Chapter 33: James

Hurry up and wait. That’s the situation I’ve put myself in. When I saw my mate on that video, all I wanted to do was get to her as quickly as possible—fuck the consequences—but the trip here gave me time to think, painful as it was.

Rash decisions made in the name of love rarely work out outside of fairy tales. This is reality. I can’t just run all the way to the Blood Moon pack house, waving howdy to pack border patrols as I go with an “oh, hey, just passing through to kill the Blood Moon Alpha! See ya later!” I might be willing to fight our entire species to get to my love, but I’d die doing it. What good would that do her?

So here I am, waiting for preparations for the Alpha challenge to be complete, trying to formulate a plan through my rage. If—when—I beat Marcus, I can petition the council for her return from a position of power. I’ll get a copy of the video from Paul and show them just what Darius considers “punishment.” Even prisoners have rights. I don’t doubt more is going o