Page 51 of Dark Moon Secrets

Tyr worked nearby. We hadn’t spoken all day, and the energy between us was strained. Ordinarily, there would be banter between us. Not today, not now—he was in direct competition with me for the beta position.

I glared at him for the hundredth time, my wolf pushing to get out and fight him. Not that it would work in my favor if I started a fight, but I couldn’t believe Tyr would fall for one of my dad’s manipulative moves.

One was about getting me to step up and do what I was told. Tyr knew how I felt about this. We had grown up together and knew each other well. The chance of power had gone to his head way too quickly.

“You know, instead of blaming me, you should have a good look at yourself,” said Tyr abruptly.

“Fuck off. You should keep your nose out of things that aren’t your business,” I snapped back at him.

“But it is my business. Rafe trusts me more than you,” said Tyr.

“You’re a fucking idiot if you’re going to believe whatever it is he’s promised you.” I put the trowel on top of the freshly laid bricks and strode over to Tyr.

“You know he does this, pits us against each other. He is playing you,” I said softly, not wanting the others on site to hear. It was frowned on to bad mouth the alpha like this. We were all meant to follow and be a pack. At least he was finally doing something about the control the witches enforced on us.

“He’s finding out who is the strongest.” Tyr stepped toward me, chest puffed out, shoulders squared.

“Like hell he is.”

“You can’t take being looked over because you’re not good enough.” Tyr pointed his finger at me.

“Look how the chance of getting power has changed you. You wouldn’t cope in the beta position. You’ll fuck it up all the time,” I shot back.

“You would have to be around even to know whether that would be the case.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tyr was pushing my buttons today.

“You don’t think I’m being given this chance because you’re not around. You’re too busy prowling at night and not taking any responsibility.”

“I didn’t think you were this shallow, Tyr.” I clenched my fists, trying to keep them by my sides and not punch my mate in anger.

“You’re the one who is shallow.”

“I’m around, Tyr, more than you think. I can have a private life.”

“You need to be around if we are going to attack the witches and win.”

This was how my dad got to Tyr. Of course, he made a promise he had no intention of keeping. But then he said it was all to defeat the witches.

“What do you mean if? We are going to do this,” I corrected.

“Yes, but you’re not around to be involved in the discussions. You don’t even know what was said last night.”

Fuck, I swallowed hard. I had been relying on Tyr to tell me, to keep me informed, but I saw now, albeit perhaps a little too late.

“So, you’re saying you won’t catch me up because you want to be beta over me.”

It was all starting to make sense. I had to applaud my dad for this move. What better way to stop me from going out prowling at night than by cutting off who supplied me with my information?

“Tyr,” I said softly. “You’re smarter than this… think about it. If you don’t tell me what’s going on, then Rafe gets to me.”

“No, it’s about who is better for the position.” Tyr shook his head.

“He will never give you the beta position. Hell, I will be lucky to get it. We’re too young.”

“It’s time for the next generation to step up.”

It was clear what conversations I had been missing last night. I needed to be around to stop Tyr from believing this shit. The pack couldn’t go up against the witches like this. We needed to be fully ignited to change the balance and become the ones in control.

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