I looked away as the stench of death hit the air. There was a collective gasp that went around the circle of gathered people. I had to look, even though I really didn't want to see the head in the box. As expected, it was from Tanner's mate, Lindsey, the one I'd fought for my place as female alpha. Her eyes were closed, but there was no mistaking the misery on her face.
Another one of the Ophiuchus pack members dead, and I felt sick to my stomach over it. It didn't matter that she had fought against me. She was, at the end of the day, still a pack member, and I never wanted to see her dead. But as long as we held Jordan, they would keep sending us pack members in a box—yet we couldn't give him up either. For better or worse, we needed him to break the mate bond, if nothing else.
Kaden le
