Page 19 of In Your Eyes
With a sharp nod, Anthony joined him lower to the ground. “You said you found this here?” he asked without looking at me.
“Yes.” I gulped and cleared my throat, trying to make my voice sound strong. “I didn’t touch it.”
Another nod from Anthony, and then he looked at Heath. “Do you think Dirk Keller will admit to drugging his challenger once he’s faced with the proof?”
I scoffed, which would have been rude if Heath hadn’t done the same.
“No,” Heath said with a snarl. “I don’t believe Alpha Keller will take responsibility for anything.”
“Then we’ll need to prove this syringe was used on Alpha Goodwin and that whatever it contains harmed him during the challenge.” He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around the syringe.
“How will you do that?” I asked.
“There’s a healer in another pack. He’s had… extensive training. I spoke with him on the way here, and he can make the determination. I’ll bring him the syringe and I’ll ask your pack healer to draw a blood sample from your father’s body. That’s all he said he’d need.”
Something didn’t make sense about his statement, but I was too tired and worried to figure out what it was.
For the first time, Anthony looked me in the eyes. “I’m sorry about your loss, Samuel. Your father was a good Alpha. I had great respect for him.”
“Thank you.” I had to focus on the pack; it’s what my father would have done. “What about my pack?”
“Yourpack?”
I squared my shoulders. “Yes. With my father gone, I am now the Alpha of the Yafenack pack.”
“You were disqualified, Samuel,” Heath said. “I realize the emotions surrounding your father’s death made it difficult for you to focus and shift during the required time, but—”
Grateful he didn’t realize the real reason I hadn’t shifted, I felt stronger, more able to advocate for my pack. “Dirk Keller violated the rules of the challenge before I entered the ring. That means he was disqualified first.” And perhaps there was a greater penalty due to him; I’d research the writings when I got home and figure out if there was any information I could use to protect my pack from Dirk and avenge my father.
Anthony and Heath exchanged uncomfortable looks. “I’ve never had an issue like this arise,” Anthony said.
“I haven’t either,” Heath said.
They were both silent, and then Anthony said, “The healer will test the syringe, and then we’ll discuss this matter with the interpack council.”
“And until then?” I pushed.
They looked at each other again and, after a pause, Heath turned to me. “You will serve as Alpha of the Yafenack pack for now. We will revisit this once we have more information.”
I nodded and tried to feel grateful, but all I could feel was pain over the loss of my father, fear that my shifting issue would prevent me from protecting my pack, and, despite my attempt to stop thinking about Korban Keller, worry about why he had missed the challenge.
Chapter 7
BETWEENTHEdrive to the gathering, being surrounded by people while I tried and failed to find someone I could tie with, the drive back to Yafenack, the challenge, the night wandering through the woods, and the morning spent with the interpack council members, I hadn’t slept in more than three days. And they’d been stressful, busy days. So by the time I got home after accompanying Heath Farbis and Anthony Lang to obtain a sample of my father’s blood, I was barely able to stay upright.
I had planned to go straight to my room, bathe, and then sleep. But somehow I’d ended up leaning against the wall next to the front door, my eyes closed and my muscles tense. I had no idea how long I’d been there when I heard my mother’s voice.
“Samuel! Thank goodness you’re all right.”
“I’m sorry,” I said immediately. Then, after swallowing hard, I opened my eyes and, difficult though it was, looked her straight in the face. Her skin was pale, her hair disheveled, and her eyes red-rimmed. “I’m so sorry. I know I failed him, failed the pack, but I’ll find a way to fix it. I’ll avenge him. I’ll—”
“Shhhh.” My mother walked right up and hugged me. She’d done that more frequently than everyone else I knew combined, but I still stiffened at the feel of arms around me, still felt awkward being touched, and still didn’t know how I was supposed to respond or what I was supposed to do with my hands or how long I’d have to endure it before I stepped away. “It isn’t your fault, Samuel. None of it is your fault,” she whispered.
That wasn’t true. I should have noticed something was wrong during the fight. I knew my father wasn’t acting right, and yet I stood by and did nothing. And then there was my shift—what kind of Alpha couldn’t control his shift? I should have been honest with my father. He could have helped me before it was too late, but I had let my pride rule me and take away any chance I had of fixing my problem and doing the one thing I’d trained for my entire life—leading my pack.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” my mother said. She hadn’t yet stepped away, and I felt itchy and sweaty having a body so close to mine. “We’re packed and I have bags and boxes ready for you.”
When I didn’t respond, she finally released me and moved back. I sighed in relief.
