Page 25 of A Cursed Noel

Celia locks eyes withme, her limbs shaking with how hard she’s fighting to hold Odin.“You sure?” she asks, her voice trembling.

At my nod she releaseshim, rolling forward and into a standing position before Odinfinishes rising.

Celia angles herself soshe can watch me and the pack, her chest rising and falling from therush of adrenaline that kept her alive.

Odin and I arebreathing just as fast, and it’s not due to the rush of battle.Celia humiliated him in front of his pack. Me, I’m livid that hecould have hurt her much worse.

Odin tries to turn itaround to save face. “You’re him then, the alpha of Colorado?”He huffs. “The youngest Leader of our kind and the one set tosupervise that new den they’re building in Tahoe?”

“I am Aric Connor,”I reply. “Son of Aidan and Eliza Connor, and you have seriouslywronged us.”

He, like allweres,should be able to sniff a lie. Except as green as most of them are,they’re either untrained to do it or struggling because of moisturein the air. In case they can distinguish what’s true and whatisn’t, I have to choose my words carefully. Except, it’s not thateasy.

I don’t know what’shappening during this time period. I have no idea why Martin wouldentrust me with half the packs in Colorado. And a Den in Tahoe? Asmuch as I mocked this pack’s game face, mine is dwindling fast.

Celia’s presencebeside me reminds me I need to stay in the moment and keep us alive.

“I didn’t know whoyou were,” he says. It’s not exactly an apology. Like I thought,he’s trying to keep face. “I also didn’t know who she was toyou.”

“Now you do,” Isay. I ease away, taking that bit of leverage he hands me to addressthe pack.

Thewerewhoseneck I snapped is still recovering, two of his packmates includingthe lynx keep him still so his spine can properly realign.

“You allow your packto chamber guns with cursed gold bullets?” I ask Odin. “It onlykillsweresand vamps. As for humans…” I shrug. “Abullet to the body is all the same. No gold needed.” I meet hisface, my jaw tightening. “Who exactly are you after?”

The fall of snow seizesenough for the quarter moon to poke through the dwindling clouds.

“My pack is small,vulnerable. I do what it takes to keep them safe,” Odin replies. Hespits at the ground. “Treaty or not, you can’t trust dembloodsuckers around here.”

I reach for Celia’shand and draw her close to me. Theseweresknow better than toattack us now, but my wolf and I need her close.

This pack isn’tsupposed to remember what happened once I leave. They’ll have nomemory of me or how we brought them down. But maybe they’llremember just enough to give her space when I’m gone.

“If there’s avampire clan, you go through the proper channels. You don’tweaponize as you see fit.” My attention stops on eachwere,fixating on the bear who made the first move. “Where did you findtheseweres? They’re rash and careless.”

“They’relearning,”Odin states. He doesn’t appreciate the insult. To his credit,there’s honesty behind each word. “Most werelones, Alpha.Unable to be controlled by their human mamas or cast out by theirweredaddies. Jersey doesn’t have a lot ofweresandthere ain’t nopuresthrowing money at me to help them.”

“I see,” I say.

In those mere words Imake it clear I understand beyond what he admits. He stiffens. Heknows where I’m headed and doesn’t like it. Tough. I tell himanyway. “You’re one of those cast out yourself, aren’t you?”His silence is response enough. “Your dedication to helping, whileadmirable, isn’t enough.” I stand off with him and lay it all outthere. “Your pack needs more than you can offer.”

Odin straightens to hisfull height. He doesn’t like the public shaming, mostly becauseit’s true.

I keep talking. Heneeds to understand that I mean to help, not damage his pack further.“Call the upstate New York alpha tonight. His name is Altman Moor.Don’t mention me,” I add quickly. “Come forward as the leaderyourweresneed. Altman is a pureblood, capable of giving youthe money and training you need. He’s a good Leader. One of thebest. He may even help you build your own Den.”

“I’m nopure,”Odin says. “He won’t appreciate what all I made here.”

In other words, I wentagainst our ways and fear the repercussions.

He’s right to fearAltman’s wrath. Except an alpha isn’t given an area as large asupstate New York if he can’t rule it justly. Our ways are strict,disciplined, and at times vicious. But there is forgiveness for thosewho deserve it. If I’m right, Odin deserves leniency and assistanceto make this pack all that he envisions.

“If you takeresponsibility for the lack of order and the mess you helped create,Altman and the Leaders will respect you for it,” I explain.“There’s a good chance you’ll be forgiven.”

“And there’s a goodchance they’ll cut my head off,” Odin rumbles. He rams his fingerin my direction. He remains a few feet away. It’s the only reason Idon’t respond with violence.

“I’ve led them thebest way I know how,” he hollers. “I gave them shelter, food, anda pack. Not like those mother fuckers who threw them out on thestreet.” He sucks his teeth. “You talkin’ about lack of order?Nothing goes down within a hundred-mile radius without me knowingabout it. Nothing.”

It's the opening I waswaiting for. “Does that mean you’re aware of the drugs yourpackmate is selling to humans?”

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