Page 139 of Claimed

“Bailey has a list of folks looking to join our pack. Unless we develop some of the forest surrounding us to build more homes, that’s not happening any time soon unless people decide to leave. We like our forest.”

“I like the forest, too.”

“Some on that wait list might be game to come here instead and carve out their place in a new pack. But gotta tell you this isn’t cut ‘n dried with Brody.”

“No? Why?”

“Cuz Joel called and it’s yourpalMalachi back at the village in the holding cell and Joel told us he might be after that role.”

He waits while this sinks in. And he watches me studiously as it does. I don’t like the way his voice sounded when he said, “pal”.

And I’m now paying more attention to the tone and body language of my mate. He’s more than tired. He’s something else, too.

He continues. “This guy is beta, but Joel reads that he has traits that show he could develop into an alpha. Those traits could boost up if he comes back and leads here. Connects with his wolf enough, lives healthier. I mean… if he’s the right man for the job and if this pack wants him as their leader, because we’re not leaving everyone here in just anybody’s care.”

I swallow down a whole lot of emotion as I continue processing this news.

“Though I’m leaning toward Brody because of how strong he feels about it being his calling, it should be up to the people. I sent Joel in to talk to Malachi last night, to give him the details on what’s going on here.”

Grey stops speaking and looks at me expectantly. When I don’t say anything, he goes on, “He finally opened up and talked to Joel this morning who knew who he was from the video footage the night your cousin took Erica. Cut his hair, grew a beard. Once Joel started filling him in about what was going on here, Malachi had other shit to say, too. About you.”

I wince.

Greyson’s expression hardens and accusation, I think, is what hits his eyes.

“Interesting reaction,” he observes.

I fill my cheeks with air and blow out a big breath.

“Um…” I start but when I don’t continue talking, Grey does.

“Says he was supposed to pair up with you, his words, that he was gonna fix things, find a way to dethrone your brother and take over. Told Joel you and him were gonna fix it and make things better here. He saw Rye maul Jimmy from the bushes that first night he was there and ran. Came back here and clearly helped your brother put together that latest plan, determined to come save you from us. Can only guess it was his anger at us, his intentions to take you back here might be what got him lumped with the others by Erica’s magic that ripped the negativity up into the sky. Maybe the fact he isn’t bad is why he survived. Don’t know. Joel says he doesn’t seem like a bad guy. But we might leverage Ronnie’s touch to see what she thinks. Or, I’ll sit there and look him over, see what my gut tells me.”

He flexes his jaw like this is the last thing he wants to do.

I moisten my lips and huff out an exhale.

“You didn’t tell me much about him,” Grey adds, “Definitely not about the pair up plans.” He waits.

I open my mouth and nothing comes out.

Now Grey looks hurt and that won’t do, so I find my voice. “No, I didn’t tell you that, but it’s not exactly like that.”

“I asked if you were in a relationship that first night and you saidnot exactly. Guess that refers to Malachi?”

Yeah, thatiswhat I said.

“I was desperate to fix things around here somehow and he was a friend growing up, one of the few men around here I’d dare to talk to about it. He and my brother got together, and their conversation turned to a plan for me and Mal to pair up when I got back from… from my mission in Drowsy Hollow and Arcana Falls.”

He says nothing, but I feel emotions from him that feel a lot less than nice.

“We didn’t have a romantic thing, but Wyatt figured we did.”

“You might not have had a thing for him, but he did for you,” Grey says.

I shake my head.

“He does,” Grey snaps like I’m disagreeing with him.

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