Luna wrinkled her nose as she thought about it, her golden eyes squinting as if she was reading something off. I wondered if that was how I used to look when I was reciting answers for test questions when I thought about what I had written on flashcards. “Ocean Mist.” She shook her head. “You’re weird.” We all froze, and my growl rumbled louder now.
A choked noise sounded through the speaker. “Ari!” His name fell in a cry from lips.
“I’m fine,” he spat.
“Luna,” Alpha Due chuckled, though it sounded a little strangled, “can you use some more words for me please, pup?”
“They dance all the time,” she told us. “All the time. And they sing funny. It’s weird.” She shook her head. “Even Selene laughs when we watch them.”
A scuffle sounded, followed by heavy breathing and then a harsh chuckle. “Your son’s quick, Raff,” Alpha Due remarked. “Had me pinned with his claws at my throat before I could even blink.”
“I taught him well.” Raff chuckled. “Serves you right for saying it like that anyhow, you know how pups are.”
Luna’s brow puckered as she looked between us. “What happened?”
“Nothing, just the males being males,” I told her. “His pack likes him, huh?”
“Uh-huh, mostly.” She wriggled a bit. I heard him hiss, and knew he was thinking of Syaoran and probably wondering, like us, how many other traitors were spread throughout his midst.
“Alright, we’re about three minutes out,” Alpha Due warned us. “This is going to happen fast. Look, I can’t tell you to hold off the duel, but I can say that you need to think long term,” he stressed the words. “Think of all the packs.” I was sure he was staring down Alarick, trying to force whatever knowledge he needed into his mind. “Think of the laws and what the school has taught you.”
“I’m so lost,” I hissed at Ian as Alarick drew in a sharp breath.
“He’s not though,” Ian told me, pride ringing in his voice. “You have it, Alarick?”
“I do,” he answered firmly. “Just make sure they don’t have a chance to jump any of us before we play our cards.”
“That we can do,” Chann assured him, as we drove between a pair of pillars carved like dolphins breaching the waves of the ocean.
“Welcome, my friends, to Ocean Mist,” Alpha Due rumbled. “Let’s go kick some ass.”
Chapter Eighteen
Pixie
“You alright?” I whispered to Raff while we parked.
“I’m blind as a damn bat,” he replied with a sigh, “but I’m alive.” He managed to pat my shoulder as Zev slid the door open, and Ian and I balanced him carefully between us.
“We’ll keep working on it,” Ian breathed into his ear, his voice too low to be heard by anyone but the three of us. “We won’t give up.” Raff nodded weakly, not bothering with a response.
Alarick, Alpha Due, and Chann piled out from the other vehicle. Alarick met my eyes, tilted his head toward the back of the car, and let his irises flash blue for a second. Got it—Borris had been knocked out by command and was in the trunk. Well, one less thing to deal with for the moment.
A flurry of movement had me facing the mansion Alpha Due had us park in front of. Nowhere near Lupine Hollow in size, the home was still impressive with its brilliant white walls, dark roof, and turquoise door. The movement I’d caught was the door flying open and Alpha Eirian striding outside with her hands on her hips as she took in the scene. The wolves from Starlight Woods had pulled in immediately behind us and were already snarling as they stepped from their cars. She looked at Raff with a sigh and gestured for us to bring him into the house.
“I’m sorry, my dear,” Alpha Due objected. “Unfortunately, that will have to wait.” Eirian paused, her eyebrow slowly sliding up in a way that reminded me of my mother as her lips pressed into a firm line and her eyes narrowed on her mate.
“Um, she’s kinda scary,” I muttered, my eyes widening as I took in the pair.
He glanced back at me, his smile wicked. “You have no idea, young beta.”
“You bring an injured friend to my home and tell me I’m not allowed to care for him, Alpha?” Even without fully understanding pack politics, I was sure by his wince that her stressing his title in that moment was not a good thing.
“My dear…” He held out a hand for her, and she grudgingly accepted. “I am sure if a seat could be brought out, it would be appreciated by his pack. However” —his lips thinned— “there are some issues that need to be addressed, and Starlight Woods has forced my hand as they have brought those issues to our territory, included a member of my pack, have issued a challenge on my pack lands that requires a mediator, and have made accusations regarding said challenge that also require a mediator.”
Eirian snarled. “A chair for Raff,” she called out. Her eyes caught on Luna and softened. “Some cakes and lemonade as well,” she added, a small smile on her lips. Luna giggled, ducking her head under Shannon’s chin. “Pup, would you like to go play with the pups of our pack?”
“Thank you, Alpha Eirian,” I spoke up, carefully balancing Raff. “I know you mean well and your pack would look out for our pup like she was yours, but at such a tense time, I’m sure you can understand why we would prefer she remain in our arms.”
Eirian nodded. “Unfortunately, I do. Are you comfortable holding her?” she asked Shannon. “Would you like a chair as well?”
“I’m fine, Alpha Eirian, thank you for your concern.” Shannon inclined her head. Pack members of Ocean Mist were quick to arrive with a chair for Raff and a table that held treats for the pup. Every time Gwyar or one of the members of Starlight Woods attempted to speak, Alpha Eirian cut them off with a snarl, intent on seeing to our comfort before all else. Only when she was sure we were as settled as we could be in the middle of the front walkway did she turn, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Now, Due, tell me what’s going on,” she ordered her mate.
“Alpha Eirian,” Gwyar began, attempting to schmooze, but he was cut off by a vicious snarl.
“I spoke to my mate, not you. You came to my territory. You did not formally request mediation. You have not been offered a chance to speak, and I have no issue meting out the punishment you are earning. You will be silent on my territory!” she barked.
“Okay, can I be her when I grow up?” I whispered to Ian. The corner of his lip turned up in a smirk, the only indication he’d heard me.
“The summarized version, I think, my dear. I have already listened to many of the details and they are not currently up for verification. Gwyar attempted to challenge Alpha Raff while he was on our property and incapacitated by vervain.”
Eirian snorted. “Pathetic, but not illegal.”
“Unless we can prove he’s the one who gave it to him,” I muttered. Her eyes shot to me, and she cocked her head.
“True,” she agreed, acknowledging me with a slow nod. “However, I would assume he had someone else feed him the poison, removing his responsibility.”