Alec stiffened.So it is about Mark.This time when he glanced at Cam, Cam nodded, and Alec knew what he meant.Tell the truth.They could probably smell it on him anyway. “It started out as just sex, but the bonding process has been triggered. We haven’t gone further than that or discussed it yet.”
Curtis nodded as though he already knew all of that. “Do you trust him?”
The answer was easy, Alec felt it down to his bones. “With my life.”
Sitting forward, Curtis rested his arms on his knees, his silver hair glinting in the light. He sighed, and Alec got the feeling he didn’t like what he was about to say. “Well, that gives us a problem. Alpha Wallace has just had a long chat with Mr Appleton. He’s retracted what he told you about the jacket.”
Alec’s heart stopped, then set off at a gallop. “What?”
“According to Appleton, he and a Will Farley bought the jackets together from a high street store. He claims that’s where the rogue shifter scent must have come from.”
Cam cleared his throat. “Isn’t that a little far-fetched?”
Curtis sighed. “Is it any more far-fetched than suggesting his own alpha knowingly risked his life by using him to bait members of your pack?”
Alec barely registered the words. Something was very, very wrong.
“But you have Felix’s statement too. Surely that indicates Newell’s guilt?”
“I understand Felix was already in custody when the incident occurred. He can’t say for sure where the jacket came from since he wasn’t there.”
“But—”
Curtis’s tone turned slightly cooler. “I might also remind you, Alpha Harley, that Felix Martyn is a rogue shifter, one of the last members of a pack who attacked both yours and Alpha Newell’s pack. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain by telling you what you want to hear. Alpha Steven Newell has been the leader of the Primrose Hill pack for almost ten years. With Appleton changing his story, it’s Martyn’s word against Newell’s. Who would you believe?”
Alec glanced from Cam to Curtis. Fuck, when he put it like that….
Frustration clear on his face, Cam bit back whatever he was about to say and took a deep breath. “I understand that, but I’ve also given you evidence of Alpha Newell’s erratic and dangerous behaviour. He has a grudge against one of my pack members and also me, and that’s at the root of everything that’s happened since the rogue pack attacked us.”
“Again, according to Alpha Newell, you deceived him by not disclosing information when the two of you entered into an alliance. Facts that could very well put him in a difficult position with the human authorities.”
Alec itched to speak. He wanted to tell them that Wes had attacked Mark already, they must have threatened him with something nasty to get him to change his mind.
Why the fuck didn’t he call me?
But that would be his word against Wes’s, and considering his relationship with Mark, how would that look? Worse than that, he would be accusing Mark of lying to the alpha council.
Closing his eyes for a second, he tried not to panic, but Mark was in danger. He felt it with every bone in his body, and his wolf stirred, agitated and eager to get to him. This meeting was going nowhere, and Alec needed it to end already.
Cam, with far more patience than Alec, smiled. “With all due respect, Alpha Steven Newell has hated me ever since our pack split into two after the pack wars. He has never forgiven me for having the larger pack and territory and has been looking for an opportunity to get back at me. As I already told you, we made an agreement when forming that alliance. He knew about Nathan and Jared before that. He could have backed out, but instead, he gave his word as alpha to keep our secret from the authorities, as long as we got our paperwork in order and agreed to his other terms.” He didn’t mention that those ‘other terms’ almost got Nathan killed. Alec presumed they’d already been over that.
Turning to Alec, Curtis glanced down at his phone again. “Alpha Wallace wants to return to our headquarters tonight, we have much to discuss. I’ve spoken to Gareth at length about the attack on Sebastian Calloway. Is there anything you’d like to add that Gareth might have missed?”
Gareth had given a brief rundown of his meeting with the council, and Alec couldn’t think of anything he’d left out. They’d stopped the rogues from killing Seb, but he’d ended up in hospital. Only one of the rogue shifters survived, and that was Felix. “I realise Felix’s word doesn’t hold much weight, but he did give us information that led to the rescue of Sebastian’s sister. Without his help, we might never have found her in time.”
“That has been noted. Is it all you wish to add?”
Alec nodded.
“I have one last question for you.” His expression softened. “You and Mark Appleton have started the bonding process. Your wolf trusts him. You say you’d trust him with your life.”Oh no.“I take no pleasure putting you in this position, but I have to ask. Do you think Mr Appleton lied to your alpha or the council? Because only one of his statements can be the truth.”
“I—” Alec’s heart dropped like a stone into his stomach. There was no right answer. If he said Cam, then he implied Newell was innocent. If he said the council, then he was throwing his potential mate to the wolves. Literally. He said the only thing he could. “I don’t know.”
He expected Curtis to press him further because everyone in that room knew he had a strong feeling one way or the other. And he did. Mark had lied to the alpha council, but Alec had no idea why.
Instead of more questions, Curtis gave him the barest of nods. “As I expected. Thank you for your time, Mr Knight.” He nodded at Cam. “Alpha Harley.”
Cam stood, so Alec did the same. “Are you leaving now?”
