“What’s going on?” I asked Sam when we were in the hall.

“It would be better if we waited until we reached the meeting room.”

However, he seemed in no hurry to reach the room.  His measured steps were just starting to get under my skin when he faltered.

“No,” he said to himself.

A moment later, Winifred and Grey came running from the direction of the soundproof room.

Sam’s gaze held Winifred.  “How?” he said.

She shook her head.  “I don’t know.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“We’re not sure.  Joshua went to get Bethi.  But, something’s happened.  We’re not sure—”

I bolted back the way we’d come, using every bit of speed I had.

Please let her be okay.

Bursting into the room, I found Joshua holding Bethi in his arms.  It wasn’t a hug for comfort.  The scent of his lust was thick enough to suffocate me.  I’d wanted to kill him before, but now I had a reason that was completely within the law.  He had no business touching my acknowledged Mate.

Stay where you are, Luke, Winifred said over our link.  I could feel all of the Elders behind me.

Bethi turned to look at us, and her gaze met mine.  It wasn’t just the scent of her guilt that was scaring me; this time, the guilt was in her eyes, too.

“Joshua?” Sam said from behind me.

“I Claimed him,” Bethi said softly.

I couldn’t breathe.  She’d chosen another.  Pain consumed me.  My gaze held Bethi’s as I silently asked her why?  Sorrow filled her gaze.

Joshua growled and moved to stand in front of Bethi.

“As an Elder, you are not permitted to Claim,” Grey said, angry.  “You broke your oath to hold the interests of the pack above your own interests.”  Grey paused.  “How are you still alive?”

Joshua twitched as if in pain, and his growl grew louder.  I didn’t give a shit what happened to Joshua or how he felt about it.  Bethi remained my focus.  And when Joshua growled, her shoulders stiffened and her eyes widened slightly even though her gaze remained locked on Grey.  She feared Joshua.  I inhaled and couldn’t find her scent within the emotional soup Joshua had created.  She was trying to hide her fear, but it was certainly there.  Why would she Claim him then?

“As you are well aware,” Joshua said with clipped, agitated words, “we are not able to Claim any of these girls.  She Claimed me.  I will hold that Claim.”

Bethi’s expression became impassive at his words.  I wished I knew what she was thinking.  Knowing she’d linked herself to Joshua, for any reason, was eating me alive from the inside.  She was the one who first suspected Joshua as the traitor, that he was one of the Urbat.

Joshua might think he’d hold the Claim, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long.

When Bethi next looked at me, she gave me a slow nod from behind Joshua then reached for her blade.  My heart stopped for a second time, and I tensed, ready to leap at Joshua.

Luke, Winifred said, stay where you are.  She asked for our trust.

“Joshua, does this mean you are no longer able to communicate with the pack?” Bethi asked.

Joshua turned to look at her over his shoulder.  Warning or not, if he moved toward her…  My skin rippled, the shift pushing to the surface.

“He shouldn’t even be alive,” Grey restated.

“Yes, yes,” Bethi said, with a negligible wave as her gaze remained on Joshua.

Joshua inhaled deeply.  “I feel...something from you.  Not happiness exactly.  You’re trying to keep your emotions from me.  Why?”

Bethi gave a small smile.

What was she doing?  She had once again put herself right in the middle of danger and couldn’t even stand up straight while baiting him.  For days I’d kept her relatively safe to bring her here.  If she hadn’t tried going on her own, she might have even arrived without a scratch, not that I blamed her for the cut.  I just wished she would stay safe on her own for just five minutes. But no, my girl had zero sense of self-preservation.

“Have you told your leader what happened?” she asked.  “You know he won’t let you keep me.”

Joshua growled, and my claws formed in response.

“Thomas already knows,” Sam said with authority.

Joshua’s hands curled into fists, but I noted his nails elongating.

“Not Thomas,” Bethi said, her gaze never leaving Joshua’s.  “His Urbat leader.  So, Joshua, have you told him?  We need to know how soon they will be coming to take me and kill you.”

For a second Joshua didn’t move.  Then, he looked up at the ceiling and roared.  Anger and frustration rolled off him.  As his mood edged closer to volatile and irrational, my shift inched further forward, and I bared my teeth.

Winifred, if he moves toward her—

He won’t touch her if he tries.  I promise that.

“We need to take it down a notch, guys,” Bethi said, raising her hands.  “This human is way too easy to break, and neither of you would like that.”

Grey placed a hand on my shoulder.

Winifred told us what she knows.  We won’t let anything happen to Bethi.

“Let’s recap for everyone who doesn’t know what’s going on,” Bethi said.  “By Claiming you, I stripped you of your Elder privileges, blew your cover with this pack, and voided your usefulness here in the eyes of your Urbat leader.”

It felt like she’d hit me upside the head with a brick.  Claiming him hadn’t been spur of the moment to avoid a dream.  She’d planned it out.  She’d known it when I’d walked her to the room.  I wanted to howl and rage, but I could only stare at her and hope that Joshua didn’t hurt her.

“In addition, I’ve made you his target since he will not allow you to keep me.  After all, I feel no connection with you that would help sway any decisions that I might need to make.  There’s really nowhere safe for you right now.”

Joshua straightened his stance, a sudden seriousness exploding onto his expression.

He took a slow, deep breath.  “Why not just have them,” he nodded at the Elders, “kill me right away?  Why Claim me?”

A very valid and preferable option.  I watched her closely, as interested in her answer as Joshua.

“If they had killed you, you would have sent one last message to your leader.  It probably would have started an attack and cost countless lives.”

She’d tied herself to him because she hadn’t trusted that we were safe here.  Not from the moment we arrived.  Bleeding and hurt she’d told me to tell everyone to douse the buildings.  I should have listened, not just to her words, but the underlying meaning.  Bethi didn’t think I could keep her safe or that the werewolves could fight the Urbat.

“What makes you think I didn’t already send a message?” he asked, his gaze skimming her face.

“To protect me.  I’m yours, right?”  Joshua visibly softened at her words.  “You don’t want to lose me.  Plus, you’d forfeit your life by doing so.  Like I said, they won’t let you keep me.”

Bethi stepped away from Joshua.

Why was she making it sound like he’d be able to keep her if he stayed here?

“He underestimated you,” Joshua said, watching her.

“Your kind usually does.”

“So how do you see this ending?” he asked in a deceptively calm voice.

“That depends on how many are waiting out there to meet me,” she said.

Joshua’s breath left him in a huff of amusement.  “Three.”

Three was nothing.  They’d sent far more for us before we’d reached the Compound.  Three meant she didn’t need Joshua’s protection, and I could get rid of him.

Bethi seemed to read my mind.

“I don’t want a Mating challenge,” she said, looking at Winifred.

I growled.  “It is my right.”

“Shush,” she said to me while keeping her gaze locked with Winifred.

Winifred didn’t look happy.

It’s my right and our law.  You can’t stop me.

Luke, there’s more going on here than we understand.  Bethi knows something.  Look at her.  She doesn’t want to die.  She doesn’t want Joshua.  She’s trying to protect us, and you, by keeping him alive.  I’m not denying your right.  I’m asking for your patience while we learn what she has planned.

She Claimed him.  You know what he’ll try next.

She was silent for a moment.

I know.  And I am worried for her.  We won’t leave them alone.

Winifred gave Bethi a reluctant nod.

I growled, furious with the corner I’d been backed into, and Joshua laughed.

“Like Joshua said, I need to think about how this should end.  I don’t want bloodshed.  That’s why I Claimed Joshua.  To avoid just that.”  Bethi stepped forward to touch Joshua’s arm.

I wanted to rip her away from him.

“Joshua, I’d like to meet with the Elders and figure out how we can leave here without dying.”

He made a satisfied sound and pulled her into a tight hug.  Grey’s hold on my shoulder tightened when Joshua leaned in and nuzzled Bethi’s neck.  Her face twisted in pain, and I didn’t care about promises or restraint.

“Moron, you’re hurting her,” I said, taking a step toward them.

Sam put a hand on my other shoulder, holding me back.  I barely kept the change in check.  Fur sprouted then sank back into my skin in perpetual waves.

“Please, Joshua.  He’s right,” Bethi said.  “You’re hurting me.  I was cut recently.”

I couldn’t see what he did, but I could see her face.  She paled and closed her eyes for a moment.  When she opened them, she looked at Winfred.

“Nana,” Bethi called in a slight panic.

“Joshua,” Winifred said with warning.  “She is in no shape for what you’re thinking.  Stop now, or for her safety, I will stop you.”

Joshua laughed but did release her.

“Soon,” he said, bending down to catch her gaze.  “They can’t stop a Claimed pair.”  His hand drifted to her belly.  “A few days will see us truly together.”

Bethi nodded slowly and Joshua smiled.

He wouldn’t touch her.  I’d give the Elders twenty-four hours.  Then I’d bathe in Joshua’s blood.

Sam and Grey seemed to know the direction of my thoughts and continued to hold my shoulders as Winifred held out her hand to Bethi.

Bethi stepped away from Joshua, and his eyes tracked her as she moved to Winifred’s side.  His gaze held suspicion.  He knew Bethi was playing him.  My Mate was a tiny, compact bundle of serious trouble.  And, it was going to get her killed if she didn’t start trusting someone other than herself.

When Winifred and Bethi left, I gave Joshua one long look then followed them.  Grey was only a step behind me.  In the hall, Carlos waited beside the door.

“Keep him in the room, and keep him alive.”

Carlos nodded, stepped inside, and closed the door.

“Come on, son.  Let’s get some answers,” Grey said, motioning me to follow the rest of the group.

I didn’t see the point in walking all the way to the soundproof room at this point.  By now, most of the werewolves within the Compound probably knew what had been said in our apartment.

The Elders remained silent through the halls.  When we reached the room, Michelle, Emmitt, Clay, Gabby, Charlene, and Thomas already waited for us inside.  Winifred motioned for Bethi to sit first then took the seat across from her.  The Elders and the women sat at the table.  I stayed near the door, watching and waiting for an explanation.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Winifred said.

“Who’s watching Joshua?” Bethi asked instead.

Bugger Joshua.  The next thing from her pretty lips better be answers or apologies.

“Carlos,” Grey answered.  “He won’t let Joshua leave or let any harm come to him.”

She snorted.  “I could care less if any harm comes to him.”

“Then why did you Claim him?” I asked.

She refused to look at me as she spoke to Winifred.

“Here’s the deal.  The world is not just made up of humans and werewolves.  There is a third race, the Urbat.  They call themselves the dogs of death and are your close cousins.”

“They are the ones you can’t control,” Michelle added.

Bethi nodded.  “Then there’s us,” she said, looking at Charlene, Gabby, and Michelle.  “We don’t belong to any of the three groups.  Werewolf, Urbat, or human.  We are unique.”

“Special,” Winifred said with a slight nod.

“We are here to maintain the balance between the three groups.”

Sam opened his mouth, but Bethi quickly cut him off.

“I’m not sure exactly how we’re supposed to do that.  We have abilities.  Mine is to relive past lives—not just my past lives, but all of our past lives—through dreams.  Our abilities seem to help the group we are aligned with in some way.  Michelle’s gift is prosperity.  In past lives, she knew the locations of lost treasure, herbs with medicinal properties, how to create things to better lives.  Pretty much any knowledge that could be used to create wealth.  Charlene strengthens the group she’s allied with and so on.  I have no idea how that all plays in, but as soon as the Urbat learned of us, they began hunting us.”

Most of this I’d gathered from the last time Bethi had talked in private with Michelle and Gabby.  And it wasn’t answering the biggest question I had.

“If they are hunting you, why did you Claim one?” I asked.

“We return every one thousand years for a period of time.  I don’t know all the details of that either.  But I’ve recalled enough of those past lives to know we always die.”  She looked at me.  “I Claimed him to stay alive...to buy us some time to plan.”

Although I’d already guessed that, some of the tension in me eased upon hearing her say she had no real interest in Joshua.

You still need to wait to challenge him, Winifred sent to me with a look before turning to Bethi.  “To plan what, dear?”

“An evacuation, to start.”

Thomas didn’t immediately scoff, as I would have thought.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“When the Urbat come, they will use the people we love to try to sway us.  First, they use our families, torturing them until we do what they want.  If that doesn’t work, they start torturing us.”

“What do they want?” Grey asked.

“For each of us to Claim one of them.”  Bethi looked at Michelle and Gabby.

“We’ve already Claimed someone,” Gabby pointed out.  Clay rested a hand on her shoulder.

“It won’t matter.  A Claim can be broken by death, or simply by Claiming another.  That’s why I was willing to Claim Joshua.”

Our law, our knowledge said, the challenger had to die to stake a new Claim.  And it was a lie?  I looked around the room and saw I wasn’t the only one stunned by this news.  Emmitt had paled, and Clay…who knew what his reaction was.  He needed a membership to a shaving club.

“The next step is for life,” Bethi said.

I growled, understanding what she meant.  Joshua would not have her in that way.  Ever.

“Once Mated,” Bethi said, “we don’t Mate again.  I mean, they could force us to Claim another and mate, but it doesn’t do any good.  Our hearts stay with the first lost Mate.  The new Mate holds no influence.”

“Influence for what?” Sam asked.

“For balance.  They have been after power ever since they figured out what we are.  The Judgements.  In the beginning, we always judged in favor of the humans.  At least, that’s my guess.  I haven’t dreamed what really happened, yet.  Since then, as far as I’ve seen, we haven’t made another Judgement.  I’m guessing that’s why, despite the inferiority of humans in comparison to your races, they have thrived.”

Did she even realize she’d said they instead of we?  If she didn’t consider herself human, then what was she?  It didn’t matter to me, but understanding how she thought of herself would help me understand her.  So far, my Bethi handbook had “Insane love of ketchup” and “not a morning person” in it.

“The Urbat are tired of living in the shadows and want to be the dominant race for a while.  The last cycle they almost had it, but one of us died.  Without all of us to...do something, things will stay the way they are, with humans maintaining control.  The cycle doesn’t last forever—only fifty years—so they try not to risk our lives.  But they will if they must.  After all, we can still be reborn again into the same cycle.”

My temper rose hearing that.  The mutts in the woods would have been willing to kill her?  I glanced at her stomach.  It had come too close.  We didn’t need to run, like she was suggesting.  We needed to fight.

Why not make a stand? I sent Winifred.  Why are we even considering running?

Michelle has witnessed their numbers.  There are more than we can hope to face without severe loss.

“So you’re saying we need to clear the Compound because they will come for all of you and use the people here to talk you into surrendering?” Thomas asked, his disbelief evident.

“Don’t doubt it.  They will come.  They always come.  And death always follows.”

“What then? Where do we go?”  Thomas asked.

“That’s the tricky part.  I don’t know where the pack should go, but I know where we need to go.”  Bethi looked at Gabby, Michelle, and Charlene.  “We are missing two of our group.  We need to find them.”

“About this evacuation?” Charlene said.

Bethi shook her head.  “Out of all of us, you and Michelle are the most vulnerable.  Michelle’s brothers need to be sent away and protected.  Emmitt, if he’s taken, will be a risk to both of you.  They will want to break the Claim Michelle has as much as they will want to hurt Emmitt to sway you.”

Charlene glanced at Emmitt with worry.  He gave her a smile and squeezed Michelle’s hand reassuringly.  “Don’t worry.  We know now so we can make sure it doesn’t happen.”

Charlene nodded, but her fear remained.  As much as I didn’t like Emmitt, I didn’t want to see the Urbat hurt him just to get to his mother.  No mother deserved that.

“What are we going to do about Joshua?” Grey asked.

“Nothing.  At least not yet.  Oh, but I can’t be left alone with him.  With these stitches,” she laid a hand over them, “I won’t be able to fight him off.”

“You said you could Claim another to break your Claim,” Winifred said.  “Why wait?”

“Because I’m not done with him yet.  Until the Compound is clear and we’re ready to leave, I have to keep my hold on him.  It’s the only thing that’s keeping him from reporting back to his leader.”

Death is the only sure way to keep him from reporting, I sent Winifred.

I agree.

“Are you sure about that?” Sam asked Bethi.

“No, not really but it’s our best chance.  There are three Urbat out in the woods waiting for Joshua.  Gabby, can you see them?”

All eyes turned to Gabby, and she nodded hesitantly.  Bethi reached across the table to touch her hand.  “We need to find them and get rid of them before people start leaving.  They can’t know what we’re doing.”

Gabby’s gaze grew unfocused.  “They’re not far from here.  But, there are ten more scattered in the surrounding area.  Nothing close enough for concern, though.  The rest are regrouping in the east.”  She paused for a moment and frowned.  “More are coming from the main group.  I think you’re right, Bethi.  They’re coming back.”

“That’s good,” Bethi said with a nod.  “I’d be more freaked out if they weren’t coming for us.”  She looked at Winfred.  “Pick an Elder and a team of five to go out and hunt the three Urbat down.  Kill them quickly and quietly so they can’t communicate back to their leader.  Deal with the ten on the outskirts as needed.  Closest first.”

Closest first means we really don’t need Joshua.

I agree.  His presence is a threat to our kind.  We do not tolerate threats for long.  The moment his existence no longer protects her, he dies.

“No prisoners, Nana,” Bethi said.  “Think of the families running from here with kids.  Those ten prowling the outskirts will track and kill them if they get wind that this is a mass exodus.  The three need to be silenced quickly without a chance for them to send word.  We need to move.”  Bethi slowly stood.  “Their leader—”

“Blake,” Michelle interjected.

“Blake will be wondering why Joshua hasn’t reported by now.  Gabby, let us know if you see a change in their direction.”

Gabby nodded.

“Nana, will you come with me to talk to Joshua?”

I straightened away from the wall, well ready to end the immediate threat to Bethi.

“I’m coming too,” I said.

“No, Luke.  I need him calm.  Help Gabby.  Clear the field so we can be done with this, and I no longer need my Claim on Joshua.”

Winifred slowly nodded.

Go.  He won’t live long.

*    *    *    *

The woods were quiet as I silently stalked toward the gully.

Gabby says you’re almost on him, Grey sent suddenly over our link.  The mental intrusion didn’t even give me pause.  Far too many Elders had been in my head lately.

Inching forward through the brush, I spotted the grey wolf hidden in the ferns.  Through Grey, Gabby had directed me to come to this spot from the east, so I’d circled around to come at the mutt from behind.

His forward facing ears twitched occasionally, but his back legs remained loosely tucked under him.  He hadn’t sensed me yet.

Jim came walking from the west, his steps heard long before I saw him.  The wolf tensed.

When Jim was within twenty feet from the gully, he stopped, brought his hands to his waist and unzipped his fly as he started to whistle a jolly tune.  The wolf relaxed just as Jim started to answer nature’s call.

I jumped on the wolf’s back, transforming my arms.  His neck snapped in my hands before he’d had time to react.  His form slowly reverted back to human.

“Stage fright.  Oh well,” Jim said, zipping his fly.

“You’re odd.”  I shouldered the dead man.

“My mom tells me that all the time,” Jim said with a grin.

We jogged north until we met up with Emmitt and a few other Mated males I’d never met.  Four bodies already lay in a heap.  I added the one I carried.  Like me, Emmitt and another man were without clothes.

“The rest are dead,” Emmitt said.  “The families are packed and already moving out.  Gabby told Grey those things,” he nodded to the men on the ground, “are still gathering to the east.  We need to get back.”

He shifted and started to run.  I did the same.  Those with pants fell behind.

When we reached the Compound, most of the cars were missing from the yard.  Clothes were set out on the steps, and Charlene was directing Mary and another woman where to put the food and supplies.

“Take what you can and distribute it to other families.  I can’t stand the thought of all this going to waste.  Not when we’ve worked so hard for it,” Charlene said, looking at the buildings.

“Not to waste,” Thomas said, wrapping an arm around her.  “We’ll be back.”

Charlene’s expression held doubt.

The remaining families left as soon as the last items were packed into their vehicles.  Only the Elders, their protégé, and the Claimed humans and their Mates remained.

“It’s done,” Grey said.  “They’re coming out.”

I grabbed a set of clothes in my mouth.  Emmitt was already around the side of the building, dressing.  His modesty wasn’t for our sake, but for Gabby and Michelle.  Charlene too, maybe.  Though, I doubted it.  She’d been with our kind long enough to know most werewolves found clothes to be an optional accessory.

With my clothes in my mouth, I jogged into the tree line and shifted back just as the door opened.  I watched Bethi slowly step out.  Her face was drawn and pale again.  Her gaze swept the yard, and I hurried to step into my pants.  Something was wrong.

Winifred nudged Bethi aside, and Carlos carried Joshua out.  My teeth elongated at the sight of the bastard who’d touched Bethi.

“Where’s he going?” Bethi asked, drawing my attention.

“Taking him to the woods.  Charlene put her heart into this place.  Maybe they will leave it be if he’s found out there.”  Winifred moved past Bethi toward one of the remaining vehicles.  Emmitt was behind the wheel, his Mate in the front seat, and Jim in the back with two boys, who were watching for Winifred.

Bethi stared after Carlos as he strode straight toward me.  Disbelief gripped me.  Was she honestly sad about Joshua’s death?  Had he meant something to her despite her assurance that he hadn’t?

I pulled on shirt and shoes but stayed within the trees, too angry to step out.  Behind Carlos, Winifred closed her car door and Emmitt slowly pulled away from the Compound.

“Show me where to put him,” Carlos said as he reached the tree line.  I glanced at Bethi.  She was watching Gabby closely.

“Hurry.”

Nodding to Carlos, we ran back to where we had dumped the other bodies, a good distance from the Compound.  He unceremoniously dropped the body and immediately started the run back.

Just as we reached the yard, Gabby said, “Sam, we need to leave now.”