Page 69 of Savage Blood
It would be so much easier if I just told them the truth—that Ruin had a bond with Roxie—but I couldn’t risk it.
Too much unsettled energy rattled within me, so I remained standing, sipping my lemonade and savoring the sweet and sour flavor. “I agree he deserves punishment, but instead of death, he should remain in Wrath’s custody.”
Garreth scoffed, his light green irises shifting to gold. “Wrath is his twin brother. I doubt Ruin will get much of a punishment from him.”
Ruin lifted his shackled wrists, the chains rattling and bouncing against his gray sweatshirt. “My imprisonment is not a cakewalk. I’m locked in a cell day and night with no comforts other than food, a lumpy bed, and a toilet.”
Captain Gia angled toward the three demons, her long caramel braids swaying. “You expect us to believe you won’teventually soften to your brother and allow him freedom, Wrath?”
The new high demon lord of Savannah clenched his hands into fists. “Wrath is responsible for the death of the person I loved the most in this world. You can believe that I won’t soften toward my brother. He deserves to die, and if Tate didn’t need him, he’d already be rotting six feet under.”
All the humor had faded from Ruin, and his head bowed, his shoulders drawing inward. If he hadn’t given Warin his experimental Soulvation and allowed him to leave the lab, Fane’s brother never would have killed my friends and Jayla.
And I wouldn’t have slaughtered him.
No matter the part Ruin played, I still hated myself for being the one to take Warin’s last breath.
“Other packs will be furious when they learn we’re allowing Ruin to live,” Ari said. “How am I supposed to explain that?”
I shrugged. “You’re the alpha. I’m sure you can come up with something to justify it.”
“That’s just it.” Ari rubbed his five o’clock shadow. “Youshould be the alpha of Silver Ridge.”
A laugh exploded out of my mouth. “Not in this lifetime.”
Ari ignored my outburst. “If you’d been born in this pack, you could be in line to take the position when your father stepped down—unless someone challenged you. It’s rightfully yours.”
“I have no interest in being the alpha of anything,” I said.
The shifters gaped at me like I was nuts for turning down the position. But for what? Just because I was Barric’s daughter. If anything, that should make them leery of me.
“You’re Tamara’s daughter, too,” Fane said, his knee brushing my hip as he remained perched on the table. “Andthey know you’ve fought and sacrificed for shifters. You’re selfless, and you aren’t afraid to stand up to others.”
“Would you at least consider becoming the beta?” Olivia asked. “I’m only acting in the position until Ari can find a permanent replacement.”
Her mate nodded. “That would be great. And then you might come to see how much you want to be alpha. I can train you and?—”
I lifted my palm, interrupting him. “That’s not happening. I can’t be your alpha or beta.”
Who was to say I’d even live long enough to take over the Silver Ridge pack?
Saint cleared his throat. “I think Tate is trying to say she has to focus on facing Barric. She can’t do that while taking on a position of power in the pack. She needs time to heal.”
My shoulders relaxed, and I silently mouthed a thank-you.
“So, we can all agree that Ruin will remain alive and in Wrath’s custody, right?” I asked, reverting the subject to Ruin’s fate.
Ari, Camus, and Captain Gia nodded while the others murmured in agreement.
“Great.” I pushed away from the table and headed toward the door.
Surprisingly, no one tried to stop me from leaving, not even Fane. He didn’t follow me into the hall either.
A shaky breath burst out of my lungs as I marched down the plush burgundy carpet. When I’d charged into that meeting, I had no idea I’d end up spilling my guts. Part of me felt lighter now that I wasn’t keeping so many secrets bottled up.
The other part was terrified. If I healed from this sickness and defeated Barric, would the Silver Ridge pack still want me to be their alpha? Would everyone in the pack be so welcomingonce they found out who my father was? Or would they think I’d become just as psychotic and evil as Barric?
As a million thoughts whirled through my mind, I missed the figure looming in the shadows. When a hand reached out and grabbed my arm, a squeak burst from my mouth.
