“Yep,” replies Earl.
Wanda, whose expression has only grown darker, practically snarls at her mate. “Jonathan is dead.”
Earl lets out a chuckle, the sound mocking. “No need to be jealous,dear. I know you weren’t too keen on the idea of my heir coming from your sister’s womb, but it is what it is.” He turns enough to catch her gaze, his voice going cold. “And Emily did a damn sight better than you did in the heir department.”
Wanda sputters. “But, Clay…”
“Is a fucking worthless beta,” he snaps. “You know damn well a beta can’t lead this pack.”
“But—”
“Be quiet.” He practically hisses the command.
Wanda’s mouth slams shut, but nothing can douse the fire behind her eyes. She’s pissed. An instinctual part of me wants to cower away from her, that look in her eyes another thing that’s eerily familiar.
Some buried instinct—or maybe memory—tells me coming here was a huge mistake.
And that’sbeforeEarl’s cold, hard gaze finally lands on me.
Twenty-Three
Ollie
I might not havea clear memory of it happening, but there’s no doubt in my mind, the look currently on Earl’s face has been directed at me before. This Alpha is clearly not a fan of mine.
Earl sneers at me, his face turning ugly as it twists with contempt—an expression that suddenly feels very familiar. Earl is the man from my dream last night. That doesn’t bode well.
“Is this the so-called ‘missing person’ you’re concerned about?” he asks. “Because he’s not missing. He ran away and deserted the pack just like his brother.”
Just like…
Does that mean Blake isn’t evenhere?
Earl slides past Luke to loom over me, his muscles tense with aggression. “Why’d you bother coming back here, boy?”
My gaze darts to Wanda. “I—She said… Blake…”
Earl’s ire turns on his mate, but before he can say anything else, Luke pushes his way between me and Earl, forcing the older Alpha to take a step backward. Luke bares his teeth, a low growl rumbling in his chest. Earl is a couple inches taller and quite a bit broader across the chest, but his stomach is soft and he has gray at his temples that shows his age.
“You will treat my mate with respect,” snarls Luke. That’s not exactly how we planned to break the news, but after what we learned from the praetorians, I don’t think it really matters.
“Your mate?” says Earl, upper lip curling with disgust.
“Yes,” says Luke, straightening his shoulders and pulling himself up to his full height, growl still rumbling from his chest. He takes a couple steps forward, again making Earl retreat. “You have a problem with that?”
“Not at all.” His gaze slides to me. “I just think you could do better than an omega whore. The only thing they’re good for is pups.”
“Good thing I don’t give a shit about your opinion then,” says Luke.
“You can’t get mad at me for wanting what’s best for my boy.”
“I’m not your boy. You don’t even know me,” snaps Luke. “Whether I’m your son or not—and that’s still to be determined—I’m an adult and the Alpha of my own pack. You have no say in my life.”
Earl raises his hands, shakes his head, and takes another step backward. “Fine.”
Wanda edges toward me, a contrite look on her face. She stops a couple feet from me, offering up a strained smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Oliver,” she says. “I was so excited to hear you were okay that I didn’t think how Earl might react to your return.”
