“How dare you raid my territory!” Claude Maplewood bellowed at Draco, getting into his face.
“That’s funny coming from you, seeing your spawn and his flunkies came into my territory and kidnapped my mate.” Draco chuckled, crossing his massive arms over his chest, relaxing.
“Please! We did no such thing. Your own enforcer invited us into your territory, therefore we didn’t sneak in. We were escorted.” Rob laughed as he rolled his eyes at Draco.
“He’s not my enforcer. He was banned into exile the day before your spy, Shelia was. So, therefore, they snuck into Blackwood territory. You kidnapped my true fated mate and shot her guard.”
“Those are serious allegations, Mr. Blackwood. Do you have any proof of what you’re claiming?”
“Duh! I’m right here, zip tied to a fucking chair. That asshole shot Dana. What more fucking proof do you need?” Athena screamed at the arrogant asshole.
“Is this alleged victim a shifter or a mere human?” The man sneered at Draco, obviously ignoring her.
“Are you fucking serious right now? Dana was a shifter. That fucker shot her, knocking her off her feet. Even gloated how you helped them get special bullets that prevent them from shifting to heal,” Athena shouted at the asshole.
“That’s nonsense. I would never do such a thing.” Roosevelt huffed snootily.
“Those bullets she mentioned were recovered from the scene of Dana’s shooting. Luckily for her, she was wearing a vest. Only one penetrated her body, her leg, but she was able to shift once the medics dislodged the bullet. It was confirmed to be from a stockpile the Council had in a vault. The same stockpile that went missing six months ago.” Draco smirked at the man as he ran his index finger and thumb over his chin as if lost in thought.
“How dare you accuse a member of the High Council of such a horrible act. Like you would have someone on the inside. I would have known about that.” Roosevelt glared at Draco.
“Really? Like they would have known about your side business with the Maplewoods?” Draco countered back, quirking an eyebrow at the man.
“Iamthe High Lord of the Council, therefore, I do not have to inform anyone who I have decided to work with. Considering I have been watching you for a while now, Mr. Blackwood, I have to say, you’re getting too big for your britches. Therefore, the Maplewoods have my full support. I believe that the Alpha of the Maplewood Pack has issued a challenge to the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Therefore, Claude and Coren shall fight to the death!”
Athena’s whole world tilted at that announcement. Coren couldn’t fight Claude.
They didn’t know about the treatments that Claude was undergoing that made him impossible to beat. They were cheating.
“Draco, Coren can’t fight Claude and win. The asshat has been using some kind of serum that makes him impossible to beat. I saw Roosevelt give Claude a new batch.”
“Thank you, my love. I will handle this. My father won’t be fighting. Be patient and reserve your energy for our child.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint Claude, but I am no longer the Alpha for the Blackwood Pack. That duty was given to my son, Draco, upon his return to the territory. And since when did you become the High Lord, Roosevelt? Last I heard, Amari was the High Lord, and he accepted the declaration that was sent to him last month that Draco was the new Alpha. He also accepted Draco and Athena’s mating upon hearing they were true fated mates.” Coren quirked an eyebrow the two men’s way, challenging them in front of the Maplewood Pack.
Athena stared after Coren as he walked forward, standing beside his son, tall and proud. He let it be known that he wasn’t going to back down from any challenge come as it may.
“Amari? Please. Now you’re showing how uneducated you truly are. Amari hasn’t been the High Lord for some time. Now, enough wasting my time. Either you, Coren Blackwood, will fight to the death with the Alpha of the Maplewood Pack or you forfeit. If you forfeit, then the Blackwood Pack falls under the ruling of the Maplewood Pack.” Roosevelt sneered at Coren as if talking to a peasant.
“As I stated previously, I am no longer the ruling Alpha of the pack, that duty falls to Draco. Unless you’re stating that Amari, accepting that title change before he stepped down is no longer valid, then you have failed to inform us. If that is the case, thenI am allowed to choose my champion to fight in my honor as you are now claiming you are the new High Lord yet failed to inform any of the packs around the country of the change, which is custom by law.” Coren smirked over at the weasel, daring him to respond.
Athena watched as the man sputtered and glared at Coren who was clearly over politicking the man every which way he turned. There was something going on in the depths of this maneuvering and she couldn’t figure it out.
“Choose your champion,” Roosevelt seethed through his teeth.
“I choose my son, Draco Blackwood. The true Alpha of Blackwood Pack to fight against the Maplewood Pack.”
Athena’s heart sank when she saw the evil smile spread across the face of Claude Maplewood. She knew they were done for.
While her husband was in phenomenal shape, she was afraid he would be no match for a man who was chemically enhanced to fight those tougher than him. Draco didn’t do drugs, despite everything that he’d been put through in his military days.
“Good, then I choose to face your son. I’ll enjoy killing him and then you when I win your pack in this fight.”
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Athena didn’t knowhow to respond to the comment that was just made. She struggled to get up but was limited in her movements.
