“I think that’s all,unless anyone has any questions?”
Isaac took several photos of the information scrawled on the whiteboard, sent them to all alphas in attendance, then wiped away the evidence. They’d gone through each pack in turn, worked out which of the top-ranked shifters they could trust for sure, who was a maybe, who to avoid. Each alpha had chosen packs to approach or attack. Help had been offered and accepted between them, and Isaac felt more confident in their success now that he’d sat in a room with them and seen for himself how committed they all were to seeing this through.
The alphas left separately, a couple of minutes between each departure, and took different exits. Isaac wondered if it might be overkill, but then remembered what Paul said about Simon and reconsidered.
Turning to Callum and Alice he said, “You two go out to the car, only if it’s safe. Let Logan know we’re coming home.”
When it was just him and Davidson left, he clasped him on the shoulder. “Thank you for hosting us in your territory.”
“It’s more than time for something like this to happen.” Davidson sighed. “I hate the idea of forced pack affiliation. Always have.” He shook his head. “Knowing someone joined your pack because they had to, not because they wanted to, and seeing them leave everyone they love behind, is the opposite of being a good alpha. It’s barbaric.” He sighed again. “I tried to refuse one time. Told them I didn’t want anyone to join my pack unless they asked to. I never picked out any candidates.”
Isaac knew it was a story that wouldn’t end well, but he asked it anyway. “What happened?”
“I got a letter from some of the other council members, warning me that if I refused to abide by the new laws, then I would be stripped of my position in the pack and possibly face shifter jail.”
Isaac figured as much. No one alpha would go out of their way to support something like that. Not unless they knew they had backup. Which was why this time it’d be different. “It needs to end.”
“It does.” Davidson gestured towards the door. “You’d better go. I think we’ve used up all our luck for one day.” They walked out of the classroom together, but as Isaac headed to the back exit, Davidson took the stairs, leaving him to walk the corridor alone.
He smiled to himself.
It’s really happening.
They had a lot of planning still to do, packs and humans to coordinate with, but excitement had him quickening his step because the day he’d waited forever to arrive was finally in sight.
And then Michael will return to his rightful place as alpha of the McKillan pack and you’ll be alone like you were before.
No. They’d come too far to let each other go again, they’d work something out this time, they’d—
The thought stopped abruptly as the door at the end of the hallway swung open and Isaac recognised the scent before he saw one of the very last people he wanted to run into.
Paul walked through the door and came to a grinding halt. He glanced behind him, pulled the door almost closed, then ran towards Isaac. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he hissed out, voice barely audible.
“What you fucking told me to do!” Isaac hissed back.
“Goddess help us.” Paul glanced back to the door, panic written all over his face. “Run, right the fuck n—”
“Isaac Mothecombe.” Simon’s deep voice filled the hallway and Isaac froze, blood turning to ice in his veins. “It’s been a long time.”
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
