“But as a council member, I can’t get involved directly unless he does something that requires our intervention.”
“And preventing me from being with my mate doesn’t count?” It seemed a pretty good reason in Sara’s book.
“Unfortunately not, although I will be bringing him up at our next meeting as someone to keep an eye on. The council was set up to prevent any more pack wars. We intervene when asked, to stop intra- or inter-pack disagreements from escalating.” She met Sara’s gaze, her eyes sad. “We can’t simply waltz in and tell an alpha to change his mind. He has his reasons, misogynistic and small-minded as they are, but there isn’t a risk of this escalating into something bigger.”
“He said he’d banish me from his pack and send me to another pack of his choosing. One far away.”
Celia raised an eyebrow. “Did he now?” Standing up straight and folding her arms, she looked every bit the alpha now. “You never told me that before.”
Sara frowned. “Didn’t I?”
“No. You said he’d banned you from seeing each other.” She sighed. “He can’t do that anyway. He needs to go through the council to place you within another pack.”
Sara’s shoulders sagged a little. At least he couldn’t just boot her out. “He threatened to attack Tregarrak’s pack if I contacted Rachel or she tried to contact me. And said that the council would be on his side. Doesn’t that count either?”
Celia’s brows drew together. “Since he told Alpha Tregarrak of his wishes, he’s well within his right to retaliate if Tregarrak went against them. Attacking another pack is excessive, but not unheard of. Pack etiquette was established a long time ago, yet another thing that could do with a little updating.” She smiled suddenly, a twinkle in her eyes. “Using the council as a bullying technique, however, is not permitted.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure yet. There’ve been a few rumours about your father and his casual mention of his connections to the council, but never anything solid, so we’ve not pursued it.” Celia fixed Sara with a look that made her want to bare her throat. “Did you hear him threaten Tregarrak?”
“No, but Dad told me that’s what he’d said. I quote, ‘I told him my mother-in-law is on the alpha council, so he’d better watch his step.’ And he said the same to me, that you’d be on his side if he attacked.”
Celia made a face, as though she’d eaten something nasty. “That’s a grey area. We would uphold his right to retaliate if Tregarrak deliberately went against his wishes, but we don’t condone excessive force. That’s not what we should focus on, though.”
“What is, then?”
Celia grinned. “That he used my name and my position on the council to threaten another alpha.” She reached out and tapped Sara on the nose. “And you are the proof.”
Sara still felt as though she was missing something. “But will that change anything? I thought you couldn’t get involved?”
“It’s complicated.”
“You’re telling me.” So her father had made empty threats. In the grand scheme of things, did that alter anything?
Reading the look on her face, Celia stepped close and gently took hold of her by the shoulders. “I know this seems like a very small thing, and I can’t guarantee it will make a difference, but it’s something to look into. I need to tread carefully since you’re family, but let me put out a few feelers, talk to Alpha Wallace in private. See if there’s anything that can be done. While I can’t outright threaten him into letting you bond, maybe he can be persuaded that his views need some re-examining.”
“Mhmm. Good luck with that.” Sara sat back down with a sigh, and Celia let her be, this time.
AFTER THEY’D EATEN lunch, with no more mention of her father or Rachel, Celia left for her meeting and Sara retreated to her window seat. The rain had eased to little more than a fine mist, the barest glimpses of sun peeking through the clouds, and once again, the fresh forest air called to her.
This time, she answered it.
She didn’t shift, even though the thick trees surrounding the property would shield her from the road. She wanted a clear head to think things through. Her wolf form would give her a blessed escape from everything tumbling around in her mind, but it also sharpened the ache in her chest. And she’d had enough reminders about Rachel today.
Her grandmother’s modest cottage sat at the edge of alpha council property, so from there, Sara could, in theory, walk to the main building where they held their meetings and all over the extensive grounds. As Celia’s guest, though, and not a council member, she should probably stay close-ish to her grandmother’s home.
The garden wasn’t overly huge, but it was plenty big enough to wander around and get lost in thought. She walked down the central path as it wound left then right, admiring the late-blooming flowers, and wondered what they were talking about up at the council meeting. Half of her wanted to know everything that was said, soak up every little detail about Rachel that she could, but the other half shied away, knowing how bittersweet that would be.
They knew next to nothing about each other, she and Rachel, and yet… With a heavy sigh, Sara glanced up and pictured a full-moon night more than a month ago now.Yet she still feels like my everything.
At the bottom of the garden, under a massive oak tree, sat a sturdy wooden bench. That was where her grandmother found her hours later, with her eyes closed and lying on her back. The sun had finally forced its way out and warmed her skin as she lay there.
Celia Cornell was still exceptionally silent on her feet, but her comforting scent carried to Sara on the breeze.
Without opening her eyes, she asked, “How was your meeting?”
“Interesting.”
