Dean felt himself flush. He was acting like a simple apology would make everything alright. Whilst simultaneously admitting that Silas was unlikely to do even that much.
The mage gave him a long, intense look. Dean squirmed, was Eifion going to be able to forgive? Dean really hoped so. Because, if not, he was going to have to throw him out of the pack and the whole thing would be an ugly mess.
“I understand,” Eifion said, and there was compassion and warmth in his unusual eyes. As well as forgiveness. Perhaps undeserved, but there nonetheless.
Dean huffed a sigh of relief whilst feeling a tinge of guilt. Eifion hadn’t exactly had the best life either. No one was making excuses for him. No one needed to make excuses for him.
Dean sternly steered his thoughts away from that path. Right now, he was on a mission. He took a fortifying breath.
“Can you open a portal to the Council Chamber, please?” asked Dean.
It seemed effortless for Eifion, whereas Thom struggled to expend that much power. But still Dean felt bad for asking. He had just begged the mage to forgive his mate for nearly incinerating him and here he was tagging on a request.
Eifion rolled his eyes. “I feel like an Uber.”
“Sorry,” mumbled Dean, feeling bad about just how often the mage was asked to transport people. But Eifion just sighed and made a lazy gesture with his hand. Dean nodded his thanks, grimaced, and stepped through the swirling green door.
He emerged in the empty throne room. There was no sign the earlier drama had happened at all. Dean walked out of one of the side doors and grabbed hold of the first person he saw.
“Where is the shifter that petitioned the Grand Master?” demanded Dean.
He hoped the man was still here. Most people didn’t have the luxury of hopping around through very power draining portals and had to physically travel to see the Council. There was an entire wing of guest rooms to accommodate such people. As well as cells that Dean would rather not think of. He had not enjoyed his stay in them. But he did like the irony of having once been a prisoner here and now being mated to the ruler.
The small selkie Dean had a hold of, nodded eagerly and set off at pace. Dean hadn’t expected an escort, but he didn’t object. It would certainly be quicker than trying to find his own way around the maze that was the Council Chamber.
In no time at all, they were standing outside one of the guest rooms. The selkie nodded at Dean again before scurrying off. Dean couldn’t blame him for wanting to steer clear of any drama.
Dean glared at the door and didn’t bother to knock. He wasn’t feeling polite. He opened the door and walked in.
The large alpha jumped up from the small desk he had been sitting at. His green eyes were wide, and he backed cautiously away.
“I didn’t know,” the alpha said cautiously.
Dean assumed that meant the alpha knew who he was. Dean thought about saying something, but a long, deep growl came out of his throat instead. This alpha had thrown Silas into a heat.
The alpha’s eyes widened even more, and he took another step back.
“I mean, of course I knew Silas Northstar was the Grand Master, and I knew he killed my brother and his pack, but I didn’t know why. I assumed it was just the long-standing feud.”
Dean took a step forward. The alpha flinched.
“My brother was a vile asshole. He threw me out of the pack years before… before. When I heard Silas Northstar had killed them all, I was happy.”
Dean stopped and considered the man before him. Was he telling the truth?
The alpha saw Dean was listening, took a shaky breath and continued.
“Now I know what really happened, I’m even more pleased. And… I didn’t mean to… earlier. He summoned his magic and my wolf got scared and growled. I didn’t mean to.”
The two alphas stared at each other intently. Dean’s wolf was pleased that the other alpha was being so submissive, but Dean didn’t want to push it. The man was an alpha, there would only be so much meekness he could tolerate before flipping.
“Is he alright?” asked the alpha softly.
The genuine concern in the man’s green eyes floored Dean. He hadn’t been expecting that at all. Could he really be a decent person and the whole thing just an unfortunate mess? Someone had obviously taken the time to tell Greenwood’s brother everything, which threw up a whole heap of other problems. Dean did not like that someone knew enough to have figured out what had happened and had gossiped to the alpha about it. Silas would loath being pitied. It would certainly damage his hard won reputation.
Dean swallowed and slowly nodded. The alpha sighed in relief.
“I’ve never thrown an omega before,” whispered the alpha, looking truly mortified.
