Page 26 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

It took all my restraint to push him back down before I looked at Dylan for the first time since entering Alpha Maximus’s study.

“When you speak to me, you will watch your tone.” My voice was level, but even I could feel the waves of dominance rolling off of me with each word. “For my mistake in taking Eleanor, I have allowed your excesses. Don’t push your luck any further.”

“Enough!” Alpha Maximus growled, slamming his fists against his desk.

The monster wasn’t disturbed by this, probably because he knew Alpha Maximus wasn’t challenging his authority.

A forced silence fell over the study.

With order reestablished, Alpha Maximus focused on Dylan.

“Dylan, you are already mated. Put this issue to rest,” he said, almost sympathetically. “We have other affairs to attend to. The Bloodfrost Pack?—”

“Would you say the same thing if I’d stolen Alexander’s bride?” Dylan’s jaw clenched and unclenched, bitter fury in his eyes.

This was just another of the comedic events that filled my life.

But what would happen in that hypothetical situation was something even I was curious about.

Judging from his dark-as-night gaze and pissed-off expression, Alpha Maximus clearly wasn’t finding the same humor in this as I did.

“Dylan.” His voice held a promise of violence. “Get out of my study and don’t come back until you’ve regained your senses.”

Dylan hesitated, as if he was considering disobeying the command, before storming away with a parting glare at me.

The study fell silent again, but this time, I was the one who broke it.

“In a few days, he’ll be the alpha of this pack,” I reminded Alpha Maximus. “If you don’t treat him with more respect, he will fracture.”

I saw it all the time. Power shifts could easily exacerbate preexisting wounds in a wolf’s ego and drive him to destruction.

Alpha Maximus regarded me frankly, a wry smile playing across his lips.

“Is that why you let him win the duel?” he asked.

No. I’d let him win because if I hadn’t, I would’ve killed him.

I rose to my feet, inclining my head slightly in deference to Alpha Maximus.

“If this meeting is over, I’ll be on my way.”

I was halfway to the door when an edge of vulnerability in his voice pulled me to a stop.

“You will partake in the hunt today, won’t you?” Alpha Maximus asked.

Ever since I dropped my title of alpha heir, I hadn’t taken part in hunts or any other pack celebration, apart from an occasional pack run.

But Alpha Maximus had been tenacious about bringing me back into the flock, and with this mistake hanging over me, he might be able to rein me in.

This couldn’t have come at a worse time.

I had to leave the pack today to see…her.

I didn’t turn.

“I haven’t changed my mind about the management of this pack,” I reminded Alpha Maximus.

There was a pause before he responded—a small one, but I felt it nonetheless.

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