I slide into the seat, scooting up against the guy Doc was talking to earlier whose name I don’t know yet. Doc climbs in beside me, then shuts the door. Francis returns to the front passenger seat and the driver pulls away from the shoulder, getting back on the road.
A quick look at the dashboard clock tells me only ninety minutes or so have passed since these guys grabbed me. Julien likely knows I’m gone by now, but I have no idea how he’s going to find me—or how I’m going to find my way back to him.
I send subtle glances out the windows, hoping for a landmark or sign or something, but we’re on a two-lane back road and all I can really see are flat, empty fields stretching out in all directions that are occasionally broken up by groups of trees. Nothing at all helpful.
Doc leans over the seat into the cargo area and grabs a small red pouch—a first aid kit from the looks of it. He unzips it, pulling out one of those instant icepack things. After massaging the icepack a few times to activate it, he hands it to me.
“For your face,” he says. “Zachariah’s already going to be pissed enough about the delay. Might as well avoid giving him something else to be angry about.”
Zachariah?
It’s not exactly a rare name, but… what are the odds?
Assuming this Zachariah is the brother Doc mentioned, I study Doc’s features, looking for any similarities that might confirm my fears. Because if he’s talking about the Zachariah I’m thinking of, then I think I’d prefer to be tortured.
Fifty-Two
Julien
Istareacrossthedesk at the smarmy shifter lawyer, gritting my teeth to hold back a growl. Every word out of this guy’s mouth sets my nerves on edge and tests my control. I’m getting really fucking sick of people referring to Keir like he’s a possession, just a ‘thing’ to barter for rather than a person.
It would take all of two seconds—and very little effort—for me to leap across this desk and simply tear out his throat. My wolf is near desperate to do so, but I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well when I had to explain my actions. There’s no ‘my wolfreallydisliked the guy’ defense for murder, not even for an Alpha. Plus, I’d get blood all over my office and that’s a bitch to clean up.
Unfortunately, I’d know.
So, instead of giving in to my instincts and ripping this asshole’s head off, I take a deep, calming breath, forcing my wolf back as I tighten my hands around the arms of my chair. The wood cracks audibly under my palms.
Ooops.
Remy glances at me, his brows pulled together with concern. Whatever expression is on my face must tell him my capacity for rational thinking in this situation is rapidly declining and that maybe he should be the one doing the talking.
“How do you know that the offer you’ve received is even legitimate?” asks Remy after a moment.
A small, self-satisfied smile curls at Eames’s mouth. “The Anderson pack has a long-standing relationship with the other Alpha and his pack.” He removes yet another sheet of paper from the folder and slides it across the desk to me. “The agreement has already been signed and the funds are being held in escrow in the hopes that we can resolve this situation without the necessity of a hearing.”
I grab the paper, the edges crinkling under my too tight grip. My nostrils flare as I skim over the page, my gaze landing on the unfamiliar name listed as one of the parties to the contract.
“Who the fuck is Alpha Zachariah Stevens?” I ask in a gruff voice.
“The details of Alpha Stevens’s identity are not important, only that he has made an offer the omega’s pack feels is reasonable, and they have accepted it. They are, however, willing to entertain a counter offer…” He raises his brows, but that creepy smile doesn’t leave his face. He knows I have no way of matching that offer, much less countering it. He’s expecting me to fold.
But I’ll be damned if that will happen.
The held back growl finally rumbles up from my chest.
“This is bullshit,” I snap, tossing the paper back in Eames’s direction.
Eames shrugs and his lips twitch with disdain as he watches the paper flutter to the ground. “You’re entitled to your opinion, but that doesn’t change the fact that the agreement is valid and, unless you have a counteroffer, I’ll be presenting it to the hearing officer as the Anderson pack’s ‘compromise.’ You say the omega doesn’t want to return, fine, but the Matisse pack should not be able tosteala pack member. Even if you can refute all our evidence, your own procurator can’t deny the fact that the omega is legally a member of the Anderson pack.”
My rage grows as I wrack my brain for a coherent response, but all that comes out is another loud growl. Something is off. My wolf isn’t normally quite this close to the surface.
“Whether you like it or not, the—”
I slam my fist down on the top of my desk, making Remy jolt in his seat. “Keir is my fated mate.Mine.”
And nowI’mthe one talking about Keir like a possession… what’s going on?
Remy’s gaze darts from me to Eames, and I can practically see the thoughts racing through his head.Come on, brother. I know you have a solution in that amazing brain of yours.
