He gave his word.
That should hold no matter what.
The sick feeling in Mark’s gut intensified. If Newell could so easily go back on his word to another alpha, what else was he capable of?
Curtis sat down and Karin stood again. She gestured to the men and women sitting beside her. “We, the alpha council, are of the opinion there is significant proof offered to warrant a full investigation into all the accusations. You are free to return to your respective territories. The day after tomorrow we will visit both packs, and you will help us in any way we see fit. Any obstruction by either pack will be taken as a sign of guilt and treated accordingly. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“As soon as our investigation is complete, we will reconvene here and deliver our findings and any punishment that results from them.” She glanced from Alpha Newell to Alpha Harley. “I hope I don’t need to remind you that any further hostilities between your two packs will not be tolerated.” Not waiting for an answer to that, she bowed her head a fraction in a show of respect, Newell and Harley did the same, then she turned and left the room, followed by the rest of the council.
Mark sighed in relief when the last of them exited. Fuck, that was intense. Not thinking, he glanced over at R-pack and caught Alec watching him. Quickly averting his eyes, Mark concentrated on looking anywhere than the other side of the room. The air inside suddenly felt stifling, and he tugged at his collar, wanting to get outside.
Jason nudged him and whispered, “Almost done.”
Anna led R-pack out first, and this time Mark kept his gaze on his feet as they filed out. He felt the weight of Alec’s stare as he passed, and it warmed him inside just the same as if he’d made eye contact.
Once outside, they headed over to their cars, the R-pack convoy already setting off down the drive. Mark followed Jason and was just about to shut his car door when Wes appeared. He held onto the frame, preventing Mark from closing it.
Jason leaned over the centre console. “Something we can help you with, Wes?”
Glancing at the other two cars, Mark noticed both had all their doors shut. No one could hear them.
Wes grinned, ignored Jason, and focused on Mark. Like a snake, he darted in, took a long sniff of Mark’s throat, and then sprung back.
“What the fuck?” Mark hissed. He clapped a hand over his neck, praying Alec’s scent had disappeared already.
From beside him Jason growled. “Go back to your car before I do something we’ll both regret.”
When Mark glanced over, he wasn’t surprised to see Jason’s fangs sliding out. You didn’t scent a member of another unit without permission. Especially not when their beta was sat right there next to them.
Wes had the good sense to step back, but he still held onto the car door. “I was just testing out a theory. Don’t overreact.” Jason snarled, and Wes flinched. He turned his attention to Mark. “I saw the way you looked at Knight. Don’t even think of fraternising with the enemy, Appleton, or I’ll be forced to report you to our alpha. And you know how he hates a traitor to the pack.” He slammed the door and walked away.
Slumping back in his seat, all Mark could think of wasthank fuck it had faded. He laid a hand on his throat, wanting Wes’s scent to be gone. Pack or not, it left a bad taste in his mouth.
“Come here.” Jason gently turned him and angled his head to expose his neck. Leaning forward, he ran his nose up the length of Mark’s neck, steadily breathing in and out.
Calmness washed over him, and Mark closed his eyes for a second, sighing. “Thank you.” The car moved a little as Jason sat back in his seat, and Mark glanced at him. “Shit, that was a close call.”
Jason started the engine but didn’t move. He met Mark’s gaze, his serious expression slightly worrying. “Closer than you think, actually.”
“What do you mean?”
The other two cars reversed and started down the driveway. Jason followed suit before answering. “I can still smell Alec on you.”
Mark’s heart stuttered. “What? But then—”
“Wes would have smelled it too. I don’t know what game he’s playing, but we both need to be careful. He’ll know you fucked Alec and that I know about it and haven’t reported it to Newell.”
“Fucking bollocks.”
“Yep.”
They drove out of the forest and onto the main road. Mark’s gaze was drawn to the lead car and Wes. “Why do you think he didn’t say anything?”
Jason bit at his lip, then glanced at Mark.
