Page 22 of Pack Ruin
“Of course, you didn’t take the opportunity to remove him from the board,” my father groused from the smaller chair a few feet away from his mate. He had a tumbler of whiskey in his hand, as usual, and drained it in one long gulp.
“Quiet,” Mother snapped. My father flinched, but obeyed.
I held my gaze on her chin, refusing to drop it, though I felt blood seeping from my nostrils. Mother’s power was far greater than my father’s had ever been, though she was usually careful not to reveal the truth to anyone not in our inner circle.
Niall’s hand trembled on my bicep as her waves of power beat down on us, and in seconds, he was slumped against me, using me as a support under the barrage. Normally, I would’ve crumbled under the force of her dominance, but this time, even after I’d been punished for a week, I was able to keep from collapsing.
That’s new,I thought.New and dangerous.
Mother’s eyes narrowed. She would hate that I wasn’t kneeling yet. I hoped she would also respect it. She hated my father, mostly because he was weaker than her. Strength, power, and ruthlessness were all she valued, and for once, I had enough for her to notice.
It was my connection to Flor that had given me that power, though I’d rather spend seven more weeks in Niall’s tender care than admit that.
I felt a deep surge of gratitude that her wolf had left the mating claim on my tongue. Our bond was hidden. Flor was safe, or as safe as she could be. I knew Brand would keep her as far from my packlands as he could. If she ever came here, there was no hope.
A short whimper came from the other side of the throne. My eyes flew to my little sister, Tana, who had fallen to her knees under the onslaught of Mother’s power. Unlike me, Tana was dressed as if she were attending a cocktail party, though she was too young to drink. Or wear clothes that slipped off her shoulder inadvertently, revealing one of her breasts.
Damnit.Who had put her in that dress?
As if in answer, Niall made a grunting sound beside me, then noisily licked his lips, and it was all I could do not to elbow him in the gut. He’d had far too much fun over the past week, and it was only knowing that every hour he was beating or cutting me was an hour Tana was safe from him that had kept me from despair.
Her green eyes met mine, and I saw the embarrassment, the shame, in them. I shook my head slightly. She loved to wear jeans and baggy sweaters she hand-knit for herself, and hated revealing clothing. Unless she was appearing in the reception room, she didn’t even wear jewelry.
She had nothing to be ashamed of.I was the one who had left her here.
She shivered, unable to move the strap of her dress back into place, as Niall leered at her, his grip growing even tighter on my arm. The short, raw silk slip dress didn’t have enough fabric to ward off the chill in the room either, and was the color of blood, clashing with Tana’s bright auburn hair.
“Well, I’m so glad you were able to return home now.” Mother’s words were like an oily snake slithering through the room, but the sound broke the oppressive pressure as she pulled back most of her power. “We’ve had so much going on. Deals with PetroCorp and Imregin that needed your particular… skills to finalize.”
“I’m sure Father could have filled in,” I said. His eyes blazed as he finally paid attention. He and Mother had an arrangement of sorts that I wouldn’t have believed could exist between two true mates, if I hadn’t witnessed it once, when as a child I inadvertently opened a guest bedroom door to see them entangled with two other shifters, Mother wielding a knife on the rest.
The three days I’d then spent in the lower levels had only been half as horrific as witnessing their bloody sexual perversions.
“Maybe he needs another week to remember his place, Elina,” he muttered.
The corners of Mother’s mouth dipped, then firmed. “No. He wouldn’t have time to heal. The Baranoff woman has to fly home tomorrow. He needs to take care of her tonight.” She stared at me, waiting for something. I didn’t even blink, and eventually, she went on. “I’m shocked it took word of your sister’s mating ceremony to bring you back to your pack, Finnick. It’s almost as if you’ve forgotten who you are. Who you… belong to.”
She stood and glided toward me. She was wearing her usual custom-made, perfectly fitted black vicuña pantsuit. I tried not to inhale, but she came closer, pinching my chin between her thumb and two fingers, making me gasp slightly as she yanked my head to each side, looking for…
Of course.She was looking for a mate mark. She knew my power had increased, and she knew how that must have happened.
Before I could blink, she’d jerked me to my feet and torn my ragged shorts off with one shifted hand. She circled me, searching for what she suspected.
“Aidan, have your contact in the Northern pack taken care of,” she said smoothly as she inspected me. “He fed you misinformation.”
“Ah, about that contact…” Father hesitated. “He was put to death last week. Executed.”
“The Hilliers discovered him?”
“No,” Father snapped. “He was one of dozens. They restructured the pack, from what I heard. They executed some of their best Enforcers for petty crimes.”
Mother tsked. “Stupid Bradley. Not the sort of shifter who should lead the Council, I’d say. When do they arrive again? I want to make sure we have everything ready.”
“In an hour,” Father replied, crossing to the door. “I’ve commanded forty additional Enforcers to be ready when they bring their request.”
“How many Enforcers are they bringing?”
“Four. They left their new Heir at Northern.”
