A body lay inside, face down, black boots facing her. Competing with the stench of smoke, the coppery smell of fresh blood smashed into her senses.
Chapter32
Seth stopped the vehicle. “I’ll handle this.”
“The hell you will.” Erik was already jumping out and heading toward the eastern tree line.
Seth growled and followed his brother, slamming the door loudly. It wasn’t time for anybody to step up as Alpha of his pack. While he wasn’t as certain as Erik that Ben would heal, the rest of the world would have to believe that Ben would be in top form in no time.
Lightning zapped the earth ahead, and ozone assaulted Seth’s nostrils. The rain started to fall, hard and fast, punishing him. He followed Erik through swaying trees as the wind whipped pine needles up into his face. It was as if Mother Nature didn’t want them to proceed.
He didn’t like it, either.
They emerged into a clearing surrounded by thick trees.
Seth had already smelled the wolves. Even so, with the Alphas of three packs as well as two Enforcers congregating in a relatively small space, the sense of power and danger rode the wind.
Hard.
He stood next to his brother, acutely aware of the trees behind them. “We couldn’t do this inside a coffee shop?” he asked dryly, ignoring the rain berating him while clocking the biggest threats. If things turned bloody, he’d go for Jackson Tryne first. Jackson was the Alpha of the Granite Pack, a solid mountain of a man—and Seth’s biological second cousin or something like that. He attended alone, apparently not seeing a need for an Enforcer.
Seth had to admire the arrogance, even if it did leave the Alpha without somebody to cover his back.
Philip Nightsom, Alpha of the Slate Pack, stood next to his Enforcer, a guy with death in his black eyes.
Seth admired that, as well.
What caught his attention next was Yago Yassi, the head of the Copper Pack. The guy was well over three hundred years old, his skin sallow, his eyes sunk so deep it was hard to determine the color. He was fading fast, and rumor had it there was an internal fight for who’d step up. What exactly had Ruby Redbird discovered? Had her investigation led to her death?
Seth appraised the leader. There was no way Yassi had the strength to shove drill steel through anybody’s neck. That didn’t mean a member of his pack hadn’t taken care of the young woman for him. Seth’s gut disagreed, though. It just didn’t feel right.
Philip stepped forward, his Enforcer keeping pace. “Rumor has it Ben is on his deathbed. You two need to settle things.”
In other words, a fight to the death.
“No,” Seth said quietly.
Yassi cleared his throat and stretched his vulnerable neck. “We can’t allow you and Erik to remain in one pack, Seth. You know that.”
“Too much consolidated power?” Erik drawled.
Yassi cut his gaze to Erik. “Yes.”
Fair enough.
Jackson Tryne lounged against a tree. Did they have the same eye color? Seth tried to banish the curiosity about his blood relative, especially since the guy would try to rip out his throat if given a chance.
Tryne looked around. “The point is moot. You’re both Alphas, and I can feel your power from here. Neither of you will be able to follow or obey…anybody. Not once Ben is gone.”
Erik’s hand curled into a fist. “Our father will be fine, so I suggest you watch your tone, Tryne. He might want a piece of you for dinner just to complete the healing process.”
Seth subtly shifted his weight to halt his brother’s threat. There was no need for that yet, especially since Ben might not regain his health. Even so, he made sure nobody else noticed the movement. The last thing he needed was the other packs finding dissent in his. Even if there was some.
Yassi stared at Seth. “We don’t want you. You should know that.”
Seth let an eyebrow rise. “Gee, Yassi. That kind of hurts my feelers.” Was the guy insulting Seth or implying that Erik would be easier to work with—weaker than Seth? Or both?
“Why?” Erik asked.
