Two nights before midsummer, the Alphas came with Sabine at their side. The pack still expected me to choose a mate.
“She’s too weak,” Sabine argued.
“No, I can do it,” I said, but my voice was so soft, they spoke over me.
“You must delay—she needs to recover. She needs more time.”
“We do not have more time,” one of the Alphas exploded from his seat and paced the lodge, tearing a hand through his hair. “The pack grows desperate, needy. They are fighting—every day there are more fights.”
“I can do it,” I put as much power into my voice as I could. It rang in the rafters and everyone looked at me. “You need me to take a mate. I will do my best. I will choose one of the pack…soon.”
“Fleur, are you certain?” Sabine leaned forward. One of her mates, a fierce warrior with blue tattoos, put
