Page 42 of Midnight Moon
Brows lowered, I finally met his gaze. “What do you mean?”
His expression was carefully blank. “Is that the only reason you agreed to an alliance with the Wilds Pack?”
My confusion grew. “What other reason would there be?”
“You tell me.”
I rose from the plastic chair. I could tell this wasn’t going to be a simple conversation. “What are you trying to say, Dad?”
He stood. “I find it odd that you agreed to team up with the pack who wants to rob you of your future. I want you to explain it to me.”
“I already told you. Teaming up with the Wilds Pack would have earned us first place if it hadn’t been for that human.”
“But why would the Wilds Pack want to team up with you?”
I fed him the same line I’d given Hunter, “Because they’ve been out of the loop about the Alpha Games for decades. We have information they find useful.”
“Hmph.”
“What?”
My father shook his head. “I didn’t take you for a fool.”
Irritation flared. “I’m not a fool.”
“Then don’t act like one,” he snapped.
I reared back, shocked. I’ve been lectured about poor performances during training exercises and chastised for handling inter-pack conflict poorly, but my father had never,everraised his voice to me like that.
Seeing my reaction, my father’s shoulders fell. He released a regretful sigh. “Blair, I’m sorry. I just… I’m worried. There’s a lot riding on your performance in the games.”
“I know that,” I whispered. Did he think I wasn’t worried as well?
“No, you don’t.” My father focused on a spot over my shoulder. “I received a message from our pack elders.”
Dread replaced my irritation. “What was the message?”
“They want to hold a pack vote.”
“About?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
“Your role in our pack.” He ran a hand through his thick, blond hair. “Once we return from the Alpha Games, the pack will vote on whether or not to accept you as my heir.”
My throat tightened. I cleared it with a painful cough. “Can they do that?”
“The pack can vote on anything,” he admitted. “Even the next alpha.”
The room blurred. I lowered myself back onto the plastic chair before my shaking legs gave out.
“Why now?” I whispered. Things had been going well. I’d thought my doubters had been silenced for the time being. What changed?
“I’m afraid I’ve done you a disservice, Blair. I wanted you to focus on the Alpha Games, but I see now I should have been honest.”
He took a breath, preparing himself to deliver a painful blow, and continued, “The pack elders have been voicing their doubt for years now, but Nathan and I have managed to deter them from spreading their discontent to the rest of the pack. We convinced them their doubt was not due to any realistic grievance about you or your abilities, but their traditional mindsets. Our logic was working… but things have changed.”
The room continued to blur as my head spun. I couldn’t understand what had happened to make the pack elders decide now was the time to vote on my position in the pack.
Then, it hit me.
