleb pointed out.

Zev shrugged. “That’s their problem not ours. They had no trouble allowing us to fight for them—and they’ll call on us again.”

The guardians looked at one another as though uncertain what to do. Zev shook his head. “Any time you join a pack and swear allegiance to the alpha pair, it is solely an individual choice. It has to be. Each of you make up your own mind.”

He glanced at Gregori and then back to the others. “Know this about the pack leader you will serve under. I am fair and loyal, but I absolutely demand your best at all times. I don’t tolerate insubordination. I have women in my pack who are as good or better warriors than any of you, and I expect them to be treated with respect at all times. If you can’t handle those things, you don’t belong in my pack.”

He noted each of their expressions, especially the ones with the tattoos of the Sacred Circle. Many of those who believed in the sacred code didn’t believe women should fight with men.

“You also need to know my allegiance is given to Mikhail, prince of the Carpathian people. I am Carpathian, just as I am Lycan. I am a guardian of all and I will defend him with my life. I will expect my pack to do the same.”

Again he watched them closely. Two frowned, but they appeared more puzzled than dismayed.

“We’re both Lycan and Carpathian,” Caleb said, with a little bit of wonder in his voice.

Zev nodded his head in agreement. “Think about it and let me know. You’re free to go wherever you like. And you’re free to contact me when you make up your mind.”

Caleb shook his head and stepped forward, gripping Zev’s shoulders hard. “I cannot be without a strong pack leader. Hemming was my acknowledged leader, though most of the time I couldn’t do the things he would have wished. I would be more than honored if you would accept me into your pack.”

It looks like we’re going to have a very big family, Branislava said.

I know, Branka. I’m sorry. I don’t want to complicate our lives, but I can’t leave them without a leader.

She laughed softly, wrapping him up in her love. We asked for wolves, remember? I think the old adage “be careful what you wish for” might apply here.

He laughed softly in his mind with her, sharing that moment of humor while each of the twelve guardians swore their fidelity to him and to their new pack. He had to learn their names quickly before he performed the introductions to his lifemate, their alpha, and Daciana, Makoce and Lykaon, before bringing them before the prince.

The four silent guards watching over Mikhail moved a little closer, as did Gregori, but no one objected to the formal introductions.

“I have much left to do here,” Zev pointed out. “Daciana, Lykaon and Makoce can find you a place to stay until we can make homes within the forest where you’ll be more comfortable.”