Countdown – Part 2

~ ZEV ~

He didn't move as Skhal whipped around to put himself between them, his chest to Zev's his eyes piercing—threatening!—and fixed on Zev's.

"She's telling you the truth, not challenging you," Skhal said, his voice rough and deep, full of every ounce of authority the male could muster—a tone that spoke of the days when he'd been more father than brother, and cleaned Zev's childhood wounds.

"She's telling me she's loyal to the Alpha who might have killed my mate and son," Zev snarled.

"She's proven her worth, her willingness to help you—to help us!" Skhal growled.

"But to what end?" Zev snapped. "She's standing here pleading the case for that bitch. You expect me to trust her to be among our people—close to my mate—when she's probably just gathering information and—"

'Do you want to hear a difficult truth, Zev? Or the lie that makes you feel better?' Skhal growled through the link.