Page 44 of A University of Betrayal

“How can you involve Nash in such a matter?” Alarik asked with serious concern. From the start, he had been against making Nash the Alpha before his thirtieth birthday. Of course, he questioned the decisions of an eighteen-year-old. EvenIdid.

“If not now, then when? It’s only a matter of time before he becomes the next Alpha.”

I knew why Father wanted to make Nash an Alpha. He was trying to send a message. He wanted the DeLoughreys to know that the line had been continued. He wanted them to know that if they didn’t leave town soon, the pack would grow and eliminate them. And the fact that they were now at the university had driven him crazy for nights. Just like the attack on Bayla and the human girl... or the body of Mady’s brother that had been found at the diner a few days ago, which had been blamed onBlairville’s wild wolves.

Since that day, Nash had been even more tense than usual, and I knew it had something to do with Madelin Campell.

“He’s too young for that.” Alarik sighed.

Fortunately, the subject of Julian was out of the way for now. Next was the usual. Nash this, Nash that, Nash whatever.

“Think back to our time. How old were we?” Dad laughed, and I had to get used to the sound because the last time I’d heard him laugh had been three years ago.

“Fartoo young,” Alarik replied with regret in his voice. “And yet you were older than he is now, almost ten years,” he continued hastily. He seemed a little confused, unlike I knew him. Alarik was a mess, that was nothing new, but his thoughts always seemed organized.

“Our old man would have made you Alpha too, and you weren’t a day older than he is now.”

There it was again. The story that people knew so little about. But it was true. Alarik could have become an Alpha. He had the Alpha gene. The one you needed to prove yourself as an Alpha. And also, the one that preserved the species in case of need. Whenever it was the turn of a new alpha, a test was carried out to see whether he possessed this gene. A test that Nash also had to pass... and it looked like he only had a year to do it.

Any blind man could see that my brother wasn’t ready yet. Only father couldn’t. By now, this blindness had settled over the entire pack like a dark bedspread over a dead person’s bed. The pressure was rising. A new Alpha was demanded, and this time not because of the traditions of the Esadowas.

I wondered if the rules had been much different when they had been in town...

I hastily pushed aside the strange feeling in my stomach and concentrated on the conversation.

“Unlike your son, I refused the inheritance. I wasn’t ready for it.”

Silence.

I knew my father was trying to live up to his role as Alpha. But that didn’t stop the silence that fell like a chasm between the two of them whenever they talked about the subject.

“Tell me, how is Emely performing at the moment?”

I was about to let out all my air.

It was common for Father to use me as the perfect change of subject, but only when I wasn’t present.

“She’s gotten very strong,” my uncle responded to the change in conversation, and I couldn’t help but grin slightly. I didn’t like boasting about my strength, but what was wrong with a little pride?

“I’m glad to hear that.” I smiled slightly again. Father never praised me, and this indirect praise wasn’t even meant for my ears. “So, the chances are high that she’ll make an acceptable match?”

And immediately the smile was gone. Instead, my stomach filled with a queasy feeling. I had hoped that it had only been a bad dream a few days ago. The memories of the phone call with the Russian Alpha seemed to choke my throat without justification.

“You know what my opinion is on this, Nickolas.” Alarik sounded unenthusiastic.

I appreciated his efforts to support me, only it was my father he was speaking against.

“Do you think it’s easy for me to do something like this?” That’s how it sounded when it came to Nash. The next sentence was usually something like:The pack comes first.And that was true.The pack came first. In all cases.“Nevertheless, I think she is perfect for this role. I don’t know anyone who is as loyal to a pack as Emely. At the Alpha’s side, she would be taken care of.”

It was myjobto show devotion and loyalty. Something I made an effort to do. But ever since Julian was involved, that task seemed to be getting harder and harder. And now Dad’s plans for my future were added to the mix.

“Emely is part ofthispack. She was made forourpack. Not for any other...”

“What do you think? That Iwantto give her away?” my father interrupted, completely shocked. The queasy feeling spreads through my stomach again.“Tradition.Alarik. That’s the one thing you keep neglecting.”

Silence again. Then I heard Father start to play nervously with his pen.

“We’re expecting Dimitrio and his son in a week from now.”