“Yes. Alpha Wallace and the others are already on their way to collect us. You’ll hear our verdict tomorrow. Alpha Wallace will inform you of the time in due course.”
Cam saw them out and down the stairs to the front door, leaving Alec alone. As soon as they were out of earshot, he had his phone out, dialling Mark’s number.
Straight to voicemail.
Which was no great surprise but still frustrating. He tried two more times before giving in and opening up a text message.
Whatever they threatened you with to make you lie, I can help. Please call me
He pressed Send and hoped like hell Mark trusted him enough to let him in.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mark sat there stunned and watched the alphas leave the room.
What the fuck have I just done?
Sweat ran down the middle of his back, and Mark sighed in relief that no one wanted to shake his clammy hands. But they were alphas, all four of them would be able to smell him—fear probably oozed from his pores because he’d never been more terrified than he was right then.
Alpha Karin Wallace, leader of the council, paused in the doorway and Mark held his breath. When she turned and walked back over to him, her expression grave, his heart just about stopped. “I know you’re scared. I hope it’s concern over your alpha’s well-being and not because you’ve just lied to the alpha council. The consequences of the latter will not be pleasant.”
He swallowed, mouth dry, and managed a hoarse, “I know.” So many times in that meeting he’d been on the verge of telling them. They were the fucking council, surely if anyone could get to Newell, it would be them. But would they believe Mark over another alpha? And what if Newell carried out his threat and killed Harry anyway? He just couldn’t risk it.
She gave him one last searching look, then left after her companions.
The door closed with a soft click, and Mark slumped forward, head in his hands. He should have listened to Alec and not come back here. At the thought of Alec, his chest constricted, leaving him breathless.Does he know yet, what I’ve done?They’d got so close over the past couple of days. Mark might be young, but he wasn’t so naive as to not recognise what was on offer, if they wanted it. But that was before he lied to the council and put a serious dent in R-pack’s case against Newell.
Without his evidence, the jacket was more than likely useless. Just an unfortunate coincidence. Fuck, Alec would hate him. The realisation felt like a knife in his chest. He bit back the howl, but a whimper escaped instead, sounding pathetic in the empty room.
He pulled out his phone, then stopped. Will wasn’t answering anymore, Jason had disappeared off the face of the earth, and he couldn’t call Alec. Without his best friend, his beta, or his potential mate, Mark had never felt more alone.
As if to taunt him, his phone buzzed with an incoming call.
Alec.
He sent it straight to voicemail and stared at the screen.
I’m sorry. He wanted to type the words, but he didn’t.
The meeting room was heavily soundproofed, and Mark had no warning when the door suddenly burst open and Wes sauntered in, smug smile in place. Closing it behind him, he regarded Mark with amusement. “Lying to the alpha council. Imagine what would happen if they ever found out?” He pulled out a chair and sat where the council had been moments before.
A thought occurred to Mark. “You and Newell must have lied too.”
“Alpha Newell, show some fucking respect.”
Like he deserved any.
Mark sat up straight. “You’re in the same boat as me.”
“Hardly.” Wes scoffed.
“I could take us all down.”
“You could try. But when you admit that you lied for the second time, who’s going to believe a word you say when Steven and I have maintained the same story all along. And your cousin will still be dead.” He said it so matter-of-fact, Mark felt sick listening to him.
“How can you sit there and act like it’s no big deal? He’s only eighteen! You’re his beta. Your job is to look out for him, not lure him to his fucking death.”
Wes shrugged. “Sometimes we have to do unsavoury things for the good of the pack.”
