Page 34 of New Blood (Werewolf Alliance #1)

T he entire house smelled of the venison that had been slow-roasting in the oven for several hours.

Jude felt hungry. He’d skipped lunch. He’d been on a video conference with the Werewolf Alliance’s headquarters outside of Bozeman.

They’d held a hearing, and he’d been required to testify about what Cameron and William Gallagher had done.

To his surprise, another person had been on the same call: Patrick Woodford, the vampire he’d met the night of his arrival.

The Alliance had gotten in touch with him to hear his side of the events that had culminated in Cameron’s death.

It was highly unusual that the Alliance would allow a vampire to be part of their proceedings, but then, what had happened had been extraordinary, and the vampire had sworn to keep their secret.

He trusted Patrick. He’d seen it in his eyes when they’d spoken that night.

After the video call, Jude felt weary. He knew it was guilt that lay heavy on his shoulders.

He knew he should call the elders and inform them that he’d mated not with Gallagher’s daughter or niece, but with Danielle, a low-ranked member of the pack.

They wouldn’t be pleased. Indeed, they’d most likely pull him out and install the next alpha-in-waiting instead, which by his count was Austin.

He would have done it gladly, handing the reins over to his brother, but he knew that Austin liked Eve even less than he did.

And he couldn’t do that to his brother. He deserved better.

He deserved a fresh start, not the mess Jude would be leaving if the Alliance deposed him.

He had to come up with another solution, something that would unite the pack under him without him having to marry into the family.

Because one thing was one hundred percent clear: he would never leave Danielle.

Jude left his office. He found Wendell in the library. The massive man with a stubble-beard and striking silver-grey eyes looked up from his computer.

“Hey, Jude.”

Seeing that they were alone, Jude pulled the door shut behind him and approached.

“About Byron,” he started.

“What about him?”

“I’m wondering whether he could have killed the deer last night.”

Wendell shrugged. “Why are you suspecting him?”

“I heard that he’s killed animals before when he was angry.”

“I see. You wonder if he was angry enough after his brother’s death to have done it.”

“Yeah. What’s your take on him? I mean, you spent some time together at the bail bonds businesses.”

“He showed me around. He’s actually surprisingly popular with the managers. We also ran into a few bounty hunters they’ve got working for them. Pretty cool guys. They seem to accept Byron as one of them.”

“Are you saying he wasn’t acting like a jerk for once?”

Wendell chuckled. “Believe it or not, he’s different when he’s not at the estate. Out there, in the real world, he’s normal. I mean, as normal as any werewolf can be. But what I’m trying to say is, he’s almost likable. Almost,” Wendell emphasized.

Surprised, Jude furrowed his forehead.

“So you don’t think he could have done it?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. He’s definitely capable of it. Whether he actually did it, I don’t know. I’m in the room next to his, and as you know, I’m a light sleeper, but I didn’t hear him leave during the night.”

“Thanks, bro.”

“So you have no leads on who could have taken down the deer?”

Jude shook his head. “None. Byron’s my best guess.” He shrugged. “It could have been Eve, for all I know.”

“Yeah, that one’s a tough nut to crack. Wouldn’t wanna be in your shoes. She’s not somebody I’d want to warm my bed.”

Jude didn’t comment. What would he say? That Eve would most certainly never warm his bed, because he’d chosen Danielle instead? Danielle had asked him to keep their secret for now, so he would keep it. Maybe tonight, they could come up with a plan of how to proceed.

“Well, thanks anyway.” He pointed to the clock. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Oh, good.” He looked over his shoulder. “Kitty? Where are you hiding?”

A soft meow came from underneath a sofa, and a moment later, the white cat emerged. She stared at him, then at Wendell, before she made a beeline for her master and jumped onto his lap, curling up to him.

“Are you planning on bringing her into the dining room?”

Wendell petted the cat. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

“Because if I’m not mistaken, Eve hates cats.”

“Tough luck. If Kitty isn’t allowed in the dining room, I’m eating in the kitchen with her.”

“Don’t you think that’s kind of an unhealthy attachment you have to your cat?”

Kitty suddenly hissed at him.

“I don’t think she likes your comment.”

Jude rolled his eyes.

“Fine. Bring her, but do me a favor: sit as far away from Eve as you can. I don’t wanna referee a fight tonight.”

“Got it, boss.” Then he dipped his head to the cat, who rose and licked his neck. “See, Kitty, you get to come.”

Jude turned and left the library.

A half hour later, everybody was assembled in the dining room.

The various dishes had been placed on a long table along the wall, so everybody could help themselves and fill their plate before sitting down at the massive dining table.

Despite its size, it was crowded. Extra chairs had been added to fit all nineteen pack and Werewolf Alliance members.

Jude noticed that Wendell and his cat had found a seat next to Danielle.

When Danielle cooed over Kitty and exchanged a few laughs with Wendell, he felt his heart constrict.

Damn, he knew he had no reason to be jealous, but seeing her laughing with another man elicited that feeling anyway.

He pushed it down and ripped his gaze from them when Eve took the seat right next to him.

Tonight, he wouldn’t be able to ignore her.

He wished he could tell Eve right here and now that he wouldn’t be mating with her.

Leaving her in the belief that she would be the alpha female of the pack was cruel, but he couldn’t change that right now. He had to play along.

“Danielle, I’ve got good news for you.”

Danielle tore her gaze from Jude and Eve and faced Flora, who sat straight across from her at the dining table.

“Yes?”

Flora smiled. “Tomorrow, two workers from the vineyard will come and start with the repairs of your cottage, so you can move back in soon.”

“Oh, the cottage,” she said, searching for an answer.

“Yes, they think it’ll take only two days to repair what needs to make it habitable again. Apart from the kitchen, of course, but since you cook and eat in the main house anyway, we’re not gonna bother with that right away.”

Before she could comment, Flora continued, “With so many people needing accommodations right now, it’s really the best. We can probably have Priscilla share with you, so that somebody else can use her room in Heath’s cottage.

” She shifted her gaze to Wendell. “Maybe you’d like to share a cottage with Heath or Chase? ”

Wendell cleared his throat. “If that’s what Jude decides, then yes, that’s not a problem.”

Flora chuckled. “Oh, no need to bother Jude with everything. He’s got plenty on his plate. And I’m still in charge of the household. I think it’ll be best, so we can make room.”

“Maybe we should really leave it up to the new alpha to decide on that,” Danielle finally replied.

She didn’t like to be steamrolled, and she knew neither did Jude. Was this a way for Flora to show everybody that she still wielded considerable power in the pack?

Danielle remembered the gas explosion that had damaged her cottage all too well.

On that same night, Flora had suggested she move into the cottage that Chase occupied now, but William had insisted that she move into the main house.

She knew that Flora hadn’t liked being overruled.

It appeared that with William gone, Flora would go back to her original plan to remove her from the main house once more.

As if she’d done something that displeased Flora.

“Don’t be silly, girl,” Flora said with a laugh, before looking back at Wendell. “It’s the best solution. You’ll have more privacy there, too.”

Danielle swallowed the piece of venison that she’d shoved in her mouth.

Maybe her decision to wait on telling the family that she and Jude were mated hadn’t been such a brilliant idea after all.

Because once she was sent to live in the cottage again, sneaking back to Jude’s bedroom every night wouldn’t go unnoticed.

“So, Wendell,” Flora continued, ignoring her completely now. “It’s quite unusual for someone of our kind to have a cat.”

As Wendell replied to her, Danielle tuned out their conversation and glanced around.

Priscilla, who sat to Flora’s left and had clearly heard Flora’s plan, locked eyes with her.

She knew Priscilla well enough to realize that she wasn’t happy about Flora’s plan either.

She and her brother Heath were close. As for Flora’s claim that she’d have more privacy in the cottage, that was a blatant lie: the damaged cottage had only one bedroom to start with, which meant that Flora expected her and Priscilla to share a room.

It was obvious that this move was meant to remind her and Priscilla that they were the lowest-ranking members of the pack.

She cast Priscilla an encouraging look. Tonight, she would speak to Jude to make sure that Flora didn’t get a chance to execute her plan.

The loud clinking of a glass tore her from her thoughts. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Jude rise from his seat while the conversations ebbed.

“I have an announcement to make,” Jude started.

Her heart beat erratically now. Was he going to announce their mating, even though he’d promised not to?

Everybody looked at him expectantly.

“William Gallagher’s hearing before the Werewolf Alliance took place earlier today. They’ve come to a decision.”

Suddenly, the room was devoid of sounds. Relieved that Jude wasn’t breaking his promise to her and curious about William’s fate at the same time, Danielle held her breath.

“He’s been exiled to Canada.”

Several gasps reached her ears. She noticed Flora’s jaw tighten. She’d had a close relationship with William, though Danielle always thought that it was an unequal one.

“He’s not allowed to return to California or settle anywhere in the US. The Werewolf Alliance in Canada will make all further decisions.”

Danielle glanced at Eve and her brothers, who sat at the same end of the table.

Their facial expressions were rather calm.

The Werewolf Alliance’s decision wasn’t a surprise to them.

Everybody had been expecting this. With the finality of Jude’s words sinking in, all three looked resigned.

They knew that Jude was here to stay as their alpha, and they had to make the best of their situation.

She noticed a small change in Eve’s expression as she nodded and addressed Jude, “Thank you for letting us know.”

No visible emotion accompanied her words. But when Jude sat back down and the conversation resumed around the table, she placed her hand on Jude’s forearm.

A visceral sensation traveled through Danielle’s veins.

Mine , her inner wolf wanted to scream. Don’t touch him, he’s mine.

But her civilized side kept the wolf chained. For how long, she didn’t know.