Page 53 of Secrets and S'mores
“Ready?” Onyx asks.
“No.”
We take our discussion to the fire pit out back. Dappled sunshine highlights the rich, dark tones of Slate’s hair, the same color as our mother’s hair and what mine would be if I didn’t change it constantly.
Jasper sits beside me on a bench, Onyx on my other side, while Hazel and Slate sit opposite in weathered Adirondack chairs.
Tension rises in my chest, choking me. I need answers, but this discussion is bound to be painful. It would be much nicer to play house with Onyx and ignore the reality outside our bubble.
“Ember, Onyx told us your mom has been texting you and pressuring you to send her private pack information?” Slate gets right to the point.
I glare at Onyx as he produces my phone and unlocks it before handing it to Slate. How the hell did he know the code?
Slate scrolls through the texts and holds it out to Hazel and then Jasper. Jasper lets out a low growl that somehow makes me feel better. Maybe he will be sympathetic.
“Sienna is going to turn on us if it keeps her in power,” Hazel concludes.
“It won’t,” Jasper says, crossing his arms and scowling.
Slate runs his fingers through his wavy hair. “Look, I think we should send Ember back. It’s becoming a risk to our pack.”
My mouth drops open. I asked to go back, but I want it to be on my terms. Not exiled as a criminal. Beside me, Onyx is seething. I can feel his anger rolling off of him like heat.
“No, we just take precautions. Turn the phone off and take out the sim card. Let Sienna know we will keep her safe, but she isn’t going to spy for her.” Jasper says, frowning at Slate.
“How long until they take the fight here?” Slate demands.
“Will you guys just be honest and tell me everything?” I growl.
“She deserves to know,” Hazel says softly, her hand squeezing Slate’s forearm.
“If she decides she has to go home now, we’ll have to lock her up.” Jasper won’t look at me.
I throw my hands up. “Fine, I’ll just go now and find out for myself. Because I seriously doubt you guys will actually imprison me.”
Onyx grabs my hand to keep me seated. When he finally speaks, it’s cool and calm in a way that scares me. “See? If you don’t tell her, it’ll be the exact thing you were trying to avoid.”
“Unfortunately, I think you’re right.” Slate says.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you,” Onyx says.
The Alpha curls his lip, staring Onyx down until the lower ranked wolf drops his gaze.
Jasper pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales slowly. “I got word this morning that someone challenged Sienna for Alpha. She killed him, but she’s not in the best shape.”
“What?” I yelp, starting to stand. Onyx tugs me back into my seat again. My instinct is to snap at him and to free myself, but I hold it in.
“If we send anyone to help her, it gives the pack a common enemy and puts her in a weaker position,” Jasper says. His words sound like he’s been debating this for a while.
“I need to go, at least,” I argue.
“I’m sorry,” Hazel adds, “but if you go back now, they’ll use you against her. She needs to be able to fight without worrying about your safety.”
“You don’t believe I could help?” I ask flatly.
Jasper locks eyes with me, a hint of pale blue flickering in his eyes. “Do you honestly think you could take down someone like Flint or Orion?”
The sounds of the forest break the tense silence. He’s right, I couldn’t win in a fight against any of the huge males that make up the ranks of Granite Ridge. I’m powerless if they decide to no longer respect my claim as Heir.
