Page 40 of Deadly Wolf Bite

“Was that allowed?” Lexi asks.

“According to some old, forgotten pack law. No one remembered it existed until my father cited it. Almost as if he knew ahead of time.”

“Who did he name as his champion?”

“Me.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen as she realizes where this is going. How it all must’ve ended. “You fought Tio?”

“Yes.”

“And you won.”

“Yes.”

“Did he…? Did you…?”

“I killed him. It’s the code. An alpha challenge is a fight to the death.”

“But…if you won, you should be alpha.”

“I fought on behalf of my father. My victory belonged to him, ensuring he remains in his role.” I can’t help the self-loathing that leaks into my voice. “What a fucking double agent I made, huh? I sabotaged my own efforts. It was all a fucking waste.”

She stares at me.

I can see the wheels turning but damned if I can tell in which direction they’re going. Maybe she hates me now. Maybe seeing me as a killer—or worse, a traitor—has changed her view of me. Have I finally scared her off with the fucked-up reality of what it’s like to be me?

“That’s why he called you back here?” Her voice is full of outrage. “Why he’s making you marry me then taking everything from us both? It’s all about his sick revenge.”

Her disgust is for him—my father.

Not for me.

Relief washes over me.

“He considers it justice,” I say.

“He’s a fucking monster.”

She’s angry, and I love her for it.

“We have to find out what happened to your wolf before he does,” I tell her.

She looks up at me, her expression reflecting the determination I feel. “We’re going to find a way. And then we’re going to stop him and Franco from ever hurting anyone again.”

She’s naively hopeful, and I don’t have the heart to tell her it’s a long shot. The way she’s looking at me now… No one’s ever looked at me like that before. But it only matters that Lexi does.

“Hopefully, you’re right, but if we fail, we’ll come here,” I tell her, framing her face with my hands. “To these wards. So we can get the hell out of this city.”

“I thought you can’t get out unless an alpha allows it?”

“Yes, well, that’s the difference between this fight and the one five years ago. I’m an alpha now. Soon, I’ll be strong enough to save us both.”

14

GREY

Idon’t want to bring Lexi with me today, but my father texted me early this morning and ordered it. The fact that he wants me to do something so risky suggests he’s feeling confident about his position. This morning’s paper featured another article and more photos from our date the other night, including the interview quotes from each of us as we entered the restaurant. Clearly, he’s pleased about us winning points with the public. But he’s a fool if he thinks that gives him carte blanche to walk an outsider into a meeting like this one.

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