Page 78 of Secrets and S'mores
“How long do we wait for another solution, then?” Ember says, barely above a whisper.
“Realistically, you have time. Things can’t get that much worse in Granite Ridge in the next week or two,” Cedar interjects with another shrug.
“See, we can give it time,” I say, threading my fingers through hers and flipping her hand over.
She sighs. “If there was another solution, they would have found it by now.”
“Fine. I’ll challenge him for Alpha. I’m the mate of the pack’s rightful Heir. He can’t deny me.”
“No!” Ember blurts. “I can’t let you do that. What if he hurts you worse?”
I scowl at her. “I resent that. It took three of them and a set of handcuffs to take me down last time.”
Cedar’s mouth presses into a line, but he doesn’t say anything.
“I’ll do it,” she says.
“No,” I say, fisting my hand on the table.
“It’s our only option,” she argues.
“I can take him.”
My brother lets out a dramatic sigh. “I’m not sure either of you can take him on your own, unless you find some advantage over him.”
Ember taps her index finger on the table, her nail making a hollow clicking noise. Her lips purse to the side, looking adorable while she contemplates taking over a pack.
“Let’s say we can find a way to defeat him in a challenge,” Ember turns to me, reluctance written all over her face. “But would they respect us? Even if we beat him - what if they all just followed him anyways?”
“They’ll follow you. Especially if Jasper supports your claim.”
That’s one thing I’m sure of. She is Ferris’s daughter, so even if the pack has turned on Sienna, they have to bow to Ember if she claims her birthright.
“Not everyone will,” Ember says.
“And those are the ones we have to get rid of. We already knew we had to clean house if we wanted to build a healthy pack. This way, we can cut out the worst of them right from the start.”
Cedar stands and clears his throat. “I suggest you call Jasper.”
Ember’s gaze is distant as she turns over scenarios in her head, but her emotions remain calm with a touch of something warm swirling in our bond. Hope?
“I love when you’re plotting,” I say, pulling her hand to my mouth. Gingerly, I place a kiss over her wrist.
She bites her lip again. “I still don’t like the idea of you fighting Orion.”
My jovial mood falls away. “He dared to put his hands on you. And he tried to take you from me. I’m going to kill him.”
She smiles as if I didn’t just threaten murder. Challenges aren’t supposed to be to the death, but it seems deserved in this case.
“As much as I’d like to see that, I think it needs to be me. I want to prove myself. And the pack won’t respect me if you just swoop in and save the day.”
“Don’t let him land a hit on you or I’ll go fucking crazy,” I threaten, my voice lowering dangerously.
Her eyes are lit with a faint glow, her smile feral.
I love when she is sweet and nurturing, but I also love when she’s feisty and demanding. I love every side of my beautiful mate.
“Are we really going to do this?” she asks, her cheeks flushing.
