My stomach dropped as I scanned the responses. Every alpha had given a thumbs-up to the meeting—that is, every alpha except me. The next email was from Dustin, checking that everyone was okay with the meeting time. That had been sent two days ago. Suddenly, I remembered the conversation Shayna and I had right before Kirsten had arrived. She’d shown up out of the blue, and I’d been in a shit mood.

“Hey, brother. Are you good for tonight?”

“Do you know what I’ve got going on right now?” I asked, exasperated. “What are you talking about?”

Shayna sighed, rolling her eyes. “The thing tonight. Dustin wanted me to—”

“It’s fine,” I’d said, cutting her off. “It’s all good. Don’t worry.”

She eyed me with that pissy look she got when I was treating her like her dad rather than her brother. Finally, she flopped her arms down at her sides.

“Okay. I’ll tell Dustin you’re good.”

If Kirsten hadn’t shown up, I probably would have texted Dustin to find out what Shayna had been going on about. But Kirsten had shown up. Her smell, her voice, the way her body had looked, all of it had made my wolf go mad. All other thoughts had fled my mind. I’d forgotten about the conversation, and now I’d have to pay for it. I closed my eyes, wincing at my screw-up.

“You still there?” Eren asked.

“I’m here,” I snapped. “Your place. Just send the location details.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

If I didn’t allow my pack to participate this year because of my feelings toward Eren, not only would I look like a dick to the other alphas, but to my own people as well. Everyone looked forward to the mating party. I couldn’t be the lone holdout. Not when people were relying on the gathering to possibly find a mate. As much as it pained me, I’d have to bring my pack to Eren’s location.

“I’ve got a great spot,” Eren went on. “Everyone was really excited about a new venue. Honestly, it was a moot point, you not being there. It was unanimous. Your vote wouldn’t have mattered, anyway. It’s going to be an amazing party.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, desperate for the call to end.

“Listen,” Eren said, his voice going low. Conspiratorial. “Can I ask why you barred Kirsten from your town? You told me she was your fated mate. If that’s the truth, why keep her all cooped up there in that little cabin?”

“Is this really what we’re going to talk about?” I asked.

“Is it because she’s a witch? I didn’t take you for the bigoted kind. I mean, I know things between witches and shifters have been a little tense over the last several centuries, but this seems a little extreme, doesn’t it? I’d have thought you’d jump at the chance to align your pack with a witch. You’d be the first since the schism to have an alliance with a witch. That would automatically make you one of the most powerful packs in the world.”

“Are you going somewhere with this?”

“All I’m saying is there are advantages, and I can’t figure out why you aren’t taking them. Think of the power she could help you attain, the spells she could do for you. And I bet that pretty little tongue could do some amazing things.”

“Enough,” I growled.

My inner wolf had been patient, letting him spout his nonsense, but we’d both reached our limit with his bullshit. He had some kind of fixation on Kirsten, and it was time to end that shit right here and now.

“I’m going to say this one more time,” I said. “Kirsten is off-limits. To everyone.”

Unperturbed, Eren said, “I don’t get this weird chivalry you feel toward her. Witches are meant to be owned. Used. That’s their purpose. Hell, they created us. We’re stronger, faster, more powerful. You’d be a fool not to take what has been offered up to you on a silver platter.”

“I’m not you,” I snapped. “I have no intention of using Kirsten. And if that’s what you think about witches, maybe you need to reread the history. We were supposed to be their companions, but we turned on them. That’s how I read it.”

Eren chuckled. “I should have known someone as weak as you would see the world that way, but I shouldn’t be surprised. A weak response from a weak alpha.”

I snarled and prepared for a comeback, but the line went silent before I could speak again. Seething, I stared at the phone, forcing myself not to toss the fucking thing into the forest. There was no way I could go see Kirsten now. Not with how angry I was after that conversation.

Eren knew who and what she was, but he was right. It was wrong of me to keep her confined to her cabin. All it would take was for Eren or one of his minions to spread the word, and then soon my whole pack would know there was a witch in their midst. Not only that, but they’d know their alpha had hidden it from them. Honestly, it surprised me that Eren hadn’t done that already. I had to cut this off before it went too far.

Instead of throwing my phone, I dialed Waylan.

“What’s up, buddy?”

“I’m going to cut to the chase,” I said. “I need to call an emergency meeting this afternoon, so get the other council members on it. As soon as everyone can be there. We’ll meet in the rec center behind the school.”