Page 54 of Wicked Wolf

“Let’s begin,” Gideon said when they were all seated. His voice boomed over the circle. That low growl that always seemed present in his Alpha’s bass forced his wolf to pay attention.

“Yes, Gideon, let’s begin.” The elder leader, Shannon, glared at the Alpha as she spoke. The woman had never liked Gideon and his modern ways. Modern meant Gideon was less brutal and more fair, but that wasn’t the point at the moment.

Shannon raised her chin and waved her arm. At that signal, Helena strode into the center of the circle. To anyone else, his former mate looked contrite, solemn. Yet Quinn knew her better than that. Or at least he thought he did. There was something off with the way she held herself, as if she was trying too hard to appear small. Helena wanted something, and it wasn’t him or Jesse.

Most likely, it was Pack protection, and that annoyed him like no other. The years hadn’t been kind to her. While she hadn’t aged since she was a wolf, she had a few new scars and a frantic look about her that told him she hadn’t had the time of her life like she’d wanted to outside the Talon wards.

Well, fuck her and everything she stood for. He wanted her out of his sight, but he had a feeling it wasn’t going to be easy. It was never easy.

“You’re not Pack, Helena,” Gideon growled, and she flinched. “You made sure of that when you not only cut the connection between your mate and son, but you severed Pack ties.”

Helena let her tears fall, yet Quinn felt nothing for her. He squeezed Gina’s hand, trying to put his thoughts and feelings into that one motion. She didn’t squeeze back.

“I made a mistake all those years ago,” Helena said, her voice cracking.

Quinn growled but stopped when Gideon shot him a look.

“What was your mistake? Using dark magic to do something so taboo that no one has ever done it before or since? Or maybe it was almost killing Quinn because of your selfishness? Hmm? Oh, I know...it was when you almost killed your newborn baby because you couldn’t handle it. Instead of coming to me or any of us, you ran away and broke away form the Pack. You betrayed us. You betrayed your son. You betrayed your mate. You betrayed yourself.”

Quinn sucked in a breath at his Alpha’s words. Damn, Gideon was pissed and yet was saying everything that had rolled through Quinn’s head countless times.

“I’m sorry,” Helena whimpered.

“She made a mistake, Gideon,” Shannon crooned. “Every wolf is allowed to make a mistake. She wasn’t banished back then, so it must not have been too bad.”

Quinn’s eyes boggled, and Gina squeezed his hand.

“I want my mate back,” Helena said. “I want my son. I was out of my mind when I left, and now I know I’ve made mistakes, but I want my son and Quinn. The moon goddess blessed us, and I can’t keep away from them any longer.” She turned toward the rest of the Pack, pleading. “I’m a mother. Can’t you see that? It was the witch who made me do what I did. It was her power. I’m a victim just like Quinn and Jesse.” She fell to her knees, her cheeks stained with tears. “Please. Let me have my baby. Let me have my mate.”

“Unbelievable,” Quinn growled then pulled his gaze away from Helena to stare at Gina. “Don’t believe her. She’s lying.”

Gina met his eyes and sighed. “A witch couldn’t have taken the threat between your souls without Helena’s free will. At least that’s what I think, but she’s here now, Quinn. Wouldn’t she be better for Jesse in terms of the bond than me?”

Quinn growled and opened his mouth, but Shannon beat him to the punch.

“Quiet, Redwood,” she snapped. “You’re here to see the mate Quinn should have had. Don’t you see that you’re hurting a bond that came before you?”

“Back off,” Quinn said, his voice low.

“Know your place, wolf,” Shannon snapped.

“Quiet. All of you.” Gideon raked his claws over the stone pillar in front of him, and Quinn held back a wince. The Alpha was pissed. “Gina and Quinn are mated now, Helena. You’re too late. And even if you’d come earlier, you broke everything you could have had. It’s over.”

“Not so fast, Alpha,” Shannon interrupted.

“Excuse me?” Gideon said, his voice a whip.

“Quinn mated both of them. This isn’t a trinity bond or a full threesome or that would be one thing. No, this is unprecedented. Technically, the moon goddess chose both Gina and Helena. We need to see how this plays out.”

“Fuck no,” Quinn yelled. “I have a mate now. Fuck Helena and fuck whatever you think you’re doing.”

“Quinn,” Gina whispered, pulling on his hand. “Don’t yell at the elders.”

“I’ll yell at whoever I want to. They can’t tell me who to mate.”

Shannon smiled, and chills slid down his back. “Oh. I believe I can. Or at least I can provide the way. You see, since you’ve mated both of them, that’s a sign of indecision. And you know what must happen when someone can’t decide between two mates.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Gideon snapped. “A mating circle? You want Gina and Helena to fight in a mating circle?”