Treachery Read Free Page A

thought that even looking at one of the creators of my misery should make every insult I knew boil out of my mouth. But whatever will to fight back, to resist, I’d once had was gone. I was so tired. Of this place. Of life. I just wanted it to be over.
    My cell door stood open and a Bane elder came into the room, carrying a chair.
    “Thank you,” Logan told the guard as the Bane set the chair down to face me.
    With a curt bow, the Bane elder left—slamming the door behind him.
    Logan settled into the chair, pulling a pack of Djarum Blacks from his jacket pocket. He crossed his legs, lighting a cigarette and watching me. He gave a quick jerk of his chin and Ren came to stand beside me, ready to block any attack I might make.
    That almost made me laugh. As if I were any sort of threat to Logan. As if I could do anything to him. Even if I still wanted to.
    While smoke curled around him, Logan asked, “Do you miss your life, Ansel?”
    I stared at him. What kind of a question was that?
    Logan seemed to take my nonanswer as affirmative. “Because I’d like to give it back to you. My father and I have been talking, and we agree that you’ve gotten the worst of this debacle. Poor boy.”
    That rankled me a bit. Logan was only three years older than me, and despite my current state, I still believed I was more of a man than he’d ever be. Not that it mattered.
    “It must be hard,” Logan went on. “Being the younger sibling of an alpha. Did you ever wish you were the firstborn?”
    I stayed quiet. It wasn’t like Logan really wanted me to speak. He liked to hear himself talk and I was happy enough to let him. If I had spoken, he wouldn’t be happy with my answer. I’d never wished to be alpha—letting Calla bear all that responsibility had made me feel like I had a freedom she’d never have.
    Maybe that’s why she ran.
    I shoved back that thought as quickly as I could. As much as I couldn’t muster anger toward Logan, I still wasn’t willing to break down in front of him again. He’d had that pleasure too many times already.
    Logan smiled briefly. “I think we’re all a bit regretful that your sister failed so miserably in her duties. But how could we know? All that’s left is to pick up the pieces.”
    Beside me, Ren stirred. Glancing at him, I couldn’t tell if he was nervous or angry.
    “Your mother bore the brunt of Calla’s failure,” Logan told me, and I turned my head away. “Surely you understand why her death was imperative. One female alpha failing to instill respect for law and duty into her heir ... shameful.”
    My breath became ragged, and it made my chest burn. I tried to keep my face blank as I stared ahead, not blinking. My eyeballs were rapidly drying out, but I couldn’t risk blinking. I knew if I did, I’d see my mother. See her splayed on the stone slab in the Chamber. See Emile’s muzzle bathed in her blood.
    “And your father has lost his place as alpha,” Logan continued, taking a long pull off his cigarette. “But you, Ansel. You could be all you were and more.”
    I didn’t so much as glance at him, but I listened hard, straining to hear any truth in what he was saying.
    “Ren,” Logan said abruptly. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
    Ren crouched beside me. His voice was low, calm. “You could return to the pack, Ansel. Come back to us.”
    I dared to lift my head, peering at him. “What pack?”
    There was a brief flicker of uncertainty in his gaze. Logan coughed delicately, and Ren quickly went on: “It will take some time to sort that out. Right now, we’re all one pack. Reunited as Guardians to prove our loyalty to the Keepers, recognizing all they’ve done for us.”
    He paused, taking a long breath. “And all that Calla betrayed.”
    “But . . . my wolf . . .” When I said it, I couldn’t stop the sucker punch my mind threw at me. It didn’t take much for me to feel all of it again. The wolf being peeled from my human body, like scraps of skin torn away one