His brother took a deep breath, regret tensing his features. “You’ve always loved Kira, Lorn. Hell, your actions proved it. I believe she is your true mate. But Decker denied your right to claim her. That’s just wrong. I had come up with a plan but…now it’s all fallen to hell.”

“What plan are you talking about? I do love Kira, but she’s not my true mate. I just want her as mine.”

“Deny it all you want, but it’s true. You’ve already bonded, just not physically.”

“What have you done? What plan?”

Lavos took a step back. “We’re going to skip over the discussion about Kira?”

“You’re the one skipping over things. What plan are you talking about? Did you have anything to do with those Vampires invading our territory?” The idea infuriated him. “Did you put Kira in danger?”

“Hell no!” He scowled. “It doesn’t matter what I did anymore. Veso is dead. You can’t run off with Kira now, and she has to leave.”

Lorn lunged and grabbed his brother by the front of his shirt faster than the other man could react and gave him a vicious shake. “What plan? What the hell does Veso have to do with anything? Why would you say I can’t run off with her when last night you made me promise to do just that if she can’t learn to control herself? What in the hell is going on?”

“Calm down.”

“Fuck you. Talk!”

Lavos gripped his wrist but didn’t tear out of his hold. “Veso, Garson, Kar and I had a plan, and we thought we could continue with it even after Decker fled. Hell, that actually made it easier. Veso offered to help me take leadership of our clan.”

“What?” His hold on his brother loosened from surprise.

“Decker is an asshole. We all hate him. You wouldn’t challenge him because you didn’t want to kill our father, and you’d have to. I don’t have those same qualms, Lorn. I’d have fought and killed him, then taken on any who challenged me. Veso swore to help me hold the clan. He would have made a perfect lead enforcer. Garson and Kar offered to be enforcers as well.”

Lorn couldn’t find words; he just gawked at his brother.

“I realized things had become easier after Decker fucked the pooch and fled with his enforcers. It just left Nabby to deal with, and some of the first-generations—like our father, who’s blindly loyal to Decker’s way of running things.”

“You plotted all this without telling me? I’m first son. I should be the one to challenge for leadership and fight Nabby.”

“You were too unhappy. I wanted you to leave the clan.”

It stung. Lorn shoved him away, putting a few feet of space between them. “You don’t trust the clan’s future in my hands?”

“You would make a wonderful leader. A miserable one, though. I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“That my plan failed.” Lavos swallowed hard, glancing away before giving him a guilt-laden stare. “I lied to you, and to everyone else. I didn’t find my true mate. I knew our father would demand you take a mate before I did. I thought it would push you into admitting how much Kira meant to you, and you’d finally claim her as your mate. You were supposed to flee with her to be happy! Veso and I were going to assure you we’d care for the clan so you could leave without guilt, but then we were invaded last night. It all went to hell because those fucking Vampires murdered Veso and turned Kira. You can’t leave the clan now. It needs you too much. Nabby is stupid enough to get everyone here killed.”

Lorn had no words at first, too stunned to speak. A hundred questions arose, along with his anger as the silent seconds passed. “You didn’t find your mate?”

“No.”

“And you thought I’d run off with Kira if I were forced to take one?”

“I knew you’d want to claim her. But you can’t now. Veso was the only one I knew who would make an excellent lead enforcer. Now I need you to stay. I’m so damn sorry. You have to challenge Nabby, and I’ll be your lead enforcer.”

It took a moment for all of it to make sense. “I can mate Kira if giving her my blood activates her Lycan side, and makes it stronger than the Vampire traits. I have faith it will work. The rest of the clan will have to accept her as long as she’s able to breed and withstand the sun. Otherwise, it’s none of their business who their new leader chooses. I’ll fulfill the requirement to provide offspring for future generations.”

“You can’t give her your blood, Lorn! You’ll end up mated to a Vampire. No one will follow you in this clan if you do that. They won’t even allow you to live with her here. I can’t do this alone. I need you, and we can’t abandon everyone who depends on us. You have to accept what’s happened to Kira and let her go.”

“I refuse to give up hope!”

“Stop living in denial!” Lavos lunged forward, grabbing his shoulders and giving Lorn a shake. “You’ve spent too many years lying to yourself. I’m tired of watching you slowly die a little inside every day. I was willing to do anything so you had a shot at being happy, even deceive you. You’re my brother and best friend. Let it out, man! Cry. Yell. Hit me. Just stop locking it all inside! You’ve got to be hurting so much right now after what’s happened. I can’t imagine how much you must be grieving Kira’s loss.”

“She’s not dead.”

“Not yet. This clan will kill her after they discover what she’s become. Hell, even if you can feed her and get her to withstand daylight, it won’t make a difference. I heard what Davis said about our father. He’s right. He’ll turn the clan against Kira, along with every other elder. We can’t kill all of them.”

Lavos sighed. “They’d never accept your leadership with Kira at your side. Decker poisoned their minds when it comes to bloodsuckers, and only breeding firstborns with strong-blooded VampLycans. The clan will grieve Veso’s loss at a Vampire’s hands—and want someone to take it out on. Kira will become their target. I’d be noble and tell you to still leave with her, but Nabby can’t run this clan. You know I’m right. He’s so far up Decker’s ass that it’s not funny. He’ll sacrifice everyone trying to bring that prick back into power. He’s already spreading a bullshit plan of going to war with the GarLycans to save Decker. The other clans won’t fight by our side. I’d bet they’d join forces with Lord Aveoth. We’ll be slaughtered.”