Page 59 of War Games

“Sit. You know what I want. You’ll answer honestly and completely. A single lie forfeits you. I won’t give you an opportunity to explain it.”

“Of course, Alpha,” Teagan said softly, sitting down.

“Did you add anything to the bourbon bottle on the family table?”

“No, sir. I never contaminated it, intentionally or unintentionally.”

Heath released some of his tension, glad that the likelihood he had to kill this wolf had just dropped drastically.

“Did you see anyone acting suspicious?”

“I saw nothing I considered suspicious at the time, sir. Many of the pack went to look at the bottle since they aren’t old enough to own such things. Shamus even told his children that he was disappointed he didn’t have something similar for both of them. He picked it up to read it, but that didn’t seem suspicious at the time, lamenting about the position his ex-wife left him in when it came to preserving the history of them growing up.”

That sounds like Shamus.

“Give me a list of names you saw approaching the bottle.”

“Shamus, Stacy, Kody, Carlos, Jenny, Roselyn, and Arlo.”

Heath could smell the fear that Teagan had when saying Arlo’s name.

“What did the boy do?”

“He sniffed it, and I went over to him to tell him that he was still too young to be drinking, werewolf or not. Also that I would let you skin him for drinking your liquor.”

“I see. The others?”

“I only remember Shamus clearly because his lamenting made me laugh,” Teagan said, sighing. “And I’m certain I didn’t see everyone. I wasn’t watching your table, of course.”

“Of course.” Heath finally sat down. “Who do you think did this?”

“I have no idea who in the pack would try this without potentially incriminating them falsely. Everyone in the pack has their weak spots. Roselyn and Piper are only here because other packs have issues with their relationship. Jenny and Carlos are here because Carlos has nowhere else to go. Ranger is maimed; he’d never survive another pack. Shamus is here for his kids,who were thoroughly traumatized by what happened in Dallas when you weren’t their Alpha. Some of those can be used against them, some of them can’t.”

“All of them would have to be bought to betray me. Clearly, someone was. Any suggestions of who would buy someone in my pack to attempt poisoning me?”

This was when Teagan seemed less comfortable, shifting around his seat and rubbing his hands on his legs.

“Teagan, you know why I’m asking you.” Heath neededthiswolf to say it. Teagan, who had been around when the Tribunal formed and much longer before that, once a member of Corissa’s pack.

“I do,” Teagan said softly, closing his eyes. “You’re asking me if I think Callahan and Corissa are capable of poisoning a potential rival who may have caused too many problems for them just by existing.”

“I am.”

“Yes, they are,” Teagan confirmed. “I believe they are completely capable of it.”

“I’m glad we agree.” Heath stood back up and held a hand out to Teagan, who took it in a firm handshake. He helped Teagan to his feet. “Thank you for being honest with me. I need you to help Dirk and Niko keep Jacky alive. Landon will escort you and the boys there.”

“Are they…” Teagan’s fatherly worry was immediate.

“Landon has been talking to them downstairs. I’m certain he’s already decided they’re fine to leave with you to the house. We know they wouldn’t.”

“They wouldn’t. They would never. They love your daughter, and they respect you. Arlo has hero worship of Jacky?—”

“I know,” Heath said as gently as he was capable of. It was hard to be gentle right now.

He and Teagan went downstairs, and Heath sent Landon off with them to go to the main house. When Landon was back, he looked furious.

“What now?” Heath demanded.

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