CHAPTER14
Simon hadn’t changed much since Isaac had last seen him.
Still as big, still as arrogant.
Still a fucking arsehole.
“Simon.” He lifted his chin in greeting as Simon walked towards them. “You’re a bit far from home.”
Simon’s laughter filled the hallway, no humour in it. “I think you have me beat on that one, Isaac. Mothecombe’s what? Four hours away?”
“About that, yes.”
His eyes hardened as he stood next to Paul. “Why are you here?”
Isaac shrugged, forcing himself to appear outwardly calm when inside his heart beat so hard it threatened to break out of his chest. “Gathering information.”
“On?”
He’d practised what to say if the worst ever happened, and thank the Goddess for that. “You know we have no universities in our pack territories. Some of my pack are nearing that age and I need to choose somewhere to send them.” None of that was a lie, but Simon knew as well as he did that generally an alpha would choose the nearest university to his pack. Not one over four hours away.
Simon’s eyes narrowed, clearly not believing a word of it. “There are closer places to send your pack. He took a step towards him, trying to back Isaac up against the wall, but Isaac held his ground and snarled.
“Watch yourself, Simon,” he ground out, letting alpha power bleed into his words. “Last time I checked, I’m the fucking alpha here, and you’ll treat me with the respect I deserve.” It wouldn’t have the same effect it did on his own pack, but it would irritate the hell out of him.
Simon bristled but took a step back.
“Regardless of distance,” Isaac forged ahead, “it’s my right as alpha to seek out a suitable university for my pack, no matter where it might be located.”
“And what’s so special about this one?”
Isaac wracked his brains to remember what he’d read online. His preparation had only gone so far. “They have a good finance course here.”
“So does Truro now. My nephew went there last year. And it’s a lot closer than London.”
Fuck.
“I’m looking into all of them.” He met Simon’s eyes and held his gaze, daring him to question an alpha’s word. He might be the head of the HRU, but Isaac still warranted respect, and Simon knew it.
“Bring him in for questioning,” Simon said to Paul, who looked as stunned as Isaac felt.
“On what fucking grounds?” Isaac yelled. “I’ve already been interviewed by your HRU once, and they found nothing of interest.”
Simon scowled. “I’m aware.” Then he smiled, and Isaac’s stomach dropped. “But there was a report of suspicious activity on this campus. I thought it was Professor Damien spouting shit again. Davidson never could keep his pack under control, but then here you are. Four hours away from where you should be.”
“I told you why.”
“I don’t believe you,” Simon shot back. “I perceive your behaviour to be suspicious and I’d like to question you further.” His gaze never left Isaac’s as he spoke to Paul again. And by this point, Isaac noted that two more HRU had silently crept in and now stood by the door. “Handcuff him and take him to the van. He’s now under arrest.”
Paul glanced from Isaac to Simon. “You can’t just arrest an alpha without—”
In the blink of an eye, Simon grabbed Paul by the throat and pinned him against the wall. “Don’t ever question my authority again. If you can’t do your job, I’ll replace you with someone who will.” He let go and Paul fell to the floor, coughing violently. “Now!” Simon roared and Paul scrambled to his feet.
Isaac considered running, but four against one were odds he didn’t stand a chance of beating. And where the fuck would he go? Leading them to Callum and Alice was out of the question, and he couldn’t bring anyone else into this mess.
Taking a deep breath and hoping like fuck this wasn’t heading where he thought it was, he said, “I’ll go with you under protest, and I will be reporting this to the Shifter Council.”
Simon smirked. “As is your right.”
