“You can’t be serious.” I recognized Knox’s voice from down the hall, and even most of the wordless grunts of agreement following it sounded familiar. “This is a joke.”
“Go see for yourself,” Brandt said. “I wouldn’t have believed it either, if I hadn’t smelled him.”
Titus took a deep breath, then marched forward with his shoulders square.
“You don’t have to do this,” I whispered as I followed on his heels. “Tell them the truth. Whatever that is, it can’t be worse than losing your position. Than losing their respect.”
“I’ve made my decision,” he growled softly.
I shrugged and stepped past him. “Fine. Then I’ll tell them you’re hiding something.”
“Robyn.” Titus grabbed my arm, his eyes flashing with the first beats of anger I’d seen from him. “This is my last order to you as an Alpha.Keep your mouth shut. Do you understand?”
His order resonated through me with the authority behind his words. The shifter half of me demanded that I obey. But if I could choose to fight my attraction to him—just another instinct to be conquered—I could fight the order too.
Or…
“I tell you what.” I stood on my toes so I could reach his ear, and his scent triggered a rush of my pulse. “I’ll keep my mouth shut during the meeting if you give me your word that you’ll tell me the truth afterward.”
Titus’s eyes narrowed. His brows dipped low. His grip on my arm tightened. “Just you?” he demanded softly, and I couldn’t quite smother the chill his whisper sent through me. “And you’ll keep it to yourself? You swear?”
“I swear on the very concepts of feminism and independence.”
His left brow arched. “Those are odd things to swear by.”
I shrugged. “Those are the parts of me most threatened by my new life as a shifter. They’re what I cling to, so that I know I’m still me, even when the fur takes over. Even when I follow orders. Take it or leave it.”
Titus’s puzzled expression melted into…surprise. “Alphas aren’t typically given ultimatums. I’ll take it. But don’t make this a habit.” He let go of my arm, then leaned down to whisper again into my ear. “And donotbreak your word, Robyn.”
The fierce edge in his voice called out to something primal deep inside me. I nodded, then I followed him down the hall and into a two-story study that I might have called a library instead. Three of the four walls were lined with shelves packed with hardbacks—mostly old leather-bound editions. In one corner, a tall ladder rested on a rail that would carry some lucky reader all the way around the room and up to the shelves at the top of the high ceiling.
In the center of the room, Brandt and the resident enforcers were seated on a cluster of leather furniture arranged around an old Persian rug in shades of red, brown, and dark blue.
A few feet away, Drew Borden sat on the edge of a massive, ornate wooden desk, one foot planted on the floor. He cleared his throat when we stepped into the room, and everyone got quiet as they turned to stare.
Titus stopped inside the doorway. “I’m not going to drag this out,” he said. “I’m stepping down as Alpha, effective immediately. Recent developments have made it clear that my leadership will do more harm than good for the Pride. I ask that you accept Drew Borden as your new Alpha.”
Drew looked humbled by the nomination, but not truly surprised. “Titus, I’m not sure—”
“You’ll be fine,” Titus insisted. “And both Jace and I are on call to advise, as often as you need us. I will call Faythe Sanders and report the change. Expect to hear from her later today.” He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Then he focused on Drew again. “You’ll need to make other housing and finance arrangements, but for now, you’re all welcome here. I will be taking a short trip so that my presence won’t interfere with your transition into a leadership role.”
With that, he turned and headed for the staircase at the front of the house.
I lingered in the study doorway, watching as shock rippled across the small crowd. For a couple of seconds, no one spoke. Then Brandt let out a disgusted huff.
“I told you. He did it. He got caught, so now he’s quitting. He’s a fucking hypocrite!”
“Brandt.” Lochlan twisted his long blond hair into a bun as he spoke. “Shut up and let the grownups think.”
“He’s understandably frustrated,” Drew said. Then he turned to Brandt with a stern expression. “But that’s no excuse for the name-calling. Whatever’s happened doesn’t change the fact that Titus has been a great leader and he’s put nothing ahead of the good of the Pride. The very fact that he’s stepping down illustrates that.”
Brandt nodded, staring at the hands clasped in his lap.
“Let’s keep this under wraps until Titus and I have a chance to notify the rest of the Pride. I’ll be putting together a new patrol schedule and will be selecting a second in command within the next day or so…”
Reeling, I backed away from the study, trying to wrap my head around events still unfolding. How could Drew already have a game-plan minutes after losing his Alpha, when I was still stunned by the change of leadership?
When Titus was still obviously in shock.
