"Nothing." I shook my head. "What happens now?"
Paul pulled out his phone. He was going to call for help?
"Now, the council hears how one of their elders tried to sell a blessed mate to a human. If that doesn't break some pack law, I don't know what will."
"Was that your plan all along?" I rubbed my wrists after Paul cut them free.
"From about the time I started running back to pack lands after you left. I had a hunch Delia would pull the same thing with you that she did with Riley."
Thank goodness someone had an actual plan. "So I ruined everything with my actions and should've just left?"
Paul cocked his head to the side. "Hell no. You needed to get sold." He smiled. "As an elder, we needed to catch Delia in the act. She's too slippery otherwise." He tapped the screen of his phone and put it up to his ear. "I've got him. We're good. Just wait." He hung up, helping out of the car.
Tyrone had my uncle hogtied. His wide eyes watched me. He'd been gagged, a nice touch that I certainly appreciated. Tyrone's gaze met mine. "Your uncle is a piece of work, if you don't mind me saying so."
"You're a good actor," I said, my voice shaky.
"And you're a good person," Tyrone replied. "Your concern for Tanya didn't go unnoticed. I don't always agree with the shifter way either, but we take what we have to. Believe it or not, this pack is still miles better than my old one."
I didn't want to believe him, but I did.
With all the adrenaline running through me, as well as more people's power than I should've been able to handle, waiting felt like the hardest thing to do, but Paul insisted we had to. "It needs to seem like there is no issue, like she's succeeded. It won't make sense if he contacts her too soon," he explained.
They stuffed my uncle in the trunk and rolled the car off the road so no one driving by would see it.
"Have you heard from Wyatt?" I asked.
"Julie texted me. He's at their house, tearing the place up. Delia told him your uncle was coming, and he's been going berserk ever since. They're keeping him locked in his room. It's been outfitted since he lived there with bars and a reinforced door. I think John was hoping for his family to come home for a while."
"What about Alpha Walker?"
Paul looked over his nails that he'd been cleaning to my face. "That's what the councilperson is for. They'll test him. They'll be able to see what he was given."
"You think he was poisoned?"
Paul nodded. "Definitely. We've just got to figure out by who. The council has their ways. These people are no joke. They will already be upset that we've had so many blessed births in the area without reporting it."
That sounded ominous, but, in the scheme of things, not quite as bad.
Tyrone stood suddenly. "It's time."
I watched him unlock the trunk of the car and reach inside. He pulled his hand free, carrying a phone. My uncle's phone.
"Fingerprint protected?" Tyrone scoffed. "It's like he doesn't trust me." He looked down at my uncle. "Is it 'cause I'm black?"
Paul smirked as Tyrone maneuvered my uncle so he could press his thumb against his phone. He slammed the trunk lid shut and passed the phone to Paul.
Instead of typing, he scrolled through my uncle's messages. "Just trying to see how this guy talks."
I blinked. That really was smart thinking. "You two make a great pair."
Despite everything going on, Paul blushed. "I, well, we're just…"
Tyrone settled his large hand on Paul's shoulder. "Thank you."
Paul tapped out a message and set the phone on the trunk. The tree of us stared at it. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth. The phone chimed, a notification informing my uncle of a money transfer. "Bingo."
"Now what?" I asked.
"Now, we go back."
A crowd had formed outside of the Alpha's mansion that included Nana, Nash, Branson, and Riley. Nana broke free from the group, hurrying toward me as I got out of the car. She pulled me into a hug before yanking herself back and holding me at arm's length.
"You do that again, and I'll smack your backside," she warned.
I smiled shakily. I wouldn't be able to relax fully until I saw Wyatt. "I'm sorry."
"No matter," Nana waved. "Though I would've liked to have been there to see you drop those nomads."
I cringed. "Were they upset?"
"No," Nash answered, brushing his knuckles against the top of my head. "Just their pride. They skedaddled out after that. I think they'll think twice before messing with you."
That was an odd thought, and not one I had time to unpack. The front door to the Alpha's mansion opened, letting out a stream of people that included Delia and her butler. Aver's mother was there, but not his father. And there was another man. He wore a crisp black and white suit that screamed elegance and status. He had dark hair and eyes and was clean-shaven. If I'd seen the man on the street, I would've thought he was an investor or lawyer, but in this setting, there was only one thing the man could be.
"Please, Councilman Knoakes," Delia said. "Test that sample quickly. We are ever so worried about—" Delia hissed as our eyes met. I smiled, sending her a small wave.
She lunged forward, but Nash, Paul, Tyrone, and Branson clumped together in front of me. Too bad. I would've loved dropping her. If I thought my body could handle any more energy. "Councilman Knoakes, come inside. You don't know this man. He's dangerous." Her tone turned pleading, and she clung to the councilman's arm.
He ripped it free and followed her gaze to me. "That pregnant man has come to hurt you?"
Paul cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Sir, Councilman, I am a member of this pack. I have pledged my loyalty to Alpha Walker and am sponsored by Delia Walker, the woman standing at your side."
"And?"
"And Delia Walker has committed a crime against all shifters. She attempted to sell this blessed mate. I have the proof right here on the phone of the man she attempted to sell him to."
"Sell him? No! That's his uncle. I was merely paying him for his trouble of coming—"
"She wasn't," I said, surprised at how clear my voice sounded. "She tried to sell me. And I think her butler might've poisoned Alpha Walker as well. His energy tasted just like—"
Nash cleared his throat. Oh yeah, energy talk would probably just confuse him.
The councilman didn't look pleased. His jaw ticked, and he scratched his clefted chin.
"I can prove it," Riley said, moving to stand by my side. "My touch makes people tell the truth. I wouldn't normally use it on people without their consent, but this is an extraordinary situation, wouldn't you agree?"
I couldn't tell if the councilman did agree. All I was sure of was that he was irritated.
"I thought I was here to investigate a crime against a pack Alpha and to negotiate a treaty between neighboring packs. What is this?" He looked from Delia and then to us, his gaze landing finally on Nana. "What do you have to say about this?" he asked her.