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Eliana seemed distracted, maybe even a little shaken. She wasn’t responding to her family and pack’s lighthearted nature the way she usually did. She stood by the front door, fiddling her fingers against her palm like a drum.
Lucas wanted time with her to discuss what was really weighing on his mind. Although Garth was certainly a problem, the bastard was a clear narcissist, and narcissists had one weakness … themselves.
Lucas had dealt with many men, particularly shifters, who had thought of themselves as gods, which made them more vulnerable to destruction.
Lucas knew he could deal with Garth. He wanted to gather with the pack and see what their thoughts were out of respect for their land and bond. But he wanted to talk to Eliana most of all.
He wanted to unfurl the coil inside him that longed for her touch. He wanted to know if there was any future ahead of them beyond the potential battle. It blinded him to the issues of the pack, like lovely rose-colored glasses that haloed around his fated mate.
However, the pack was on their way to the restaurant, and he couldn’t pull her aside to speak of such things. Her aura told him she was worried, her body responding strangely.
Lucas had to support her through that.
The pack arrived an hour later, each of them dragging themselves through the door like they were made of lead. Tao impressed Lucas by gathering the meeting to order, clapping his hands, and deepening his voice.
“Come together now, listen,” Tao hollered. “We have some serious news to discuss. No more chatter.”
Eliana stood next to him, her hands behind her back as she swayed. Her eyes were fixated on the floor just in front of her.
“What’s going on, Tao?” a shifter said.
“Shh,” Bria exclaimed, still standing by the counter. “Use your ears. Not your mouth.”
The pack, which wasn’t very large, eventually calmed and turned their gazes to Tao. Bria shot Lucas a wink as he stood by the bar, smiling back with approval.
“Okay, now,” Tao began, stepping closer to the clustered group of shifters. “Most of you were here last night when we spoke about the intruder on our land, a man named Garth Neilsen. This man is a mobster who we believe is responsible for the death of our beloved alpha, Phil.”
Tao swallowed hard. A mournful shadow cast over the room. The pack had obviously cared for him dearly. The energy in the silent honoring of the alpha made Lucas’s heart sink.
“Yesterday, we informed you that he had fled the island. But we were premature in that claim. Garth hasn’t left, and he has supposedly called in backup.”
“According to who?” another shifter called out.
The man stepped up next to Tao, his chin trembling.
“Go ahead,” Tao encouraged him.
“This morning, um, Garth’s men came to my door. They were searching for Tao and sent a clear warning.”
The man stumbled over his words, ashamed and deeply hurt. Tao touched his shoulder in support, finishing his announcement for him.
“He has called in a fair number of reinforcements. This is a problem for us. So we are having this meeting to discuss options.”
“Kill the bastard!”
The same shifter who had been vocal at the beginning of the meeting boomed, causing the room to erupt in applause and guttural cheers. Lucas leaned against the counter, feeling Tao’s irritation but not wanting to intrude.
He listened and observed, eyes constantly gliding back to a still and disturbed Eliana.
“Quiet down!” Tao roared. “You are all here to discuss strategy in a serious matter. This could mean the lives of your loved ones, so pipe down unless you have a real suggestion.”
The chatter calmed and then silenced itself. Lucas was impressed by Tao’s leadership. Even if he wasn’t the official alpha yet, he was surely acting like one.
No one said anything for a while, everyone ruminating over what Tao had boldly asserted. A woman Eliana’s age spoke up.
“How many shifters has he got?”
Tao looked at the man, who he still had his arm around. The man struggled to speak, but with Tao’s encouragement, he managed a reply.
