The moment I hear my name called, I know I’m not going to like what I’m about to see, but that doesn’t stop me from shoving Elias out of my way as he tries to calm me down first.
“Bram isn’t likely here to make trouble,” he says, right at my heels. “Remember, he’s still on the council, Cade. This isn’t the time to murder first and ask questions later.”
I don’t bother to respond, but I do give Elias a pointed look when we step outside and find a dead body on the ground. I guess I’m not the only one who likes to choke the life out of people.
On second thought, with the amount of blood I’m seeing, he clawed the life out.
Bram Stone stands there, hardened face and defiant brown eyes, his arms crossed and body unmoving like he’s been carved out of stubbornness and bad decisions. The dark red flannel and ripped jeans both look two sizes too small for him, but he doesn’t seem to care in the slightest.
And at his feet lies Calder Rivers.
What’s left of him, anyway?
The former council member’s body is twisted at an unnatural angle, skin pale against his blood-stained clothes. The sight pulls a low growl from my chest before I can stop it.
Bram doesn’t flinch.
“So,” he says mildly, like we’re discussing weather patterns instead of a corpse. “You gonna invite me in, Westin? Or are we doing this right here with the ladies watching from above?”
I don’t move aside.
“This is my territory,” I say evenly. Though NightShade isn’t technically part of any pack. “You showed up unannounced with a dead council member. Start talking.”
A corner of his mouth lifts. Not a smile. More like amusement sharpened by irritation. “Straight to business. Guess the rumors were wrong.”
“About what?”
“That you’d gone soft,” Bram replies. “Or possibly better. Feral.”
I sense my pack moving in. I didn’t call for them, but I shouldn’t be surprised. They’d have smelled the blood, and this is what they’re here for. They line the perimeter behind Bram, and I don’t stop them from inching closer. Instead, I let the silence stretch, let him know I’m not here, acting alone.
Except it doesn’t seem to bother him in the least.
“You abandoned your people,” he continues,undeterred. “Walked away from your seat on the council. Let us begin to rot, risking the packs as a whole. Funny thing is, after all I heard about your father and then you, I never pegged you for a coward who would hide.”
My wolf snarls, pacing under my skin, but I keep my voice level because we don’t owe this man an explanation. I’ve already given one to the pack here and sent word to the others back home. They’re the only ones who deserve more from me.
Not the council and not Bram.
“How about we talk about why you dragged Calder’s body halfway across the region instead of taking it to your pack?”
Bram’s eyes flick down to the corpse, then back up to me. Something sharp flashes there—recognition, maybe. Or annoyance that I didn’t take the bait.
“Because he’s a gift for you,” he says with a smirk that makes me take a step closer. “I might have ripped his throat out, but that wasn’t what killed him, and something tells me you know a little about that. I’d like to hear your side of the story.” He kicks Calder. “This is my offering in exchange.”
I tried to tell you that he wasn’t in trouble, Elias says through our pack link as he stands on my left.I’ve told the pack to stand down.
Just because he isn’t here to fight us at the moment doesn’t mean he’s not trouble, I counter while also addressing Bram again.
“So, you want to know why I didn’t take my place on the council?” I ask him.
He shakes his head slowly. “No, I want to know why someone decided that killing your mate…”
That earns him my full attention, but before he can finish, the front door opens behind me.
I don’t turn right away. I don’t need to. I feel Rowan the second she steps outside—the shift in the air, the way my wolf stills like the world just snapped into alignment.
Bram notices her too.
