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“Step back,Syn,” Joel growls from my other side, his voice menacing. He knows the truth of what Syn is to me, but that doesn’t mean fighting his instincts is any easier. Not to mention the council is watching, and appearances need to be kept. If they knew what we discovered, then I don’t doubt that we’d all be in danger.
I feel a large presence move behind me, like my whole pack has my back as they gather around me in support.
“I suggest, Alpha,” my father grumbles, “that you let go of my daughter and listen to her mate.” He’s obviously trying to be respectful, remembering that Syn saved my life in the last trial, whilst still making it clear that he’snothappy with me being manhandled. We’ve all witnessed how dangerous Syn can be, though, and making an enemy of him would be a bad move.
Syn’s not moved a muscle since he last spoke, completely ignoring those around us as he keeps his intense stare locked on me. To the others, the way he holds my chin might look aggressive when paired with his manic smile. Really, though, he’s being incredibly gentle, the feel of his fingers against my chin causing tingles to spread through my body. I could pull away at any moment, and he wouldn’t stop me, yet I feel locked in place. I’m sure that plays to how everyone expects the two of us to react to each other, looking to them like I’m paralysed with fear—we’re supposed to be enemies, after all—but I’m just struggling to look away. I’ve been worried about him all afternoon, and this is the first time I’ve seen him since we discovered our hidden bond.
Slowly, looking as though he’s just noticed there are others surrounding us, he gives my father a feline grin. “Oh, Beck. How lovely to see you here.” Releasing my chin, he glances at Scott and finally acknowledges Joel with a curl of his lip, then he meets my gaze again. “You need to work on whom you associate with. People might start to talk.”
An insult, as would be expected by him, and a hidden warning. The council is watching, and they are noting whom I speak with, so anyone could be a target of their wrath. I need to be so careful about whom I speak to and deny any talk of rebellions or defying the council. It’s not just us at stake either—I can’t forget that Syn was punished by the council for his role in helping me through the last trial, so his safety is at risk here also. If they are watchingallof my interactions, then we have to make sure they don’t suspect he’s working against them.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to step back and into Joel’s arms.
“Who should I spend my time with instead? You?” I retort, my lips twisting.
His eyes light up. We’re playing a dangerous game here. “Oh, well, little wolf, I’d be happy to show you the ropes.” His eyes trail the length of my body, taking in my outfit for the evening and the obvious care I’ve taken with my appearance. His tongue flicks out and licks his lower lip in a way that makes my core ache. “I’m sure we could come up with something to entertain ourselves.” The wicked smile he gives me speaks volumes. He knows exactly where my mind just went and how his words made my body react.
Oh yes, a very dangerous game indeed.
Joel growls, his temper snapping as he steps closer until I’m practically pressed against his chest. Jackson and one of the other members from Joel’s pack step forward, ready to help their alpha should he need it. However, I reach behind me and take his hand in mine, which seems to calm him.
“What do you want?” he snaps instead.
“I’m just here to warn you,” Syn protests innocently, yet his expression is anything but. “There are many listening ears around, and not all of them are as benevolent as me.” His smile is all teeth, but his message is clear. There are others spying for the council.
While this shouldn’t come as a surprise to me, it still shakes me. I’m in deep shit, and I have no idea how to get out of it without dragging everyone down with me. Even those I am not involved with could get hurt because they think I’m something I’m not.
“Whispers are reaching the council. Support for you is growing. It seems people favour the underdog.”
Support for you is growing. What the hell does that even mean? My gut churns with fear and confusion. The presence that lives within me is whispering that this is good, that we should take our rightful place and show everyone we’re not afraid of the council. Shoving those thoughtswaydown, I grapple for full control. Is it possible that I’m the only person here who didn’t know people had been talking about this? The champions are locked away from everyone else during the trials, so it makes sense that I wouldn’t hear about it, but I’ve been mingling for the past week and heard nothing. Nausea rises swiftly, and I have to take a deep, steadying breath to stop myself from throwing up right in the middle of the hall.
Syn takes in my growing horror, his eyes flashing with understanding, but it’s gone in a moment, replaced by atsk-tsknoise as he wags his finger, scolding me for something I have no part in. “Be careful, the council won’t hesitate to deal with anyone they think is a threat.”
His eyes scan those gathered around me once more before returning to me. For a second, it looks like he’s going to say something else, but he seems to think better of it and walks away, weaving through the crowd until I can no longer see him.
“What did he mean about whispers?” I ask, my voice tight with emotion.
Sensing the change in the atmosphere and the need for privacy, everyone bar my father, Scott, and Joel move away. They don’t go far, and they’d still be able to pick up most of the conversation if they wanted to, but it gives us the semblance of privacy at least.
Lifting my gaze from the spot where Syn had been standing, I turn to face the three males. They all look a little shamefaced, save my father who crosses his arms over his chest, meeting my stare head-on.
Taking his cue from Joel, who simply dips his head once, Scott clears his throat, a small frown pulling at his brow. “Many of the lone wolves and smaller packs are fed up with the way the council treats them. They see you as a beacon of change.”
“That’s what he meant by a rebellion,” I murmur, turning over Syn’s words. It makes more sense now, even if I wish I knew nothing about it.
From what I’ve learned about the council in the very short time I’ve known about them, they seem oppressive and dole out punishments with a firm hand to anyone who doesn’t follow their laws. The lone wolves certainly seem to get the brunt of it, turned away and shunned from society. If the other smaller packs get treated anything like mine does, then I can understand why they want change. However, this seems like a dictatorship, and any voices against the council would be swiftly dealt with.
It sounds like this whole situation was a powder keg which has been building over the years, and I’m just the spark.
“We need to be more careful.” My father shakes his head, rubbing his hand across his face, suddenly looking wearier than I’ve seen him in a long time. “I won’t pretend that I’m not happy you’ve got more allies though.”
Neither am I, but I don’t say it out loud. I’m going to need all the support and help I can get to make it out of this alive, even if their support is the thing that signs my death warrant. There’s something about the way he speaks, though, that makes me pause.
“Did you know about this?” I ask him, surprised. It’s not like my father to keep something from me, especially something as important as this.He didn’t tell you about the council, a little voice whispers in my mind, reminding me of how this situation all began in the first place. I know he did it for my own good, to protect me until the time I needed to know. However, I’m an adult now, and he can’t keep things from me that directly involve me.
He sighs, a weary frown pulling at his brow. “It was brought to my attention by our alpha. One of the other alphas reached out to him and was asking questions.” Pursing his lips, he meets my gaze, and I see an apology shining back at me. “I didn’t want to tell you until I knew more for sure, but Alpha George just confirmed it.”
“Dad, I need you to tell me these things,” I insist, keeping my words soft but my expression serious. Everything he does is to protect me, and his entire life has been dedicated to keeping me safe and happy, which I’m incredibly grateful for. Part of me is demanding I drop this and not turn this into an argument, but he can’t keep things from me any longer, not now that I’m an adult. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but I can’t protect myself if I’m not aware of what’s happening around me.”
