He took it with a grin. “Elbert DaVinci, like the painter.”
“Well, Elbert, I thank you for keeping everyone safe and sending word. You did good work here, and I appreciate it.”
“We appreciateyou,” he said. “Anders was…er…well, he was a snot-nosed little prick, if I’m being honest.”
Rainier stifled a laugh.
“Just about everyone in town is excited to have you as the new alpha. Only ones that aren’t are Anders’s buddies and his family members, but even they see the way the tide is turning.”
“Speaking of,” I said. “Did Anders and Eugenia get secured in the cells?”
“Yup,” Elbert said. “Locked away all nice and cozy.”
“Good. Let’s keep it that way,” I said.
“Will do. Uh, if you don’t mind, we’re gonna locate a hose and try to put this fire out.”
“Do what you’ve got to do.”
“That fucking prick,” Rainier hissed.
“At the first chance of rescue, Anders tries to turn on us,” I said, shaking my head. “Wanted to sell out his own town to save his and Eugenia’s asses. That seals it. This guy is toast. I’ll toss him out on his ass myself.”
“But doesn’t this play into what June was saying?” Rainier argued. “If we banish them, they might head straight to Desdemona and join up?”
I shook my head. “No. Their scouts would know exactly who Anders was. As far as the men who came here tonight are concerned, he’sstillthe alpha of Idlewild. I doubt there’s any way they’d know about the change of leadership yet. If they didn’t try to bring him into the fold tonight, when they think he’s the leader of the pack, they never will if he’s a disgraced lonewolf. No. He’s proven what a traitor he is tonight. I’ve got to get him out of town.
“Besides, you heard Elbert. There are still some people here who like and support Anders. Not many, but enough to be a problem. The last thing I need is some underground resistance trying to put him back in power. He’s done. We’ll do it tomorrow. In time, June will see this was the best decision. I know she will.”
Rainier nodded, but the look he gave me was one that didn’t speak of trust. He didn’t quite believe I was right. That was the burden of being an alpha. Always doing what was best, even if your people didn’t see it.
82
JUNIPER
The elders, the visiting alphas, and almost everyone in Idlewild stood at the edge of town as Levi and I arrived. On their knees in front of them, hands and feet bound, were Anders and Eugenia. Both looked like they hadn’t slept a minute the night before. Eugenia’s gaze darted around, probably looking for a friendly or sympathetic face. Anders, face beaten and bruised, only gazed down at the road in front of him.
The group parted as we walked forward. I couldn’t look at them, instead choosing to avert my eyes as we stopped fifteen feet from them. Four town members held them in place in case one of them tried anything. Ididspot Anders’s mother standing toward the outer edge of the crowd, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed for her son.
“Anders Burnell? Eugenia Compton? Stand up,” Levi said.
The guards knelt and cut the binding on their legs, then pulled them to their feet. Eugenia stifled a sob and tears seeped from her eyes as she looked at Levi.
“Levi,please,you can’t banish us, you?—”
“You have both proven yourself to be enemies of Idlewild,” Levi said, cutting her off. “You have lied, you have schemed, and you have been dishonorable. You’ve shit on tradition withyour secret relationship and the horrendous way you treated the woman Anders was betrothed to. Because of that and your refusal to accept the outcome of the alpha fight, you are no longer welcome within Idlewild. As of today, you are banished from the pack and the town. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”
I winced inwardly as Eugenia sobbed. Not so long ago, I’d wanted to see her so broken, beaten down, and contrite. Now? It made me sick. Apparently, I didn’t enjoy retribution and revenge as much as I thought I did.
Anders finally raised his eyes to meet Levi’s.
“You all really want this freak to be your alpha?” Anders cried out, casting his eyes around the crowd. “Some old ass piece of shit? I almost beat him. Ishouldhave beaten him. I’m your alpha. Let him hear it! Call out to me.”
A vein throbbed in Anders’s neck as he shouted, his eyes blazing with fervor. God, he really thought he was the star of his own little movie. I imagined he thought the town would start chanting his name and attacking Levi. A perfect end. Credits would roll, and the screen would fade to black as he kissed his woman. Instead, he was met with silence. His face slowly went slack, and he continued glancing around for help.
“Brock? Mom? Do something! You can’t let this happen to me.Please.”
Turning, I found Brock standing awkwardly a few feet from Anders’s mom. He looked horrified that Anders had called his name out. He gave his best friend an awkward shrug.
