Declan - Heart of a Tiger (Royal Taiga Streak #1) - J.R. Loveless Page 0,68

“I expect you to treat him with the respect due him as such. Sean and the others have been through something none of us can even begin to imagine the horrors of. Yes, it is true, there was a human male living on the outskirts of our territory abducting shifter children.”

A sob came from Becky and Declan gave her a sympathetic glance. “As you have most likely heard, Becky’s own daughter Gina was one of those children. Over the years this sick individual kidnapped many, but few were rescued. There were fourteen others laid to rest by my mate in the very backyard of the house they were kept in.

“Cameron as well as a select few have spent the last twenty-four to thirty-six hours exhuming the remains so we may reunite them with their families. Many of them have been identified and this is the primary reason I have requested your presence tonight. Three of the cubs were found to belong to the Koda Sleuth, the Cast Clan, and the Clan of the Claw.”

Declan’s announcement was met with tension and cries of shock. Many of the members were very aware of the strained relationship the Royal Taiga Streak had with those three in particular. “Representatives from each of them will be arriving in two days’ time. They have not been informed of the children or that they were kept so close to our compound. I need each and every one of you to remain on alert while they are here. But, I also need you all to know this could not only fracture our ties with these three clans, but sever them entirely, potentially leading to a war between us.”

The murmurs began again and grew louder with dread and anxiety. Declan let forth a loud roar, effectively silencing them. “My enforcers and I will handle this as delicately as possible to try and circumvent retaliation from any of the clans. I ask you to please not allow your fear to control your actions. If there is any backlash, we will deal with it as a clan.”

Tanzie came forth. “How do you intend to do that, Alpha? Our numbers are few compared to those clans. Even if all of us were to fight, we surely would lose.”

Declan gave them all a determined look. “If it is absolutely necessary, I will issue the Alpha Challenge.”

A collective gasp went up from the pride. The Alpha Challenge was a well-known shifter law where the alpha of a clan may demand a fight to the death to defend their people. The one still standing at the end could either absorb the pack or pride members left behind into their own or leave them to the risk of another taking over or destroying the remnants of the clan. Declan did not make the decision lightly. If he lost, Sean would perish with him, but he would not lose. He couldn’t, because he would never allow anything to happen to Sean.

“We will stand strong as we face this together. I take full responsibility for this tragedy. I never should have been so lax about patrols not being assigned to the edge of our land. My father pulled them back in to protect the streak, but we have grown in numbers since then and there is no excuse for my lapse.”

Matthew came forward and stopped beside Tanzie. “None of us could have known, Alpha. There isn’t even a way to be certain we would have discovered anything if we had patrolled so far out. Your father moved us inward to ensure there couldn’t possibly be another loss like we suffered then. They can’t blame the pride for something we had no hand in.”

“We may not have had a hand in the events which unfolded in that house, but we should have known. The other clans will not see reason when it comes to one of their own being abducted and murdered.”

When Matthew would have gone to argue again, Declan shook his head. “Stop. We can debate this all night, but it won’t change the facts. Several clan alphas or representatives of those clans will arrive the day after tomorrow and we must stay alert to the dangers they may pose.”

The pride members nodded and several whispered amongst themselves. Declan knew the slightest imbalance could offset everything. He prayed to their ancestors to help them through the next several days. Everyone disbanded and wandered off, either to their homes or to gather in groups and talk amongst each other.