It hadn’t been a hard decision for Dru to abandon Nyx.
Ouroboros wouldn’t harm him. They weren’t in the business of making waves with incomplete knowledge. Once they got a hold of all the facts, they would decide on an appropriate course of action to defend the vulnerable Humans.
And so, he’d slipped out through the passenger side door when everyone was thrown into chaos by Lan’s great escape. He really had to give it to the little undesirable wolf. For someone naturally inferior, he was fierce and bold. If it weren’t for him, Dru would’ve been caught as well and then where would that leave him?
Val would be even more humiliated. Two vanguard members apprehended by Ouroboros? Absolutely unacceptable.
Dru winced as Shaw spread ointment over his blistering skin. The smell of burning flesh was stuck in his nostrils and no amount of incense helped. He looked around the makeshift healing cave and wondered if Shaw wasn’t too prepared.
It had taken a little bit of time to orient himself, but he had soon arrived back in Valentine’s camp. A silver bullet managed to skin his shoulder, which made running a tad uncomfortable. Nothing he couldn’t shake off though.
Instead of immediately getting medical care, he had been dragged into a long and arduous discussion with Valentine and Tao. They made their growing displeasure well-known as Dru confessed more of Nyx’s independent exploits. The serial killings were particularly infuriating as they were bound to draw Ouroboros’s attention.
When they asked for an explanation, Dru simply said that Nyx could tell them when they retrieved him from the Hunters. Talking about the killings and Nyx’s behavior was easy compared to outing his obsession with Lan.
A proud wolf who led a massive vanguard couldn’t possibly be enamored with an undesirable claim. If he was, that would make him a laughing-stock—a true embarrassment among Lycans. And what would Valentine think of him after that? Would he find him unfit to lead? Would his social status plummet for craving the life of Lan?
Dru shuddered at the potential mess. Nyx could handle framing that particular issue.
There’s one more thing to settle though.
Reluctantly, he turned his attention to Shaw who had begun wrapping gauze around his shoulder wound. “If I was anyone else, I’d be extremely angry.”
Shaw’s movements barely stuttered.
“I wondered who could’ve tipped off Ouroboros. How could they have tracked our movements that closely without some help?” Dru kept his voice steady. Low. Calm. “No one else knew what was going on aside from the three of us. I’m sure Nyx would never suspect you though. He’s too caught up with thoughts of Lan.”
Claws suddenly dug into Dru’s throat and narrow gold eyes glared at him. The gauze fell to the wayside, only half wrapped around Dru’s shoulder.
“That got your attention, huh?” he muttered, unimpressed by the threat. They both knew it was empty. Hurting another packmate, particularly one who helped lead the vanguard, would be unforgivable. In turn though, Dru couldn’t touch the pack’s doctor. Being Nyx’s mate was just an added bonus to Shaw’s social status.
They were at a stalemate.
“You and Nyx suit each other,” Dru remarked, pushing the claws away from his throat. “Composed until someone tries to take away your possessions. Maybe that’s why you knew Nyx’s thoughts would eventually turn to fucking Lan in addition to beating him senseless.”
Shaw growled bitterly. “And? Where is he now?”
“Well,” Dru began, eyeing him warily, “I could only guess he’s run off to the circus.”
The dumbfounded look on Shaw’s face was almost comical.
Dru picked up the abandoned gauze and continued wrapping himself up. “Seems that Lan is enamored with Delirium.”
“And what of the claim?”
“Who knows?” He tore off the end, tucking the bandage securely. “Isn’t Lan’s charm in his ability to defy Lycan law? Whatever happens now is out of our hands. If the Ringleader wants him, then you can be sure he’ll have him.”
Dru didn’t actually blame Lan for running off. Did he judge him for falling into the arms of Night Children? A bit. Any reasonable Lycan would find that repulsive.
Was it better than being Nyx’s punching bag? Soon to be mindless whore? Dru couldn’t say. Not really. A normal wolf would take that reality over an unknown one with even scarier monsters. Lan had never been normal though. He’d been vying for freedom since the beginning.
Wonder if he’ll find it.
Shaw was smiling when Dru looked up.
“Try not to look too excited when Nyx finally comes home to breed you,” he advised wryly. “Might just tip him off that you never much cared for his claim.” Dru slowly rose to his feet, trudging toward the exit.
Maybe one of the others had some booze to share. After the last several months, he could definitely use something to relax. Hopefully this was the end of all the madness. Dru scoffed at his own optimism. So long as Lan and Nyx are both alive, their feud will never end.
“Who do you stand with?”
“What do you mean?” Dru called over his shoulder, not faltering in his departure.
“Nyx or Lan?”
It was a loaded question and one that hinted too much at Shaw’s intelligence. Not many would look at Dru and realize he had a soft spot for Lan. Or rather, a vague sense of camaraderie with Lan. Neither of them perfectly conformed to Lycan society, but Dru knew how to mask it and had the social standing to prosper.
No one truly cared if he lacked a mate and claim—a double standard in the face of undesirables being sterile and ostracized for it. Lycans were annoyed and muttered backhanded insults, but no one would confront him in earnest.
“That’s not even a question,” Dru responded under his breath, stepping out into the fading daylight.
There was no question of where his loyalties lied. Nyx was his packmate and vanguard leader. They had a bond built from years of working together and a shared submission to Lycan law.
No matter how much he pitied Lan, that changed nothing in a practical way. He would just silently lament that Lan wasn’t so crazy. In fact, he was far saner than Nyx.
Dru was too smart and self-preserving though to voice those thoughts.
He would choose the pack every time.
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