It’s Stevens who responds, another smug smile on his face. “I suppose the two of you haven’t been introduced. This is Malachi. With Alpha Randall… out of the picture, he’s the interim leader of the Sweet Water pack until the heir, Randall’s son, steps into the role or someone challenges for it.”
“Seriously?” I can’t hide the disbelief in my tone. There’s no way this guy can lead a pack, even temporarily. He doesn’t exactly exude confidence or authority. I don’t see how anyone would respect him enough to follow him.
The unimpressive asshole sneers at me. “Just because your pack no longer respects the old ways doesn’t mean others are so blasphemous.”
The pieces click into place as I process his words and their pseudo-religious tone. This guy must be the cleric for Keir’s former pack, someone at least equally as horrible as Stevens. A whole new rage fills me. This is the guy who advocated Keir’s murder. Hell, he took part in the attempt. And he’s likely the driving force behind the current situation.
But that means I might have a solution.
“I challenge you, Malachi, for control of the Sweet Water pack,” I say. If I control the pack that wants Keir back, then I can drop the case—and cut off any negotiations with Stevens.
The cleric only rolls his eyes and both William and Stevens snicker while Everett looks on with a hint of confusion.
“You can’t challenge me,” says Malachi. “You can only challenge the rightful Alpha of the pack and, since he hasn’t officially taken control and currently can’t be located, there’s no one for you to challenge.”
“And even if there was,” adds William, “the other elders and I will not support you in such a frivolous challenge. Should you choose to pursue that route, I will bring a vote of no confidence.” He gestures to Everett. “Your uncle is more than willing to step into the position in your stead if your actions go against the best interests of the pack.”
“I just bet he is,” I mutter, glaring at my uncle.
I wish Remy was here. He’s so much better at this diplomacy crap than I am.
William tuts and shakes his head. “Really now, Julien, all this fuss over some uneducated, useless shifter whom you could have simply… gotten out of your system and then set aside if you weren’t so stubborn. We wouldn’t be in this situation at all if you had just completed the mating alliance we’d already approved.”
“Keir is my fated mate,” I snarl. “And I’m not giving him up because you think he’s somehow unworthy.” I send my gaze around the table, finally landing back on Stevens. “There’s no way Keir went with you willingly, so what did you do? Where is he?”
Stevens scoffs. “As if I’d tell you.”
A growl rumbles in my chest, and I curl my hands into fists at my side. “What gave you the right—”
“I did,” says the cleric, his lips curled with distaste. “As Alpha Stevens has a prior… interest in the omega and has already made a substantial offer to procure it, I thought he should have the opportunity to examine the goods prior to the purchase.”
Who knew there was something more infuriating than referring to Keir as simply a possession? The cleric’s words manage to strip my mate of even his status as a living being.
Before I have a chance to respond, there’s a slight commotion behind me as the door to the restaurant opens. Stevens’s expression goes blank, but there’s a frustrated rage brewing in his eyes that he can’t hide. William and Everett both simply look confused while Malachi lifts his chin and straightens in his seat, never taking his gaze away from whoever just walked in.
I cast a glance over my shoulder to find a young man storming his way toward our group. He has reddish brown hair and looks vaguely familiar, but it isn’t until he reaches the table and the cleric lowers his eyes and tilts his head to bare his neck that I place the newcomer.
He’s Keir’s cousin, Luke, and, I suppose, now the rightful Alpha of Keir’s former pack. The only question is if his presence makes this situation better or worse.
Fifty-Six
Keir
Themostominouspartof any kidnapping—and believe me, I know how utterly ridiculous it is that I evenhavea metric for that—is probably the part when you get wherever it is your kidnappers are taking you. It’s likely nothing too awful has happened at that point, but you already know you’re screwed. You just haven’t found out exactly how much.
Unfortunately, I’ve reached that part of this particular kidnapping, which means I’m about to find out how bad things really are. Not that I don’t already have a decent idea. There is not a single thing Zachariah Stevens could want with me that could be anywhere near good.
All in all, I’m pretty sure I’m absolutely fucked. The only thing left to figure out is whether there’s any metaphorical lube involved. And if I can still find a way out.
The SUV pulls to a stop in front of a nondescript farmhouse at the top of a low hill. Empty fields stretch out in all directions around it, which makes for awesome visibility, but not so great as far as making a run for it goes.
On the plus side, the SUV is the only vehicle here, so hopefully that means this might be some kind of rendezvous point and we’ll be waiting here for a bit. The longer I stay in one place, the easier it might be to plan an escape, and the better the chances that Julien will be able to find me.
All of us get out of the SUV and the two shifters from the front seat enter the house first. After a couple minutes, one of them pokes his head out the front door.
“The house is clear.”
Doc gives a sharp nod and wraps his hand around my upper arm. My legs are steady at this point, but Doc still uses his hold to lead me inside like he’s worried I might fall. Or maybe run.
