Page 27 of The Alpha Dire Wolf (Bloodlines & Bloodbonds #1)

Lincoln

M y walk to the meeting grounds was fraught with tension. The last time I’d called a meeting, it had been to announce that the Chained was gaining power, that he was sending forth shadow minions, and that we all had to be on guard. However, I’d called that meeting in a few hours.

This time, I’d given the pack nearly twenty-four hours to stew.

Immediately upon my return to the den, I had spread the word that there would be a meeting the following evening.

Then I’d gone to work, arranging the few things I needed done in order to get out in front of what I was sure would be a rather robust rumor mill.

There was simply no way Cassius and Noel hadn’t gone to work against me.

That was fine. In fact, I wanted it. They would spread the word of what I had been up to, and expect to use it against me.

Which is why I couldn’t wait to see their faces once I dropped my plan in their way—an obstacle they couldn’t avoid or run over.

They would have to accept it or be called out as hypocrites in front of the entire pack.

I tried to keep my smugness to a minimum. After all, just as I could come up with devious plans, so too could my opposition. Noel was no rookie, and he had the support of the Elder Council as well. I still had to tread carefully, and be ready for the unexpected, just in case.

Looking around, I could see minimal movement throughout the den.

Under the cover of the trees, our lands were usually full of life and laughter.

Not tonight. This meeting was important, and the pack could sense it.

Mothers would have put children to sleep.

Elder siblings would be charged with looking after their younger kin.

Only those who absolutely could not be spared would miss this.

All of which meant, as I walked into the amphitheater, the electricity in the air reached out and latched on to me, threatening to paralyze muscles and freeze me in the spot.

I snorted, shrugging off the pressure and continuing without so much as a hesitation. I was the alpha. This was my pack, and the day I was afraid to face them was the day I didn’t deserve to stand at the front and be their leader.

Torches on the wall and along the walkways flickered and cast shadows across various carvings set into the walls, the floors, even the risers of the various levels, all viewable as I descended to the center of the pit.

Conversation slowed, the silence flowing out from my position in an arc. Some tensed, expecting explosive confrontations. Others readied arguments and insults. Still others sat back and prepared to watch in silence, evaluating everything before they made a choice.

Two-legged forms dominated the landscape. It was the only way to pack that many shifters into the small space, though some still lounged on all fours, often acting as back rests for others. We were a close-knit group, long-standing differences of opinion aside.

I moved to the front of the stage and waited, basking in the presence of my ancestors’ ancestors.

Long had my pack lived in the forest, and just as long had we been the caretaker of it.

Before the coming of the Chained and the great battle long ago that bound it to the heart of the forest, the wolves of my pack had padded these trails and filled the clearings with laughter and love.

That must not be lost in the growing darkness. As must our duty. It had shifted over time, but our love for those endless wilds had never faded. The elders were losing sight of that, I feared, though I did not understand why.

To my right, they sat in a knot, all in human form.

Not a single wolf among them. Many kept their faces neutral, but others such as Elder Jackson didn’t bother to hide their ire.

The same was reflected to my left, where Cassius sat next to Noel, not even bothering to hide his smug satisfaction, as if the outcome of the meeting could not be in doubt.

Noel, for his part, looked more composed, as I expected of the only wolf to put up a challenge against me in the trial to become alpha.

Unlike the elders, who acted from what I believed to be fear, Noel held a different set of opinions, ones that clashed with mine.

I did not approve, but I could respect that nonetheless. Usually.

But when my eyes locked on to Noel’s, the other dire wolf did something unexpected. He smiled. Broadly. Broadcasting his eagerness for the meeting to get started spoke of a deep confidence in the outcome.

Time to shake that.

Instead of looking away, or seeming unsettled, I paused my scan of the room, leveling my gaze at Noel and not letting it move. Then, ever so slightly, I smiled at the edges.

Watching his pupils dilate in surprise, I allowed myself to feel a sliver of the disdain I carried for him to shine through.

That’s right, you bastard. I know exactly what you’re up to. But you have no idea what I’m going to do.

The meeting was brought to order properly this time by Elder Germander, who said some solemn, respectful words about the gathering of the pack and a focus on unity. But the instant he finished, Noel shot to his feet, demanding to be allowed to speak.

“Of course,” I said, taking the reins back from Elder Germander and giving a lazy wave to my biggest opposition. “Be my guest.”

Noel’s forehead wrinkled ever so slightly in confusion at my tactic, but he hurried to the front of the amphitheater without any hesitation.

“My fellows,” Noel said as he addressed the majority of the pack. “I come to you today with grave news. News of betrayal. News of disobedience and disregard for the council of our elders and traditions. I come to you with news of treason and literal sleeping with the enemy.”

I wish, I thought, taking a nanosecond to enjoy the thought of Sylvie’s warm body writhing beneath me as I claimed her properly. Then I dismissed the thought and focused once more on the meeting before us, raising a hand as if we were in class, interrupting Noel before he could continue.

“Point of order,” I drawled. “I am not actually sleeping with the enemy.”

Sylvie deserved the respect of me admitting to the truth of that.

“Yet,” Cassius said. “It’s only a matter of time.”

I smiled broadly, clapping my hands together twice and pointing at him, enjoying the confusion on both his and Noel’s faces. “Exactly. Not yet. I’m glad you get it. This will make things much easier.”

Cassius looked at Noel for support, but Noel was just as confused and caught flat-footed as his supporter. Instead of telling them my plans, I waited for Noel to gather his thoughts. It made him look weaker that way.

“What are you suggesting?” he finally asked, the background muttering of the pack growing louder by the second.

“I’m suggesting that you’re right on the money.” This was the part I didn’t like. The part that I had to say, but I didn’t want to. Deceiving my pack did not make me feel good. But it had to be done. “My plan is to sleep with her.”

“She is the enemy of our pack!” Elder Jackson shouted. “This is unacceptable.”

“Correction,” I said, pointing at him with a flourish. “We think she’s the enemy of our pack. We don’t know for certain what the old witch did or did not tell her. We know her and her bloodline are a danger to our pack. We believe she’s up to something.”

“She must be,” Jackson replied. “Else why would she have not left already? She’s staying for a reason, despite her grandmother’s death.”

“Also correct,” I said, agreeing and throwing Elder Jackson off as well. “As you told me, we did not have to worry about the grandmother. She had grown too weak. But we don’t know enough about her granddaughter. And we must learn more.”

Elder Jackson frowned, twisting the tip of his beard back and forth, a sure sign he was agitated. “Is that what you’re saying your plan is? That you intend to seduce our enemy to gather intelligence about her plans?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” I said, feeling slimy as all hell. “I will get close to her. Gain access to her trust and what she’s up to. The easiest way to do that is to seduce her. She’s already falling for me. It’ll be easy. Once she’s on her back, I can make sure she’ll give it all up.”

I wanted to vomit. That was not the way I viewed Sylvie, and I hated lying to my pack.

The entire thing was despicable, but until I could figure out how to stop the paralysis the elders were spreading through my pack, it was the only way forward I’d come up with that ensured I could remain as alpha.

Noel’s face clouded with anger as I completely undermined his entire plan of attack.

Numerous heads were nodding thoughtfully in the audience now.

More than a majority. I had the support for this, and he knew it.

He was just pissed that I’d pulled the rug out from under him so smoothly, when he’d known he finally had me with my back to the wall.

“I am working to protect our pack,” I said to everyone. “Not betray it. If I am successful, none of you will get hurt. Once I know her plan, once I have her in my grasp, we can counter it and protect everyone, including our pups.”

Again, I felt dirty for included that last, a clear strike with the mothers and women in the pack. But I was smugly broadcasting my intentions to bed a woman and use her desires against her. I had to show somehow that I still cared, to ensure they would also side with me.

“I am the alpha of this pack,” I growled, choosing my moment to keep speaking perfectly, right as Noel opened his mouth.

It was a subtle reminder that I, not he, was in charge.

Others saw it too, I was sure. “I will protect you all as an alpha should. Which would go smoother if others would stop trying to interfere and risk exposing my true nature to her.”

There was some mild arguing, a symbolic protest from Noel, but I had enough support from the rest of the pack that the issue was never in doubt. I eventually adjourned the meeting and then left as quickly as I could.

I needed a shower. A hot one. I cranked the water as far as it could go and thrust myself under the scalding liquid, turning my skin red and irritated as steam filled the room. It still wasn’t enough to wash away the stain of my words and lies.

“It is lies. Isn’t it?” I asked the tiled wall, seeking solace in the inanimate.

The question was legitimate. After all, I was trying to figure out more about Sylvie.

Who she was, what she was doing, if she had any inkling whatsoever of who she truly was.

I also needed to find out more about the pull between us.

It wasn’t natural, and I knew she felt it too.

But how could that be if she was the supposed downfall of my pack?

It didn’t make any sense, and I didn’t like it or anything associated with what I was saying.

I was the alpha. I should lead with integrity and openness, but instead I was lying to everyone. Deceiving them.

If there’s any truth to her being evil, to having a plan to destroy us, I will deal with her myself. Whatever it takes to protect my pack. This I swear.

Hopefully, it didn’t come to that, because if I had to kill her, I wasn’t sure I could live with myself after.

Whatever the complicated truth is here, at least you can now spend time with her without issue.

In fact, I was expected to do just that, and despite the complex nature of the truth of the situation, spending more time with her still brought a smile to my face. It was something I wanted to do.

Drying off, I got dressed in fresh clothes, a ghost of a smile still on my face as I went down the stairs, already thinking ahead to when I could see Sylvie next.

A figure was in my kitchen, hunched over the fridge, scrounging through it.

“Sure, go ahead. Make yourself at home, why don’t you?” I said.

Rome glanced over his shoulder. “Okay. I will,” he said, stuffing a handful of bread into his mouth. He tossed out some leftover steak strips and went about fixing himself a sandwich that used both the last of the steak and my bread.

“You can tell me now,” he said, plunking himself down at the table with casual comfort. But his face was serious.

“Huh?” I had no idea what he meant. “Tell you what, Rome?”

My best friend sighed theatrically. “Your real plan, obviously. Whatever it is you’re actually up to, Linc.”

I wished I could. A part of me still longed to open up to him, to tell him everything that was going on. About the way I felt about Sylvie, about the connection forming between us, one that defied everything I’d been told.

But I couldn’t. Not now. Not since I’d become alpha. There were things now that I had to keep to myself. That I couldn’t reveal, because that was the place of a leader. To play politics, and appease the dozen or so various factions within the pack.

I hated it.

But with Rome’s grandfather firmly in opposition to me, and the most outspoken critic of Sylvie, not to mention the biggest fearmonger in the pack, I simply could not let Rome in as much these days.

“You already know it,” I told him, hating that he could no longer be my confidant, only a friend. “I’m not up to anything.”

Rome laughed. “Yeah, right. You can tell me the truth, Linc.”

“I am telling you the truth,” I said, my teeth grinding together. “I need to know more about her, and find a way to protect us from her.”

“That seems simple.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Just kill her. Wouldn’t that be easiest?”

Struggling to fight down the abrupt lunge from my wolf for his throat, I forced a nod. I couldn’t allow myself to react. Not now, despite seeing red at the suggestion.

“No, Rome, it wouldn’t,” I said stiffly.

“Otherwise, it would have been done ages ago. Don’t you think?

We don’t know who she’s working for or what magic she has hidden up her sleeve.

Killing her could unleash worse. Witches have to be dealt with very carefully.

You know that. Or did you already forget what happened when one of the vamps took out old Twisted Tianna? ”

Rome shuddered.

“Exactly.” I shook my head. “Her omega curse burned him with daylight from inside his dick outward over the course of two weeks.”

We both shuddered, our legs coming together slightly.

“I won’t risk Sylvie’s omega curse doing the same to me, or perhaps hurting someone else, or everyone else, in our pack. I can’t do that. None of us can. So for now, I work on finding out more. That’s all.”

That’s all I can tell you, at least …