Page 45 of The Alpha King's Fate

Jax turned at Lincoln’s voice and met the arrogant Alpha’s gaze without flinching. He’d almost killed that bastard, but he wasn’t on trial for that. Lincoln probably felt insulted by that decision if that coldness in his eyes was anything to go by.

“Lincoln. Hugo. New Finn.”

A muscle ticked in the new member’s jaw after being referred to by his deceased predecessor's name. He looked as young as Finn had been, but at least this new guy had the good sense to keep his eyes lowered and not react.

“You’re about to pay for your crimes but you still feel the need to show your disrespect,” Lincoln said, shaking his head as they walked further into the lobby.

“I’m sure you know my treatment of you didn’t even make it on the list of things I have to pay for,” he growled.

Lincoln’s eyes flashed, but he held his gaze until Lincoln lowered his. At this point, if Lincoln started any shit, he would be in as much trouble as he was.

He turned to Hugo, the one who’d always been the more level-headed of the two, even after he’d slaughtered Finn. Before Layla had tried to kill him, he’d been the one he’d been relying on to tip things a little in his favour.

But he could see by how Hugo looked at his mate that that was all shot to shit now. He pulled Layla behind him and broke their eye contact. For one thing, Layla couldn’t do that in the Circle’s territory. For another, one wrong move and Hugo would be justified if he asked for a steeper sentence.

The Circle was known for being somewhat dickish with their sentences to start with.

“Since when have you started separating mates before a trial?”

He’d read of or attended one or two trials in his day. The accused were always allowed to mingle even if they were constantly watched. The Circle was just trying to fuck with him.

Lincoln’s mouth curved into a smile even though he didn’t meet his gaze.

“Since now. I’m sure you can appreciate our position. You killed one of us,” Lincoln answered.

“I did you a favour. That little shit was a hothead, your weakest link.”

Hugo’s eyes flashed, and he looked in the Circle member’s direction. He was being disrespectful to the dead, something Diedre had always told him not to do. But Finn would have got himself killed one way or the other. The new Finn was learningthe job the right way. He kept his head down and did not try to challenge him when it was clear he was no match for Cain.

“You had no right to—”

“I have every right when you try to mess with my mate,” he growled. “Bear that in mind with whatever shit you’re trying to pull here.”

“Your mate?” Lincoln snorted. “She’s a useless human and not fit to stand in this room.”

He was sure none of them had forgotten how Layla had grabbed Hugo by his throat with one hand and ordered them all to leave and never return. What game were they playing here? Either they hadn’t reported that fact, or they would do something to Layla once they were separated. He’d seen the look in Lincoln’s eyes as he had backed off and got back into his car. Having two people who could command him like that wouldn’t sit well with him.

Or the last option, the one he was banking on, the Circle knew what Layla was and was chomping at the bit to get her under their thumb.

That wasn’t going to happen.

Running away from the trial wasn’t an option, and those fuckers knew that. But he wasn’t going to let them separate him and Layla.

He grabbed Layla’s bag from her hand and slung it over his shoulder.

“She wouldn’t be here if she was just human,” he said easily. “But if you insist on playing these games when I’ve already declared my territory’s independence from you, Layla and I will find different accommodations for the night. Call me when you know what time we should be here.”

He took Layla’s hand and looked at the young boy with his luggage, waiting to escort him to his room. A wizard, if he wasn’t mistaken. And the man behind the desk was an incubus.The Circle utilised every avenue they had to make themselves stronger.

“You can’t do that,” Lincoln said.

“Are you breaking your rules and detaining me before I’ve had a free trial? I didn’t see anywhere on the agenda where we meet with our counsel, either.”

“That must have been an oversight,” Hugo answered through his teeth.

Or this wasn’t going to be much of a trial at all.

Cain had been on alert from the moment they had passed through the wards at the entrance but he kept a tight hold on him. Outwitting the Circle required brains, not brawn. As much as the Circle loved to enforce their rules, they never wanted to be outed when they broke them.

---