Page 19 of Bonded and Betrothed

Satisfied that he’s at least a bit more compliant, I release him, pulling the energy back to the surface as a reminder of what I can do at a moment’s notice.

I continue to watch him out of the corner of my eye, and he inclines his head as his chest heaves, greedily pulling in air to fill his desperate lungs. Once he has some control, his eyes narrow into slits and his jaw grinds as he holds back his indignation.

Axel has always been an asshole, and a sexist prick to top it off. He rose to his position easily within the pack, despite how young he is. But unlike Monte, who gained his role through hard work and loyalty, Axel cheated and schemed his way to the top. Unfortunately, those were characteristics my father respected in him. Axel was promoted just before my father sent me away, and to say our few run-ins had been pleasant would be a lie.

Half of me wants to send him packing this second, but the other half of me knows better. I meet Monte’s eyes again, and he gives me a silent nod, picking up on my meaning straight away. I need Axel watched closely because if there was anyone who would want to off my father for the chance at power, it would be him.

“I brought you all here today to discuss our pack issues regarding the Langley sleuth,” I say, folding my hands neatly on the table and letting my gaze scan over the four of them. “As you are aware, I spoke with the Whitlock pack yesterday. We’ve come to an agreement and will work with their second in command to form a plan to deal with the Langleys.”

A sigh of relief echoes around the room. Walter, Silas, and even Axel visibly relax, sitting back in their chairs and losing a bit of their rigid posture. Despite everything that has happened, these men all have family in the pack, and this alliance gives them some assurance of safety. I would need to remember that going forward, while also keeping my reservations and suspicions at the back of my mind. Of course, finding the person that betrayed my father and their pack is important, but I still have a duty to them as their Alpha to keep them safe and apprised of the steps I’m taking to ensure that.

“We still have a long way to go, but yesterday was encouraging.” I give them a tight smile, unable to completely erase my personal reservations at working with the Whitlock pack. Everett and Zeke. My heart pangs at just the thought of their names, a mix of desire and loss both heating and chilling my body.

I have to be careful around the two of them, especially with the mischievous glint to Everett’s icy eyes as we departed last night. He has something up his sleeve, and my self-control is already hanging on by a thread right now. If I’m not careful, I might just fall into the abyss. And Zeke—Zeke Andino, the fucking infamous assassin, is also my mate. I can barely reconcile that in my mind, my body still half in shock from all the truths I discovered. I still don’t know what to do about the mate bond that lingers between us, and how I would renounce it.

I shake the thought from my mind, and focus on the betas before me. Because if I allow my mind to wander, I’ll undoubtedly give away the true emotions raging inside me at the thought of working so closely with him.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Silas cuts in hesitantly, his tone respectful yet firm. “I’m sure you’ve been made aware of the arrangement your father had made with the Whitlock pack.” His eyes soften. Of course, as one of my father’s inner circle, he knew about the agreement my father made on my behalf.

Walter swallows thickly as I meet his eyes. It seems despite himself and the two other betas being in attendance and witnessing Everett’s toast to Monte and me, he still has told no one, not even someone of the same rank. I add that to the mental list I’ve been tallying, the interaction gaining points for both Walter and Silas.

I can’t hold my father’s decisions against anyone in this room, despite their knowledge of it. He would have sworn them to secrecy as their Alpha. And even though my father had made the deal without taking me into consideration whatsoever, I can understand why he did it. He was forced to choose between the one and the many because even though I was his blood, the pack was just as much his family.

“As I’m already engaged, Alpha Whitlock and I came to an understanding.” I shift my hand, so the diamond perched atop my finger hits the light beaming on the boardroom table, casting a cascade of rainbow-colored flecks across the room.

Before I have a chance to say anything, Monte reaches across the table, gently pulling my left hand onto his. His eyes are soft as he fondly admires his mother’s ring on my finger, a warm, adoring smile lifting his lips as his gaze meets mine, causing my stomach to plummet.

The emotion in those amber eyes is too real—too real for our supposedly fake engagement. I struggle to catch my breath as I return his smile, keeping a tight hold on the fear over his attachment bubbling up inside me. I tamp it down before it spills into my expression.

“Monte and I are engaged,” I say, turning back to the others. Unsurprisingly, Silas’ mouth drops, his gaze moving between the two of us and the ring. He looks shocked, yet I can see a hint of relief in his dark brown eyes. Walter gives a small smile, showing his support, while the color drains from Axel’s face, his eyes wide and incredulous on Monte, his lips opening and closing like a fish out of water.

I can’t afford for word to get out that this is all an act, that Monte and I are not actually a couple, so the ruse remains. Everett made the consequences quite clear last night, and if I’m forced to marry him, I know I wouldn’t be able to go through with rejecting the mate bond. This is a race against the clock, not only to keep our packs safe but to keep my heart locked tightly away. Monte and I won’t be able to keep this going forever, not with the way he’s staring back at me, his amber eyes warm with an emotion I’d rather not glimpse too closely.

“Congratulations,” Silas chokes out, finally overcoming his momentary shock, and Walter echoes him. Axel composes himself, shifting uncomfortably in his chair before his eyes begin boring a hole into the side of Monte’s head—a fact that Monte seems completely oblivious of.

I slide my hand from Monte’s, the movement finally snapping him from whatever was going through his mind. He gives me a sheepish grin before leaning back in his chair and waiting for me to continue.

“I wanted to meet with everyone today to tell you about the alliance with the Whitlock pack.” Pulling my shoulders back, I cast a shrewd gaze around the room before continuing. “I know you all were my father’s loyal betas, his advisors and confidants.”

I let the words linger in the air, and they visibly relax, Axel even going so far as to let his lip curl in a smug grin, his chest puffing out with pride.

“That does not guarantee you a place inmyinner circle.” I let the words snap out like a whip, and tension grows thick around us. Their eyes widen as though they hadn’t expected that. “Each of you will need to prove yourselves to your pack and to me. You’ll have to show me where your loyalty lies.”

“I guess Monte is the exception though, since he’s fucking you,” Axel grinds out, his arms crossing over his chest defiantly.

“No,” I say calmly, not allowing his words to rattle me like he intended. I do, however, let my power slip out and curl around his neck like a snake, ready to swallow him whole. He jerks as the energy coils around him, and silently curses himself for allowing me to see the reaction. “Monte is one of my oldest friends and has thus earned my trust. Nevertheless, if he breaks said trust, he will be ousted like anyone else.”

“Understood, Alpha,” Walter and Silas say, their voices breaking through the silence that rings through the room. I don’t break my hold on Axel, needing him to comply. I won’t gain any respect from the rest of the pack if I let this douchebag talk to me like that, especially not if he continues to speak ill of my and Monte’s arrangement. The dissent will spread quickly if the pack doesn’t respect my choice of who to wed, who would theoretically be my partner in leading the pack.

“Understood, Alpha,” Axel gasps after a few moments, the fight finally leaving his eyes. I reluctantly pull the power back, pushing down the guilt that sinks in my stomach like a lead weight. As much as I don’t want to run my pack like this, I will need to show my power, at least in the beginning, to gain their respect. It will be a long road to becoming like the Whitlock pack, but I’m determined to lead my pack in the right direction. Something that will be impossible with people like Axel in positions of power, able to sway others against me.

“This hasn’t been a great start for you, Axel,” I warn, smiling with a few too many teeth to be construed as friendly. I let my canine teeth extend almost imperceptibly, just to drive the point home in case the imbecile missed the clear threat in my narrowed gaze. Judging by the terse nod he gives me and by his Adam’s apple visibly bobbing, I’ve more than made my point.

“I’ll do my best to earn your trust, Alpha,” Axel says, his defiance creeping back in with the mocking lilt to his words.

“Spread word amongst the pack,” I say, directing my words to Walter and Silas. “We’ll need everyone on the same page as the Whitlock representative, and I will need to bring teams with us when we meet with the bears tonight.”

“Why wouldn’t Monte go? If their Alpha isn’t going, why should ours?”

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