Chapter 227

“You brought Bethany here, straight into the heart of danger,” Cameron accuses. “Everything that’s happening to her is all because you couldn’t leave her back in the capital where she would be safe.”

Guilt tears through me, but beneath it, I hear and understand the regret in his own voice. He isn’t just guessing. He knows exactly what’s happened to Bethany.

“Please,” I tell him. “Whatever you think of me, I need your help. Bethany is my friend and I want to rescue her –”

“There is no rescuing her from where she is now,” Cameron says.

“She’s not…” Pain clutches at my throat, cutting off my words. Still, I push forward. “She’s not… dead?”

“No,” Cameron says, looking away. Some measure of relief fills me, but before I can get too comfortable, he continues. “But she is not able to be rescued…”

I tried to imagine where she could be, not dead but trapped somewhere? Then, perhaps too slowly, it occurs to me. “She’s in the rebel stronghold.”

Cameron’s gaze flashes back to me. I whispered the words, yet with how seriously he’s looking at me, perhaps I still said them too loudly.

Yet, with that look, I know I guessed correctly.

“I don’t care how impossible you think her rescue is,” I say then, letting my love for my friend drive forth my bravery, even if it is foolhardy. “I will never leave Bethany behind. She may be my handmaiden, but above all, she is my friend. She has been with me through everything, she’s saved my life so many times… It is past time I return the favor.”

Cameron gives me a skeptical look. “You truly value your servant so much? You types treat people like commodities. You call her a friend, but you can’t actually mean it.”

“I do mean,” I say. When I think back on how much Bethany has helped me through, always being there, always being supportive, I know I haven’t done enough in return for her.

With great regret, I worry she might not fully understand how much she means to me. But I will show her now.

Hardening my expression, I tell Cameron, “I will not be leaving these pack lands without Bethany.”

Cameron must see something in my face – my resolve, perhaps, or my earnest care for my dear friend – because, though his own expression doesn’t soften, his eyes fill with a concern that was not there only a moment before.

“Harper,” he says, and though his voice has dropped low, there is a rush of urgency in the words. “Whatever you do, do not participate in the hunt tonight. They plan to –”

“Cameron,” says a sharp voice from behind us.

Cameron immediately shuts his mouth and straightens. Leaning, I see the butler approaching us.

The butler stares hard at Cameron, not looking at me even as he addresses me. “Harper. Return to the party now.”

“But—” I start.

“Do as he says, Harper,” Cameron adds. His voice is different now, like ice.

I don’t want to leave him alone, not knowing what might happen. But I have no power here.

“Come with me, Cameron,” the butler says. “We need to have a talk.”

“Yes, sir,” Cameron says, swallowing hard. With a look, I can see a flash of fear in his eyes.

I can’t do anything, but Caleb can. Backing away from the scene, I remove myself from the shadow of the stairwell, then turn and run into the ballroom, searching for Caleb.

I find him near where I left him. When I’m at his side, he immediately wraps his arm around me protectively.

“You are trembling,” Caleb says. “What happened?”

“I was speaking with Cameron but we were interrupted by the butler,” I say. “Oh, Caleb, we have to go back. I saw fear in Cameron’s eyes. I don’t know what the butler is planning, but…” Then I remembered. Whispering, I add, “They might take him to the rebel stronghold. He implied that’s where Bethany is.”

Caleb curses under his breath. “Likely on the other side of that passageway in the library. Come on, show me where Cameron is.”

Taking Caleb’s hand, I bring him back to the spot by the stairwell, but it’s empty now. Cameron and the butler are both gone. Caleb scents the air gently, and we both look around, but there’s no sign of them anywhere.

“Cameron was trying to help me,” I say, carrying the guilty weight of responsibility. “We have to find them.”

“We will,” Caleb says. “We just need to sneak away from this farce of a party and –”

“May I have your attention, please!” Gladys announces from the middle of the room. She taps her can hard on the floors, drawing the crowd’s gaze with the loud clanks. “Now is the time for us to move out into the gardens, where we will shift and begin our hunt.”

A pleased rabble starts in the crowd. Gladys clanks her cane on the ground again, silencing them. She’s not done.

“We should allow our guests to go first, shouldn’t we?” Gladys holds her hand out, gesturing to Caleb and me. “Alpha King Caleb and Consort Harper. Please do us the honor of leading the procession outside.”

I coil in closer to Caleb’s side whose arm sits tightly around my waist.

Cameron’s dire warning whispers through my memories. Do not participate in the hunt tonight…

“Caleb,” I whisper.

“As honored as we are to have a hunt held in our honor,” Caleb says loudly. “We must decline the invitation to join in the festivities.”

Gladys’s arm slowly lowers. “To do so would be an insult to us.”

“Unintentional,” Caleb says. “But due to Harper’s… background, this is an unfortunate necessity.”

“Being human does not mean she cannot participate,” Gladys says. “In fact, it makes things even more interesting. The wolves of this pack have only ever hunted animals before. They’ve never had the chance to hunt after someone with their own level of thinking.”

Wait. Is she saying what I think she’s saying?

Caleb starts to growl. “Careful with your words and choices, woman. This is my favored consort you are threatening.”

“Ah, little Alpha King. You are so far from home.” Gladys steps closer to us, her cane clanking on the ground with each forward step. “You’ve stepped willingly into my domain, into the pack lands of those who hate you. You think you have any authority here?”

“I will rip out your throat with my teeth,” Caleb snarls. His entire body tenses. His fingers start to dig into me, turning claw-like. His voice is more growl than man. “And I will behead any who try to touch my mate.”

Mate?

I don’t have time to process the words.

Gladys makes a gesture and suddenly, her military servants come out of the woodwork, all heavily armed. With silver bullets, this time, I was sure.

Where were our own guards?

“Your guards are confined,” Gladys says. “There is now only you and your consort, Caleb. Yet, I am always up for a good wager. Join the hunt, play my game, and maybe you might even survive.”

A few of the others start to laugh, and Gladys smirks too.

She adds, “Though I doubt it.”