Page 43 of A University of Betrayal

He raised both eyebrows, and I didn’t know if his reaction was genuine. Then I drew the curtain closed and couldn’t help but grin a little. In situations like this, I liked to have the last word.

I looked down at the letter, wondering what to do with it. For now, I put it back in the book box. I couldn’t deny that a certain curiosity was growing inside me. I wanted to find out more, I wanted to squeeze my mother, but she would squeezemeif she found out that I had taken something from that room, or even that I had opened that letter. There was no turning back. Now, I shared this little secret with Julian.

Chapter 10

Emely

How the West Was Won

Secession Studios, Greg Dombrowski

“The kid is still traumatized. You should have seen him.” I didn’t need to press my ear to the massive oak door of Dad’s study to hear Alarik. “He can’t even talk about anything close to that.”

As always, I leaned against the wall next to the door, eavesdropping on my father’s conversations. I had great respect for him, but I thought it was unfair that Nash, who had kept quiet until now, was the only one invited to these little private gatherings. Father, he and Alarik were deep in conversation, and once again, it was about Julian.

“Our rules can’t be thrown out the window because of one boy. You know just as well as I do what the consequences would be,” Dad pressed out, and I heard his nervous pacing around the room.

From the meadow outside came the loud shouts of the guys who were having a two-hour strength training session.

Actually, I had intended to train with Hunter and Finn, because they had challenged me again.

Of course, it was all aboutwho was the strongest,and I was surprised that Nash was distancing himself more and more from these Alpha-related things, even though it seemed so important to him to prove himself.

“What if it stays in this room?”

Surprised by Alarik’s words, I leaned closer to the door, as if it would make any difference to the explicitness of the conversation.

Did he expect Nash to support our father in breaking essential rules? My uncle seemed serious.

“I can’t keep doing this, Alarik. There are limits. You asked for two years, and that time is long gone. Julian Bardot is strong. He belongs in the pack and if he doesn’t undergo an initiation soon, he will have to be killed.”

Shocked, I pressed my hand over my mouth. I knew the rules. Everything in me screamed to rush into that room and beg Father, but my reason and the principles I tried to live by in the pack stopped me.

Father was right, and I was the only person who could change that, who could perhaps somehow get through to Julian. But my time was running out.

Alarik gave free rein to his indignation. “How can you follow the old traditions so blindly?”

I heard a fist on my father’s desk, then his angry voice. “Enough! Your behavior toward your Alpha is outrageous!”

But Alarik was not done yet.

“His sister is coming to us...” he began. “Don’t you think we could reach him better through her? This chance...” I heard Alarik’s hands run nervously over the edges of the desk. “One we haven’t had until now.”

A slight panic spread through me as I realized how unlikely it was that Julian would ever change his mind, but maybe Alarik was right. Mia would be here soon, and when she officially joined the pack, maybe Julian would change his mind and finally come to his senses.

My father actually seemed to want to think about Alarik’s words, because he sat down. And as soon as he sat down, it was Nash’s turn. It had always been like that.

“It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try. Mia is close to him, as far as I know,” Nash said cautiously.

I knew he was at war with Julian, but he certainly didn’t want him dead. Not after all the time they’d spent together. The old Nash would have done anything for the old Julian. Just like me.

No one said anything for a while, and I would have given a lot to see the battle of looks between our father and Alarik, but then Father spoke up. “I’d like to talk to your uncle alone now.”

Even before the door burst open, I scurried into the shadows of the staircase. The door was closed and footsteps sounded, paused briefly but, to my reassurance, started moving again.

Nash would have seen me by a hair’s breadth. This often happened, and by now, I knew he had to know something. He was neither inattentive nor stupid. And if anyone was aware of his surroundings, it was him. No one knew him as well as I did, I was sure of that. However, this fact meant that I also knew best how well he hid things. I was never very good at predicting what he would do and say, because I didn’t really know his principles. On top of that, he had changed a lot over the last two years. Since Mady…

I crept closer to the door again. I stopped about ten inches from it. Caution was the supreme discipline when eavesdropping on the Copelands. So, it was just perfect that I was one myself.

---