“Just the first one. If you lose, Ness,” Eric said in a voice that sounded like he’d eaten gravel for breakfast, “you cannot ask the future Alpha to bring you into thepack.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Which means I’ll have to leaveBoulder?”
“Yes.”
Even though I’d planned to leave, I wanted it to be my choice. Not theirs. “But if any of the others lose, they get to stay in thepack?”
“Correct.”
Well, that’sfair.
“You will all be civil to each other. We don’t want any fighting outside of these trials,” Ericsaid.
Bushy-Eyebrows continued, “Internal discord will only weaken the pack. Already not having an Alpha for such a prolonged period of time has hurt us and bolstered the self-worth of neighboring packs. Let’s not give them moreammunition.”
Last night, they’d all been civil to me. This morning, Liam had been borderline kind. Would this go on? The pack had shunned me when I’d needed help after Dad was shot. I had a long memory, and that memory had wedged deep trust issues insideme.
“Okay, Ness?” Ericasked.
I didn’t appreciate being singled out.Again. I shoved my shoulders back hard against the leather seat. “I can benice.”
“Can you?” Lucasasked.
I shot him a taunting smile. “If I want to be,yes.”
“Well, we do hope you’ll want to be,” Bushy-Eyebrows said. “Any uncivil behavior reported to us will incur serious consequences. Elimination being the gentlerconsequence.”
His name suddenly slotted into my mind.Frank.Frank McNamara. He used to be the Alpha when my father was my age. Dad had always spoken highly of him. I wondered if Frank would’ve allowed me into the pack had he been Alpha instead of Heath. But I quit wondering fast because what was the point in musing over something that couldn’thappen?
“I believe you kids have something fun planned, so we’ll adjourn thismeeting.”
Yeah, fun.Not.
“Next Saturday, come to the pack headquarters at noon. Don’t be late.” The eldersrose.
As Frank passed behind my chair, he placed a palm on my shoulder. “Jeb told me about your mother thismorning.”
Great.Lucy was giving out my room number to strangers, and Jeb was informing people of my loss. So much for respecting my privacy. Sadly, my aunt and uncle were meeting my expectations…my very lowexpectations.
“Maggie was a good woman,” Frankadded.
My throat felt like someone had gone at it with afist.
Frank squeezed my shoulder once then went on hisway.
“What’d she die of?” Matt asked as I gotup.
I pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. Even though I didn’t want to discuss my mother with anyone, I also didn’t want them to get their information from other places. “Ovariancancer.”
“Is that why you’re so bitter?” Lucasasked.
Matt and Liam both shot him alook.
Lucas raised his palms in the air. “I was just wondering if she was biting off our heads because she couldn’t stand the look of them, or if her behavior was out of the ordinary. Am I not allowed toask?”
“Damn.And here I thought I’d been coming across as charming.” I smiled. “I should probably work on my social skills.” My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I fished it out, but when I saw the number on the screen, I rejected the call and shoved it back inside my pocket. “So, paintball?” I asked, my heart loping around mychest.
If only I could’ve quieted it with a press of a button,too.
