Greg clearly doesn’t know what to say to that. Neither do I, but in my case it’s more because I don’t know much about shifter laws. Greg, on the other hand, probably doesn’t know what the word ‘inter-pack’ means, much less how it applies to this situation.
Greg simply stares at Yang blankly. I understand and even expect his confusion, but the almost complete lack of reaction to the medallion or to the shifter cops feels off to me. Yang and Smith share a look, and a shiver of unease goes down my spine. I’m clearly missing something. Isn’t the triumvirate supposed to be like the shifter version of Big Brother?
I glance around the dark parking lot, taking in the number of cars, then back to Smith and Yang. There are only two of them and who the hell knows how many shifters inside. As far as I know, these two and the group who arrested me at the hotel are the only triumvirate representatives in Chicago right now and since they held me in a hotel room earlier, they clearly don’t have an office or base of operations here.
Rossi’s already shown a complete disregard for other laws, like the one that is supposed to allow me free passage and whichever one protects Remy as an agent of his brother. Would he even think twice about ridding himself of a few unwanted triumvirate agents?
I straighten up to my full height—in other words, up to Greg’s chin—and pull my shoulders back. “You’re going to let us in.”
Greg sneers at me. “Am I now?”
“Well, that is, unless you want to be arrested for obstruction,” says Yang, her expression darkening. “Your choice really.”
“Fine.” Greg scowls and his eyes narrow, but he says nothing as he steps to the side and allows the four of us to enter.
“Stay close,” says Yang, her gaze darting around the interior of the warehouse. “This situation could get out of control rather quickly.”
“Yeah,” I say dryly. “It would have been nice to know you guys don’t really have any backup before I threw my lot in with you.”
She glares at me. “You didn’t exactly leave yourself any other options, now did you?”
I concede her point with a nod. “Thanks for getting me here. I wouldn’t have found it on my own.”
“Just find your mate so we can put a stop to this nonsense and get out of here,” she replies.
Luke tilts his head toward the far corner. “There’s Rossi.”
Damn. I’d been hoping the hit from the lamp might have kept him out of commission longer, but here he is with not even a hair out of place.
The Chicago Alpha is smiling, shaking hands with a couple of other Alphas around him as if this is just another day. More shifters stand fanned out behind the group, including Jake, who I’m beginning to think is Rossi’s second, or maybe close to that rank.
One of the other shifters near Rossi turns, and I recognize him in profile: Cameron, Meredith’s non-Alpha brother. He has a grim look on his face as he leans over to say something to Rossi, but Rossi only grins and claps him on the shoulder.
And then Rossi’s eyes land on me. That’s definitely not a good thing, but it doesn’t really become concerning until his grin only grows wider. Why would he be happy to see me? He smirks and glances toward the far corner of the room. I follow his gaze to find what looks kind of like a raised boxing ring.
My stomach drops and my whole body goes cold.
The challenge has already started.
And Julien appears to belosing.
Twenty-Seven
Keir
Itmightseemabit overdramatic for me to say time stops, but I swear it actually does. At least it certainlyfeelslike it does. The rest of the room and the surrounding people disappear, my focus solely on my mate.
Julien is in his wolf form, a pale golden color accented with white on his face and paws. The tip of one of his ears has a chunk taken out of it, and one of his hind legs is hanging at a strange angle by his side. Blood mars his chest and muzzle and he’s turning in place as Derek walks around him, darting forward with a snap of teeth every few seconds to keep Julien off guard,tauntinghim.
I think I hear someone call my name, but at this moment, nothing else matters. Not Rossi. Not Derek. Not any of the other shifters watching this farce of a challenge. The only thing that matters is getting to Julien, and damn the consequences.
As I watch, Julien’s muscles tense up, his canine face contorting with pain though Derek’s not even touching him. What the hell? He twists his head to the side, wincing like his neck hurts.
His neck…
Realization washes over me. The mating frenzy. Those waves of pain will only fully go away when our bond is sealed, but if I can get myself closer, they might stop for a while.
Derek uses Julien’s distraction to dart in, slashing at Julien’s side with one paw. Julien moves to the right just enough for Derek’s claws to rake across his side rather than ripping open his stomach. Julien yelps, and more blood wells up on his fur as four furrows open over his ribs. Derek prances backward, tail up, and a smug doggy grin on his face.
