POV: Xavier

The moment I heard Beta Marcus's words, my wolf snarled with rage. After everything Thelma had been through, after all the people who had tried to use her, now my own pack wanted to turn her into a bargaining chip.

"No," I said firmly, adjusting my grip on Thelma's unconscious form. "She's not a weapon. She's not a tool. She's a person, and she's dying."

Beta Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Xavier, you seem to be forgetting your place. You're not in charge here. I am."

"And you seem to be forgetting that she's the rightful heir to the leadership of this pack," I shot back. "If anyone outranks...