The Mate Mistake(The Woolven Secret 3)(50)

"My guess is Remus."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Aside from finding Grigori Remus and ripping his throat out?"

"You know, if it was anyone other than Remus himself, I'd say that was a good plan, but do you think you can actually, you know, beat him?"

Blake narrowed his eyes.

"Come on, this is me. He's fucking Remus. The original Alpha of one of the oldest werewolf nations. He's powerful. And so are you, but he's got the power of the ages behind him."

"He does, but so do I. I have Tirigan."

"That's not a fair fight," he said casually.

"I'm not challenging him for right to rule his pack. I'm protecting Woolven."

And gods help anyone who tried to hurt Blake Woolven's pack, because no one else would be able to.

Blake would do anything to protect the pack. Strike any deal. His only moral code was the pack above all else.

"You know I don't have a problem with it. Hell, send him poisoned Milk Bones for all I care. Just gauging where you are on this and how concerned I should be."

"You should be very fucking concerned."

"So noted." He took another drink. "So if killing Grigori Remus is the only plan we've got, where is he and how are we going to do it?"

"We're not. Because even with Tirigan, I don't know if I can win. But Antony can."

"Rommulus? They're brothers, Blake."

"They are. But if you'll recall, Grigori voted to have Marchessa put to death. He's a direct threat to Antony's mate."

"Do you really think he'll kill his brother?"

"I think Antony Rommulus would take great joy in wreaking carnage and mayhem on anyone who even sniffed in Marchessa's direction. We just have to get them together. Antony is hunting him, and while he's powerful with a lot of resources, Grigori knows him like the back of his own hand. He doesn't know Woolven. I bet we can lure him out."

"If they're moving on us, they might be on the way here already."

"That's my problem. I need somewhere safe for this to go down. Somewhere our pack will be safe. Randi. Maribella. Belle. Noah." He sighed. "Warner. He shouldn't have to go to war again. He's already lived through it. He's already made sacrifice after sacrifice."

"Yet, he'll continue to give whatever is required because that's what pack does. That's what it means to be Woolven," Parker said quietly.

"I knew what I was doing when I sided with Rommulus on this. It was right, but that doesn't make it any easier."

"What are you looking for here?" Parker suddenly asked.

"I want your opinion."

"Drew's your Beta, not me. I'm just Baby Woolven."

"No, you're not. You're Parker Woolven. You're my brother. And my friend. Where Drew is the voice of caution, you are the voice of action. Always have been."

Parker was shaken by the revelation. He hadn't realized his words carried that much weight with his brother. He'd always seen himself as the screw up. The extra. "Then what's Warner?"

"The voice of experience."

Parker scratched his head. "I don't know what to say now that I know you're taking me seriously."

"I've always taken you seriously, little brother."

"I'm realizing that. Now, I feel like I should watch what I say."

"No, fuck that. It's why your words are valuable. You don't measure each one. It's organic."

Parker grinned. "Does it drive Drew batshit if you listen to me instead of him? That would really make my night."

"Sorry, no. He doesn't usually care one way or another. You know how Drew is. He speaks his piece and then he's done. He'll roll with my decision, whatever it happens to be."

"Damn." He pressed his lips together for a moment. "If they're going to be bold enough to march on Aphelion, knowing who and what our allies are, you know they're bringing the big guns." He was quiet for a long moment that stretched out between them.

"Are you saying we should run?"

"I'm saying that we should be prepared. I'm saying we need Westwood to come up with some teleportation voodoo for everyone in case things go south. I'm not a coward, I'll fight whatever they throw at us, but retreat to keep the pack safe? It might be our only option."

"You might be surprised to know that's what Drew said."

"Well, wonders never cease."

"Are you good for this? Are you a hundred percent?" Blake studied him.

"Better than."

"Your mate?"

"Honestly? Distracted, but it'll be okay."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

"Both. She's fierce and strong, but she's still innocent in a strange way, too."

"Yeah, I can see that about her. Tirigan will be a good ally to have."