“Yeah…and?”
“Death would have released you,” says Julien. “Escapedid not.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s what I said.” Julien’s gaze shifts to William, and his lips pull away from his teeth in another snarl. “But after talking to your old pack, William took it upon himself to contact the triumvirate and request a hearing.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means they’re going to send a magistrate to hear the case.”
“Thecase?” I exclaim. “What case?”
“The case your old pack is bringing to demand you be returned to them.”
Forty-Five
Keir
Ihavetosay,of all the ways for my old pack to screw me over, this has got to be one of the most ironic. They didn’t want me when they had me, even before they knew I’m an omega. But now that someone elsedoes? They think they can just waltz back into my life and I’ll go willingly. Nothing can make me go back there.
Or can it?
I shoot a worried look at Remy. “Can they do that? Make me go back to Alabama?”
Remy’s brow furrows, his face wearing an expression that I can’t quite read. “I don’t know,” he says after an uncomfortably long pause.
Isn’t that just great? The person who normally has all the answers doesn’t have one for this. That definitely doesn’t bode well for my chances.
I blow out a breath and try to calm my racing heart—and brain. “Okay. So what’s the plan? Do I get a lawyer? Wait… Doyouknow any lawyers? Because I don’t. I’ve never needed one before because I don’t think I’ve ever had a hearing for, well, anything. Ever. Not even that time I was arrested the other day. Because—”
Julien places his hand over my mouth, gently pressing his fingers against my lips to stop my anxious ramble. “It’s okay, Keir. We’ll figure it out. No one here is going to let them take you anywhere you don’t want to go.”
A snort comes from the corner of the room. William. I forgot all about him. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He’d pull off the nonchalant attitude much better if not for the red marks on his neck and his general air of disarray thanks to Julien’s rough handling.
“Get out of my house,” says Julien in a low voice, the corner of his lip lifting to show off sharpened canines.
William opens his mouth as if he’s going to speak, but then must think better of it because he simply sticks his nose up in the air and strides out the front door without another word. Well, that’s one problem taken care of for the moment.
Julien pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “I’m such an idiot. If I hadn’t—”
“No use worrying about that now,” says Remy. “We need to sit down and make a plan.” He glances at me. “You said your former pack follows the old laws. Do you know anything more specific than that?”
I shake my head.
“Is there anyone whowouldknow?”
“No one who’d be willing to talk to me,” I say. “I didn’t exactly have any friends in the pack.”
“With Randall gone, do you have any idea who might be in charge?”
I shrug. “Presumably Luke, but I don’t know for sure.”
Remy goes quiet, thinking.
“I don’t care what happens at this farce of a hearing,” says Julien after a few seconds. “I’m not letting Keir go.”
“And if the magistrate orders you to do so?” asks Remy.
