AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Both current and former alphas’ eyes flash to me. The intuition sparks in both of them, but I continue my explanation. Mostly for Nick’s sake. He’s out of the loop right now, and his irritation is growing. He’s twitching in his seat and bouncing a knee. But he’s being patient and was a really good sport when I made him swear to let me talk to Alpha Toth first before he barged in demanding to question his luna. “Maya and Daniel had a secret unsanctioned relationship.”
More teeth grinding from Alpha Toth. He really didn’t like that betrayal.
“My guess is either Luna Marie found out about them and blackmailed them into stealing the money for her, or they went to her for help and she manipulated them into taking it for her, promising to help them leave the pack. She killed them awfully quickly once they were found out. And that was only after Daniel started to speak.”
“She was keeping them quiet,” Rook mutters. He stops his pacing and leans against the back wall, as if needing the support to stay upright.
I nod. “Remember Maya’s reaction after Luna Marie killed Daniel? She was defiant to the end and said she wanted to rid the pack of its real problem when she challenged Luna Marie.”
“Marie was tying up loose ends when she ordered the hit on you,” Rook says.
I nod again, keeping my steady gaze locked on Alpha Toth. “She knew we were onto the missing money. She knew I’d discovered Daniel and Maya by using gifts she doesn’t understand. Obviously you didn’t know the truth, but she wasn’t sure how much I knew, or if I’d piece together the rest.”
The room falls silent. Nick must understand what’s really going on now—he’s awfully intelligent, despite the fact that he insists everyone call him Gorgeous—but he knows better than to comment right now. This is pack business, and unless Alpha Toth asks for help, or it starts threatening the underworld as a whole, it’s his right to take care of it without the FUA stepping in. Alpha Toth is hanging by a thin thread, and any interference, no matter how well meant, would send him over the edge.
“It makes sense, boss,” Rook says quietly.
Alpha Toth knows it does. His eyes have started to glow. He’s accepted the truth, and his wolf is starting to surface.
Suddenly, Alpha Toth slams to his feet and flips over his desk with a mighty roar. Nick, moving a lot faster than I could, sweeps me out of harm’s way. His arms lock tightly around me in a protective grip.
For a minute I’m not sure if Alpha Toth’s mad at Luna Marie, or mad at me for making such an accusation against her. “My own damn mate!” He shouts with so much force spittle flies from his mouth with each word. His chest is heaving, and his body is shaking with rage. He storms toward the door, but Rook stops him, placing a gentle hand on the alpha’s shoulder. “Easy, Peter.”
“I’ll kill the bitch!”
“We’ll take care of this, but you must calm yourself first. You want to act honorably and with a level head. You don’t want your pack to watch you kill your mate in a fit of rage.”
Alpha Toth sucks in a sharp breath through flared nostrils, then rolls his stiff shoulders.
“Let’s talk to her first. Give her the chance to explain herself. We still have no idea why she was taking the money. Maybe she had a good reason.”
Whoa. Wrong thing to say. Alpha Toth’s head snaps to Rook, and a snarl rips from his chest. “A good enough reason to steal from my pack and kill two of my wolves who may have been guilty of nothing more than asking their luna for help?”
Nick steps in front of me, blocking me from view of the alpha wolf. It’s a protective gesture, because Alpha Toth is losing the battle with his wolf. If he shifts in this temper while locked in this room, he’s liable to attack the messenger. Since that would be me, I’m more than happy to let Nick protect me.
When Alpha Toth starts shaking so badly he falls to his knees, Rook moves in front of him. “Calm yourself, Peter!” he snaps with all the force of a very powerful werewolf. I wince at the sting of the command. Rook’s so easygoing it’s hard to remember that he’s more dominant than Alpha Toth. Right now it’s clear as day, though. Alpha Toth trembles under the command and lowers his head, exposing his neck as a show of submission.
Rook eases up, and I take a deep breath. Even Nick shudders once the tension in the air is gone. Alpha Toth remains on his knees a moment, staring at the ground while he sucks in huge, gulping breaths. Once he’s calm, he looks up at Rook with sorrow and gratitude in his eyes. The two say nothing but exchange a long glance that needs no words. Rook holds out a hand to his alpha. The large, broody man rises to his feet and pulls Rook into a tight hug. “I’m sorry, Peter,” Rook whispers.
Alpha Toth finally pulls back with a long sigh. “I’ve always known she’s ill fit to be the pack luna. She’s too power hungry, and she’s got a dark side to her that has to be kept in check. But her wolf is so dominant none of my other females could ever win a challenge against her. When she beat Isabella for the right to be my mate, I accepted her because I knew she’d never stop causing trouble if I didn’t. I thought I could keep control of her if she were my mate.”
All the fight seeps out of Alpha Toth. He seems more resigned now than anything. Self-pity’s never a good thing, especially not if you’re an alpha, so I risk speaking up. “Don’t dwell on the problem, Alpha Toth. Fix it.”
Alpha Toth’s head snaps my direction, eyes hard after the reprimand, but I stand my ground. “You can’t do anything about past choices, so focus on the present. Change what you can.”
He glares a moment longer, but then his eyes soften. “That’s sage advice.”
I shrug. “My past is ugly. If I worried about the what-ifs, I’d go crazy. With my gifts, there’s a lot I can’t control in my life, so I focus on what little Icando something about.”
Alpha Toth gives me a long, searching look, then places a hand on my shoulder. “You are an amazing woman, Ms. Jacobs. Thank you for all you’ve done to help my pack. I’m so sorry that my luna put you in danger.”
Uncomfortable with all the emotions flying around, I step out of the alpha’s grip and shrug again. “Don’t worry about it. Not your fault. I don’t hold any ill feeling toward your pack. However, if you want to mete out some punishment on Luna Marie, well, I’m not going to stand in your way.”
Alpha Toth barks out a surprised laugh and shakes his head as if I bewilder him. “Very well, Ms. Jacobs.” His voice turns hard again. “Let’s go find my mate and right the wrong she’s done.”
. . . . .
Luna Marie is not on the compound, nor is she answering her phone. “Could she know we’re on to her?” I ask once we’ve searched the entire place under the guise of giving Nick a tour. We’ve ended up back in the parking lot next to Nick’s car.
