“Father.” He stared at Westervelt from the dock. It looked quiet in the morning sunlight, bathed in a beauty he knew he would not find on the island once he stepped foot on its shores. “Will you be joining us for Tristan’s defeat?”

“I will.” Kendrick raised his head to the morning sky. “I know this isn’t going to make a lot of sense to you now, but bear with me.”

Gabriel nodded. “As you wish.”

“Years ago I made a decision to have my offspring’s blood kept pure. That meant I had to keep Drea on the back burner for far longer than I wanted. But we plotted together and today is the day all my dreams will come true. I will have a pack I can control, the island magic I need to sustain us, and you leading me to the finish line.”

The purple haze floated around him. His brain tried and failed to follow his father’s train of thought. Maybe some day he’d understand. For now, killing Tristan ranked number one in his concentration. Everything else could wait.

“I’m glad to be of service.”

His father put his arm around him. “I know you are and that’s what makes this so wonderful. You see, I didn’t anticipate when I took Mary Jo from her mate that you would all be so much like her. The Kane blood should have filtered her goody-two-shoed nonsense out of you before it had time to rise to the surface. Not that your mother didn’t have her disloyal times. She did. Rex is an example of that.”

Again Gabriel had to let the words flow through him without dwelling on them too much. “We’re ready when you are.”

Gabriel’s wolf stood up. He always loved a good fight. Let’s go kill.

“Follow me to the boats. This is the only way to get to the island unless Drea has brought down their defenses.” He turned to the witch. “Any luck, dear?”

She shrugged. “Afraid not. Once we get over there and I can get my hands around Elizabeth’s neck, the defenses should all come down. I’m afraid it’s going to have to be an on-site situation.”

“No matter. Gabriel will make sure we’re successful.”

Drea grinned. “Yes, Gabriel and the spell he carries with him. I have no doubt of his success. We’re guaranteed a win.”

What did she mean? His wolf growled.

Gabriel wished he could answer his wolf. Even contemplating the question made pain surge through his eyes. He couldn’t lead a battle under that much distress.

I’ll figure it out later.

But… His wolf objected and Gabriel hushed him. The purple haze surged through his vision. If he couldn’t find a way to get it to back off, he wouldn’t even be able to see the wolves he trained. That wouldn’t work at all. Taking several deep breaths, he centered himself and the fog gave way enough for him to focus on the present again.

“Then shall we board the boats?”

They all nodded and he followed his father aboard the first of the many rented vessels his Alpha had brought for the occasion. Piloted by the made wolves, there would be no one left alive to report what happened if they failed. Not that Gabriel saw much chance of that happening.

He patted the man on the shoulder who currently handled their first ship. “You know how to do this?”

The man panted. Even in human form, his father’s creations couldn’t manage to speak. Their transformation stripped them of that ability. In twenty-four hours of working with them, Gabriel had managed to understand them better than he’d imagined he could.

They did understand him and this one indicated he could pilot the boat.

“Good. I don’t want us all to drown before we get there.”

The spray hit him in the face as the boat pulled from shore. In ten minutes or maybe a little bit more they’d be on Westervelt. There would be no time for anything other than war once they got there.

“Come down below where you’ll be warm,” Drea called out to him.

“Thank you, but if it’s all the same to you and Kendrick, I’d rather stay here.”

“Whatever you’d like, darling.”

He hated her little pet names. Darling. Sweetheart. Sugar. They made him want to gag.

Or eat her face.

He grinned at his wolf’s remark.

If he were Tristan, he wouldn’t let them get off the boats before destroying them. Gabriel sniffed the air. They were close enough, and the wind blew in the right direction, so he should be able to get something from the beach. Small details that would make a huge difference. How many waited in the woods to attack. Maybe even specific things, like which wolves would be the first to attack. He’d pick his first opponent himself.

Yet nothing came to him. He took a long, deep breath. Gabriel couldn’t get the scent of one wolf near the edge of the island at all.

What the hell? He looked toward his wolf for answers.

I’m not sure. This feels off to me.

Could you be more specific? He’d love a little help.

His wolf shook his head. Not with all this purple crap dancing all around. Can you make it go away?

No. I’m not in control of that. Although why he had the purple haze begged to be discovered. Had he always been surrounded with the stuff or had that happened recently?

The boat pulled up to the dock. Gabriel charged to get off the boat. “Dad,” he called over his shoulder. “We’re here. I’m taking the first round and going ashore.”

“Right.” Kendrick came up the stairs. He looked left and right. “Where is the resistance?”

“I’m not sure. I’m going to find out. Stay back where you can’t be hurt or ambushed.”

Kendrick laughed, a hard cackle of a sound. “I’m not worried about that with you around. Drea and I will be fine.”

Maybe Drea didn’t have to be fine. Maybe he could find a way for her to be dead.

Now, now. We have no time for plotting. Tristan needs to go first.

Right. His wolf reminded him of what had to be important. Then let’s go see to that. He hopped onto dry land, sniffing the air again.

Shift?

Gabriel shook his head. I don’t think that’ll help anything. If they’re all disguising their scents, then being in your body won’t make anything better. I want to be on two feet as long as I can. If Tristan greets me as a wolf then I’ll do the same.

Whatever you want.

“Any idea why they’re not here?” Kendrick yelled out to him and Gabriel winced. “Do you suppose they’ve abandoned the island?”

“Anything is possible.” He walked over to his father, deliberately keeping his voice lower. “Perhaps we shouldn’t yell. I’m not sure how we could have the element of surprise but if we do, my Alpha, I’d like to keep it.”

“Good point.” Kendrick gestured ahead. “Continue on.”

Gabriel walked at a brisk pace toward the center of the island. Dense with wildlife, the forests held adequate protection for the wolf pack that resided there. They might be able to hide inside the branches without his detection. That all seemed rather off. Tristan didn’t hide.

He came to an abrupt stop. How did he know that? Did he actually have some stored information about Tristan other than battle tactics somewhere in his memory?

“Is there a problem?” Drea appeared next to him.

He growled. Why did the woman always have to be there? “No.”

Tristan’s scent floated into his nose. He sniffed again. Faint but clear. No one else seemed to be there, but Tristan had to be close by.

Gabriel ran, leaving Drea in his wake. His wolves, trained to follow his orders, took off after him. The training he had given them stuck. He could hear from the way their feet struck the ground that they’d stayed in formation.

The silence of the island struck him as odd. The wildlife had long grown accustomed to wolf shifters. Birds chirped all the time whether the population walked as men or padded like wolves.

Silence surrounded them. Gabriel stopped moving and swallowed past the lump in his throat. This had to be crazy. He didn’t get afraid. So what if the birds weren’t singing their songs?

“Hello, brother.”

Gabriel jumped. A surge of adrenaline made him growl and whirl around. “Where are you, Tristan? I didn’t take you for a coward. Come out and fight me.”

“As you wish.” Tristan sauntered out into the clearing. “I can speak to you any way you like.”

Where are the others? his wolf questioned.

“There’s no way you’re here alone. Michael and Cullen would never allow it.”

Tristan nodded. “That’s true. I think it’s only fair to tell you that the others are around but not presently here. I know that doesn’t make sense and I’m sorry for that. I suspect it will. Shortly.”

“Aha,” Kendrick yelled triumphantly. “He meets us alone. Gabriel, kill your brother. Let’s get it done.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. Nothing about this worked for him. Kendrick out in the open and Tristan alone? What the hell?

Tristan laughed. “No. I don’t think so. Gabriel isn’t going to kill me.”

“He most certainly is.” Drea flicked her fingers forward. “Go on and get rid of this pest.”

“You see, there’s a problem with that.” Tristan walked forward, his eyes on Gabriel.

His brother had yet to look at Kendrick directly. “Gabriel swore an oath of allegiance to me. I am his pack leader.”

Now Tristan stared at Kendrick. Goose bumps broke out on Gabriel’s skin as he watched.

His brother continued. “I don’t give him to you. He belongs to me. Not you. You’re nothing.”

“I’ve cursed him. He’ll do what we say,” Kendrick growled. “Gabriel. Do as I say.” “Gabriel.” Tristan put his hand on Gabriel’s arm. “I forgive you. Come home to me. Your mate and I both forgive you for your mistakes. It’s time to come back. Your Alpha orders it.”

Gabriel’s wolf howled.

Carrie couldn’t stand it. She needed to get to Gabriel right now. Michael grabbed her arm.

“Be patient.” Michael spoke through gritted teeth. He didn’t seem to be enjoying this either. “Tristan is doing his thing. If this is going to work we have to let him.”

She could hear Gabriel; she just couldn’t see him. Elizabeth stood by the door to Tristan’s residence, her head bowed. In a few more seconds, she would teleport them all out to where Tristan stood and the fight would begin. Hopefully, before then, Tristan would have managed to have gotten Gabriel back.

That is, if Carrie hadn’t made a horrible mistake in suggesting all of this.

I want Gabriel. Her wolf whimpered.

Me too. She couldn’t whine aloud. Not with so much at stake. The fact that her wolf felt the ache too helped.

Tristan wore a microphone, which everyone had found really amusing when they’d attached it to him. All the magic in the world and a small barely visible human tool attached to his shirt collar let them know what happened out there while they all remained in here. Of course if he shifted they’d lose the signal and that would mean a fast change of plans.

Tristan continued to speak. “Look where we are, brother. This is where we burned their bodies. The bonfire blazed into the sky, showing the gods our terrible loss, the destruction of our family. We stood side by side and watched those flames turn their bodies into ash. None of us could move. I could barely breathe. Kendrick holds responsibility for that night and all the pain since. There can be no forgiveness for him. But you need to come home. Your Alpha orders it.”

A commotion of noise followed by a wolf’s howl filled the air. Gabriel. She’d know that sound anywhere. Had he shifted?

“Let’s go,” Theo called out. “Elizabeth, make it happen.”

The world whited out around her until seconds later she stumbled, finding her feet beneath her on the ground outside. Tristan stood over Gabriel, who had remained in his human form. He’d fallen to his knees.

She rushed to his side, throwing her arms around his body. He felt warm and solid. “Do you know who I am?”

“I-I…” he stuttered. “I’m so confused, surrounded by this haze I can’t get rid of. It doesn’t let me think.”

“Gabriel,” Kendrick growled, Tristan answering his threat with his own. Carrie could only focus on her beloved. She had to get him back; she wouldn’t lose him to this. “There is no curse on Westervelt. Ashlee and Tristan cleared it years ago. Your father and Drea freaked out when it happened. This is Tristan’s island. He can’t control you here.”

“Brother.” Tristan’s voice sounded more wolf than human. “Stop punishing yourself. We’ll figure out how to make you pay later, if that’s what’s required.”

Gabriel grabbed his head. He shook it left and right before howling again. Something had to be happening inside him. She wished she could read minds, to know his struggle. With Elizabeth’s help she’d reached him earlier. But they didn’t have the right circumstances to make that happen now.

Ashlee dropped to her knees next to them. Tristan hadn’t wanted her anywhere near this situation. She’d refused to comply. Tristan’s mate did not wither when faced with his temper.

“I can see it, but it’s lessening. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. Liz can’t take this off him and keep Drea from popping Kendrick out of here at the same time.”

Tristan kneeled down in front of Gabriel. “He has no control here that you don’t give him. Tell him and his curse to go to Hades.”

Gabriel screamed and Ashlee gasped seconds before grabbing onto Tristan. “He’s throwing it off. Gods, the curse had such hold on him. I’ve never seen anything so fluid before.”

He shuddered and Carrie gripped him tighter. “Rid yourself of it, my love. Come back to me. We’ve earned it.”

He collapsed in her arms, his eyes closed, his body dead weight in her embrace. “Gabriel.” She shook him and he didn’t respond.

Ashlee placed a hand on his face. “It’s gone. He’s clear. I think the process must have overwhelmed him.”

Kendrick roared to his wolves. “Attack.”

Growls sounded everywhere, answered immediately by Westervelt’s own angry snarls. Michael called the shift onto himself. Theo did the same.

Gabe’s eyes darted open. He jumped to his feet so quickly Carrie almost fell backward from the abruptness. She scrambled back to where Ashlee stood. What the hell was about to happen?

“Gabe?” She called to him and he looked at her. His gaze told her nothing. She shivered. “Answer me.”

He didn’t. Instead he turned back to the pack. “Everyone stop fighting. Stop right now.”

Tristan growled. “Did you hit your head when you blacked out?”

“Stop attacking my wolves.” He whistled loudly and the made wolves ceased attacking. The whole area fell quiet until Kendrick howled.

“I said attack and I meant it,” the former Alpha bellowed.

Gabriel sighed loud enough for everyone to hear. “They don’t belong to you anymore. Now they take orders from me.”

“That’s not likely. I made them.” Kendrick walked to one of his wolves and grabbed it by the neck. “Now you will attack Tristan and his wolves and you will do it right away or I will break your necks one by one.”

“Put down my wolf,” Gabriel roared, and Carrie shivered. First he wouldn’t answer her telepathic pushes, and now he came across as more aggressive than she’d ever seen him before. If this were any other time, she might actually have liked it.

Tristan moved until he stood next to Gabriel. He didn’t utter a word. There must be some sort of male shifter thing going on that she couldn’t understand.

“He’s my wolf.”

The creature in question began to violently shake in Kendrick’s arms.

“You made him what he is, that’s correct.” Gabriel worked the kinks out of his neck. “You took a person who was either mentally or physically too sick to fight you, or maybe he just did something to someone who you owed a favor to, and you made him the creature before us. But he doesn’t belong to you anymore.” Her mate tapped his own chest. “He belongs to me and, therefore, he’s actually Tristan’s wolf since I belong to him.”

“That’s all nonsense and you know it. These creatures respond to their drugs and my voice. That is all.”

The wolf in Kendrick’s arms growled at him, struggling to free himself. With a whack of his tail, he twisted enough until Kendrick dropped him on the ground. The made creature ran to Gabriel’s side. She watched as her love gave him a pat on the head.

Kendrick snarled. “You think you’re so smart. None of you will outsmart me. I will keep coming at you. There will never be peace. Your children will never be safe.”

He stared at Drea, whose face had turned bright red. She resembled an overripe tomato.

“What’s the matter, Drea? Can’t escape?” Elizabeth walked forward from the crowd. “For years you had me bespelled, cursed so no one could look at me. But now you’re the one powerless. On our island you have no power. You and Kendrick aren’t going anywhere.”

Carrie would have grinned if she had any sense of what Gabriel had going on in his head. “Hey. Look at me.”

Maybe she finally sounded stern enough. He turned and stared at her. She gasped, covering her mouth. Agony radiated in his gaze. He still hadn’t answered her telepathically. Once, they’d been so connected they sometimes forgot to speak aloud. He had his wolf back. They were reunited, but he seemed to want to keep her at a distance. Why did he look like he held so much pain inside?

They also happened to be in the worst possible moment in the world for her to back him against a wall and ask him about it. Or demand an answer, whatever worked.

“Well, Kendrick.” Tristan grinned from ear to ear as the wolf Kendrick had held ran to him. “I’d say there isn’t a person here, except your woman who held my brother’s mate in a state of agony for years, who you haven’t harmed. I’ve been trying to figure out who should have the right to kill you. It would be easy to say me. Wouldn’t it, Dad? Isn’t that what you would have done as Alpha? Everything came down to you. But I think I’m going to handle things a little differently.”

“Whoever you send over here will have to beat me. None of you can do that.”

“That’s not true,” Carrie called out. She walked toward her mate and took his hand.

“Gabriel beat you in sparring. More than once.”

Gabe stared at their joined hands for a second before looking back up. “I did.” “You’re weak right now. I can smell your lack of energy all the way over here. You’re beaten. You come over here and I’ll wipe the floor with you.”

The Gabriel of old would never have let that stand, exhausted or otherwise. She’d watched him during training tear through wolves twice his size after hours of working them out. It had always driven her crazy. He had no sense of weakness, no idea he could be bested.

“Tristan, he’s not wrong. I’m a mess.” What? Did you hear that?

Her wolf nodded, also stunned silent.

“I know.” Tristan smiled. “I’ve been where you are, remember? Our father was once responsible for cursing me as well.” Tristan took another step forward. “So who should it be? Cullen? He’d kill for the chance. My guess would be that he dreams about it nightly. Or maybe not. See, Cullen has been mated long enough now that his priorities have rightly shifted. That’s why you killed all the mates years ago.”

“You know nothing.” Was it Carrie’s imagination, or had Kendrick paled a little?

“I know quite a bit.” Tristan nodded. “A mated pack is a strong pack. The mates remind us to value family, tradition, safety. Only unmated males would follow you to certain doom with a wolf army and the destruction of the human beings whom we share this world with.”

“Gabe.” Bad time or not, Carrie needed some answers from him.

“Carrie, please stop talking in my mind. I think it might kill me.”

She jolted. He’d whispered his words and her wolf ears had let her hear them perfectly well. He didn’t want her speaking telepathically. It might kill him? Anger rocked her body. After years of waiting for him to tell her it was time to leave the hell he’d negotiated for her, he couldn’t tolerate her voice in his mind? Did he have so little care for her needs?

Clawing out Gabriel’s eyes wouldn’t solve anything, but it might make her feel better. She dropped his hand.

“Carrie.”

She waved his words away. “I shouldn’t have brought this up now.” He’d broken her heart. For forty years she’d held on and he’d squashed her resolve. When this was over, he’d have to answer for it. Her mate. The giant asshole.

Tristan advanced on his father. “Shall I ask Michael to end you? Theo? Malcolm? Az? Rex? Ben? I know Matthew would like to take a swing at you.”

“I’m getting enough of these games, boy. You come at me yourself, or are you afraid?”

Her Alpha shook his head. “As a matter of fact, I’m completely calm. I’m not even really angry. Do you want to know why? Because I’ve made a decision. I know exactly who should take your life away. And then you’ll get to meet our Makers and my mother. My feeling is that your suffering has not even begun.”

Drea launched herself forward. Carrie had spent enough time watching the woman that she knew exactly where the witch intended to go. Elizabeth’s throat. Rex saw it too. Thank the gods for all of Gabe’s early training. Rex grabbed his mate and shoved her out of the way, putting her behind him.

Carrie moved at the same time. Shifting as she bolted through the air, she landed on top of Drea’s body. The wicked woman hit the ground with a loud thump, at least three feet before she would have reached Elizabeth.

This time her wolf did not present her with any compulsion to stop attacking the other woman. She didn’t have to endure any longer. The woman needed to die. Tristan could figure out Kendrick’s death.

She’d earned the right to Drea’s death.

Her fangs dug into the woman’s throat, tearing the skin from her bones. Blood splattered everywhere and in the distance she noted that Kendrick had roared. He couldn’t reach her and she had no interest in turning around to see why.

She destroyed Drea until she felt the woman’s life slip from her body. Even then she couldn’t stop obliterating what remained of the woman’s shell. Drea’s soul had moved on somewhere else. Hopefully to someplace very uncomfortable.

Carrie raised her head. Elizabeth stood in front of her, a hand raised in the air. It took a moment to register what had occurred. Rex’s mate must have constructed some kind of barrier around her. Kendrick pounded on the invisible wall but couldn’t get through.

Well, that explains why he left us alone.

Gabriel caught her eyes. He stood right behind his former Alpha. Earlier he’d claimed to be exhausted but now the red glow of his eyes said he’d end Kendrick if he made one move through the barrier toward Carrie. Tristan stood next to him. He gave Carrie a quick nod, which made her heart swell with pride.

She’d never killed anyone before. Animals were another thing altogether. Hunting prey in her wolf form had always been as natural as breathing. But killing a person fell into an entirely different category. She had no idea how she’d handle the idea later. Right then the adrenaline surged through her body, making her hands shake and heart beat fast. Nothing bothered her at all and she didn’t mind the temporary reprieve from any distress she might feel later.

Of course, the possibility remained she wouldn’t care then either. Drea had needed to die before she could cause any more trouble.

I liked it.

She grinned. I know you did.

“Carrie.” Gabriel spoke in her head. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She ignored him. When she’d spoken in his head earlier it had caused him so much distress he’d thought it might kill him. He could wait his turn for her attention now too.

Tristan advanced on Kendrick. “Now I guess you’ll have lots of people to see on the other side. Let’s hope our gods are more forgiving than I am.”

Tears swam down Kendrick’s face. “She was my mate. You should have treated her with more respect than that.”

“And you shouldn’t have murdered my mother.” Tristan turned to the crowd. “Gabriel, I think our new wolves should get a chance to tell Kendrick what they think of their new, shortened lives. Maybe they’d like to personally thank him.”

Gabriel pointed at Kendrick and the made wolves growled, some of them snarling at the same time. “Kill him.”

Even as it happened, Carrie knew she couldn’t fully digest what she saw. She called the shift onto herself and moved out of Elizabeth’s protective barrier. Liz nodded at her and Carrie smiled.

Kendrick’s creations leaped into the air knocking Kendrick down on the ground as they went. The man who had tormented her for so many years, who had killed her parents, destroyed the pack, and tried for so long to take what didn’t belong to him died without uttering a word. In retrospect, it was fitting for a wolf to go out that way. He’d been mated, or so he claimed, to Drea. To live without his mate would be unbearable. In the end, Kendrick went as a wolf should, without complaint to follow his other half.

Pieces of his skin flew everywhere. Blood splattered on the ground and the sound of hungry wolves finally being given their just deserts made all the noise she could hear.

Angel Kane moved next to her. “I suppose any way he died would wind up being anticlimactic. I expected him to fight back. Didn’t you?”

Carrie shook her head. “For what? Drea died. His wolves abandoned him for Gabriel. In no scenario would he make it out of here alive. Plus, your father turned out to be a big coward in the end. Plenty tough when others could do his bidding. No honor where it counted.”

Sick wolf, her wolf reminded her.

Like she had read her thoughts, Angel spoke again. “At some point, he stopped being well. Someone should have noticed. Someone should have done something.”

“It won’t happen again.” Carrie stared at Tristan and Ashlee. They stood holding hands, each one wearing a grim expression on their faces. Victoria’s daughter would never let the pack fall apart due to Tristan’s mental health. She could see the strength in her; feel her resolve through the link she shared with all of the pack. Victoria would be proud of the daughters she’d raised. They were strong, passionate women who knew their place in the world next to the men they shared their souls with.

All of Westervelt beat within her heart. They were smaller than they’d been when she was a girl; however, they were stronger than she’d ever known them. Scorched in fire, they’d risen from the ashes like a phoenix again and again. Nothing would topple this group. Not ever.

Her eyes sought Gabriel. He’d turned his back on the pack and limped away from the scene of carnage playing out in front of her.

Enough. Timing would never be perfect and she would get some answers from him now.

She took off after him and caught him in a few seconds. He regarded her for a moment in silence before bending down to one of the clothing boxes. Without a word, he handed her a shirt and pants and waited while she dressed. She put on the clothes, still without speaking and waited for the man she’d trusted for four decades to tell her what had changed within him that made him seem like a virtual stranger now.

Finally she couldn’t wait anymore. “Explain to me what is happening. The curse is gone. Your wolf is back.” She grabbed his arm and shook it. “Where have you gone? I don’t know you at this moment.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “That’s probably a good thing. With our mating dissolved it’s the best possible thing for you. My punishment won’t have an effect on you.”

Carrie suspected if she looked in the mirror she’d resemble a landed fish. Her mouth hung open and she stared at him without being able to utter a word.

Do you have any idea what he means? She looked to her wolf for clarification.

Her wolf shook her head. Everything seems in order for our mating on this end.

“What exactly do you mean by our mating dissolved? I’m afraid I have no idea what that means.”

His eyes bore into hers. Nothing but pain shone through them. “It means we’re not mates anymore. You’re not inside of me any longer. The gods have saved you from me.”