The muscles in my jaw tighten. "What exactly is your point, Beta?"
"We need to understand where your mind is at before we move forward." Jack-Eye's gaze holds mine, unflinching. "You've never shied away from violence—none of us have—but this is out of character, even for you. Do you really want to destroy the peace we've finally attained? We've spent years cleaning up your image. Have your goals changed?"
Crossing my arms, I lean back in the wooden chair, studying their faces. Their concern radiates off them in waves, stinking up the room. It's expected, but irritating.
"Brax sealed his fate the moment he showed insolence. An alpha who can't control his temper has no business leading a pack."
Jack-Eye's eyebrow twitches, and he presses his lips together. I'm sure he has some smartass remark coming, but he's wise enough to stay silent.
Reggie's throat works, a low growl building as his hands clench at his sides. "We all know this isn't about his leadership. It's about that human git."
Kill him,Fenris demands, outrage pouring into our bond.His disrespect has gone too far.
My tattoos burn with his rage, but I ignore it. Fenris is too sensitive over the girl, and his emotions have clouded my head for too long.
My emotions? They're yours, too. The longer it takes for you to accept it, the harder it will be for both of us.
"Humans don't belong in a strong pack," Reggie continues, his upper lip curling in a snarl. "They're weak and useless. She's already proven to be a liability—"
"If you're so hell-bent on following the law," I cut in, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "why are you pestering me about enforcing it?"
Dylan, an older Lycan with gray hair and a penchant for smoothing things over, steps forward. Even his face is twisted in a sneer. "Are you really investigating that... thing, Alpha?"
The tattoos across my chest burn with a dull ache. Fenris snaps at the air inside me.I'm going for his throat.
I give a lot of leniency to my people in return for their loyalty, but Fenris is another matter—he would have them on the ground and bleeding in a heartbeat to maintain his status in the pack.
If he hadn't used so much energy in the past week, he'd probably manifest on the spot to prove he means what he says. Instead, I'm able to subdue him through force of will, clamping down on our bond until he has no choice but to go silent.
Jack-Eye stomps on Reggie's foot without batting an eyelash, and the resulting grunt helps ease the tightness in my chest. Jack-Eye's beta domination is a soft whisper in the air, almost a tickle against my skin, but Reggie and Dylan take a step back in unison.
Their faces are tight and grim, but at least they're quiet.
"Grace Harper," Jack-Eye says, and my eye twitches to hear her name coming out of his mouth.
Even I don't use her name.
"Her name is Grace Harper," he continues, frowning at each Lycan in turn. "Remember it well."
Every molecule in my body wants to snap at them to keep her name out of their filthy mouths, and I wonder if Fenris is manipulating my emotions again.
No, it's just you.
Jack-Eye, oblivious to the rage simmering in my veins, turns back to me with a frown. "You're holding her captive when she'sclearly Brax's victim. Why are we still holding her here? We should be escorting her to the nearest human city."
The fire of rage is replaced with ice with his words. My fingers tighten against each armrest, wood splintering beneath the force of my grip. "I am still investigating. There is always the possibility she forced her way into the pack."
It's a flimsy excuse, and I know it. They do, too, judging by the way they're staring at me.
Just admit it.
"I know Fenris wants her, but it doesn't seem so one-sided to me. You're feeling it too, aren't you?"
The other Lycans stir; it's clear none of them know what Jack-Eye's implying, and I want it to stay that way. "Enough."
But my beta has never been one to respect boundaries. He's more of a bulldozer than a wolf. "Alpha, is there really a fated connection between you?"
"Impossible," Dylan snaps, and the others echo his sentiments.
