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“Rather than warn each other, they’ll want to keep sightings on the down-low so they can be the first to spread the word and go viral.” His voice rings with disgust over something that hasn’t happened but very easily could. Humans are gifted at fucking themselves over, if nothing else. I might not live alongside them, but I’ve spent enough time mingling with them, both with and without my father’s blessing. Human women go crazy over us—their so-called alpha men don’t come anywhere close to the real thing.
“They have their uses,” I remind him. Neither of us wants to say it, but it’s right there between us. We have to stop this before it spins out of hand and bleeds into the human world. Or else we’re all fucked.
The blood scent gets stronger with every step we take until I can almost taste it in the air. We’re almost back where we started, walking past the meeting hall toward the long stone building a few hundred yards away. I understand it’s used as a dormitory of sorts for unshifted and unmated wolves—immediately, my thoughts turn to if she lives here? Then I ask myself, what the fuck do I care?
Even from a distance, I can hear two men arguing.
I don’t know what makes me do it, but I grab my brother and hold him back, the two of us half-hidden behind an ancient oak tree. It’s Daniel, the Star Moon alpha, and a man who must be his beta. Only a beta would practically scream in an alpha’s face.
“That’s not enough this time. They’re going to kill her, Daniel. It’s different now.” He’s straining, hardly able to contain himself, like his wolf is clawing to get free. That would be dangerous when he’s in a mood like this, facing off with his alpha. Unfortunate accidents occur that way.
Daniel holds up both hands. To his credit, he looks genuinely remorseful. “Benedict, you know there’s nothing I can do.”
“Bullshit!” Benedict turns like he’s about to enter the building, but Daniel holds him back.
“What the fuck?” Forrest whispers, but I only shrug. Pack shit, I guess.
“This is how it has to be. Don’t act like we haven’t discussed this before,” Daniel mutters. I notice he doesn’t let go of his beta, either.
“It’s one thing to discuss a problem, but it’s another to stand out here while she’s being slaughtered in there! They’re going too far!” He sniffs the air, and his face turns to a mask of horror.
“It’s the only way. Let’s face it, Benedict, it hasn’t happened on its own. I’ve done everything I could to make excuses for her, to protect her, and all for you. But this has to end. Either she shifts, or—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” Benedict snarls.
Daniel sighs. “I know she’s your daughter. Were she any other wolf, she’d be long gone by now. But face it: everything we’ve tried up until now has failed. We have to force this. The pain will bring her wolf forward. I know it will.”
Benedict yanks his arm away with a snarl. “Or maybe it won’t. Maybe she’ll die, and I’ll have no choice but to challenge you for supremacy.”
“Holy shit,” I say on a breath while Forrest barely stifles his laughter. I want to laugh, too, but I’m better at holding it back than he is. Watching another pack dissolve into reality TV drama is some entertaining shit. Especially when Daniel wants to give off the impression of his pack being stable and welcoming and all that.
“You would challenge your alpha over this?” Daniel demands. The men stand toe-to-toe, unblinking as they glare at each other. “When you know damn well this is for the best? It’s for the benefit of the entire pack. We have to be strong now. This is the only way.”
Benedict lowers his brow, breathing hard. “Then you leave me no choice.” His wolf is so close, ready to burst forth and possibly destroy his pack by attacking his alpha.
Okay, fun is fun, but this has become a much bigger deal than a fight between prominent pack members. If this goes on much longer, one of them is going to die, and it will probably be the beta. I’m not in the mood to be a witness to that. How could I explain why I didn’t step up to cool things down when there was still time?
“I can handle it.” I don’t know why I said it. I didn’t plan to. It came out of my mouth while my body brought me forward, out from the shadow of the tree.
Daniel’s still as close to rage as one of us can get before shifting, preparing to face his beta and make him regret the deadly mistake he’s about to make. His eyes are wild, and his lips are pulled back from his teeth—until he realizes he isn’t looking at someone from his pack and brings himself under control. “That won’t be necessary.” His voice is still tight with anger. “This is a private pack matter, nothing you need worry yourself with.”
