“If you make a move, I will end you,” I whispered. There was no need to raise my voice, not with the room quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Alpha Due stepped toward me, breathing deeply, his eyes on mine. I didn’t back away, didn’t try to hide as his wolf pushed forward, searching for mine. I pushed my magic to the forefront, similar to the way I had when Pixie and I had faced off for her first challenge. It didn’t take much, just a small shove, and he gasped. “Well, hell,” he exclaimed, his face going nearly as gray as his hair. “That’s going to take some explaining.”
“Lies!” Shaw hissed. “I demand proof!”
I whirled on her, my lip rising as I let my magic out in a wave, crashing over the wolves in the room. The Starlight Woods wolves whimpered, cowering and crying out as if struck, flinching away from the lash of power. My packmates shuddered and a moan slipped from Pixie’s lips, her eyes flashing up to mine. “Not helpful right now,” she hissed at me, though a small smile played over her mouth.
Zev cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. “Yeah, dude, I think that’s affecting us a little differently than them. And believe me, that’s not exactly in my comfort zone.” I barked out a laugh, drawing the magic back in.
“A trick,” Gwyar insisted, and I rolled my eyes at Alpha Due. “I insist Raff face the challenge immediately.”
“Fillian, Pixie, is Raff safe to transport?” Alpha Due asked gently. The pair leaned back from my father with tired sighs, sharing a considering look.
“Yes,” Fillian answered slowly. “I’d prefer to get him home to our pack territory; having him around humans isn’t ideal.”
“I’m sure your accommodations are better, but for the moment, would you grant me a favor and acquiesce to take him to my home? It’s close to here and my mate is waiting. She is not a healer, but we will be able to let him rest in comfort.” The expression on his face softened as he added, “He is a friend, and I would like to see him cared for.”
“Alpha Due, I appreciate your offer. If Fillian and Pixie believe it is safe for him, I will gladly accept.”
“Borris?” Chann inquired softly. Alpha Due arched a brow and I sighed.
“We have a complication,” I admitted. “Your mate’s help would be appreciated.”
He nodded in understanding. “Any help we can provide is yours,” he told me firmly. “Tala,” he addressed a male who waited in the hall behind him, “take Syaoran with you.” His tone was icy as he glared at the fidgeting male in the corner who had worked with Starlight Woods.
“I insist the alpha and the pup are kept separate,” Shaw trilled, and I rolled my eyes.
“I am already alpha of this pack,” I repeated slowly, but when she went to open her mouth again, I slashed a hand through the air. “However, as it pleases me due to my own circumstances, my father will ride separately from me.” I faced my packmates to give my own orders, ignoring Starlight Woods. “Zev, Alpha Due or his people will tell you where to go. Fillian, Pixie, please keep my father stable during the ride. Shannon, I’m sending you with them as well to keep an eye on Luna.” They all nodded. “Chann, you’re with me. We’ll take Borris.” His worried green eyes met mine as I snagged the keys I saw on the dresser.
“Parking garage,” my dad whispered to me, telling me where the car was. “Second floor.”
“You’re too stubborn to die, old friend,” Alpha Due murmured fondly. “Make sure that stays true.” He turned, leading us from the room. “Starlight Woods, I expect you’ll find your way to my property as well, since you’re the objecting party. If you have no protests, Alarick, I believe I’ll ride with you to show you the way.”
“That’s not—” Gwyar began to object when Alpha Due turned to snarl at him.
“Oh, but that is. You came to my territory, Gwyar. You fucked up. Deal with it or get out.”
“No wonder my dad likes you,” I muttered as I followed him back down the hall.
Chapter Seventeen
Pixie
We waited for Starlight Woods to clear the room before Zev helped Ian and me lift Raff from the bed and carry him downstairs. Part of me expected someone to stop us, to call out to us in shock at the fact we were hauling a limp man between us to a vehicle, but no one seemed to notice us.
“Another shield?” I questioned, glancing at some of the black and gray-haired males and females who were too studiously avoiding our eyes as we gently lowered Raff into the car.
“Probably,” Ian replied, shifting slightly to let Shannon and Luna climb into the back seat. “It’s a common skill, and useful for packs that have a lot of humans on their territories.” Zev was sliding into the driver’s seat as Ian’s phone rang and he placed it on speaker.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Alpha Due barked through the phone as I pressed my hand to Raff’s neck, ignoring the weariness that wanted to force my eyes closed. Between healing Luna and now Raff, I was worn out, but I wasn’t willing to stop. I could still feel the damage in his body, though he was no longer slipping away from us.
“Which part?” I asked dryly, shoving more energy forward. “The part where Gwyar is a murderous bastard? The part where someone somehow messed with our omega and got him to poison Raff? The part where Alarick is now some kind of scary powerful alpha? Or the part where we now have to take some kind of day trip to yet another werewolf lie detector because Gwyar is an idiot who needs his skull kicked in to see if scrambling his brains can improve his IQ?”
Silence rang through the car for a moment before Alpha Due burst into peals of laughter, the sound gruff but rich as it rolled across the line. “Oh, I like you, Beta, I really do. You remind me of my Eirian.”
I blinked down at the phone where Ian had balanced it in the cup holder before shrugging. “Uh, thanks?” I murmured.
“You’re very welcome,” he replied. Ian placed his hands beside mine, adding his energy to my own.
“Take a break for a minute, kitten,” he insisted. “You’re not used to healing for this long, and you wore yourself out with Luna. He’s stable, we’re just working on the longer damage now.”
“Luna? The moon blessed pup we met at the masquerade?” Alpha Due’s voice went sharp. “You had to heal the pup? Did Gwyar hurt her?”
I snarled, but took Ian’s advice, sagging backwards into the seat as I took deep breaths, forcing oxygen into my tired muscles. “If he had, he’d be dead,” I told him bluntly, my wolf pushing herself into my words even as my eyes slid closed. I laid my head back against the seat, letting the movement of the car rock me for a moment while I breathed as evenly as I could.
Zev chuckled. “She’s a bit protective of that pup, Alpha,” he called over his shoulder.
“I helped Alpha Raff and Alpha Alarick,” Luna piped up, leaning forward so that her hair brushed against my shoulder. “The Beta and Zeta had to help me too, but it still hurt a lot.”
“You did well, pup,” Alarick praised her, his voice smooth and sure through the phone. “We couldn’t have done this without you. I’m proud to have a pup like you in my pack.” Luna yipped, the sound so young and wolf-like I couldn’t help but chuckle. Even with my eyes closed, I could almost see her wiggling in Shannon’s arms.