“Well, long story short, the new Alpha chooses.” Solomon nodded.
Margaret leaned closer, peering over Solomon’s shoulder. “He can choose anybody?”
Solomon snapped the book shut. “Yes, he can choose someone not even from this pack so long as the trophy challenger has Alpha blood and has endured at least one trial with him. I suppose that’s so he can see how well they work together?”
“I assure you that I do have Alpha blood,” Taryn said softly.
“She does,” Luca said, leaning back and crossing his arms.
Nadia looked from one to the other. “Are you two related?”
“No,” Taryn said immediately. “Of course not.”
“We’re not,” Luca added. “Totally different lineages. I hadn’t realized the trophy could be challenged.”
“That’s because you don’t think things through all the way,” Taryn said lightly. Then she turned to the men. “Hi. I’m Taryn.”
Isaac smiled. “I seriously like your height.”
“Thank you. I like yours as well.” She held confidence like most people did a weapon.
Nadia studied the newcomer. Taryn was tall, fit, and dressed for the occasion in a bright red sweater and tight leather pants tucked into impressive black boots. She looked like she could fight. Worse, she looked like she’d enjoy it.
If Nadia’s family lost leadership of the pack entirely, it would destroy her father. Maybe Emily too. And from the looks of it, if Luca or Isaac won, they’d choose Taryn as the next Alpha mate. Nadia was almost certain Caidrik would choose her, and she didn’t care what Bulwark wanted. He was a monster.
She shivered. “Taryn,” Nadia said softly.
The woman turned.
“Is anybody else coming to challenge me, or just you?”
Taryn shrugged her delicate shoulders. “I have no idea. But the sooner we get this over with, the better. I can handle the competition.” Her gaze narrowed. “Can you?”
“Absolutely.” Though Nadia hadn’t counted on this new complication. She momentarily longed for the days when she wasn’t with a pack and just planned farming land for a group of wolves. Wonderful ones who now were a part of Emily’s new pack.
“One more thing.” Solomon scratched his head. “Apparently the trophies can kill each other during this process as well.”
“Absolutely not,” Caidrik said, his teeth sounding like they were grinding together.
“I don’t mind,” Bulwark murmured. “That might be fun.”
Isaac shook his head. “I don’t really like the idea of that.”
“I’m all right with it,” Luca said. “Let’s see who wins. If I mate one of you, I’d want you to be a fierce fighter.”
“Oh, I’m definitely a fighter,” Taryn said, somehow making it sound sexy. She looked at Nadia. “How about you?”
Nope. Not at all. “I’m more for peace than anything else,” Nadia said. “But if you want to die, that’s fine. Just tell me.” Yeah. She was full of crap and talking big. But what else was she supposed to do?
“All right. Enough of that.” Solomon took a deep breath, clearly re-centering himself. He planted both hands on the edge of the slate conference table and looked around the room until he had everyone’s attention. “The procedure for today is this.” He straightened and gestured first toward Bussy. “The names of the challengers are in the envelope Bussy is holding.” Then he nodded toward Margaret. “The different possible challenges, all twenty of them, are in the envelope Margaret has.”
Margaret gave the envelope a little shake and the contents rattled loudly.
“So, Nadia,” Solomon continued, turning back to her, “you’ll go first. You’ll choose the name of a challenger and then choose a challenge. You’ll put them together, and you’ll do a challenge with each of the four.” He paused, apparently thinking it through again. “After that, you’ll give the names back to me. Taryn, you’ll then choose a challenge for each challenger as well. That’s how we’ll do it.”
“Yep,” Bussy said briskly. “That works.”
Nadia looked at Solomon, her brows drawing together. “Did you know this was a possibility?”
