Matt had told Bryce that there was no point in starting discussions before they’d satisfied themselves that Jesse truly was an Argent—they probably didn’t really believe it despite the snot-nosed kid’s report. Hell, some dayshestill didn’t quite believe it, he’d added with a rueful grin.
As Bryce watched Jesse shift into a wolf whose coat was liquid silver, seeing the slack-jawed amazement on the faces of people who were used to disguising their emotions for a living, he had to agree with Matt—this whole thing still seemed impossible.
So much of early shifter history was bound up in myth and legend, and all of it was imbued with a sense of awe about the Argents. Mosaics from Roman times and paintings through the ages showed them gleaming silver beneath the moon, but no one except some whacked-out conspiracy theorists had ever dreamed one might still exist.
Jesse’s hackles were raised, his eyes narrowed, lip lifting just enough to warn. His tail was stiff behind him as he tensely approached the councilors so they could touch him, checking for themselves that there was no trickery at work.
Bryce could practically see the calculations going on in four very astute minds as the initial shock faded, and he hoped to God Matt would be on top of this. He trusted Matt completely, but these people were used to dealing in words and meaningless promises. They saw people as pawns. He wished again, savagely, that they hadn’t had to reveal Jesse’s existence to the world.
Tom was at the other end of the group of officials, staring at Jesse. Unlike the councilors, Tom’s face was lit with something close to wonder. It wasn’t calculation or greed—it was joy. Like Jesse was a miracle of beauty and magic instead of an opportunity.
As Bryce watched, he saw the look on Tom’s face change to disgust at the hands reaching for Jesse. It was as if he could see the utter wrongness in it that Bryce felt.
He couldn’t stop watching Tom. Something about him held Bryce bound and helpless.
TOM
The moment Steadman arrived at the hotel, Tom had shoved all thoughts of Bryce into a box and locked the lid. She wanted histhorough analysis of the dynamics of the pack, interrogating him on each member like they were a suspect in a murder mystery.
While she was disappointed that he hadn’t had much interaction with Jesse, she wasn’t surprised. “Makes sense they’d keep the Argent up their sleeve. You did well getting to talk to him at all. Now tell me, what’s his power base? Which of the other members are more likely to follow him than their alpha?”
By the time she was satisfied she’d wrung every last bit of meaning from the conversation he’d had with Jesse, the sun was down and the moon rising. It was time to head to the ranch.
And then he’d stood on the dark porch and seen the most amazing sight of his life—a wolf whose silken coat rippled with moonlight’s cold fire. It was so beautiful and felt soright,somewhere deep inside him, that Tom’s throat seized and his eyes burned.
When he saw the councilors’ hands reaching out, wanting to touch, to claim, toown, he took an involuntary step back. For an instant, he too had been seduced by the beauty and the weight of history, but the wolf in front of them was more than just his coat. He had his own wants and needs and weaknesses, he lived in the same world as the rest of them, and they had noright.He was ashamed for being part of bringing these people here.
His wolf stirred, and an awareness prickled, as if he were being watched. When he turned, Bryce’s gaze was on him. He had no idea what showed on his face, but Bryce nodded as if he agreed, his eyes warm.
When he glanced back at the councilors, he saw the moment of wonder was already slipping away. Instead, it was being cataloged, ready to turn into leverage.
“So now you’ve seen what you wanted, I guess we need to talk,” Matt said.
Careless of protocol, he turned and walked through the back door in front of the Leader of the National Council. And the best part of it was that Bennettknewhe couldn’t put Matt in his place, because this was Matt’s territory, Matt’s pack, and—for now—Matt’s Argent. Offend him, and they’d lose access to Jesse.
Matt led the way to the living room, where some of the kitchen chairs had been brought in to provide enough seats. By the time everyone was settled, the room was full, with four councilors, one of Bennett’s aides, a security guard and Jax, along with Matt, Jesse, and Bryce. Tristan was sitting on the floor beside Jason and Riley.
It seemed Councilor Hart wasn’t as well-briefed as the others, because he was glaring at Riley, his chin quivering in outrage before he turned his indignation on Matt.
“What is anon-shifterdoing here?” he demanded, the word spat out as if it were a curse.
Matt’s eyes were very green and very hard as he returned Hart’s stare. “Riley’s part of my pack,” he said. And left it at that.
Tom bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself laughing and had the impression Councilor Steadman was doing the same. He’d come here expecting delicate negotiations. Instead, Matt was playing political chess with a baseball bat.
There was nothing Hart could say to that calm, bold statement of fact. That didn’t stop him harrumphing and looking to Bennett for help. But Bennett was too wily an operator to risk displeasing Matt. He kept his somewhat reactionary views about non-shifters hidden as he smiled.
“Thank you for inviting us here, Alpha Urban,” he said, his head inclining very slightly. It could have been respect, or it could have been condescension.
“We figured shifters should know that Argents still exist. The Council seemed the quickest way to make that happen,”Urban said, and if Tom kept biting the inside of his cheek this hard, he’d end up with blood in his mouth.
Bennett kept the good humor on his face, but it was evidently a struggle. “Well, I think you’ll find we’re rather more than a broadcast service,” he said. “There are a number of issues to consider here.”
“Like what?” It was Jesse Turner’s voice, low and raspy.
“Like how to break the news in a manner that ensures you retain a modicum of privacy, Mr. Turner,” Bennett said, and he almost sounded sincere.
“And in a way that doesn’t elicit a reaction from anti-shifter activists who see unity within the shifter community as a threat,” Councilor Steadman added pointedly.
