“What could be worse than accepting the outstretched hand of a monster?” A man stepped from the shadows of the doorway.

My heart slammed around wildly when I recognized Emile Laroche, broad and bulky in contrast to his tall, streamlined son, his body all knotted muscle and coarse bristling hair. The Bane alpha looked straight at me. Though he remained in human form, he was flanked by three wolves: Dax, Fey, and Cosette. My heart splintered as their eyes locked on me and they growled in unison. I could pull their single, shared thought from their hateful stares.

Traitor.

I didn’t want to see the truth that stood before me. Truth witnessed by the sharp flash of fangs and bristling fur, eyes full of hate as they stared at me.

A choice. They were given a choice. Just like Sabine.

Three of my packmates had turned on me. They belonged to Emile’s pack now. They had chosen the Keepers over their friends.

Why?

Then I turned my gaze back on Ren. His fingers still dug into my arms. They’d given him a choice too. My gut clenched violently and I thought I might be sick. I could see the pain behind his fury and knew Ren didn’t want to hurt me, that he’d only chosen the Keepers because I’d left him behind. Because I’d betrayed someone who loved me. He’d lied for me and they had tortured him. He’d been broken and it was my fault. What other choice could he have made?

“Emile.” Monroe’s hoarse voice tore my eyes off of Ren. The Searcher’s face became almost unrecognizable as he stared at Emile, eyes darkened by a hollow, endless rage.

Emile kept smiling. “You don’t know how much I’d hoped to see you again, Monroe. Thank you for coming.”

Monroe didn’t speak, but his hands began to tremble.

Emile turned to Ren. When he spoke, his voice was cool and silky. “Renier, meet the man who killed your mother.”

Ren’s hands dropped from my arms; the color leached from his face.

I scrambled away, crouching against the side wall. My eyes flicked from Ren, to Monroe, to the door still blocked by Emile and the wolves. There was no way out.

Monroe drew a hissing breath. “You lying bastard.”

The emptiness in his eyes brightened with the subtle gleam of tears.

Emile’s laugh was like the snapping of bones. “Lies? Do you really believe Corrine would have died if not for you?”

With a sudden cry Monroe lunged at Emile.

But Ren was there, shifting forms in the air, and a dark gray wolf hunched snarling between his father and the Searcher, blocking Monroe’s path of attack. Monroe faltered at the sight, losing his momentum. He pitched to the side, rolling out of the way as Ren snapped at him.

“I seem to have the upper hand, old friend.” Emile grinned while Ren stalked toward Monroe, cornering him against the farwall of the cell.

“We’ll see about that,” Monroe said, keeping his eyes on Ren. The wolf’s muscles were bunched, his snarls furious. I knew he would be on Monroe at any moment, craving the blood that he believed would avenge his mother’s death.

“Ren, don’t!” I shouted. “Monroe didn’t kill your mother. He tried to save her!”

“Kill that bitch, Dax,” Emile hissed, pointing at me. “Now.”

Dax stalked toward me, snarling, revealing all his razor-sharp teeth. I’d never given much thought to how large Dax was when he wasn’t in human form. I’d never thought I’d have to fight him. The best warrior of the young Banes. As I watched his muscles rippling beneath his fur, I realized he was the biggest wolf I’d ever seen. I shifted forms, hackles raised, and braced myself against the floor. He had the advantage of size and strength, but I had speed.

Even as I grasped for a way to defend myself, my mind was shrieking. I don’t want to kill Dax. How could I ever kill Dax?

He was only a few feet away, a distance he could cover in a single leap. I snarled but reached out to him with my mind.

Don’t do this.

You made your bed, Calla. Dax crouched, muscles coiling like springs, baring his fangs.

Even his teeth were huge.

A sharp growl pierced the room and Dax hesitated, turning in response to Ren’s call. Their eyes met. Dax sounded a short, confused bark, looking from Ren to Emile.

Ren hadn’t opened his mind to me—only Dax could hear him, but I was desperate to know what was passing between the two wolves.

“Don’t interfere, boy.” Emile glared at Ren.

Dax balked and I stepped another foot closer to the door, wondering if I could make a run for it. Even if I could, it would mean leaving Monroe behind. I froze in place, refusing to abandon him.

“I am your alpha,” Emile said, showing Dax sharp canines. “Kill her. Kill her and take your place as my second.”

Dax turned to face me, his eyes burning, full of bloodlust, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate again. I had to let go of whatever doubts still made me balk at the prospect of fighting a former packmate. Now. Or I was dead.

“Back off, fluffy!” Connor rushed through the door, throwing himself between Dax and me, brandishing his swords. “Sorry to break up the party, but it’s time for us to say good-bye. Not that you haven’t been wonderful hosts.”

Dax darted forward. Connor feinted, slashing the wolf’s shoulder. Dax lunged again, but Connor matched his speed, leaving two more gashes in Dax’s side. The massive wolf gnashed his teeth, barking furiously while Connor circled him, keeping the blades flying between them at a dizzying speed.