Zachariah shrugs, then sends a sneering glance at Luke. “Your father was weak and stupid. You don’t deserve to lead a pack and that’s reason enough for the challenge.” He smirks, returning his gaze to my mate. “Besides, you’re one witness down, Alpha Matisse, and the objectivity of the others is questionable. I don’t think that sniveling weasel’s little demonstration means anything in the long run.”
I mean… I don’t know all the legal ins and outs of whatever William was trying to prove and I don’t want toagreewith Zachariah, but the asshole does kind of have a point.
A dead man can’t testify to anything.
Julien only scowls in response and Zachariah’s lips turn up into a smug smile.
“And since that whole fated mates nonsense is still up for debate, that means when I take control of the Sweet Water pack, all its members aremine,” says Zachariah, an obsessive gleam in his eyes as his icy gaze lands on… me.
But it makes no sense for him to be looking at me. I’m not a member of that pack anymore. Right? Before this moment, I was one hundred percent certain I wasn’t, but now…
My gaze darts to the cleric as I wait for him to start blathering on about the ‘abomination’ being no pack member of his. But Malachi is silent. He doesn’t look particularly pleased, but he’s not arguing. Julien isn’t arguing either. He’s simply gone tense and locked eyes with Zachariah in what looks like some sort of Alpha staring contest. There must be some information that I’m missing here, something Julien already knows about.
The only thing I can think of is that the slimy lawyer who showed up at Julien’s house must have done some underhanded legal maneuvering and somehow everyone’s now under the impression I’m still technically a member of my old pack. But how could that possibly be true?
Zachariah moves his unwanted attention back to Julien, grinning. “So Matisse, are we doing this tonight or did you need time to get your affairs in order?”
Wait a second.
Julien’sfighting Zachariah?
For this, I definitely need to be human. I shift back, ignoring the fact I’m now butt naked in Julien’s lap.
“He’s not fighting you,” I say to Zachariah, snarling the words. “Whatever bullshit—”
“I’m only fighting as Luke’s proxy,” says Julien calmly.
I elbow him in the chest. “And how is you dying for someone else any better?”
“You’re so sure I'd lose?” He sounds almost insulted, but I don’t care.
“No,” I snap. “But it’s not worth the risk.” I bare my teeth at Zachariah. “And I know he doesn’t fight fair.”
“Whether or not it’s a ‘fair’ fight doesn’t matter,” says Malachi in a patronizing tone. “Alpha Stevens’s challenge was issued by the laws of blood. That means anything goes.”
Sixty-Three
Julien
Asmuchasthewhole ‘challenge under the laws of blood’ nonsense obviously unsettles Keir, it actually makes me feel better about the whole thing. The fact that Stevens was planning on fighting dirty was never in question. Him being up front about it rather than trying to hide it seems more like an attempt at intimidating me—much like what he just did to William—than anything else.
And I don’t think the other Alpha is as confident as he pretends.
Or maybe he’s just stupid.
Sure, Zachariah Stevens is an Alpha and can probably hold his own in a fight… generally. He’s definitely physically strong, but I doubt he’s ever fought in a true challenge for power. The reckless and impulsive way he uses his strength makes him appear immature and doesn’t inspire respect or admiration.
Not even in his own pack members.
One of them actually rolled his eyes when Stevens started goading me about getting my affairs in order and none of them looked particularly impressed by William’s sudden murder. But those small details have gone unnoticed by Keir, who’s practically vibrating with tension in my lap at the idea of me fighting the older Alpha. I hate upsetting my mate, but this is something I have to do.
For both our sakes.
Once I win this challenge, that will be it. There will be no one else trying to take my mate away from me.
I wrap my arms around Keir, pulling him closer to my chest and trying to block everyone else’s view of my mate’s naked body as much as possible. His muscles tense, but he allows me to maneuver him without complaint.
“I’ve got this,” I say into his ear in a low voice.
