Page 119 of The Alpha’s Unclaimed Mate

“Both graves were empty.” My hands settle over hers. “The bodies were taken years ago before I ever looked. Wolfsbane leaves its mark in the bone, so they cleaned up after themselves.”

“Then how do you know?”

“Two others turned up buried in the woods, their bones gone brittle with it.” My voice drops. “The poison keeps eating a wolf from the inside for years after the heart stops.”

“Who do you think did it?”

“The hunters are the only ones who should be able to touch wolfsbane.” I turn in her arms. “Which means someone on the inside is doing their dirty work. Break a pack’s leadership, and the whole thing weakens.”

“Your uncle’s the alpha.”

“He holds the title.” I shake my head. “He isn’t the true alpha, though. Only an alpha-born can lead a pack properly.”

Her brows draw together. “What does that mean?”

“The alpha comes down a bloodline.” I keep it plain. “When enough of us settle together, nature picks the strongest to lead.”

“And that’s you.”

“My father was alpha-born. So am I.” My jaw sets. “I stepped aside to raise Bella, and I asked my uncle to hold the seat until she was grown.”

She studies my face. “And now?”

“The same poison took my father.” My gaze stays on hers. “Then Daniel, once he sat in the seat in my place. Anyone who holds real weight in this pack is getting poisoned.”

“You need to know if your uncle’s next.”

“I do.” I drag a hand over my jaw. “Adrian came today to give me the evidence I need to take to him. I think it’s time I took the seat back.”

Her eyes search mine. “What about Bella?”

“I’ve got you and Mia now.” I brush a strand off her cheek. “Bella has you too.” My mouth tugs up. “She’s older now, and she’s not glued to my side anymore. She won’t be alone.”

Jessa’s voice softens. “She’s got a whole family now.” She pauses. “Do you actually want it?” she asks. “The seat.”

“I don’t much care for leading.” I lean against the sill. “It’s in my blood, though. The instinct’s screamed at me to take it for years, and I’ve held it down. It gets harder by the day now.”

She nods slowly. “How will your uncle take it?”

“Not easily.” I cross my arms. “He’ll understand, though. A pack can’t run forever under anyone but an alpha-born. He always knew the seat was mine to reclaim.” My chest tightens. “I meant to wait until Bella turned eighteen. We don’t have that long.”

“If wolfsbane kills a shifter,” she says, “why didn’t it kill your brother and your father outright?”

I’m quiet a beat. “I don’t fully understand it myself. Sloane slipped me a weaker dose, and I walked away. Maybe it doesn’t hit an alpha-born the same.” My brow creases. “Daniel wasn’t alpha-born, though, so that isn’t the whole answer.”

“Then what?”

“They gave him a tiny amount, slowly, across years.” I shake my head. “Or they cut it with another plant to hide what it does.” My mouth thins. “Now our enemies have it in hand, and they’re using it in the open.”

“So what do we do?”

“Until this is settled—” I straighten off the sill and take her by the shoulders. “I don’t want you or the girls out in public more than you have to be. You keep to work, the academy, and home.”

She holds my gaze, then nods once. “All right.”

I pull her in and rest my chin on the top of her head, thinking. Somehow wolfsbane got onto pack territory. Sloane’s a candidate for the inside hand, and I discard it as fast as it comes. She’s vicious and clever, but she’d never plan a thing this size. She had no reason to touch my father or Daniel. Someone put that vial in her palm ten years ago, and I mean to find out who.

The drive out of town runs quiet. Mia’s asleep against Bella’s shoulder in the back, and Jessa keeps checking on them in the mirror. I’m turning up my drive when the phone goes off. It’s Adrian.