Page 50 of Savage Trap

Rawson has scuttled away from us like we’re radioactive, but Alpha Leon steps forward to touch his son’s arm. “Is this what you want, Nate? I only know Alpha Marku by reputation, but I’ll support your decision either way.”

But Nate is smiling up at Arben with a touch of awe. “I want this more than anything. It’s an honor to even be considered for their pack.”

I can feel the approval humming through Arben, but I know he didn’t just come here for a public claiming. As his gaze sweeps the room, every alpha drops their eyes. I feel a stab of petty satisfaction when I notice David trying to disappear under the table. But Arben just unbuttons his jacket and slings it over a chair back. “Extend your visit. Get your affairs in order. Because no one leaves this city until I know who dared raise a hand against the Alpha of Boston.”

“We will help in every way we can,” the Alpha of Maine says. He’s the only one at the table who doesn’t look horrified by Arben’s appearance. “I’d also like to point out that most of the remaining business of this council comes down to agreeing the time and place of our first official meeting. I’d like to offer my estate in Portland. If we can vote on that, Elvana and her pack can focus on her father’s health, which is the priority right now.”

There are a few murmurs around the table and the vote is quickly taken. With that out of the way, I look at Arben. He’s at his intimidating best as he glowers at the other alphas, but his eyes soften as they rest on my face. “What do you need, princeshë?”

A part of me wants to sink into his strength and let him take care of everything, but I focus on Rawson. He’s standing with his sons, his face tight with displeasure, but they’re all looking anywhere but at Arben. I wait until I catch his eye, then tell him, “Now we’re allies, you’ll need to send a written apology to the Texas pack, accepting all responsibility for the death of their omega. You’ll also need to pay them whatever they ask for in damages. It won’t erase your sons’ actions, but it will serve as a sign of remorse for letting them operate on your watch.”

“We don’t have the funds for that!” Rawson blusters, his face almost purple with outrage. “Our money is tied up in our business ventures…”

“You mean you’re broke,” Nate says coldly. “I’ve been monitoring your accounts for years, watching you squander your pack’s money. Luckily for you, I’ve put a trust together on their behalf. It’s enough to support the pack, as well as pay for this blood debt.”

Arben gives a low chuckle, his hand sweeping up to cup the back of Nate’s neck. A part of me is still really angry at Arben, but I have to admit, I like watching him openly accept Nate. “You can remain as pack alpha, Rawson, but we’ll be managing all of your financial affairs going forward.”

Rawson shoots him a filthy glare, but he’s sensible enough to keep his mouth shut.

“I can speak to the Texas alpha personally, if you’d like,” the Alpha of Maine suggests. “James has strong contacts in the South and might be able to smooth things over a little.”

I nod my thanks, then try to clear my head enough to get my thoughts in order. This is normally when my dad would say something inspirational, but I can’t even pretend to think like him right now.

“You’re all strong alphas with your own territories and your different agendas. I get that. But I lived under the rule of a Head Alpha. My mom died under it, and a lot of other vulnerable omegas were destroyed because no one stood up for them. If you want to go down that path again, I won’t support you. And when my dad is back on his feet, you know he will do everything in his power to live by the principles of this council. As for why he was poisoned, and who is responsible...” I look up at Arben, who’s watching me with pride burning in his dark gaze. “Well, they’ll be answering to my pack for that.”

Arben

There’s a burning sensation that lives between my shoulder blades. As if a giant pair of hands is trying to rip me in two. One hand holds my heart in its palm, and the other holds my rage. If my heart is a bloodless, wizened thing, my rage is a creature of insatiable appetite; boundless, and ever growing.

But that rupturing sensation eases in my chest as I reach the threshold of our suite. It’s close to midnight, and I carry the stink of the Chicago streets on my skin. But there’s also the scent of the forest where I shifted into my wolf in a vain attempt to catch our ghost. The line between man and beast has never been so thin, and both of us are frustrated. In fact, my claws are so close to the surface, it takes me a shameful amount of time to open the door.

I kick off my shoes and drop my jacket as soon as I’m inside. If I could shed my skin, I’d do that, too. But I need to have my wits about me if I’m to heal the rift I can feel growing in our pack.

Made so much deeper by the attack on Lucas. I’ve been trying to keep the images at bay all day. Not just of him lying in the hospital bed like an empty shell, but the memories growing up together. Of the times we stood up for each other in front of his father. We paid the price, but it forged something between us that has proven unbreakable. And to be mated to his daughter, to live beside him on his lands, is all I’ve ever wanted in my life.

But I can sense her now, tucked up in bed with our sunshine. They smell of their lovemaking, but even more of her shock and fear. She’s clinging to him like he’s the only thing holding her together.

Which should be me.

I’ve been the pack’s guardian for six months, and if there was a probation review, I’m certain fate would rethink her plan for us. But that other part of me – the predator who cannot rest while we’re under attack – turns me away from her door and into the second bedroom.

Lincoln has set it up as a surveillance base, removing the bed and filling it with a huge desk and mountains of computer equipment. I can feel his anger and frustration through the bond, same as for everyone in the pack. But with Lincoln, everything is amplified. Not in the way it is with my omegas, but because he took my bite in monster form. If I ever snap and go feral, Lincoln will no doubt burn the world down in my wake.

But I push those thoughts aside as I enter the office to find Cam and Rory in Link’s place behind the bank of screens. Cam spins around in his chair, and our medic looks as grim as I’ve ever seen him, but he stands and grips my arm. “Glad to have you home, Alpha.”

I nod, while Rory gets to his feet and comes straight to me for a hug. “Fucking sucks about Daddy Ferrier,” he says into my chest. “Whoever did this deserves a lot worse than a coma.”

“When the time comes, we will explain that to them in painstaking detail.”

They both growl as they pull away, but it’s heavy with exhaustion. They need sleep, but like me, they need answers more. I wrapped things up with the council as quickly as I could, but it’s still time wasted, and it just adds to my rage. “Let me catch you up on what I know.”

They sit back in their chairs and I look around. “Lincoln?”

“He’s somewhere with Nate,” Cam replied. “Probably in the security office checking feeds.”

I nod. “That makes sense. I’ve cleared the council of the attack on Lucas, but Trench, the Head of Security, is on the run. Alpha Leon has taken charge of hunting him down. At this stage, the worst-case scenario is we’re looking at a European connection.”

Rory grimaces. “What? Why?”

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