Page 45 of Winning the Wolf

"What do you want in exchange for my pack member?" Killick's voice was surprisingly calm.

I felt his authority and moved slightly behind him, just to the inside of the door, prepared to let him take the lead.

Jeremy threw his head back and laughed. The sound was almost painful to my ears and I had to hide my cringe. Not that he'd see much from the shadows of the cabin door.

"See, that's the problem," Jeremy started, rubbing a hand over his scruffy facial hair, "you still think you're alpha, when in reality, I can prove you're not."

A deep chuckle rumbled up Killick's chest. "I don't know who raised you, but they can't have taught you the logistics of how a werewolf pack works." Clenching a hand behind his back, Killick went on. "An alpha heir comes through the father's side, not the mother's. And on checking your birth certificate, you're an illegitimate bastard fathered by a random werewolf."

Jeremy's hilarity left, replaced by a snap of his teeth as his face formed into his wolf. He stretched his jaw and grunted, pulling his human self back out. Ah, so the bastard had no control over his wolf spirit. Shit, that made him dangerous.

"They forged that," Jeremy snapped, "because Phileas was supposed to marry someone else..." Pointing at me, he lifted the corner of his lips into a sneer. "...Her mother."

A gasp left Dinky as my mouth dropped open. My mother had married my father when they were mated, thirty years ago. They'd played the mating games like everyone else.

If only my father was in Cheddar. He had been absent for so long, I kept forgetting that he had been reported as missing. He would know the truth, he'd been friends with Miranda and Phileas since they were children.

"You didn't know?" Jeremy asked Killick.

I glanced up at the current alpha, quickly forgetting my father when I saw his expression. The skin covering his jaw was white where he clenched it so hard and his eyebrows pulled low into a deep frown.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." Killick flinched when I reached out to him, tugging his arm away in obvious rejection.

Ouch. My wolf spirit winced from the sting, even though I knew that it was the wrong moment to be offering support to the man who believed I thought him weak.

Glancing at Dinky, I searched her gaze. She watched me back, shaking her head slightly. She was warning me to stay quiet.

As much as I wanted to deny Jeremy's accusations, something niggled in the back of my mind.

"Phileas and Miranda fell in love before the mating games. I was the result of that," Jeremy said, stepping closer to the shed. "Which means, I'm the true alpha heir."

"Bollocks!" I blurted, ducking my head when Killick glanced at me.

"Exactly," the alpha said, looking at Jeremy, "bollocks."

Shrugging, Jeremy turned and gripped Dinky's shoulder, violently propelling her towards the trees.

I grasped Killick's arm, unconsciously willing him to help her.

"Wait," Killick shouted, his deep tone demanding.

Jeremy stopped suddenly. Was it my imagination or had Killick's command been impossible for him to ignore? They said that an alpha had the ability to force his subjects to bend to their will. It was often used as a test to make sure that the person was the true heir.

"What do you want?" Killick glared at the man who he should've called brother.

Tilting his head to the side, Jeremy grinned. "It's simple. I want you to admit that I'm the true alpha and give up your position."

When Killick went to open his mouth, Jeremy squeezed Dinky's shoulder, making her yelp. Killick clamped his mouth shut, waiting for the traitor to continue.

"You have ten hours to decide and then I'll be back. Make the most of your final hours as alpha."

Jeremy rushed away, dragging Dinky with him.

Killick thrust towards the exit, punching the invisible wall when he rebounded off it. I watched Dinky's back as they disappeared into the shadows of the woods. A shudder moved me as I wrapped my arms around myself and retreated into the hut.

"Fucking bastard!" Killick raged, picking up the nearest thing to hand and throwing it against the wall.

The empty flower pot rebounded off the wood and clattered to my feet. The noise made me jump so I pressed my back against the damp wall.

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