“All right, now.”Learywiped at his bald forehead with a folded napkin.Clearlyhe hadn’t expected any pushback from either me orKor.
I was gladKorwas there to speak for both of us.Thewhole town thoughtIwas guilty as charged andIdoubtedIcould change their minds, no matter whatIsaid.SoIkept quiet and let him do the talking.
“CouncilorLeary,” he said now, looking directly at the elderly councilman.“Iamnotbreaking theUnbreakableLawswithVivienneJamison.Iam staying at my late uncle’s estate with her, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that we’re doing anything untoward.”
“But the two of you look sohappytogether,” one of the other council members said plaintively.
“And that’s a crime?Ora punishable offense somehow?”Kordemanded.“Can’twe enjoy each other’s company without you drawing dirty-minded conclusions about the two of us?Didn’tyou hear what she said at my uncle’s funeral?Shedoesn’t even haveHeatCyclesanymore.HowcouldIbe breeding her, even ifIwas so unwise as to want to break theUnbreakableLaws—whichIdon’t,”he added, frowning.
TheCouncilmembers didn’t look happy about this, but there didn’t seem to be much they could say about it.Theywhispered together like a flock of old crows gathered on a telephone line.Finally,ElderLearystraightened up.
“ThisCouncildoes not have evidence of any wrongdoing at this time,” he began.
“Oh please—just look at the two of them!”Harrisinterrupted.“They’refucking!He’sfucking her!”
“Enough,Harris!Onemore outburst like that andI’llhave you ejected from this meeting!”ElderLearygave him a stern look andHarrisglared back, but at least he shut up again.
“AsIwas saying, thisCouncildoes not have any evidence of wrongdoing at this time,”Learyrepeated.“Sowe will not sanction or punish you for now.Butlet me give you both a very strong warning—breeding aMoonWidowis forbidden by any save the newLeaderof thePackif he chooses her as hisOmega.”
“Which isexactlywhatI’mgoing to do,”HarrisMurdochsneered.Hecupped a hand over his crotch and gave me a lascivious look.“Gonnastretch out that pussy real nice under the full moon,LadyJamison.I’llhave you begging for it beforeI’mdone.”
This statement seemed to finally pierceKor’scool.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that.”Hetook a step forward, coming face-to-face withHarrisMurdoch.“Don’teventhinkof putting your fucking filthy hands on her.Ifyou even tryIswear by theGoddessherselfIwill fuckingend you.”
I sawHarrispale, though he tried not to show it—like all bullies, he was a coward at heart.Hetook a single stumbling step back before apparently remembering that the entire town was watching.
“You…you’ll be sorry,” he said, pointing a finger inKor’sface.“OnceI’mPackLeader,I’ll?—”
Kor grabbed the dirty finger pointed in his face and made a swift jerking motion.Therewas a brittle sound like a dry twig snapping and thenHarriswas howling and holding his hand to his chest.
“Did you see that?Hehurt me!”Hehowled at theCouncil.“Hebroke my goddamned finger!”
“That was for speaking disrespectfully toLadyJamison,”Korsaid coolly.“Andthis is your one and only warning to stay away from her.NexttimeIwon’t just break your finger—I’llbreak your fucking neck.”
He turned and looked at the crowd.
“And that goes for all of you.Youcan say what you want about me, butIwon’t tolerate disrespect directed at my uncle’s widow.Comeon,Vivienne—we’re leaving.”
And he took me by the hand and swept me out of the town hall beforeIquite knew what was happening.
THIRTY-ONE
VIVIENNE
As we left the town hall and headed for the car,Iwas hoping we could make a quick getaway without running into anyone else.Butof course, we couldn’t be so lucky.
“AlphaKorwyn?Oh,AlphaKorwyn?”Abreathless voice called and a moment later,Mrs.Browderand her daughter,Cynthia-Annwere right in front of us.
Kor barely glanced at her.Hejust nodded and tried to keep walking, butMrs.Browderstepped right in our path.Shewas a tall, imposing woman with a mountainous bosom and a huge amount of wheat blonde hair piled on top of her head.Herdaughter was a slightly slimmer version of her, though her own hair was done in braids.
“Excuse me,AlphaKorwyn,”Mrs.Browdersaid.“ButIreally have to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry, butIdon’t have time right now,”Korsaid, frowning.
“But this will only take a minute,” she insisted, moving to block him when he tried to go around her.“Yousee,Ibelieve that you’re going to win theAlphaChallenge.Youhave the lastPackLeader’sblood in your veins, and everyone knows the wolves of theJamisonline are exceptionally strong.”
“Well…thank you.”Kornodded and reluctantly stopped trying to get around her.“Iappreciate your vote of support,” he said, nodding.
