“You’re lying,” says Luke, eyes narrowed.
Not the direction I would have gone, but effective enough as it gets the asshole talking.
Stevens scoffs. “No, I’m not. Randall definitely died by my hand.”
ThatI don’t doubt.
I run over what I know about Randall’s death in my mind. He was tied up and tortured, probably for information. Possibly even for information aboutKeir. But no matter what Stevens wanted from Randall, it wasn’t control of the Sweet Water pack or he wouldn’t have gone about it the way he did.
As far as I’m aware, nobody witnessed Stevens issuing any challenge, and I don’t think what happened could even be called an ‘altercation,’ much less the type of formal fight required to win the position of pack Alpha. So, all Stevens’s assertion means is that he killed the Sweet Water pack’s Alpha, not that he can actually take over the pack.
“I believe the part about you killing Randall,” I say. “But you’re stretching the truth about being the new Alpha.” I pause, watching the older Alpha’s face as I say my next words. “Unless I’m wrong and you had a witness for your challenge?”
The scowl is only a flash, disappearing almost as quickly as it appears on Stevens’s face, but it’s enough for me to know I’ve got it right.
There was no challenge.
Which means Stevens is full of shit about being the new Alpha.
“I didn’t think so,” I say. “Randall was tied to a chair and tortured to death. Sure, those things could have happened after a formal challenge, but I highly doubt it.”
Luke breaks in, “You already knew about Keir being an omega somehow, maybe even knew back when he left the pack, but he’s been in hiding for years so you weren’t able to do anything about it. When you heard Randall and I were headed up to Chicago and why, you must have followed us.” The younger Alpha turns to me. “His pack has been sniffing around ours for years. His father had some sort of arrangement with mine, but soon after Zachariah took over, he cut all ties with our pack. That happened not long after Keir left.”
Interesting… If Stevens already knew about Keir being an omega, why didn’t he try to claim him then? Was his father of a similar mindset to Keir’s old pack? Or did Stevens just expect Keir to be there waiting for him?
Before I can voice any of my questions, William speaks up.
“Alpha Matisse is correct,” he says.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes.Thanks for finally supporting me, asshole.
OfcourseWilliam has shifted his loyalties now that he’s realized Keir is valuable, even if the elder isn’t sure in what way.
The cleric pinches his lips together, obviously not happy with any of this—probably because he didn’t get to make a spectacle of Randall’s death like he did of the man who raised Keir—but he nods his head. “The Matisse pack elder speaks the truth. In the absence of a formal challenge, the position of Alpha automatically passes to Randall’s heir.”
“Fine,” says Stevens in a flat voice. “I’m not the Alpha, but I will be.” His gaze focuses on Luke. “By the laws of blood, I hereby challenge you for leadership of the Sweet Water pack.”
Luke’s nostrils flare, but that’s the only outward sign of his discomfort. Stevens is older, bigger, and more experienced, and Luke probably knows his chances of winning the challenge are slim.
“I accept,” he says, straightening his shoulders. “As the challenged Alpha, I have the right to pick the location and I pick wherever it is you’re holding Keir.”
Even Stevens looks impressed at the unexpected tactic, but I’m just happy Luke is on my side. Well, Keir’s side.
My stomach twists.I’ll likely watch him die for that loyalty.
“I attest to the issuance of a challenge and the acceptance,” says the cleric stiffly.
This is happening too fast. I need to—
“You’ll require at least four objective witnesses,” says William, gesturing to himself, Everett, Dante, and Brody. If he thinks I’m staying behind and not—
“And Alpha Matisse, of course,” he adds. “Since there will be plenty of witnesses present, I believe it would also be prudent to determine whether or not Julien and the omega share a fated mate bond before we go through the hassle of a hearing.”
Everett sputters and mumbles something under his breath I don’t catch. William places a hand on my uncle’s bicep and squeezes, then makes a placating gesture with his other hand. I’m not quite sure what William’s angle is now, but I doubt it’s as altruistic as he’s trying to make it seem. Either way, giving William what he wants is not a good idea.
Luckily, there’s a way to simplify this whole mess, get Keir back,andsave Luke.
All I have to do is kill Stevens.
