Page 12 of Nearly Dead

“Yet you benefit from his death,” James challenges.

“Benefit?”I snort holding back a laugh.I feel the emotions bubbling to the surface.“You call this a benefit?I’m at war with my own body.I’m hungry all the time for things I don’t want to crave.I attacked people I love.How exactly am I benefiting?”

Astrid grasps my elbow to get me to stop talking.Costin is staring at me as if trying to communicate the same.

“You’re not a human,” Rhea says matter-of-factly.I see the smirk she tries to suppress.“I would call that a benefit.”

“Alpha blood runs in your veins,” James adds.The statement gives him no pleasure.There is a wildness to the way he is looking at me, like he wants to tear my limbs from my body and watch me bleed out.

I should tell him the Alpha can go fuck himself, but it seems wrong to speak ill of the dead to his sycophant.

Sully steps forward, as if to unnecessarily draw attention to himself.He looks at me expectantly, eyes all glowing hot as the beast within is barely contained.“If I may have a word in private.”

“Absolutely not,” Mortimer says.

“Of course,” I answer, for no other reason than to get away from this gathering from hell.

“Tamara,” my father warns.

A growl rumbles in the back of my throat.I don’t know where the sound came from, but it seems to shock my father into silence.Astrid gives my arm a little squeeze as if to remind me of my place.

“We forbid—” Mortimer begins.

Astrid holds up her hand.“Relax, gentlemen.It’s a conversation, not a coronation.Tamara can handle herself.”

“I’ll join you.”Costin walks toward me, not giving me a choice as he threads his arm through mine and leads me from the room.

“I’ll come too,” Rhea says.

“No,” Sully denies.

Sully follows behind us.I feel him moving, as if each step sends a current of warning across my back.The predator growing inside of me knows the danger Sully represents and it doesn’t like it.

Costin takes us to his library.A fire bursts in the fireplace when we enter though I didn’t see anyone light it.Just being back here makes me tremble.My eyes go to the table, expecting to see the prophecy book that led me to my current situation.Everything is clean, the books back in their places on the floor-to-ceiling shelf like it never happened.

Costin gestures toward the chairs before leading me to one side and standing between Sully and me.After Sully takes his seat, Costin sits between us.

“The pack is in chaos,” Sully states.Some of his tension is gone now that he’s away from the others.“We need leadership.Without an Alpha, we’re vulnerable.”He shoots Costin a pointed look.“The vampires already look at us as lesser beings.The magics treat us like junkyard dogs.After what Thane and Elizabeth tried to pull, the council isn’t pleased.They, of course, blame the wolves.We need someone to negotiate on our behalf.”

“What does that have to do with me?”I ask, though I know where this is heading.I’m the last person who should be negotiating with the council.Most of my interactions with the elders has been hiding in the protected wing hoping they don’t see me while they meet with my parents.

“There are those in the pack who believe you should lead us, despite you being…you,” Sully says.“They see your attack as a sign.Some believe we need a new approach and an alliance with the Devines through you would send a powerful message to the other supernaturals.”

I look between the two men, waiting for the punchline I know is not coming.This is insane.I’m not even a real werewolf.I’m...What’s another name for a hot mess monster?

“But not you,” I surmise.“You don’t think I should lead.”

“I’m less superstitious and more pragmatic,” Sully agrees.“Your wolf is too new.You have no experience with pack politics.”

That’s an understatement.

He sighs, studying me in a way that makes me uncomfortable.“At best you would be a figurehead I’d have to manage.If I must do the work, I might as well take the position.Also, the one time I saw a werewolf-vampire hybrid it did not end pretty.Or sanely.”

“Don’t pull your punches on my account,” I mutter.

“That said, you’re stronger than a regular werewolf.”Sully’s tone still makes it clear he doesn’t agree with the idea of me being in charge.“You have Alpha venom in your blood.You have master vampire blood.You’re a Devine by blood, one of the most powerful magical families.And you tamed an ancient dragon.That kind of powerful leader excites some members of our pack.”

I know he’s describing me, but it feels like a glossy interpretation of what I am.I don’t feel powerful.I feel like a science experiment gone wrong.

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