Page 67 of Savage Blood
Ari tensed as he felt the challenge throbbing from me. “You have no authority here, Tate. You are not an alpha, and you’re technically not part of any pack. This decision is not yours.”
The hell it wasn’t.
Ari spoke, but his words became muted as sweat coated my brow from the strength I exerted to keep my alpha side frombreaking free. This time wouldn’t be like the hints I showed before. This time would be a full-on show of power, and I wouldn’t be able to deny it or play it off as part of Fane’s bite.
“Let it out, Teague.” Fane rested his hand on my shoulder, his nostrils flaring and pupils in slits. “Show them you don’t submit to a fucking soul.”
My gums ached as my canines lengthened.“But they’ll know this didn’t all come from you.”
“So what?” Fane jerked his hand toward Ari. “You are ten times more powerful than him. Show them.”
Trembling, I turned to Fane, reminded of the time at Corvin Manor when he helped me stand against Barric’s alpha power.
But I’d had the Infernal Sol then.
“You don’t need it,” Fane said, sensing my doubt. “You never did.”
My control finally cracked, and power flooded my veins, erupting in the air around me.
Chapter
Sixteen
Black talons burstthrough my fingertips, digging into the mahogany table as alpha power pulsated out of my body and soaked the air. The menacing growl clawing up my throat raised the hair on my own arms as it reached a deafening crescendo.
Gasps circulated the meeting room, and the three non-alpha shifters lowered in their seats, their heads bowed. Saint’s lips twitched before he dropped into his chair, and not because I forced him to. He did it out of respect.
The gold sheen in Camus’s irises melted away, and his jaw tightened as he attempted to keep from bowing under the weight of my will.
“Why is your alpha power so strong?” he asked. “It can’t be because of Fane. He may be incredibly strong, but he’s never been an actual alpha. And his father was only a beta.”
“This is getting good,” Logan murmured. “I wish I had some popcorn.”
Ruin grinned. “There are a few bags of that white cheddar stuff on their little refreshments table. Go grab us some.”
Before the lovable high demon could stand, Wrath clamped a hand on his thigh. “Let’s wait until after Tate convinces them not to kill my brother.”
“So youdolove me, Wrath.” Ruin blew his brother a kiss.
Wrath glowered. “If anyone is killing you, it’s me.”
“Or me,” Fane said, perching on the edge of the table again.
Giving up the fight, Ari relaxed in his chair as he scrutinized me. “How are you still this strong without that demon amulet? You were only bitten a few years ago.”
Gia flipped through more of the pictures of Coltrane’s frantic scribbles projected on the screen. “What else are you keeping from us?”
Sensing my need for encouragement, Valeria nodded, urging me to continue. She’d wanted me to come clean about my lineage months ago, when Barric left the pack.
“My parents are shifters.” I lifted my hand to prevent Camus from pointing out the obvious. “I was born human and then later bitten by Fane.”
“Was one of your parents an alpha?” Ari asked, pushing his glass aside to rest his hands on the table.
“My father.”
Olivia and Ari turned to each other as they spoke through their mental link. Whatever his mate said had the alpha’s head snapping in my direction, his eyes so wide they nearly popped out of their sockets.
“I bet they just figured it out,” Fane murmured, his hand stroking my back.
