Page 42 of Wolf's Reckoning
Killian looked as shocked as I felt. “Holy shit…”
“Yup.”
He looked over his shoulder again, this time as if he was expecting a pack to show up. “What the fuck?” He looked confused and then angry. “Well, he can fuck off!” Killian declared hotly. “Fuck that and fuck this pack. You areouralpha, not this weird fucking place with their creepy druid and fucking stuck-up daughter.”
“I know whose alpha I am,” I reminded him with a smile. “Stonefang is my pack.” I stopped walking. “But Malric named me his successor, in the eyes of the Goddess and the druid, so when he dies, I am likely to be bound, and the power will shift to me.”
“No.” Killian shook his head stubbornly. “It’s not right. He can’t hijack you from Stonefang.”
“I am still your alpha, but,” I reminded him gently, “I don’t know how this works.” I scrubbed a hand through my hair, pacing under the thick canopy, every nerve burning. “She can’t know I am an alpha. Let’s keep the pretense, okay?”
“Why?”
I held back my groan. “Because she already thinks Itrickedher father. If she knows I’m an alpha, she’ll think Itookit from him, by force, and I need time to sort this out.” Irubbed my jaw. “I donotneed her believing this to be a huge conspiracy. She’s already on edge.”
“She’s going to find out eventually…” Killian said dubiously. “I mean, you won’t exactly be able to hide it for long.”
“I know.” I sighed. “Just for a few weeks, okay? This is a fucking mess we didn’t need.”
Malric had made a move. Aboldone. Not just naming me, but doing it in front ofher. In front of the druid. No trial. No vote. Justme—the outsider, the exile, the one she told to leave, now being handedherpack like some sick joke.
And the worst part? I didn’t want it…until I looked at her and realized someone elsewould. Tyler. Dex. Some smiling wolf with sharp teeth and no soul for this land who would make her life miserable. I didn’t want the power. But I’d be damned if I let this pack or her drown under someone else’s greed.
“Fuck,” I muttered, voice shredded with the weight of it.
Killian raised an eyebrow. “That about sums it up.” He looked into the canopy of trees above us. “I was only joking earlier,” he said to the sky. “I didn’t manifest this!”
I stared through the trees, toward the hall I’d just left—toward her. Still inside. Still silent. Probablyseething.
“She’s not going to forgive this,” I said to him quietly. “Do you think Luna is punishing me because Stonefang Pack was such aneasytransition?”
“You had three challenges in one week,” Killian drawled.
I shrugged. “But they weren’t really serious.”
“This is a mess,” he said, turning to look back the way we’d come.
“You’ve got two wannabes back there ready to fight forthis, and you’ve gother.” Killian looked pissed off. “Will she accept it?”
“I have no idea.” I rolled my head from side to side. “Ugh, I better go back. Fuck.”
Killian clasped my shoulder. “It could be worse.” When I looked at him, he nodded. “They could expect you to marry her.”
“Shut up,” I growled in warning. “You’ve said enough already.”
We walked back to the hall. I didn’t go looking for the druid. They were already waiting. Seated beneath the ancient ash near the edge of the hall, their robes were dark as crows’ wings, hands folded in their lap.
I almost turned back.Almost. But I was done walking away from truths I didn’t like. I grabbed Killian’s arm to stop him from walking away.
The druid didn’t rise as we approached; they just looked up, expression unreadable.
“Druid.”
“Alpha Malric will soon be gone from this earth.” They looked between Killian and me. It was clear from their look that they knew what I’d been hiding. “Your beta?”
“He is.” I looked at the druid and knew I had to ask. “Why? Why did you approve it?”
They tilted their head slightly as they studied me, like I was a puzzle they’d already solved but still enjoyed rearranging. “Because the choice is between delay and survival, and I have no fondness for delay.”
