her tighter to him. “I can go to the Great Luna a happy wolf because I have had the privilege and joy of having my true mate in my arms.”
Zara settled into him and placed her hands over his arms. She liked the feel and warmth of his skin, and the coarse hair that lightly covered his flesh. She loved his scent and how it covered her. But most of all, she was comforted by knowing he didn’t want to be anywhere other than right there with her.
“Everyone has been given sleeping quarters,” Alina told Vasile as he sat at a table in the dining hall. They’d arrived back nearly two hours ago and, after addressing the pack, his mate had insisted he eat. She’d actually insisted that all of the warriors who’d returned be fed, and they had been. The room had been cleared and the tables cleaned, and now it was only he and his female.
“Thank you,” he told her as she sat next to him. He reached out, laying his hand palm up on the table, and she placed hers in it. Vasile gave it a squeeze as he looked into her gentle yet fierce gaze.
“I am glad you returned unharmed.” Her voice trembled slightly.
“I would not dare disappoint you, Mina.” He smiled, though he didn’t feel like it, hoping to reassure her. He could feel her trepidation about another traitor through their bond, and he wanted to ease her worry.
“How are we supposed to trust our pack? And why did Peri abandon you in the middle of a battle?” she asked after several minutes of them simply staring at one another, as though they were afraid the other would disappear if they looked away.
“The only reason Peri would have left was if she needed to protect the healers. They are still dealing with Volcan. We knew her ability to be with us might be short lived because they are her first responsibility, at least for now. Once they’re safe, I’m sure she and Lucian will return to us.
“Alston attempted to put doubt in our minds, and some may be buying into his lies, but we have known Perizada for a very long time. We know her character, the responsibility she feels toward those who are under her protection. We have to trust that she is doing what is necessary. I do not believe she would abandon us, no matter how much the odds might be stacked against us.”
Alina bit her bottom lip as she seemed to think over his words. Then she nodded. “What about the traitor?”
“We can’t begin assuming everyone is the enemy,” he said gently. “If we start looking at one another with suspicion, we will not be able to fight side-by-side. We won’t be able to function as one, and, in order to win against Ludcarab, Alston, and whomever else they have leading their evil army, we have to be united.”
“But how can we be united if we have traitors living inside our walls?” Alina growled in a low voice. His mate was a force to be reckoned with. Even with her gentle spirit and loving heart, she wouldn’t hesitate to bury a blade in their enemies’ gut.
“We wait,” he said simply and knew she was not going to like his answer.
“My daughter-in-law is right,” Alina huffed. “Waiting sucks.”
“How are you?” Vasile asked her at the mention of Jacquelyn.
“I’m worried, but I cannot let it consume me, or I won’t be able to function. If I cannot function, then what good am I to anyone?”
“We will get them back.” He swallowed down his own emotions. He hadn’t let Fane see the rage boiling in his blood when he’d seen Slate, his grandchild, and Jacquelyn, his son's mate, in the hands of their enemies. It had taken everything in him to get his wolf to leave. The moment Fane had said he wasn’t leaving the United States, Vasile had known he wouldn’t fight his son on that point. The alpha would have felt the same way if it had been Alina and Fane who’d been captured. But Vasile couldn’t stay. He had to check on their pack and his mate. He needed to reassure her that he was fine and be there for her during this time because despite her words, he could feel her agony.
“How is Fane?” she asked. He knew this was the one question that had been burning inside of her, but she’d set it aside so that Vasile could do