“Even if that contact threatened your family?” Alpha Lyons asked her then. “Ms. Kobrin, by contacting your family, you put them in the position that the Genetics Council has proof that they can be used against you. Their prime objective at this point is to capture Breed mates. Could your father be used to draw you from Haven? Would you give your life for your family?”
Her lips trembled. She stared at Cassandra. She hadn’t considered that. The Council rarely struck out at humans any longer, because the propaganda against them was so strong.
Cassandra stared back at her in sympathy.
“No,” she finally whispered. “I didn’t know this.”
“Yet you were sent Alpha Delgado’s statement, explaining his reasons and his actions, which he gave this tribunal,” Callan further stated. “Did you read that statement?”
She shook her head. She hadn’t read it. She didn’t want to read it or hear his reasons why.
“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” she finally told them clearly. “He lied to me, countless times. He destroyed my trust in him, and he knew for six years that he would do it. I don’t trust him, Alpha Lyons. Don’t doubt that this petition of separation is sincere. I promise you. It is.”
“Ms. Kobrin.” Wolfe Gunnar, alpha of the Wolf packs, spoke then. “Are you in love with him?”
She jerked in surprise at the question. “My emotions shouldn’t come into this, Alpha Gunnar.” Did she love him? Until she ached with it. Was she going to allow him to control her body and her life because of it? Not in this lifetime.
Wolfe stared back at her for long moments before nodding his head slowly. “Perhaps you’re right,” he finally agreed.
“Perhaps that’s a question we should ask Alpha Delgado,” Cassandra suggested then, turning her head to Del-Rey as Anya held her breath in fear. She knew the answer. “Alpha Delgado, are you in love with Ms. Kobrin?”
Del-Rey stared back at her broodingly. “I can’t say I’m in love with her,” he finally stated. “I’m a soldier, Ms. Sinclair, not a damned poet. I claimed her. As proven, she’s my mate. Nothing else should come into this.”
Anya lowered her head and stared at her hands, hope dwindling inside her no more than seconds after it had burned through her soul. If he had said yes, would she have followed through with this petition? She knew she wouldn’t have. She couldn’t have denied him if he had sworn he loved her, even though she knew his word wasn’t worth the signature he had scrawled on his statements.
“I see,” Cassandra said heavily, her head lifting to stare back at the women on the tribunal. “And we wonder at such a young woman’s need to be separated from the man who only claims her,” she sighed.
“Ms. Sinclair, may I ask a question?” Del-Rey asked, his voice as lazy as his slouched position in his chair.
“Of course, Alpha Delgado,” Cassandra said with a hint of surprise.
“We have several mated males on this tribunal. Alpha Lyons, Alpha Gunnar, Enforcer Jacob Arlington, and Enforcer Aiden Chance. Tell me, gentlemen, were you in love with your mates when the mating heat claimed you?”
Each man grimaced heavily. “Maybe we just weren’t aware it was love,” Alpha Lyons finally said with some amusement as he glanced at his wife beside him. “But have no doubt, Alpha Delgado, we learned quick enough.”
“Who is to say that I couldn’t learn as well?” Del-Rey shrugged then. “Being a Coyote doesn’t make me stupid, merely less willing to recognize emotion, I believe. By separating herself from me, my mate is stealing that chance from both of us.”
“He’s very clever with words,” Cassandra murmured under her breath.
“He is at that,” Anya said sadly. “He’s very good at twisting words.”
“I also noticed that Ms. Kobrin was decidedly less honest in her answer to that same question,” Del-Rey pointed out then.
“Ms. Kobrin has the right to request that her emotions not be questioned,” Cassandra argued. “Mating heat and the proven psychological effects are clear bases that she not be questioned regarding emotions that she may not be clear on at this moment.”
Del-Rey’s lips quirked mockingly, his black eyes gleamed in knowledge as Anya lifted her head and stared back at him.
“If I hadn’t wounded her family and made it look like a clear attempt to harm them, then they’d be dead,” he stated then. “The Council would have killed them and I knew it. But, I will admit, even without that risk, they would have felt my wrath. They endangered her from childhood to the moment I kidnapped her. Their lack of concern for her well-being would have been punished. That was the decision behind my actions, right or wrong. If I knew then what I know now, would I have done it? I have to say yes,” he continued. “I claimed her and I claimed all right to exact vengeance in her name. Her tender emotions and lack of understanding of men of war clearly show that she had no idea how little her welfare was considered by those she loved.” With that, he leaned forward. “She wants a petition of separation. Very well. She has it. I’ll be damned if I’ll take a mate or a woman who claims that the bonds between us are no more than rape.” He turned to Jonas at his side. “Director Wyatt, I accept your offer as enforcer with the Bureau on the condition that while I’m risking my ass for her freedom, again, that she be required to stay at Base and oversee the Coyote Breeds that look to her for support. Those men and women we took out of there will need time to acclimate and she’s a guiding force they look to.”
Jonas’s brows arched. “How long do you believe this acclimation is needed?” he asked. “I’m certain Ms. Kobrin would like a set timeline. She seems rather talented in the area of setting boundaries.”
“One year,” Del-Rey stated. “She’ll receive advance notice of my returns to oversee the military and financial concerns of the packs between missions. You stated you needed more men for the swift strikes being made against facilities and enemy groups.” He grinned. “Looks like I’m your man.”
“Those are dangerous assignments,” Jonas growled as Anya stared at him in shock. “Mates don’t take those missions.”
Del-Rey gave a hard, cold laugh as he rose to his feet. “Looks like I’m no longer a mate, Director Wyatt. I’m just the poor bastard with the hard-on.”