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“What struggle?” someone demanded. “We gave you the pack dues to take care of stuff like property taxes. We trusted you!”
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“No one is calling you anything, Bennett,” her father said. “How much more do we owe to save our properties? Where will the money be distributed?”
“What do you mean?” Bennett asked.
Her father looked taken aback. “If you sold the lodge to save the town, are you reimbursing the bank? I mean, who is going to benefit from this sale?”
“Well, me,” Bennett said. “I used my own money to try to save all of you, but it wasn’t enough. Your properties were sold. So, I’ll get reimbursed, of course.”
Payton could no longer see the alpha through the angry crowd. Not that she cared because he reminded her of a slimy snake oil salesman. Then suddenly, an awareness came over her. A tingling sensation raced down her spine as the hair on her arm stood up. Her heart sped up, thumping heavily in her chest. Her nipples beaded.
Confused, she glanced around, not sure what she was searching for. Then a subtle movement in the doorway had her turning her head, and that was when she saw him standing in the shadows. She blinked, wondering if her mind was playing a trick on her. After all, she’d been thinking of him a lot that day. Their gazes locked, and Payton’s air left her lungs in a whoosh as shock filled her.
Jericho Savidge.
He was so different from the last time she’d seen him. Back then, he had oozed self-confidence, but he had still been a young man. Now, however, he was all power. Muscles bulged under his black t-shirt. Tattoos decorated both arms. Silver threaded through his midnight hair despite the fact he wasn’t yet forty. Stubble dusted his square jaw. What hadn’t changed was the ferocity in his dark eyes drawing her in. Her mouth dropped open as his name danced across the tip of her tongue, but he raised one finger over his mouth, indicating he wanted her to stay silent.
Shaken, she gave a slight nod and watched as he turned his attention back to Bennett. She couldn’t stop the emotions bubbling forth. Arousal. Disbelief. Was he real? She blinked, but Jericho still stood there, staring at the assembly.
Several people also seemed to notice the shift in energy and began to look around, looking as confused as she felt. Even Bennett stopped talking. Being Alpha wasn’t just about strength, it was a power that vibrated through the air. It had always confused Payton how Bennett had managed to defeat bothBranson and Jericho, who weretruealphas.
Then he stepped from the shadows and heads turned. A hush fell over the crowd.
“Ten years ago, you challenged my father for the title of Alpha,” Jericho said, his deep baritone rumbling through the meeting room. He walked forward, toward Bennett, with a grace that belied his masculine stature. “At the time, I couldn’t figure out how such a sniveling, weak wolf managed to kill my father. Then I challenged you, and much to my surprise, I was struck with the same mysterious weakness.”
“Jericho?” Bennett asked, a quiver wobbling his voice.
“Do you know how long it takes for wolfsbane to get out of a wolf’s system? That’s a rhetorical question because the answer is years, Bennett. Many debilitating, painful years.”
Bennett took a few steps back. “I … I’m sure I don’t k-know what you’re talking about.”
“Aconitum napellus,” Jericho said softly. “I don’t how you managed to poison me. Something I ate. Something I drank. Doesn’t really matter now. I’m here to take back what belongs to me.”
“You’ve been gone a long time,” Bennett said, although a lot of his arrogance had fled from his voice. “You went solitary.”
“I was forced into solitary,” Jericho amended. “But I used those years wisely. Took my father’s construction company and turned it into a thriving business which allowed me to buy this lodge for the pack. I also paid off those taxes you mentioned.”
An audible gasp went through the room. Payton couldn’t take her gaze off Jericho. He was beautiful and powerful, and a hint of danger shimmered under the surface.
“These are my people, Bennett,” he said, advancing even more toward the front. “Mypack. And I’m taking everything back. I challenge you, Bennett, for the title of Alpha.”
Chapter Three
Bennett shook his head. “No. You can’t do that.”
Elation filled Jericho. ’Bout fucking time he had Bennett Warren right where he wanted him. Squirming like a worm on a hook. Justice was a dish best served cold, and all that bullshit.
“Yes, I can,” he said. “You know pack law. Ritual combat. Wolf to wolf.”
The tension in the room was palpable. He could practically taste it. He turned his head slightly to look at Payton Jones, the woman who had haunted his dreams for longer than he cared to admit. He had known back then she was his destined mate, but she was also a teenager, so he couldn’t do much about it except wait for her to grow up. And holy hell, had she. When she had entered the lodge, he had zeroed in on her scent. He’d been battling a state of semi-arousal from the soft, floral lushness of her skin.
She had been another thing Bennett had stolen. All the years they could’ve made a life together. Ruled the pack. Had children together. Now that he was back, he was determined to wed and bed her. She was his, and nothing was going to stop him from claiming her. His gaze found hers, and for a moment, everything around them faded. Like they were the only two people left in the world. His wolf surged forward, and it took all his strength to hold him back. He had priorities, and right now he had to focus on tearing Bennett to pieces because that was exactly what he intended to do.
Dragging his gaze from her, he turned back to face Bennett. “Name the time and place.”
Bennett desperately looked around. Jericho could smell his fear. Apparently, so could everyone else.
