Page 71 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“Go ahead,” I said. “This is a time when the pack is free to voice any concerns.”

He nodded. “All right. I gotcha. What I came to say was, I think we’re gonna have issues with the rec center’s gutters. They’re old as hell, and I think it’s gonna cause some rotting on the roof.”

Relief zipped through me. It was something simple. Waylan and I discussed pricing out repairs and put Brandon in charge of calling some contractors to get quotes.

The rest of the day went much the same. Simple issues, low-stress problems. In fact, the biggest source of stress for me was Stephanie. She was obviously still pissed at me for pursuing Kirsten and preparing for war with Eren. She’d barely said two words to me the whole afternoon, and I’d noticed the other council members having hushed conversations and arguments with her in the corner or hall between the living room and the rest of the house.

Even as I talked to pack members, I continued to glance her way. The way she’d challenged me about challenging Eren had caused doubt to creep in. That, and the fact that Kirsten had seemed so positive that Stephanie had been the woman with Eren when he’d cornered her. Before all that, I’d been a hundred percent sure she’d never betray me or the pack. Now? That certainty had dropped a bit. Still close to ninety-nine percent, but… the doubt was there. If I couldn’t fully trust her, then how could I continue planning my challenge of Eren and his pack? What if worst-case scenario, she was passing Eren information?

That was not something I could allow. I needed to talk to her in private.

We finished up with the open house session early in the afternoon. Thankfully, nothing major had come up. Waylan and Abigail were tidying up while Langston cleared the cups and plates from the living room. Stephanie busied herself with bagging the trash.

“Waylan?” I said. “Got a second?”

He stepped over. “Yeah.”

Lowering my voice, I said, “I need to have a private talk with Stephanie. Can you get Abi and Langston to head out with you? Make it subtle?”

The intensity in my voice was obvious, and he must have seen the look in my eyes as well because he nodded gravely. “Got it, bro.”

Moments later, Waylan told them that he needed help back in town. He waited until Stephanie was in the bathroom to make a hasty departure. From their bewildered expressions, Langston and Abigail knew something was up, but neither of them objected as Waylan ushered them out the door. When Stephanie re-emerged a few moments later, the look of surprise and worry on her face would have been comical if I wasn’t so worried.

“Sit down, Steph,” I said, nodding at the chair across from me.

She sat, fidgeting with her hands in her lap and glancing around furtively like an animal caught in a trap. I could smell the fear coming off her. Everything she did screamed guilty.

To be sure I wasn’t misreading things, I decided to make her sweat, simply sitting there staring at her in silence. Stephanie wouldn’t meet my eye. She looked at her hands, the floor, the wall, the kitchen, anywhere but at me. Her chest and neck were slowly growing red as well.

No reason to beat around the bush. I wasn’t that kind of guy. “Have you been meeting with Eren Miller behind my back?”

Stephanie’s eyes bulged in shock, and she finally looked at my face. “What?” she croaked, gaping at me. “What are you talking about? Why would you ever say something like that? I would never do something that would undermine you.”

Her hurt was genuine, at least on the surface. She was genuinely upset that I would accuse her of something like that. I’d known her my entire life. The last thing I wanted to believe was that she would lie to me, especially about something like this. Something so important.

Eren had been more of a nuisance rather than a full-blown enemy up until now. I wouldn’t have spat on him if he was on fire, and he’d felt the same about me, but we’d always had a cordial, if strained, relationship. Now? After all he’d done? I considered him the biggest threat that the Crestwood Pack had ever faced. The fact that he also had his eye on Kirsten made it worse. The whole council knew where I stood with him, and even before his outright defiance of my warning, it would have been a major issue if anyone in the pack had worked with him. Least of all anyone on my council.

“Is this about that damn witch?” Stephanie hissed, her surprise and hurt giving way to anger and betrayal. “Did she tell you that I’ve been talking to Eren? She probably heard I voted against her coming to town and decided to fuck with me. That’s what this is. I know it.”

Stephanie seethed and crossed her arms, glaring at me. The anger was genuine, but something about it felt forced, as though she was leaning into it, using it to hide or mask something else.

“This was what I was talking about, Jace,” she went on. “She’s playing you. She came to town, working with Eren or probably some other alpha, to rip our pack apart. First, she makes you question your own council, then she slides into your bed to totally fuck with your head.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she was on a roll. “I can see it now. A big plot, all to destroy you. I bet she’s been planning this for years, a continuation of what her great-grandmother did to you. That stupid curse. She’s here to break you and prevent you from having an heir so the pack falls apart.”

“What did you just say?” I asked, eyes narrowed, voice low. “What the fuck did you just say?”

My heart hammered. Fear, surprise, and horror warred in my mind. Stephanie had just mentioned Dorothy and the curse. No one, no one knew about that except Waylan, Shayna, and Kirsten, and I would have staked my life on the fact that none of them would have let that information slip. Eren knew about Kirsten being my fated mate, but not about the curse. He’d have used that information against me decades ago if he knew. I thought my secret had been held close to the vest, but could I have been wrong?

Stephanie’s face paled.

I rose slowly from the couch, towering over her. “I said, what the fuck did you say?” I bellowed, shattering the silence between us.

Stephanie shuddered. “I don’t… it was just a thought… I’m, uh, I didn’t think… I… uh…” She continued to stammer and trip over her words, something I’d never seen her do before. Then in a rush, the words came tumbling out. “I heard you talking about it with Waylan once. After the pack meeting, you and Waylan were talking. I was coming over to ask about the after-school activities and overheard you two. I’m sorry for eavesdropping, I really am. I should have told you I heard your conversation. I’m so sorry, Jace.”

“You heard us?” I said, still pissed. Furious almost beyond reason.

“Yeah.” She uncrossed her arms and looked at me with sad, tear-filled eyes. “I thought we were friends, Jace. I was upset that you’d keep something so huge from me. From the pack.”

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