Page 49 of Savage Trap

Rory passes me into Kelly’s arms, then climbs in behind me, sandwiching me between them. He tucks a jacket over my shoulders, and when I lift it to my nose, all I can smell is my dad. I breathe it in, Kelly’s arms coming around me as Rory nuzzles the back of my neck. “Sleep, little wolf,” he croons. “We’ve got you.”

I mutter something about my dad, but I’m too worn out and heartsore to resist the lure of sleep. And as I slide away, my last thought is of Arben, running through a dark forest on the hunt for a ghost he can never catch.

“You don’t need to go, babe,” Rory tells me as he watches me dress in the clothes Nate had sent over from our suite. “One of us can sit in, or we can ask them to postpone the session until tomorrow. It’s the least they can do with Daddy Ferrier getting poisoned under their fucking noses.”

He growls the last part and I shoot him a soft smile. “It’s okay. I want to go.”

Rory buries his face in my neck, making a mess of the fishtail I’m trying to braid. But I cling to him as Kelly scoots forward and rubs my back. We’re still in the little room next to dad’s and I’m not sure where Link or Nate are, since all Rory can tell me is they’re working on the security feeds. Cam’s scent is heavy in the air, since he’s been either sitting with my dad, or grilling everyone in a medical coat about why he’s still in a coma. I understand enough to know they’re dealing with a new kind of poison, and there’s a lot of scrambling behind the scenes to get their hands on the antidote.

And while all my mates are busy trying to help my dad, I need to do my part as well. Which, according to Alpha Leon, is acting as my dad’s proxy on the council. I’ve already slept away half the day, and they’re about to go into the afternoon session. Which is why I’m getting last cuddles from my pack before I head back to the hotel. The last thing I want to do is play politics, but if this is what my dad needs, I’ll be damned if I let him down.

“Updates every half hour,” I remind Kelly as they walk me to the hotel car waiting outside. “I’ll keep my phone out the whole time.”

“Of course, Angel,” he tells me, giving me my hundredth kiss since I woke up, shaking in his arms with a tear-streaked face. “But I’ll be checking in through the bond. We all will be.”

I feel myself blush. “Yeah, sorry. I’m not thinking straight right now.”

“I’ll be listening for Arben, too,” he says, giving me a last, soothing hug. “As soon as we hear anything, we’ll all know.”

My agreement is a little sour this time, and I’m glad I get to ride back to the hotel alone, because I really want to stew without them watching. Because the truth is, I’m pissed at Arben in a way I’ve never felt before. I’m even angry that he doesn’t know about dad, because he hasn’t reopened his bond with any of us. What’s the point of being our guardian if he’s never around when we need him?

But my angry inner monologue cuts off when I walk into the hotel business center and find the Alpha of Atlanta at the head of the table. Alpha Leon is standing against the wall, arms folded and a muscle pulsing in his jaw, but he straightens when he sees me. I spare the rest of the room a quick glance, noting that not only are the other heirs present, but Bryce and Brock Rawson are also sitting at the table.

They give me matching smug grins while their father clicks his tongue in false sympathy. “Ah, Elvana. You poor thing. We’re all very sorry to hear about your father, but there’s no need for you to be here today.”

I don’t even try to sound civil. “If you’re here, then I’m certain I should be as well.” He opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off and take a seat at the table. “In my dad’s absence, I’m the Boston proxy. Alpha Leon has the paperwork if you need to see it.”

Rawson’s smile slips a little, but he rallies quickly. “No, of course I don’t. But since we’re no longer following your father’s agenda, I’m not sure you can speak on behalf of his pack.”

I raise my brows at him. “Then what are you talking about?”

“With the Europeans taking an interest, it’s more important than ever to have strong allies by our side,” Snider tells me with another of his oily smiles. “And closer ties with the Atlanta pack will prove we’re a united east coast. That’s why we’re voting on Alpha Rawson’s offer.”

“His offer?” I almost choke on the bite burning in my throat as I look around the table. “You’re actually voting on whether I should take one of his sons as my mate?”

“I’ve already made my feelings clear,” the Alpha of Maine tells me, disapproval hanging over him like a black cloud. “This is not the time or place to be discussing such matters.”

“This is precisely the place,” the Alpha of Virginia counters, pinning me with what she probably thinks is a maternal look. “It might feel like we’re forcing your hand, Elvana dear, but your father was very clear that he puts your safety above all else. As his allies, he would expect us to look out for you and guide you in his absence. And with the Europeans showing an interest in our business, we need to prepare for some changes. They’re a lot more traditional than we are and have different expectations of pack leadership. No omega, for instance, would have a place at a table like this.” She leans forward, her alpha dominance trying to press me into my chair. “Woman to woman, some sacrifices are necessary to ensure the balance of power is maintained.” She finally shifts her intense gaze away, shooting a flirtatious smile at the Atlanta twins. “Not that accepting one of these young men into your pack will exactly be a hardship.”

I shoot to my feet, my eyes narrowed as I circle the room. “Thanks for looking out for me, Alpha, but I’ve already made up my mind.” I stop right behind the twins, although I shift my attention to their dad. “If I pick one of your sons, we’ll have your full support, and this council can return to its original agenda. Correct?”

Rawson grins at me. “That’s what we agreed upon, darling.”

“Fine. Then I pick Nate Leon.” I look at the Chicago alpha, ignoring the shocked whispers around the room. “I’m sorry to do this without checking with you first, Alpha Leon. But my interest in Nate is genuine, and since he qualifies as one of the Atlanta heirs by birth, he’s my choice.”

“Now hold on a minute!” Rawson blusters. “That’s not in the spirit of my offer!”

I keep my gaze firmly on Alpha Leon as he walks over to open the door. “Nate? Can you come in please?”

“You can’t be serious!” Rawson snarls, striding over to glare down at me as Nate enters the room. He’s pale and looks as uncomfortable as hell, but he doesn’t hesitate to come over and take my hand in front of his father. Rawson watches us with a mixture of shock and disgust. “Why in hell would you choose him?”

I feel the slight flinch from Nate, and pull him closer as I return Rawson’s glare. “I didn’t realize my thoughts on the matter were of interest to you, but if you have to ask, then you don’t know Nate very well.”

Rawson narrows his eyes, his lip curling as he looks around the room. I notice some subtle nods from the other alphas and brace myself. “That’s very sweet, darling. But this is an arrangement between alphas, not little girls with hearts in their eyes.”

“Then make your agreement with me.” A voice I’ve come to only expect in my dreams cuts through the chatter, and the room goes deathly silent. I feel him move through the air behind me, and watch the faces around the table go suddenly pale. But I don’t move as large hands settle on my shoulders, and Arben bends down to brush his lips against my cheek. His smoky leather scent floods my lungs, and I let myself lean into his warmth.

A purr of pleasure rattles in his chest, and he doesn’t hesitate to nuzzle his mating bite as he introduces himself to the room. “I’m Arben Marku, born to the Tirana pack of Eastern Europe, and blood brother to Lucas Ferrier, Alpha of Boston. But most importantly, I have the honor of being Elvana Starling-Ferrier’s mate.” He lifts his head long enough to catch the horrified eyes of the twins. “And anyone she accepts into her pack will be my mate, too.”

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