Page 7 of Wolf Tamer

“You had the perfect opening, and you didn’t take it.” My confusion must be clear, because his gaze darts in my direction for a half second before he turns it to his feet. “You could have had the alpha mantle for yourself. It’s what you’ve always wanted.”

“You don’t know shit about what I want.”

I thought about the note from our father I found in his nightstand:To save the family, you will do what is needed.

Well, whatisneeded is for me to step aside—or so I’ve always thought. Now the wheels are turning and the pieces are falling into place, yet I can’t make sense of the picture as a whole.

“Why don’t you tell me?” I ask.

Fuck, my head pounds like an elephant is bouncing up and down on top of me.

I pray I’ll be able to follow the conversation, because with Julius, I’ve always had to struggle to stay one step ahead. His mind works differently from mine, and that’s on a good day. On a day where I’m recovering from battle?

I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up with him. He’ll be the first one to admit that he’s smarter than me, better looking, and whatever new adjective he wants to insert here.

Right now… he wouldn’t be wrong.

He is absolutely better than me, and I’m going to have to find a way to make this up to him down the road.

“The alpha position should have been mine by right of birth, Reid. And do I think I can do a better job than you? Absolutely. You’ve done nothing but fuck shit up since you took over. Do I think taking it is worth losing you?” He pauses, then sighs. “No. I don’t think so.”

“You had your shot,” I press. “Twice. You stepped down when father died, and you could have easily killed me in the kitchen.”

“And I refused to take it both times,” he responds hotly. “There are more important things—”

“Then tell me!”

I struggle to turn in his direction, creeping my fingers across the top of the sheets to try to grab his attention. Pain immediately ripples down my arm and I stop, struggling to draw in a full breath.

Nope, not happening.

“All I ever wanted was a family, and our father placed more stock inpowerthan he did on his wife and sons. The family he made was less important to him than his reputation. If it comes down to that or you, shit… it’s not a contest for me.”

I blink at him. “You never said anything.”

“Would you have?” Julius counters.

He flexes his fingers so that his knuckles go white before pushing away from the bed.

He’s never been the type content with excessive displays of emotion. And I have to agree with him there. It’s awkward for me too—way too strange to have an actual conversation with him rather than the constant bickering.

This is something I might have expected of our youngest brother, Liam, but not from Julius.

“Let’s suffice it to say that I’m not about to let some assholes like Crane and Emily take away what little family I have left,” he snarls.

“Crane is dead.”

Julius whips around to face me. “I know. I’m the one who dragged his heavy-ass body out into the yard and sent Liam out with the shovel.”

I crank out a smile. “You must have dragged me upstairs as well.”

“Maybe.”

Levity feels strained. Crane is dead, and that’s nothing I can reconcile lightly.

I stare at Julius for a bit longer. “How would you feel about taking his place?”

“In the ground or as your third?” Julius pales, seeming unhappy with either proposition. “I think I’ll let you decide how you want to proceed with things.”

---