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“Please, Skylar, it would bring me so much joy to throw this party for you. If you don’t hold anything, it may start rumors, especially with how fast everything has progressed,” she says pointedly, the implication clear in her tone.Did she know something, or has she heard anything? No, that would be impossible, right?The only two that know the engagement is a hoax are Monte and me, and he wouldn’t tell her. “The pack knows how close you and Monte were. It makes sense that sparks would reignite when you were reunited, but there are even some whispers that it’s a ploy to detract from the Langley attacks.”
My hands fist at my sides, and I suppress the urge to smack the self-satisfied smirk that tilts her mouth. Her taunting words make it clear that she would happily spread said rumors. Fucking manipulative bitch.
“Fine,” I grind out, my lips twisting in disgust as she embraces me once more.
“Oh, thank you, thank you. The party will be so special, I promise,” Vivian titters, bouncing back and clapping her hands like a mindless drone. “You’ll have to clear some time to go dress shopping, but other than that, I’ll take care of everything.”
My lips part, about to decline, but she cuts me off. “It will be the perfect opportunity to get closer to Pearl. I know she would appreciate having her sister close to her, especially with everything she’s going through right now. You know, it’s so tough for a child to handle the loss of a parent.”
I have to physically hold myself back from using either physical force on her or loosening the leash on my dominance. Consciously, I remind myself of my father’s number one rule, not to use alpha powers against family, and unfortunately, she’s still clinging to that moniker. But to throw that in my face without a second thought, to use the loss of my mother against me like that, I hate her more for it.
“I’ll clear some time,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest as I eye her coldly. I’m not doing it for her. I’ll be doing it for Pearl and for the girl I used to be, for how desperately I’d wanted someone to be there for me. “Now, get the fuck out.”
Her gasp echoes through the otherwise silent room, her face reddening as she works to keep the indignant look on her face. It’s her slightly narrowed eyes that betray the anger boiling inside her.
“Get. Out,” I repeat slowly, growling the words to let her know I’m serious. I can’t waste any more time indulging her.
Her eyes widen, and a tremor runs through her hands, the smell of fear palpable in the air. Finally, she seems to realize who she’s speaking to and inclines her head, retreating through the still-open door and closing it after her. At least she still has some semblance of self-preservation left.
I sigh a breath of relief once I’m finally alone again, yet I can’t shake the tightness in my chest. For now I’ll have to rely on Monte to find the leak and continue investigating my father’s murder. And if he finds out that Vivian had anything to do with it, I’ll take great pleasure ripping her limb from limb with the entire pack as my witness.
Istepoutintothe courtyard as the sun continues its descent in the distance, the faint light casting a warm glow in the growing darkness. Fighting down the nausea that claws its way up my throat, I pull on the guise of the confident alpha as I approach the waiting group of twenty betas, already congregated near the blacked-out armored Suburbans.
A harsh muffled voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I dart my gaze around searching for the source. My brows furrow as I scan the area near me, unable to find anyone who seems to be arguing.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing anyway?” the familiar masculine voice scolds, his voice rising in spite of his attempts to stay quiet. “You’re required to show respect to our Alpha.”
Monte?
I glimpse two shadows hidden amongst some of the foliage just past the main entrance.What is he doing in the bushes?My lips purse as I prowl closer to them, attempting not to be seen or heard.
“Our Alpha?” the other man scoffs, his voice familiar too. “Are you kidding me right now? She’ll never be my Alpha.” He drops all pretense at attempting to remain quiet with his declaration.Of course it’s Axel.
“Is that so?” I ask, propping my hands on my hips. I pin their shadowed forms with an incredulous look. Axel mutters a curse and the bushes rustle a moment later as they leave their not so secret rendez-vous. “You’re walking on thin ice already, Axel. Would you like my first ruling as Alpha to be shunning you from the pack?”
Axel’s eyes widen in shock at the threat and he hurriedly shakes his head, his eyes meeting mine for the briefest second before he lowers to the ground.
“If that’s the case you should heed Monte’s warning and show respect before you find yourself out on the street, or worse …” I let my words trail off, allowing him to fill in the blanks. It isn’t uncommon for alphas to execute betas for this sort of insolence, but I don’t want to make any hasty decisions, especially since I’m so new to the role. But if Axel is the leak, I won’t hesitate to exact the pack’s vengeance.
“Yes, Alpha,” Axel grumbles, stomping back towards the manor.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Monte says, still watching Axel’s back before he vanishes into the house, closing the door behind him. “I was hoping to have a private chat with him to make this transition easier on you, but he seems to be more stubborn than I thought.”
“Thanks for doing that, but I’m starting to think he’s a lost cause.” I sigh, turning as Monte steps to my side and we both watch the betas gathering for the mission tonight. “Just be sure to keep an eye on him,” I say, giving Monte a sidelong glance.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause any problems,” Monte murmurs, his brow furrowed as though he’s lost in thought.
Silas emerges from a group nearest to me, striding over to us with a friendly smile. I sigh a breath of relief through barely opened lips, not wanting any of the others to see the brief expression as more betas notice my presence. Their easy chatter cuts off, and they warily turn in my direction. I pull my attention from them, instead focusing on Silas. Monte won’t be able to come with me tonight, needing to stay at the manor to begin his investigation and keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior from those that stayed behind. Just as Everett will be doing at his own compound. At the mere idea of his name, my mind automatically pulls up his image—his icy blue eyes pinning me in place, his tied blond locks and rugged beard the perfect mix of sexy and savage.
“The team is all here, Alpha Draven,” Silas says, his eyes softening on my title, clearly remembering the many times he had said those words to my father if the brief fog that clouds his gaze is any indication. His lips pull down slightly, extracting me from my thoughts like a bucket of ice water poured atop my head.
“I’ll let you get ready,” Monte huffs out on a breath of frustration, a pained look in his eyes and indecision flashes in them as though he might argue that he should be the one joining me. “Just make sure to be careful around the Whitlocks,” he warns, his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me into a tight hug. I let the familiar, friendly embrace soothe some of my anxiety over tonight, until he places a tender kiss on my cheeks. My body stiffens under his touch as his lips linger for a few seconds too long. I suppress the urge to shudder, and ease away from him slowly, taking a step back to put some distance between us.
“We’ll be fine, Monte,” I assure him, pulling myself up straight, my mask of authority slipping back on. He gives me one last look and nods, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he walks back into the manor.
The twenty betas making their way closer hold a mix of apprehension and muted excitement in their expressions, most unsure how to act around their new alpha, this being the first time meeting many of them. Perhaps I knew them in passing from when I was growing up, but I honestly had brief contact with most of the pack before my father sent me away. My parents had wanted me to focus on my studies rather than introducing me into pack politics.
“Thank you all for coming today. I know that this is last minute, and you all have lives and families to take care of,” I start, wanting to forge this relationship with the pack as an open line of communication. These are all wolves that Silas himself trusts, and I trust him. “I know there has been little information given about the situation with the Langleys other than the promising news of our alliance with the Whitlock pack, but tonight that will change.” I continue on, filling them in on all the information Zeke had told me over the phone after my conversation with the inner circle.
