Chapter 28

Gabriel's eyes narrowed. “How would you know what memories the people have to tell? Aren't they the ones that have taken all our females?”

Mark's face hardened. “I do now not answer to you, traitor. You are the one who deserted the people! You are the one who left the hierarchy fractured, and our home torn from the inside. You deserted us to our fate, so you have no grounds to return and question where we have ended up.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. But is not it handy that you can keep away from the question—”

Mark hissed and flowed forward, one large fist aimed straight for Gabriel's ribs.

Gabriel twisted and blocked the blow, but it left them chest to chest, each snarling, Gabriel's grip on the older male's arm shaking with the effort to keep him from taking every other swing.

“You are no Alpha, Gabriel. An Alpha would die in protection of his people—not run like a pup with his tail between his legs.”

“I did now not run,