Chapter 125

• Callan POV
• “MATE!”
• A chill ran down my spine and all the hairs on my arm stood on end as the word ripped through the room. Micha turned to face me; his mouth had dropped open in disbelief, and his brows were raised high up on his forehead, creating a cascade of wrinkles. He stood up, pushing his chair back, making a loud squeaking noise as it slid against the floor; the whispers about Ayla had stopped now; the room was so silent I could hear Ayla’s heart beating fast. All eyes were now on Thomas, a pack warrior who had a reputation much like Micha’s. But I didn’t look at Thomas; instead, I looked toward the woman standing like a deer in headlights, shocked to see it was Alice, a timid she-wolf who had only just started working in the kitchen this week. Alice had just moved back into the pack house after losing her job and her home in town; Alister refused to help her because he thought she was a weak link in his pack, but I wouldn’t let any of my pack suffer. As soon as Alister left, I brought Alice back and gave her the job in the kitchen, but it was clear to everyone she was afraid, and I feared she had witnessed Alister’s cruelty firsthand.