Page 30 of Wolf's Reckoning
An interesting mix.
And I felt…nothing much at all. Huh.
My father indicated for Scott to step forward, and Scott spoke before anyone else. “I think we all know what this is,” he said, stiff-backed and puffed-up like a rooster. “This is about politics. Stability.Alliances. Blueridge Hollow may be powerful, but without a male to carry it forward?—”
“Finish that sentence,” I said softly, “and I swear I’ll escort you from this territory myself by your own tongue.”
His mouth snapped shut, and red bloomed at the tips of his ears.
I didn’t blink, didn’t say anything else, just turned to my father and the druid. “I’m done with this one.”
My father gave a nod. The druid didn’t look pleased, but could they actually say they were surprised?
Scott sputtered something under his breath and stalked out of the hall without looking back.
Good.
Dad gestured to Tyler, who had the sense to look hesitant before he stepped forward. He crossed his arms, and I fought the eye roll at the very obviousness of his defensive posture.
“I see playing games won’t work with you,” he said flatly,meeting my stare. “You need strength, I’ve got it. Your pack is disciplined and should stay that way. While Four Winds is my home and one of the oldest in the region, it would be beneficial to come here. I have wolves who are loyal to me, who want to join me, and we would strengthen this pack.”
My pack didn’t need strengthening. He must have seen the look on my face because he gave a frustrated sigh.
“Rowen, you know me. And I knowyou. I won’t coddle you. I’d make sure you didn’t have totryso hard to be taken seriously?—”
I blinked in surprise. “You think I’m not taken seriously?”
That caught him off guard. He opened his mouth, shut it, floundered, and then said, “Well, I’m sure you are, but you need a man. You’re not exactly subtle.”
I leaned back, studying him. “Neither is a broken jaw. Should it add to your appeal that you have trouble taking no for an answer?”
That got a cough of laughter from Lewis behind me. Even the druid’s lips twitched.
Tyler shrugged, unbothered, and stepped back. “My offer stands. Our packs are close, we have history, no matter how jaded, and honestly,”—he looked around the hall—“this pack needs fresh blood.”
I didn’t answer. He wasn’t worth the breath.
Which left Dex.
He didn’t rush. He waited for my father to give him the gesture to approach. Dex walked forward with an easy posture, hands tucked in his pockets like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Morning,” he greeted us all. “Rowen,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“Dex,” I replied warily. My wolf watched him cautiously.
“You don’t know me,” he said easily with a glance back at Tyler. “And I think that may be a good thing.” He rubbed his jaw playfully. “Emberfell is a small pack. My dad’s alpha, my oldest brother his right-hand man, and my second-oldest brother will be alpha when Dad steps down.” He rocked back on his heels. “We’re mountain shifters, with stone loyalty, too many sharp rocks and not enough patience to suffer nonsense.”
At least he was honest.
He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not an alpha, but I know how to lead a pack. I’m not here to change things; I’m here because I’ve heard really good things about the Blueridge Hollow Pack. There’s a lot of respect for this pack. And a pack that has respect and holds to the strong values of tradition, I’d like to be a part of that.”
I glanced at my dad, who was watching him closely.
“Keep talking,” I said before I could think better of it.
Dex nodded. “I can lead, but something tells me so can you, so I’m not asking you to follow me,” he said, smiling that lazy smile again. “I could follow you.”
I narrowed my eyes, and Dex saw it.
