KADE POV
"Your brother has been missing for hours."
My mother stood in the throne room.
"He's not dead," I said.
"I didn't say he was." She walked toward me slowly. "But the pack needs leadership. They need to see strength."
"They have Abel. They have me."
"Abel is out searching like a fool. And you—" She stopped in front of me. "You're Second in Command."
"Exactly. Nero is Alpha."
"And if he doesn't return?" Her face was unreadable. "You need to take the throne."
"No."
"Kade—" She studied me for a long moment. "You've always been loyal to him. Sometimes I wonder if you're more loyal to your brother than to your pack."
The words hit harder than any blow.
"The answer is no."
"Then you're a fool." She didn't look back. "Just like your father was."
She left.
And I stood there
