“Let’s all calm down,” she said, holding her hands out to both men. “I think what Anders really meant”—she gave her mate a look loaded with meaning—“was that he would simply lead the allied forces against any attack by the Red Maw, not that he wants to take over your packs.”
“He said it wasn’t an alliance. He said he wanted to combine all the packs!” Patrick roared, leveling a finger at Anders, who finally realized the deep shit he’d stepped in by letting his ego get too big.
“Combining them for military purposes,” June said. “Correct?” she added, glaring at Anders, and daring him to disagree.
If I was totally honest, I kind of wanted to watch things devolve and witness these four other men beating Anders to a pulp, but part of the reason I’d come back to Idlewild was to secure protection for my pack from the Red Maw. If this turned into chaos and a shattered alliance, then we’d be right back where we started.
“Uh…” Anders glanced around, suddenly unsure of himself, “Uh, yeah. Yeah, just for military action.” He quickly regained his footing and grinned, waving a hand at Devon. “Couldn’t you see what I was talking about, my man?”
Devon and the others settled themselves, but everyone kept shooting irritated glances at Anders.
“See?” June’s tone was that of a pleased kindergarten teacher. “We can all work together here. I know this isn’t the usual way things work. Packs usually work alone, but this is different. This is a major threat. We have to put any traditions behind us and be a team.”
The other alphas nodded along as she spoke, and to my delight, Anders sort of faded to the background, looking sullen at the way June had taken over. She was wasted on him. She was capable of so much more than being that prick’s mate.
All I wanted was a few minutes alone with her, to talk to her in person rather than emotionless text exchanges. If I could, I’d tell her how good she was at this. June was a born leader, and unfortunately, tied to Anders. I couldn’t think of a worse way to have talents squandered.
70
JUNIPER
Afew hours later, Anders and I stood on the porch, waving as the alphas departed with their mates. Levi and Rainier strolled down the driveway, and Levi glanced back, a sad smile on his face. He raised his hand in a wave, and before he shifted, he gave Anders a withering glare. It was only a moment, but it was obvious to me. Hatred, hot and seething. Thankfully, Anders was too concerned with making sure the other alphas saw him waving them off to notice.
“Get inside,” Anders hissed through gritted teeth.
He was still smiling and waving as Hakeem and Tamara climbed into their SUV, but a muscle in his jaw jumped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Get in the fucking house,” Anders snapped, still holding that fake smile.
My stomach roiled, and a pervasive sense of dread filled me. He was furious. But why? Everything had gone incredibly well once we’d smoothed out all the issues. The other alphas had agreed to allow Anders to lead the military operations, and once I promised they’d all keep their individual pack autonomy, everyone calmed down. It had been a productive meeting.
I stepped inside, breaking out in a panicked sweat that made my shirt stick uncomfortably to my body.
Anders slammed the door behind him, making the house shake. Despite myself, I flinched in fear.
“What the absolute fuck was that about?” he growled, rounding on me, fists clenched at his sides.
Blinking in confusion, I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
“That!” he bellowed, gesturing behind him. “You fucking humiliated me. You and that prick Levi. You made me look like shit in front of the other alphas. My whole plan, shot to shit. The whole afternoon was a goddamn wasteof time.”
“Hang on,” I said, anger and irritation replacing my fear. “How did I humiliate you? All I did was smooth things over whenyou”—I jabbed a finger at him—“tried to fuck everything up with the dumbass show you put on.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Anders scoffed. “I had everything under control.”
“Really?” I gaped at him. “What was that bullshit you were doing? All the melodrama? When you were leaning against the mantle looking allI-must-take-this-burdenand acting like you were taking one for the team by taking over their packs. It was like you were auditioning for a movie, and not a good one, by the way.”
“Stop being a bitch, June,” Anders snarled. “They would have fallen in line. They just needed to hear the uncomfortable truth, that’s all.”
I shook my head in stupefied confusion. “Anders, did you not see how they all reacted? You were about to get your ass kicked right here in your own living room. The only person they seemed to respect and want to listen to was Levi.”
That set him off. His face flushed red, and he bared his teeth at me as he slammed his fist into his chest. “I’mthestrongest alpha here.I’mbetter than all those fuckers. Especially that fucking Demon Wolf,” he spat, looking disgusted as he mentioned Levi. “When push comes to shove,I’llbe the one kicking asses. I could take all of them on at once. If Devon or Hakeem or any of those pricks wanted to try it, they’d find out real quick who the true alpha of alphas is.”
What came from my mouth next surprised and horrified me even as I said it, but Anders was being a spoiled brat and needed to hear the truth.
“The only alpha in that whole room who could possibly lay claim to that title is Levi.”
