Page 38 of Alpha Scorned

His eyebrows flickered, but he remained quiet.

“So what’s this about?” asked Rawson.

He’d only just finished speaking when the door banged open and Lionel strode in, his presence as huge as his body. He grinned, his white teeth flashing. “Didn’t miss anything, did I?”

I grinned back. “No. Sit your arse down.”

“Oh, good. You’ve not shed blood, have you?”

“Not yet, but I think that’s in our near future.”

Lionel stomped to the fridge and grabbed some beers. Plonking them on the table in front of us all, he sat next to Stone. The table was round so it was easy to see my brothers. They all waited patiently for me to tell them what was going on. Damn, it had been months since I’d sat down and had a beer with them. My brows dipped. I’d been broken, and burned out emotionally. Lina’s rejection had messed me up. It was easy to see how much of an idiot I’d been now that I'd reconnected the broken parts of my soul with its other half. I looked Rawson in the eye. He held it and for once I made my wolf back down. He was right to challenge me, but the massive elephant in the room needed addressing.

“Before we start, there’s something I want to say. Rawson, you were right to challenge me. I was headed down a path of self-destruction that I didn’t even want to acknowledge, let alone stop. I can see now why you did it.” Rawson’s gaze flickered, but I shifted mine to Stone. “I also get why Connor has put you two on death watch.”

Stone’s mouth flattened. “Ah, man, I really don’t want to have to carry out those orders.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I know, and I’m doing everything I can to remain steady so that you don’t have to.”

“Thank fuck for that,” muttered Lionel.

“Are you fighting for her now, like you should have done before?” Rawson’s hands cradled his beer bottle in front of him on the table.

My spine stiffened at the criticism of me letting my mate go, of not fighting for the beautiful woman the Mother Wolf had decided was a perfect match for me. I’d lost control of my wolf and myself, but I’d wanted to respect Lina’s decision, even if I hated it. “You know what, Rawson? I am. But things between my mate and me aren’t your concern; Shane’s disappearance is. So let's stick with that. I’m just letting you know you won’t have to kill me anytime soon.”

“Glad to hear it, brother. Just keep it that way. Don’t lose your shit and we’re good. The challenge still stands when this is done, though.”

My wolf was getting pissed at his stubbornness to let the challenge go, not to mention his continued eye contact. This time I didn’t drop my gaze. I’d given him that respect once. It wasn’t happening again. I gave him a savage grin. “Of course it does, brother. I wouldn’t expect you to back down.”

“Then we understand each other,” Rawson replied, his face serious.

Tough bastard still wanted my position. Fine. But if Connor let the law stand and it was a challenge to the death, I wouldn’t lose. I had everything to fight for now. I wouldn’t die and leave my mate, or my son, and I sure as shit wouldn’t be giving up my place at Connor’s side. I’d worked with him for too long to let that happen. He was also my friend, and I’d let him down. I needed to earn his trust again, and I wouldn’t let Rawson take that opportunity away from me. “We do. But just so we’re clear as fucking crystal, I will fight to stay Beta and earn back Connor’s trust. I also have a family to fight for now. You won’t win, Rawson. I love you, brother, but I’ll kill you before I let you take me away from them.”

He grunted at that, but his eyes gleamed, a small smile curling his mouth. “Glad to hear it, asshole. Wouldn’t expect any different from you now you’re back with us.”

“So now you two have cleared that shit up, what’s got you pulling me away from a perfectly fine pussy?” Lionel said jovially.

“Monsters,” I told him, repeating what I'd told Zander.

“So now what?” he asked, his amber eyes glinting in the low light.

“I need to get a message to Connor. Then we go hunting.” I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Damn it! No signal. We need to have words with Drake about sorting out the connections here. They're shit.”

“Try this.” Rawson spun the computer around.

“Thanks. Email it is, then.”

I plucked the paper from my jeans. “This is blood, but it's not like any I’ve scented before.”

Rawson leaned over to pluck the paper from between my fingers. He sniffed it and snarled. “Damn, that stinks like death and rot.”

I chuckled. “It really does,” I agreed, and started typing. I hoped Connor could come through on this request because, even though I had an idea, I didn’t really know what we were dealing with. I had a feeling there was at least one other person who would, though. And I needed his help.

I letmyself into Selina’s house as quietly as I could. It was almost two am, but I wanted these next few hours to be with her. We were going hunting tomorrow, and much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t really know who our enemy was this time. The predator in me was impatient to begin, the human in me was wary of the implications of hunting an enemy I knew nothing about.

I’d sent a message to Robin to meet me at eight in the morning. I wanted her with us. She knew the terrain. Calling on her to be part of the hunt didn’t mean I was going to inform her of what we were really doing. Shane had not trusted someone in this pack, and since I didn’t know who that was, I’d not trust any of them. Connor had still not answered my email, which was frustrating, but I hoped he’d see it soon.

Shutting Lina’s front door and locking it behind me, I quickly checked the signal on my phone. It was on again. Typing a message to Connor, I sent it on all our social media platforms. He’d have to see at least one of them.

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