Page 150 of Haze

“I had the choice to challenge him and try to take the pack or leave. I took the coward’s way out. I don’t want to be an Enforcer for the family. I’m too old for war.”

Hoping that satisfies him, I wait.

Deacon doesn’t open his beer. Instead, he plays with the bottle opener. I watch him as he thinks. His head tilts back and forth a few times.

“You’re not haunted, Finn.” Deacon looks at me with a smirk. “You have visitors, but they’ve all been kind and loving. Sure, you’ve a couple pissed off at you bu—”

“Not—” I cut him off accidentally.

“Not what you’re expecting.” Deacon interrupts me back. “We want you to challenge me.”

“Who is we?” I’ve learned that Deacon is off his rocker. Maybe it’s the ghosts giving him ideas?

He nods in affirmation. “Cade and I have talked. You’re the best man for the job. It’s time.”

“Listen. If you want me out of the territory, all you have to do is ask. I’m not here with a death wish.” I shake my head and take a step back.

Deacon puts the unopened beer on the coffee table. He stands up and squares his shoulders. Seeing Deacon at full height, I realize he’s nowhere near as large as Cade. A good five, maybe six inches shorter than Cade, and it puts him right under a foot shorter than me. If I’ve learned anything about him, it’s that Deacon’s more than recreational with his drug use. There’s absolutely no fear in Deacon as he lets me size him up. I don’t think he’s currently under the influence. But it’s not Deacon I’m worried about when it comes to a challenge fight.

“Cade’s said that he’s willing to fight any challenge made on my, Thalia’s, or Lena’s behalf.” Deacon voices what I’m thinking and continues. “If you challenge me, I’ll accept the fight, and you’ll be Second. Cade and I both want it that way.”

“Why?”

This seems suspiciously too good to be true.

Deacon looks at me with an expression I can only equate to the insult, ‘who ties your shoes in the morning?’

But he humors me and demands, “Tell me you’re not better suited for the job.”

I can’t.

“Tell me that you don’t miss being in charge and having control.” Deacon waits.

I can’t.

“Tell me that you like living here and working at the university.” Deacon looks around at my secondhand furnishings.

I shrug. Seeing Lena every day isn’t bad.

“Tell me the only reason you shrugged wasn’t because of Lena.”

I huff. He’s good.

“Tell me that you don’t love my sister and are trying to protect her from the world and herself.” Deacon’s eyes are softer when he mentions her.

But again, I can’t argue with him.

“Tell me that you haven’t debated killing Doctor Thorpe every second you have to spend with him?” Deacon laughs with that one.

Shaking my head, I run my hand down my face. I still haven’t found a good place for a shave and a haircut. That’s my own damn fault for not taking the time. But Lena’s been much more important time-wise. I’d rather give every spare moment to her right now.

“Thalia’s heat is approaching. We’re watching and waiting. But it’s looking more and more like it’ll be right before the full moon.” Deacon voices the hard truth of the situation.

Bile rises in my throat. Wolf laws dictate that challenges issued must be fought within the same lunar period. Meaning any threat between now and the full moon must be answered by the full moon. Cade being unavailable as Alpha is dangerous. If Thalia goes into heat, Cade and Thalia are exempt from fighting, but Deacon and Lena would be exposed to challenge fights. If Lena and I were more formally out to the pack, I would technically be able to fight her challenge for her, but Deacon would be on his own.

Deacon blows a raspberry when he’s sure I’ve made the leap in logic.

He urges with a strong tone, “Take my job. I’m not strong enough to fight that many potential challenges within a week. Not to mention any that come in for Lena.”

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