Page 24 of Pack Rage
“I can’t see why I should be delayed. The full moon is in two days. The Council meeting then is to decide on Margarette and Bradley’s fate, as well as your own election as Head Alpha, isn’t that right?” I knew he also wanted me to pledge to the Council, but that was the only thing I could delay.
And I would.
“Don’t be obtuse. You can’t take part in any Council activities unless you and your pack are pledged to us,” he snapped.
“My half pack, you mean.”
He flinched. “You’ll have plenty of time to build up your power after we take care of our emergency business. After you make your vow.” His face grew hard. “In fact, you should do that now.”
Of course he wanted me to pledge now, before I’d even caught my breath, or finished my fucking tea.
I knew I might be forced to do just that, even if I had promised my father I wouldn’t repeat his mistake. But I would delay as long as possible, to give the others time to gather their forces.
“I find myself concerned, Aidan, at what might happen to me and my pack, if I make that pledge now.” I gestured to the floor, knowing he would follow my train of thought. At that very moment, Margarette and Bradley were imprisoned beneath our feet. “I find myself curious as to who will even be at this emergency Council meeting. Southern’s pack’s leadership is still in question. One of the other Alphas and his mate are imprisoned, his pack given no voice.”
Aidan and I were the only legitimate votes remaining, the only two Alphas with power left standing. Although I supposed Luke might be allowed to attend an emergency meeting, even vote, if Aidan and I both concurred. I was certain he would be given permission, if Aidan was sure Luke would side with him.
But when it came to power—the kind that came from the moon, the kind that the wolves of all our packs would respect—there was no question that Aidan needed me as well. So he needed leverage over me, and fast. And I needed to keep him from gaining it.
“I find I have deep reservations about the charges against Bradley. Why would I give the current Council power over me and mine, when I am not yet sure… of who the full Council might be? Or why the rush is necessary.”
Emergency meetings could be conducted only with the four main Alphas, if necessary, and didn’t have to be held with much notice at all. A full Council meeting, though, the kind that was supposed to be where decisions like the ones Aidan was insisting be made quickly, could only be held on the full moon. I would need to force him to wait.
Of course, I knew Aidan intended that Council to consist of Alphas and Head Enforcers who were under his thumb, or over whom he held power of some kind. Aidan and Elina and their Head Enforcer Torran would be balanced against me and Dean and Luke.
As my mate, or Luke’s, Flor would have been allowed to vote in the Council, if I had any intention of allowing her near this place. Which I absolutely did not. She’d be executed for witchcraft almost instantly, if she set one foot on Eastern’s land.
But a full Council would also include an Alpha from Northern. That most likely meant Patrick, if the Hilliers were executed, or banished. Patrick and an Enforcer, since as far as I knew, he hadn’t yet claimed the woman from Northern, Kristin.
I knew the McDonnells might keep the elder Hilliers alive, to force Patrick and his supporters to bow to him. That would give Aidan all the power he’d need to become a true dictator.
Not a true Alpha. Not there to protect the pack, but himself. My wolf snarled soundlessly.
“The rush is necessary because the entire nation is in disorder, thanks to Bradley and his pack,” Aiden said. “And those aren’t the only pressing matters. As I told your father, you’ll need to pledge to the Council before all of us even meet. We need to face them as a unified group, to keep the smaller packs from growing fearful, among other things.”
He rose and retrieved an old book from a shelf—a record of pack law, I assumed. He’d made it clear on the phone that he wanted me to pledge loyalty, and that I’d need to do it immediately. Dad had warned me about what that would entail.
“You can put the law book away, Aidan. Until I know who makes up the Council, I cannot in good conscience give the authority the moon blessed me with, over to them.”
“I’m the Council!” he spat out, slamming the book down on a side table.
“No, you are the Interim,” I said calmly. “Bradley’s fate has not been decided. Or Margarette’s, for that matter. She’s imprisoned for what reason? Supporting her Alpha, her mate? I find myself wondering if you’re the one who needs to read over that law book again. You’ve overstepped. Who’s to say you will not attempt to overstep again, in my direction?” I allowed my wolf to peek through my eyes at him, daring him to argue.
His face turned red, and he took a breath to speak, but the door opened again, and another voice interrupted him.
“Oh, Aidan. No one told me Brand had arrived.” Elina McDonnell glided into the room, her black pantsuit and heels the same as always, though her hair was slightly windswept, and her expression more brittle than normal. She perched on the arm of the chair next to Aidan and tilted her head to look at me. Her eyes widened. “Your eyes.”
“Moonblessed.” One word was all I would give her.
Her face had shifted now, filled with a lust that disturbed me. It wasn’t for my body; I could sense that immediately. She wanted my power.
“Such a powerful Alpha,” she half-purred, moving to sit in the chair next to mine, her hands clenched as if she were in danger of reaching out to touch me.
“I’m surprised you didn’t know about my eyes,” I said, leaning away from her. “I thought your spies would have kept you informed.” When Aidan began to stammer about unfounded accusations, I turned back to him. “What did you learn, then?”
Elina slid to the edge of her chair. “We learned how you became so strong.”
I clenched my jaw. “You know I took a mate.”
