Chapter 80. Playing with Fire

“Alpha wants to see you right away.” Noah’s tone was abrupt, his amber eyes flashing with urgency. His fists were balled so tightly that his knuckles whitened, and the sinews in his arms and chest stood out like taut cords.

“Right now?” I whispered, a cold knot of nausea coiling in my gut. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed a low-hanging branch to steady myself. “I thought we had more time. Daniel plans to challenge Alpha once he returns. I was hoping he’d win before I had to speak with Alpha again.”

“So was I,” Noah growled under his breath. “But Kane just mind-linked to relay Alpha’s orders.”

I lifted one brow. “Mind-linked?”

Noah shook his head in understanding of my confusion. “Kane stayed near the packhouse to shadow Alpha’s movements. When Alpha issued the order, he mind-linked it directly to me.”

My hand flew to my throat, pressing against the raised imprint of Daniel’s mark. “But I can’t let Alpha see that. He’ll know.”

Noah raked a