“And you were there,” he hissed. “He’s Fallen, and you were there. You soulless bitch, you could have stopped it!”

When his eyes opened, they blazed with grief-filled rage. He took a step toward me, the dagger held low. I was about to lunge at him when Monroe stepped between us. In the same moment Shay dropped to the floor—a golden brown wolf hunched defensively just in front of me. He bared sharp fangs at Ethan, snarling.

Ethan’s smile dissolved and he paled even more.

“And you’re the one who made the Scion into a monster. I’ll flay you myself and wear your skin for a coat.”

Shay tensed, his ears flattening as Ethan lunged.

“No!” Anika shouted.

Monroe’s arm shot out, catching Ethan around the waist.

“Lydia, Connor, get him out of here!” he shouted as he restrained the furiously struggling man. “We’ll deal with this later.”

Spittle and a string of curses flew from Ethan’s mouth. The two Searchers rushed to aid their leader. With considerable effort they dragged the shrieking, sobbing man from the room. I could still hear his agonized cries as they disappeared from sight.

Monroe shook his head, grief etching his face. He glanced at Shay, who still crouched low, his eyes fixed on the doorway.

“Do you mind?” Monroe sighed.

“Shay, shift back,” I murmured. “Now.” And then a young man stood next to us again, though his eyes remained wary.

“If anyone hurts her, you’ll be sorry,” Shay said to Monroe.

“She won’t be harmed.”

Their conversation, taking place as if I wasn’t there, left me uneasy. I could understand, and even appreciate, Shay’s desire to protect me, but I was a warrior. I didn’t need protecting. A burr of resentment settled beneath my skin.

“An incident like that won’t happen again,” Monroe said. “I assure you.”

“I’m sorry about what happened,” I said suddenly, no longer willing to be voiceless while my fate was being discussed. “I know it probably doesn’t mean anything to you.”

I looked at the empty doorway through which Ethan had been dragged. “Or him.”

“It means something, if it’s sincere.” Monroe said, regarding my troubled expression with thoughtful eyes. “It will take some time before he trusts you. If he ever will.”

“This isn’t going to work.” Shay paced back and forth, fists clenched at his sides. “How can we get anywhere if one of you is always trying to kill her?”

He had a good point. I wouldn’t be helping my pack anytime soon if I had to worry about vengeful Searchers shoving daggers into my back.

“Ethan may be grief-stricken and angry, but he still follows my orders,” Anika said.“No one will harm Calla while she’s under my protection.”

I pivoted to face her, arching an eyebrow. “Under your protection?”

Maybe Shay was right. This alliance could never work. Alphas didn’t need protection. The Searchers didn’t understand my world or me. But was there any way I could save Ansel, Bryn, and the others on my own?

Anika offered me a wry smile. “I’m afraid that is your lot, Guardian. At least until you manage to convince the others of your loyalties.”

“My loyalty is to my pack,” I responded automatically, and then winced. The pack I left behind. I thought of Ethan’s crazed sorrow, wondering if I would have responded any differently had our situations been reversed. Would I have any room in my heart for forgiveness? I might not have killed Kyle myself, but he was dead because I’d done my job. I couldn’t blame Ethan for focusing his rage on me.

I don’t have any other choice; this alliance has to work.

Shay folded my hands in his own. The warmth of his touch pulled me from my dark thoughts. I met his eyes and remembered why I’d been willing to leave Vail. My earlier resentment draining away, I threaded my fingers through his and ran my thumb over his wrist. He smiled and my pulse stuttered.

“We’re going to help them, Cal,” he said quietly. “I’m back now, and that’s what we’ll do. We’ll help Ansel, all of the pack.”

I nodded, though the smile I wanted to give him in return wouldn’t appear. The lines around Monroe’s eyes tightened as he glanced at our entwined fingers. Self-conscious, I shook Shay’s hand off, wondering if all the Searchers despised the notion that their precious Scion could love a Guardian. My chest tightened when a nagging worry flitted through my mind. If they did, would it change how Shay felt about me?

“That’s what we all hope for,” Anika said. “But we need to know a bit more before we can make the next move. How long have you been planning to rebel against the Keepers?”

How long had I been planning to what?

“Uh . . . I—” Words tangled with my tongue. I hadn’t planned anything. Every decision I’d made had been about saving Shay. Choices made in the space of a breath. And it had been utter chaos.

“She was being forced to marry someone,” Shay said, revulsion edging each of his words. “At age seventeen . . . can you believe that?”

Monroe nodded, opening his mouth to respond. But I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Why does it always have to come back to me and Ren? Doesn’t Shay realize the sacrifice Ren made by letting me go?

“That is not what—” I bit off the words, realizing that I didn’t want to air my relationship issues in public.