Page 69 of War Games

“I need an appointment with the Tribunal as a whole in twenty-four hours. That is my formal request.”

“I can make that happen without getting into trouble…” Hasan sighed. “For better or for worse, I need to know why you want this appointment.”

“I plan to challenge Callahan for his position as the Tribunal Alpha.” Heath was giving himself a deadline. He wanted to wait for Jacky to wake up. Truly, that was all he needed to find some semblance of peace and control.

But Callahan needed to be challenged. Heath needed to make sure nothing like this could ever happen again. It didn’t even have to be Callahan, though Heath was certain it was. He needed to do this no matter what.

“He could kill you,” Hasan said softly, leaning back in his chair.

“I could kill him,” Heath retorted. “Either way, it needs to happen. You aren’t allowed to meddle in the affairs of werewolves, but you still have a duty as a member of the Tribunal to facilitate the meetings of supernaturals whoapproach you. You can’t protect him nor hide him from me. If you can’t reasonably involve yourself and schedule this meeting, you need to give me the contact with another on the Tribunal who can.”

“Protect him?” Hasan raised an eyebrow. “Hide him?” Hasan looked like he was about to laugh. “What makes you think I would ever do that?”

“He’s a member of the Tribunal and stable leadership is important to the Tribunal. Neither moon-cursed species has ever seen a change in that leadership.”

“Fair, but consider for a moment that I don’t care,” Hasan said, spreading his hands. “I don’t care which wolf sits in those seats. I don’t care what’s going on with the packs and the loners. I don’t care. You wolves will do what you wolves do best. Adjust and figure out your ranks on your own. You always have. You always will.”

“That’s it? You’ll just schedule this and let me go through with it?”

“There’s no reason I can think to stop you. I hope you’ve thought this through.” Hasan drummed his fingers on the desk, considering something, his expression thoughtful. Finally, something was decided. “How is she?”

Heath rocked back, surprised by the sudden question.

“Subira is with her now, but… she seems to have just fallen asleep and not woken back up, either,” Heath explained. “Niko is with both of them upstairs. Dirk found a witch he and Jacky met, who has training as a healer, to help with Jacky’s injuries. She’s been able to heal all of them so far, thanks to Subira.”

“Did she give the young witch blood to help?”

When Heath nodded, Hasan sighed.

“That’s my mate. She must like the witch. That’s a good sign.”

“How did you know she was young?” Heath dared to ask.

“They’re all young.” It seemed like such a simple answer to the ancient werecat. “As for Subira sleeping…” Hasan’s gold eyes looked away, seeming to focus on something far beyond the screen. “You just have to trust her.”

“I do…” Heath said, but he was still unable to settle on the idea that Jacky would be okay. He couldn’t live with an assurance. He couldn’t tell this werecat that, though. His mate was the one helping Jacky. It would look badly on Heath to question Subira’s abilities to Hasan. He knew Hasan would catch the disbelieving tone he couldn’t stop, but Hasan didn’t point it out, the same way Heath hadn’t pointed out Hasan’s hesitation earlier in the conversation.

“Someone will let you know when the door is ready. Twenty-four hours. See you then.” Hasan hung up on him.

With that, Heath checked his phone. The wedding had been on Sunday. Subira arrived on Monday morning. It was now Tuesday morning.

Wednesday morning… I’m either going to be the most powerful male Alpha werewolf in the world, or I’m going to be dead.

It wasn’t the first time he’d faced the odds and come out on top. He’d fought a gauntlet to kill six strong werewolves back-to-back to keep Landon alive. He’d walked away from those fights as the new Alpha of the Dallas pack.

He checked his watch, smiling as he saw the time.

He had a meeting with his werewolves. It was time to do the rest.

Every instinct in Heath told him to move this faster. He walked slowly out of the home Jacky shared with him and his family, touching the door frame as he considered how it was possibly his last day in it. He wished he could make the most of it.

Justice for her will have to be enough of a goodbye if I don’t come back.

He walked to Kick Shot, shut down for the entire week thanks to the events of Sunday. Half the staff had quit, and there were lawyers calling them about it. Heath refused to talk to the BSA, telling them he would be available on Friday to discuss it.

Everyone was moving on his schedule. Except Subira and Jacky.

Werecats don’t move on anyone’s schedule but their own. This is what I get for falling in love with one of them. One little piece of my life I truly have no control over.

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