Page 52 of Wolf's Reckoning
It was so quiet, I was certain everyone was holding their breath.
Tyler’s jaw clenched. His eyes darted to Killian, then back to me. He didn’t move or even flinch.
That’s all I needed to see. “I didn’t think so.” I turned my head slightly to look at Dex. “You?”
The male shifter looked me over, a sneer curling his top lip. “You want to bully me,Wolfe?”
I smiled, showing all my teeth, with no humor. “Bully you?” I kept my gaze fixed on him. “I’m asking if you want to challenge for the position of pack leader. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“I came for Rowen.”
The fuck you did.
I didn’t say that to him, though; instead, I laughed out loud—harshly and full of contempt. Killian was like stone beside me, but I knew he was ready for anything.
I moved around them slowly and carefully. Circlingthem, watching their spines stiffen as I looked them over. Assessed them.
“You may have come for the daughter of the alpha,” I said clearly, making sure the whole pack heard. “But neither of you is leaving with her.” I moved back in front of them. Tyler kept his gaze lowered with his back straight, but the scent of fear made my nose twitch. Dex held my gaze, but he couldn’t hide the scent of apprehension.
Weak. Both of them. Neither deserved her—or even the time she’d already given them.
“She rejected you both,” I said, feeling Killian take a step back. “So tell me…” I moved closer, just slightly. “Why the fuck are you still here?”
Dex’s eyes flicked to Killian before settling back on me. “I want to speak to the alpha before I leave.”
“Denied.” I saw his shock before I spoke again. “Alpha Malric knows his daughter’s decision and supports it. There’s nothing for you here.” I flicked my fingers in a shooing gesture as I looked at them. A gesture of mockery, and they knew it. “Both of you, fuck off back to where you came from.”
Tyler’s head jerked up, his arrogance getting the better of him. “You have no right to talk to us like that! I am analpha’sson!”
“AndIwill be the one leading this pack. Get the fuck out of this territory. Now. I won’t ask so nicely again.”
Dex snorted dismissively. “This is your idea ofasking?”
Killian stepped forward. He didn’t need to posture or pose. He simply moved, and both of the pricks moved back simultaneously. “You want to see what happens when heisn’tasking?”
I don’t know which one I want to punch first,he grumbled through the mindlink.
I knew exactly what he meant.I want to pick that snot-nosed fucker up and use him to hit the other one.
Killian couldn’t hide his huff of amusement, and both of the idiots took another step back, mistaking his amusement for intent.
“Fuck me,” I snarled in disgust. “Look at you both cowering together. Neither of you ever deserved to breathe the same air as her,” I sneered. “Neither of you are fit to lead a pack. Especially not this one. Get out of my sight, and make sure you arebothgone before dusk.”
Movement to the left caught my eye, and I turned my head to see Rowen watching, her hands curled into fists at her side, but she was quiet. Watching and internally raging against the way I was handling it, no doubt, but she was keeping quiet.
I winked at her and saw a flash of anger in her eyes. Yeah, she was pissed. Good. I was tired of watching her second-guess herself.
With a final glance at the pack that watched silently, I walked away from the training ground.
Killian followed, grinning like the bastard he was. “So subtle,” he murmured with amusement.
I didn’t smile. This wasn’t about subtlety; it was about sending a message. The game had changed. And anyone still playing by old rules? They were already too late.
“It’s time to lead this pack,” I murmured to him. “And that takes us to our next stop.”
The druid’s quarters were tucked at the edge of the pack’s inner circle, half-hidden beneath an outcrop of moss-covered stone and old bone charms. The kind of place that felt more sacred than it had any right to. Their quarters adhered to the old ways—a tent made of hide and canvas that could be dismantled and moved anywhere. Nothing permanent on the land, becauseweweren’t permanent on the land.
Killian paused at the entrance. “You sure?”
