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"Fuck you guys, let me go, I have to get to her." Matt struggled to yank himself away from Nolan and Rex. Their hands were like vises on his arms, fingers digging. He was strong, but not strong enough for both of them.
"Yeah, no way, asshole," Rex growled. "I knew there was something off about you."
"Please," Matt said.
Rex's grip lessened for the barest of seconds, and Matt took advantage. He swung out, clocking Rex in the chin. Rex flew back a couple feet, and Matt turned to Nolan.
The giant polar bear shifter was already positioning himself to strike.
Matt held up his hands and fell to his knees. He wasn't going to accomplish anything by fighting with these guys.
"I was spying for Bronson," he said. "What Erena said is true. Yes, I have the ability to lie to shifters."
He looked around. Everyone was staring at him. Everyone looked pissed. Especially Kayla. She cried when she was angry, and right now her light brown eyes were too wet and rimmed in red.
"Kayla, I'm sorry," he said.
She ignored him and turned to look up at Parker, who was still frowning at her. "I didn't know," she whispered, speaking directly to Parker. "I trusted him, and I had no clue he was lying. I wasn’t a part of this."
Matt couldn't see Parker's expression, but he could see the heartbreak written all over Kayla's face. Fuck, she'd never forgive Matt.
But he had more to worry about. Appealing to Nolan and Rex again, he said, "Look, we can't waste time. I need to get to Erena. She could be in danger, don't you get it?"
"No, we don't get it," Nolan said.
"Why don't you and your silver tongue enlighten us?" Margot asked. "Although why we should believe a single fucking thing you say is beyond me."
"Bronson sent some of the Bitterroots here to our territory. I don't know their plans. But Erena just ran off, and she could be running straight toward them."
"Why don't you just tell Bronson to call off his people?" Gemma asked. "Since you're such good friends and all."
"What Erena didn't tell you guys was that I confessed everything to her just now because I don't want to spy anymore. I've been turning on Bronson, and he knows."
Everyone broke into argument. Matt thought of making a break for it since he was still on the ground, kneeling on the frozen earth between Nolan and Rex, but even distracted by the chaos, they'd catch him in seconds and he'd lose even more credibility with them.
His clan—because whether they liked it or not, he claimed a spot in the Rock Creek Clan and these people were his clan—all spoke at once, some of them, like Gemma and Rex, wildly moving their arms around as they talked. Kayla was yelling at Parker, tears streaming down her cheeks. Even Parker, who barely strung more than six words together, had an intense look on his face as he responded to Kayla. Margot was already talking over Parker, jabbing a finger at his chest. Nolan kept trying to make himself heard over Rex, saying they needed to take Matt somewhere and secure him.
Only one person other than Matt remained silent. Nina stood next to a lawn chair, her hands curved over her stomach, her face an indecipherable mask. Matt focused his attention on her. If she kicked him out of the clan, Jameson would go along with the decision. Matt might be able to circle around the territory and try to find Erena, but would he reach her in time?
And if he did, what then? Would they be able to convince the RCC to take him back?
"Everyone, be quiet," Nina said in a calm, clear voice.
The sound of Kayla's hiccupping sob was the last of the arguments. The energy around the fire pit remained tense as everyone directed their attention to Nina. Or at least part of their attention. Rex had moved to block Matt from the forest behind them.
"Matt, do you love Erena?" Nina asked.
"Yes."
"How do we know he's not lying?" Margot said, her expression still furious.
"Because," Matt said, "I'm going to spend the rest of my life convincing her, and anyone else who needs convincing, that she's my mate and I love her more than anything else."
Silence as everyone processed his words.
"That's good enough for me," Nina said, just as a big Ford pick-up rumbled down the drive and pulled up next to Jameson and Nina's cabin.
The alpha climbed out of his truck and looked around the fire pit, frowning hard at everyone, bright blue eyes flashing with shrewd intensity. "What the hell is going on?"
Nina turned to face him. "Matt has been spying for Bronson up until today. He just confessed to Erena, who ran off. Now he's worried that Bronson's people might be in the woods waiting to hurt her."
Matt stood up as Jameson approached. If he was going to die, he'd die proud, standing up, facing the friends he'd betrayed. This wouldn't be the first beating he'd endured at the hands of an alpha.
"You idiot," Jameson said. His blue eyes were locked on Matt's.
Matt flinched, remembering his life before, the punishments he'd received, the bruises and breaks.
Shaking his head, Jameson rumbled, "Go get her. We're right behind you."