“On what grounds?” Elder Maurice spoke up, his voice laced with scorn. “She isn’t an Alpha contestant. They’re the only ones who have immunity, and only until after the trials are over.”
Jerrold spoke up quickly. “I extend my protection, and invite her into my pack. If Cliff wishes to extend any kind of challenge to her personally, then he is challenging me, and it will have to wait until after the trials are over.”
“Use your heads, people,” Juliette said impatiently. “We all know that Cliff publicly forbade both Shelley and her mother from coming anywhere near his house or property.” Celia glared at her with hatred. “Cliff would hardly invite her to his house when his new mate was here, knowing that she’d been trying to hook him up with Shelley for years. Logic therefore tells us she went uninvited, seeking out Shelley’s perceived rival.”
The Elders gathered together, and conferred, grumbling. Then Phineas stepped forward. “Celia will stay off of your property and will stay away from your mate. If you wish to address the matter further, it will have to wait until after the trials. And now, I’ve got a ten o’clock tee time and I don’t want to be late.” They started to file out of the room.
Jerrold brushed past Cliff, who grabbed his arm. The redheaded man let out a low growl of warning at Cliff. Jerrold jerked his arm away and smirked. “Something on your mind?”
Cliff glared at Jerrold. “Stay away from my mate!” he barked at him. “If you want to come after me, have the balls to come after me directly.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Jerrold murmured, and he and his packmate left.
Cliff gave Serafina a twenty dollar bill. “Go to the ice cream store, and buy hot fudge sundaes for all three of you,” he said. “Thanks for helping me find Taylor.”
Roger and Dax whooped in glee as they rushed off.
Taylor spun to look at Cliff. “So, when were you going to tell me that I’ve got about a ninety percent chance of dying?” she said bitterly.
Chapter Thirteen
Cliff hesitated for a moment. “Why would you think that?”
“Celia told me.” As soon as she said it, she felt foolish. If Celia’s glossed lips were moving, she was lying. But still…Cliff didn’t look quite as reassuring as she would have hoped.
He shook his head. “That’s a lie. There is some risk in turning, that’s true, but it’s nowhere near that high even if you did it without preparation.”
So therewasa risk that she’d die. She felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. Slowly, she sank down onto a folding chair and looked up at him. He sat down next to her, his knee touching hers.
She swallowed bile and looked at him, her expression pained. “Why didn’t you tell me there was a risk? You said you would never lie to me.”
“There’s a difference between lying and not providing information until it’s necessary or useful.”
This was herlifehe was talking about. And he hadn’t thought it was necessary to tell her that in two weeks she might die? Filled with anger, she jumped to her feet and walked towards the door.
He ran after her and grabbed her arm. “Wait,” he barked.
She yanked her arm away from him. “Quit being so bossy,” she said.
His hand closed on her arm again. “When it comes to keeping you safe, I will do whatever I have to do, whether you or anyone else likes it or not,” he growled.
“You should have told me,” she insisted stubbornly.
“I wanted to give you a little time to settle in here. Finding out that werewolves exist and you’re now one of us is a lot to absorb. I’m trying to make things as stress-free as possible for you here.” Then he gave a rueful laugh. “And I’m doing a hell of a job, aren’t I?”
She looked up at him, at his beautiful eyes, at the wrinkles of regret creasing his forehead, and softened a little. “It’s not your fault there’s a whackjob trying to take over your pack. And it’s not your fault that someone turned me without my knowledge or permission. But I want to know what I’m facing. I have that right.”
He nodded. “Yes, you do. Here’s the thing. The risk would be much, much higher if you hadn’t come here. When someone is turned by a werewolf bite and has no idea what’s coming, then the shock alone, the psychological distress caused by the shift, can kill. But you know what’s coming, and you’re going to be prepared for this in every way possible. Anita will be by your side to lend you whatever healing energy you need.”
“Okay. That makes me feel better. How will you prepare me?”
“We’re going to go back to my house and start training right now.”
She shook her head. “Really, you have to prepare for the Alpha Trials. I don’t want to do anything that would put you at risk. You could have James work with me, or Truman, or anyone you trust.”
“I’m not doing any training at this point. The trials involve some extreme obstacle courses and wild game hunting, and I can assure you, I’m in peak physical condition.” He allowed himself a smug smile. “I believe I proved it to you last night.”
Taylor had to laugh, despite the seriousness of their conversation, and she felt her dark mood lightening. “Sure, okay, you are the mighty hunter. You prime specimen of manhood, you.”
