Chapter Twenty-Three

Jasper stood looking over his small group of fighters. So far, four pack members had shown up to rejoin the pack. Although that number was far from what he’d hoped, it was a start.

“Jasper?” Doc’s rumbling voice drew Jasper’s attention. “I’ve contacted my pack, and our fighters will be here later today. That will add ten more.” Doc stood proud and tall.

Orange Moons weren’t the best fighters, but everybody counted, and Jasper was grateful for every one of them. “That’s good. Real good, Doc.”

A short auburn-haired wolf raised his stubby hand. “Sir, I’ve contacted my father’s pack, the Rocky Mountain Pack, and they’ve agreed to send fighters. The pack Alpha asked me to tell you he’d be in contact later today with the numbers, however, rough estimates total at twelve or more.”

The wolf smiled. “My mother’s pack, The Pacific Coast Pack, has also agreed to aid in our fight. My grandfather fought proudly for them after Dane took over. The pack is more than happy to help in any way to have the Luna Nation back in the hands of the Gandillions. Your father was a strong, honest leader. We want and need that again.”

Jasper’s chest swelled with pride. Yes, his father had been a great leader and so would he. But that still didn’t quench his unease about Sidda. She’d managed to call hours earlier to warn him about what would be coming, yet the bond held strong, and he could feel her emotions. Strong and clever, she was working Dane and his men. She’d always had a knack for getting him and Cole to do things, and it seemed she had that same effect on most men.

Jasper glanced away from the men sitting around his living room. Vivian sat to one side, writing away in her journal, while Cole looked up from his texting to stride toward him. His friend’s eyes held the same worry Jasper felt. Both wanted Sidda back home, away from Dane and his evil crew. But both knew this was something Sidda had to do and something Jasper had to trust her to do. It nearly tore him inside out that at any moment their bond would be broken. He would no longer be marked to her, but she’d always be his mate no matter whether she still wore his mark or not. Siddalee Brighton would always be Jasper Gandillion’s.

“Jasper?” Cole clapped him on the back. “My friend Jack in Texas who’s a Luna told me there was a press conference scheduled for Velham. Jack said his small pack is headed our way. They should be here in the morning.”

Jasper nodded absently. His Marking Bite burned under his skin. He turned to Doc and Ivan. “I’ve got to take care of something. Keep organizing members. Later, we will begin training and breaking off into teams.” Jasper rushed from the room as the burn stung more. He slammed the door to his room closed, aching from head to toe. The breaking process had started. Damn Dane Velham.

The tug and rip of flesh tore through his body with blinding pain. Jasper dropped to his knees, snatching his shirt off. His hands clapped over the marking on his neck. It nearly singed the skin. His head spun with images of that night, the night he’d finally bonded with Sidda. Her smile flashed into his mind. The image of her body under him writhing with pleasure while her eyes scorched him with love and passion scored his memory. She held everything that was right and good in his world. Her love drove him to be a better Alpha, and her faith in him made him want to prove he was worthy of her. Her submission to the bond gave his life meaning past being Alpha. It gave him hope and life. Now that hope, that life, was draining from his body. Blackness and emptiness filled the places once warmed by Sidda.

Only the knowledge of knowing in less than two days he’d mark her again, claim her again, kept him breathing.

* * * *

Sidda gasped, gripping the armchair tight. Her brain tingled, throbbed, threatening to pound her brains from her head. Dane had mentioned it would sting, but this was much more than a mere sting. No, he’d only said the skin near the mark would ache, not her entire fucking body.

Sidda closed her eyes, breathing in deeply, hoping to ease some of the pain. Her wolf screamed inside her head, screamed with rage for her mate. She didn’t want to give up Jasper any more than Sidda did. But neither had a choice.

“What’s wrong with her?” Stephan’s voice was a faint whisper.

Sidda fell to the floor, her heart ripping and tearing into pieces. Jasper would no longer be her mate. Their bond was gone, and in its place, only darkness remained. Her skin tore, then began stitching back into place. Like a needle through fabric, the flesh was pierced, then tugged back into place. Her hands clasped onto her neck where Jasper had once marked her as his. The skin was now smooth. The sting was gone, no longer bringing tears to her eyes.

The pain in Sidda’s mind faded. Her head stopped throbbing while tears rushed down her face. She opened herself to Jasper, but the bond wasn’t there. A tingle of awareness that he lived met her, but nothing more. There was a small glimmer of hope though. She could feel him, that had to mean something.

With that glimmer, Sidda cleared her mind of all fear, heartache, and worry. No matter what, they would prevail and take their places as Luna leaders.

She rose from the ground to face Dane. Determination roared within her. She would not fail, and she would not let Stephan fail either. With her determination, she knew Stephan would see what was done to him and come out of the whole situation as a changed wolf. He would be the one to avenge the dead children, the others who were more than likely sold, and he’d make sure no other pups were treated the way he’d been treated. Yes, Stephan was now on a marked path whether he knew it yet or not.

She faced Stephan, took his hand, then led him from the room. Once outside, she looked around the spacious landscaped yard. The large patio led to a huge pool. The crystal clear blue water shimmered in the evening sun. This day would soon be over, leading to a new better day.

“Stephan, you know I won’t mate with you. But I have a plan for you. Do you trust me?” She opened her mind to gather all of her calming thoughts, all her love and warmth. Love and warmth were things the wolf beside her had never received. Dane had denied him those things, and never for a second believed that any wolf would ever treat Stephan differently. Dane’s arrogance would be the death of him. He took too many thing for granted, and soon she’d use his pride against him.

His eyes narrowed before she opened her mind to him. His eyes slacked, and he dropped into one of the large lounge chairs. “Sidda, that feels so good when you do that. I don’t know what you want, but I swear I’ll do whatever it is if you’ll just let me feel that peace. I’ve never felt anything so pure, so free as the peace you send me.”

“I need your help. You’ve tried so hard to protect the kids around here, but you couldn’t protect them all. I know that nothing Dane Velham has done is your fault.”

“Sidda, he’s my Alpha, and we’ve had this conversation.”

“Yes, we have, but when Dane falls, you’ll have to pick a side. Mine or his. I want you on my side. You’re a protector, a strong wolf who will stand up for innocence, and I need that. There are others to be found, and they need justice. Once this is done between Dane and me, I want you to find them, bring them home, and protect them.”

Emotion swirled within Stephan’s eyes. He gently shook his head. “I’ve killed so many people, and the forest, it calls to me, Sidda. You have no idea how truly evil I am. I destroy everything and everyone in my path. If you can’t be by my side to give me peace, then I’ll let the forest have me.” He rose to walk off.

“What’s Dane’s power? I was told that Red Moons have the power to enrage, make wolves aggressive. Who’s to say that Dane isn’t manipulating you to make you think you’ll go forest crazy?” Sidda cocked her head to the side, watching Stephan. “If I can calm you, doesn’t it make equal sense that another wolf could send you into a fury?”

Stephan stared up at the house. Sidda eased toward him. “When you’re away from here, what eats at you? Is it guilt for what you’ve been forced to do or is it the so-called forest crazy?”

“I’ve gotta go. The press conference starts in the morning. Be ready downstairs to face the press.” Stephan set his jaw in a harsh line, but Sidda caught a glimmer of uncertainty behind those brilliant violet eyes. Soon, he’d know she was right, and he’d be on her side, fighting for the innocent.

Untamable
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