Nala POV - “You’re so going to lose the rematch.” Inga’s chuckle made her flinch, before the words truly registered in Nala’s mind. It was so at odds with the fear churning within her that her panic short-circuited for a moment, making her freeze. Her frenzied breath hitched, her brow furrowed, trying to comprehend the sudden change. Then the canines at her throat retracted, just enough to give her some breathing space, as the Beta dropped her voice to a whisper. “You need to go for the kill, Nala, or they could contest the win. Don’t worry. I can take it.” Inga met her gaze, her features softening, stripping away the harsh glares and terrifying grins she had played with throughout their match. She suddenly looked more like the ally they had been working with for the past few days, more like the friend she was beginning to trust. Nala realised the change was because the woman was hiding their shared words behind a sheet of hair. Her dipped head protected them from the view of th
Connor POV - It was hard to tear his eyes away from Inga but, with the situation still not secured, Connor still had a part to play to keep things from falling into chaos. He left the previous upper ranks under the Grey Stone warriors' care and sauntered over to join Michael. He rolled his eyes at the way his brother lorded over Aaron, pronouncing his title like he was royalty. He did like to do things with flare. “A bit over dramatic, brother.” He drawled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Michael sniffed, though they both knew he was trying to scare the fallen Alpha and his pup into submission. It was one tactic working with Connor’s own, to back them into a corner. Brawn with brains, both working to conquer. “Brother?” Aaron hissed, looking between the pair. As did the other Grey Stone wolves who didn’t know his true identity, which was everyone besides Autumn and Inga. The latter of which was refusing to meet his gaze. He grumbled under his breath about infur
Connor POV - For the second time, Connor didn’t stop to knock as he reached Inga’s door and walked straight inside. However, unlike the night before, she wasn’t sitting in the kitchen dressing a wound. The Beta, or maybe she wasn’t the Beta anymore, was pacing in the front room, chewing her thumb nail to a nub. She didn’t look up when he entered, nor did she stop moving. He hadn’t seen her like that before. He could almost feel her agitation bothering the air around them, scratching at his skin, urging him to soothe her. Connor denied the instinct. Not only was he not trying to get himself killed by touching her, but he also wanted her to face this. She had kept their connection from him. He had flared his pheromones in her presence before, so she knew they were true mates, but she hadn’t told him. Connor felt that like a blow to the gut. After the night Inga had told them all about the revolution and her lies to get them to Grey Stone, he had hoped they’d be honest moving forwa
Connor POV - Words didn’t come to him straight away. No, Connor didn’t know about Alpha Jonathan’s past with the current Red Dawn Luna, but it was a puzzle piece that connected others and began to answer the original question of ‘why’. Just hearing that new part of the origins of their war cast his thoughts into a spiderweb of ideas and plans and conclusions he immediately wanted to air or take to his brother. In battle, all information would add to one’s power and he could see how the small nugget of truth could be of use. However, Connor stopped his swirling mind as abruptly as her words had kicked it off. It was more information Inga had kept from him, but he wasn’t bothered about that. He was bothered by why she was telling him now. “No.” He huffed. “Are you calling me a liar?” She growled. Her arm still stretched between them, her fingers splayed over his chest, curling to dig into his skin at the accusation. “Not at all. I believe you, but I don’t care. The war, our pac
Connor POV - Connor knew it was probably bad form to be standing in a battle strategy meeting with a stupid ass grin on his face, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't compose himself. Everyone had noticed and, by the way Inga blushed every time she looked at him, it was no secret why he was smiling so much. However, at least she managed to stay focused. He couldn’t even attempt to be serious when his mind kept wandering to their evening together. There hadn’t been much to it. They shared a drink, they talked, they went to sleep, but, somehow, it was simply perfect. Lying at her side, listening to her soft breaths, feeling them play across his chest as he held her. He could’ve stayed there forever. If it wasn’t for his brother’s nagging mindlink that morning he would’ve. Though Connor wasn’t adding anything of use to the meeting, Inga was. Among the Alphas, Betas and warriors in the office, she had wrestled her way to the front, determined to have her say. With Autumn new t
Maddie POV - The carpet beneath her feet was worn from how much Maddie had been pacing for the past day. She had kept herself busy when Michael had first left for Grey Stone, but now she couldn’t fight the rising anxiety bubbling within her. The only thing that seemed to calm it was pacing the length of her room, over and over. It was the place his scent was the strongest on the entire territory, but even that was beginning to fade. If she stopped for even a moment, her thoughts began to twist, tormenting her with questions of the unknown and planting false answers in her mind. In the week since her Luna ceremony, Michael had been at her side constantly. They had so much to deal with as soon as they took over leadership of Silver Night, but they had done it together. In Michael’s battle strategy meetings, she was there sharing her thoughts. In Maddie’s pack expansion meeting, he was there providing the knowledge on the Dark Night wolves so they could construct them homes they’d
Inga POV - “That’s good, Jamie. Really good.” Connor praised; his smile far too bright for Inga’s liking. She scowled at him through the rear-view mirror, but his attention was fully on the rogue. He must’ve felt her glare, she was sure of it, but he didn’t so much as blink or glance in her direction. Inga’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles white, her foot pressing down on the accelerator. However, neither of which cooled her souring mood. It was bad enough knowing the four of them were headed into enemy territory to start a war, and they’d be one slip up away from imprisonment, or worse, but to spend their last moments together sitting beside other wolves sucked. However, with Connor coaching the rogue on how to keep her expression neutral and intentions hidden, Inga was close to bailing on the mission all together. If the lives of so many wolves weren’t at stake, she might’ve done, just to see his face. “Erm, guys, perhaps this is a good place to stop.”
Inga POV - Goddess, she wished Connor was in the front of the car with her, but Inga knew that would be foolish. How could she drive onto Red Dawn’s territory claiming to be their ally if she was reaching for him for support. It was his own stupid fault. She had been fine only needing herself to get through the shitty situations life threw at her, but he had to come along and be sweet and kind and funny and strong and so fucking gorgeous. The same cocky grin that made her melt, could also become a simple smile that offered her nothing but understanding. He had promised her everything whereas she had barely managed to promise to try, yet he was happy with that. How could the same man who teased and flirted with her, been okay to just hold her all night. Connor had been right, that night on the couch had been the best sleep of her life. Well, until last night. She had never used someone’s chest as a pillow before and now she didn’t think she’d ever be able to sleep with anything