“Dude, what’re you doing?” Trent snaps. He whips his head at me. “H-He’s delirious, doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
I pause, but I don’t lower my bow. Ignoring Trent, I remain focused on Cody. “Go on.”
“It was Kevin. All of it was his idea—including the bear trap.”
Kevin stares straight ahead. The pissed-off look he’s trying to hide tells me all I need to know. He’s guilty as hell. And he doesn’t even seem the slightest bit ashamed.
Trent, Shane and Destiny try not to bring attention to themselves or get thrown under the bus with him. If they could move, they’d step far away from KevinandCody.
“Yeah, yeah. He thought it’d be funny.”
I point my bow at Kevin. “Since you’re being thrown under the bus, I’ll give you a chance to respond.”
He smacks his teeth, pretending he’s not scared of his fate. Yet, for someone who isn’t afraid, it’s strange he won’t look me in the eye.
When he doesn’t respond, Tyler steps up and barks, “Your alpha is speaking to you.”
“He’s not an alpha yet.” Kevin spits blood and saliva at the ground in my direction.
Trent shuts his eyes tightly at his peer’s stupidity.
I aim next to Kevin’s head and loose the arrow. It hits and Kevin’s eyes bug. To save face, he recovers quickly. We’ll see how long his façade lasts. For now, he’s paying attention.
“I’m beginning to think you don’t believe I’ll kill every single one of you.”
Tyler and my men wheel out a cart full of tools and weaponry.
Kevin regards it and says, “You don’t have the balls. Your father would never do something like this. You are nothing like him.”
“Dude, shut up,” Trent shouts at Kevin.
I ignore him, lifting and admiring various tools. I have to give it to my guys. They made sure these were sharp.
Apparently, being ignored is a trigger for Kevin. He yells, “You’ll never be the alpha Jack was!”
He’s right in that he wasn’t scared of my father—no one was. He’s also correct that I will never be like him. I want to be, but Kevin is a good example of why I can’t be. They know me as sweet little alpha prince Caleb. But this pack clearly doesn’t want to listen to kindness. So, they can consider this show my official announcement that I am not my father and will not run things the same way he did. It’s their fault I have to lead this way.
I don’t need to respond to Kevin. I’m better with actions than words, anyway. And I’m going to save him for last.
“So, we’ve established whose idea this attempted murder was. Which means Kevin gets to watch your punishment unfold.”
My hands are behind my back as I survey them, letting their eyes track me as I pace.
“When I left my meeting, Jay was gone. Someone lured her to the forest. I know who it was, but I’m going to give them a chance to ask forgiveness.”
I stop and wait for one to crack. After several tense moments, Shane breaks the silence. “It was—”
Destiny cuts Shane a look, and he goes mute.
I glance between her and Shane and stop on Destiny. Smiling, I say, “You have trained him well. When to speak... when not to speak... It’s impressive.”
Destiny swallows a hard lump in her throat.
“I bet I can break him.” I grab Cody’s nape, leaning his head back with my claw drawn.
I thought about hurting Destiny to make Shane sing, but I already know who lured Jay out of the building. I could smell him. I want to break both of them.
Just as I suspected, she sings. “No! Don’t hurt him!”
