I’d never been more wrong.

My brother sighed. “You’re going to be mating one of the most powerful werewolves in the history of our race. If not the most powerful one. That makes you a target. And his pack is one of the most ruthless, elitist, unwelcoming—”

“I know,” I yelled it before taking a breath. “I know what I’m getting into, but—”

“You don’t. You’re too young. Too naive. You can’t possibly—”

“Max,” I said, cutting him off. I was never going to win this argument, but I had to try. “With access to Donovan’s power, I can beat pretty much anyone. I can only get a little of it now, but that alone is enough to beat you. You’ve been training me since I was a girl, and you’ve done your job. It doesn’t matter if I’m joining the Irish pack. I’m Wayfarer pack at heart and in skill. Always.”

Our small pack had only twenty-three wolves besides my family. Most packs were extremely territorial, sticking to a home base, but ours went where we were needed. Whenever there was an outbreak—vampires or whatever—Wayfarer pack came in as backup.

Where Donovan’s pack was known for being elitist, ours drew the best of the best fighters. We were tough and loved a good fight. It made sense that the guys trained twenty-four seven. I was usually happy to join them, but not all day, every day, starting at the butt crack of dawn.

Can of worms opened. Now my brothers were trying to catch me off guard. They wanted to see if they could surprise me enough that I’d forget to pull alpha power from Donovan. They were calling our bond a handicap.

“Please,” I nearly begged my brother. “Trust me. I’m going to be okay.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s the Irish pack that has me worried.” He motioned for me to get up, and I couldn’t help the growl of frustration that slipped out. “I want you to fight me without pulling from Donovan. What if you’re separated? Or your bond gets broken? You know better than me that anything’s possible, and if you’re not prepared… You can’t use him as a crutch.”

That stung, and the fact that it was possibly accurate made it that much worse. Am I using you as a crutch?

Nah. You use what you have available in any and every fight. I’ll always be here.

But what if you’re not? Maybe Max had a point.

My brother started at me again, and I rolled, grabbing his feet as I went. He fell to the ground and then it was on. We wrestled until sweat poured down my face, blurring my vision. My muscles ached, and I wondered when one of us would finally cry uncle and end this.

But I couldn’t give in. I wouldn’t give in. If I wanted any chance at stopping my brothers’ incessant hounding, I had to win. Without Donovan’s help.

You’re just playing with him, Donovan said through the bond.