Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose.“If no one is making any decision right now, what’s happening with the clan?”
Harmon wasn’t sure the man who’d answered would give Kieran any details.He seemed to be as informed as they were, which was not at all.
“People are fighting.”
“And who calms things down when it’s needed?”
The man paused.“Jacob.”
“Then I want to talk to Jacob.”
“Okay.Wait.”
Kieran rolled his eyes, but he did as asked and waited.There was nothing else any of them could do.
“What do you think Kieran will do with the prisoners?”Rex asked.
“Well, you know him better than I do.What do you think he’ll do with them?”
“He’s softhearted.”Rex glanced at Kieran, who was talking with his partner, Robin.He’d cupped a hand around Robin’s elbow and was leaning over him.“He’ll probably let them back in.”
“Even though they betrayed him?”Harmon had heard stories, mostly from Merrick.If it was up to Merrick, all of those wolves would stay in the cells they were in.They’d betrayed the pack, which meant they didn’t deserve a second chance.
Thankfully, Kieran was nothing like Merrick.Harmon couldn’t say if allowing the people who betrayed the pack back in was a good idea, but if he was in Kieran’s place, he was pretty sure he would do the same.He’d keep an eye on the traitors and would make sure they knew they weren’t trusted, but he wouldn’t abandon anyone in a cell, not even people who’d done what they’d done.Hopefully, they’d seen the errors of their ways and would never betray Kieran and their pack again.If they did, well.They wouldn’t get any more support from Kieran.
“Hello?”a new man’s voice said on the other end of the phone.
Kieran turned his attention back to the call.“My name is Kieran Gilson.I’m the alpha of the Gilson pack and the man who defeated your alpha and beta.We need to talk.”
* * * *
THE SILENCE COMINGfrom the phone was deafening.Rex wasn’t surprised that Kieran had shocked Jacob.The dragon wouldn’t have expected Kieran to call or reach out in any way.If Rex had to guess, Jacob had thought that if Kieran wanted anything to do with the clan, he’d attack them the way Martin had attacked the pack.
Rex had seen this before.For people used to living with the kind of leader Martin had been, it was hard to understand that not everyone was like that.Most people weren’t.Alphas didn’t order their people to attack a mall full of people.They didn’t keep people prisoner in their cells or torture their clan members.
Rex really hoped that the clan would have a better alpha this time around.He didn’t know if it would be Jacob or someone else, and he didn’t care as long as they didn’t attack anyone.
“What do you want?”Jacob asked.
Kieran frowned.“Am I talking to Jacob?”
“How do you know my name?”
“The man who answered the phone told me that you were the person in charge now that Martin isn’t in the picture anymore.”
“I wouldn’t say that I’m in charge.I try, but I’m not a leader.”
“But you’re the closest thing the clan has to a leader right now.”
Jacob hesitated again.“Maybe I am.What is it to you?”
“What is it to me?Your clan attacked my pack.If your leader had won, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.None of my people would.Why do you think I want to know who’s leading the clan now?”
That didn’t sound like Kieran, but Rex understood.The clan had put Kieran’s people in danger, and they might do it again.Kieran needed to ensure that they wouldn’t, and he wouldn’t do that by being nice.
“Look, I didn’t give the order to attack your pack,” Jacob said.“I wasn’t even there during the attack.You can’t blame me for the decisions Martin made.”
“I don’t, but Icanblame you and your clan for not standing up to Martin.”
