I gasped. “That’s bullshit!”
Her face was grim. “Take it to the conclave.” She turned her attention back to her husband. “He wishes to forfeit?”
“No, he claims he is not alpha,” Due explained.
Eirian blinked several times, opened her mouth, then blinked again. “Hold on a moment.” She closed her eyes for a minute, and when she opened them, they were glowing silver. “He had already transferred his alpha powers to Alarick?”
“No!” Gwyar interjected. “They’re lying! There was no one but Raff in the room. They didn’t arrive until well after we did, long after the challenge had been issued. The two never touched. He was Alpha of Lupine Hollow at the conference, so he was alpha in that hotel room. I challenged him as alpha for ownership of his pack. He must fight to the death immediately before any more healing is done, they have already breached our bylaws, so if anything, he has already forfeited!”
Eirian’s lip curled, disgust carving lines into her face as she shook her head. “You give our species a bad name. You and all like you.” Her attention turned back to Alarick. “You claim your father has passed his alpha powers to you?”
“I do. I also demonstrated by both scent and magic that said powers have been passed. Alpha Due has sworn to this, and the wolves of Starlight Woods have felt it as well. They simply want to ignore that what they can smell and feel is true, because they believe killing my father will allow them to take over the pack, even though he is no longer alpha.”
Eirian paused again, breathing deeply. “Say that again,” she demanded, the silver of her eyes glowing brighter.
Alarick smiled. “I am Alpha of Lupine Hollow. My father transferred his powers to me before Gwyar was able to issue his challenge.”
Eirian could only stare at him, her eyes moving between Raff and Alarick, then her gaze snapped to Gwyar and the other members of Starlight Woods. “Here before a mediator, sworn before the conclave, I ask every member of Starlight Woods under oath, were Raff Temples and Alarick Temples left alone together after you issued your challenge?”
Slowly and sullenly, each one admitted, “No.”
Eirian shifted closer to Alarick. “Alarick Temples, you have displayed your power once before them. I ask that you do so again before myself and my own pack.” She turned to address the wolves of her pack who had gathered to watch what was transpiring. “Wolves of Ocean Mist, I once again ask you to bear witness. You know I will be able to taste your lies. If Alarick tells the truth, and he has truly accepted the power of the prior Alphas of Lupine Hollow, you will not be able to mistake it. Alarick, I ask you not to hurt my packmates.”
Chann made a garbled noise, and I knew he was thinking about the hotel. I winced at the reminder. Yeah, that definitely hadn’t hurt—it had felt more like he had licked my clit, and if I was right, the male sensation wasn’t that far off. My wolf growled, not liking the idea that his powers would touch anyone outside of our circle that way, and Shannon reached out to stroke a hand down my back in comfort. Even Luna patted my cheek with sticky fingers that made me wince.
Alarick inclined his head in a regal nod, breathing deeply as he released his hold on his powers. Gasps of shock rolled from the wolves around us, though he held us out of whatever it was he was doing. My wolf continued to pace inside me until he pulled it back into himself, the glow in his eyes dimming until they returned to his usual blue. A small growl stuck in my throat, and he shot me a smug smile. I bit my tongue, averting my eyes—apparently, he liked when I was jealous.
“It wasn’t the same thing,” Ian whispered, leaning closer. “Think of it more like floating them in a pool of hot water. He showed he had power, but no pain or pleasure was involved, just the possibility that he could if he wanted to.” I huffed, but a little of the stiffness left my shoulders. He chuckled. “I knew my kitten had claws.”
Alpha Eirian’s eyes were solid silver now as she addressed her pack. “Ocean Mist, as is your oath, you must answer me true. Did you feel the magic of a strong alpha line?”
“Yes, Alpha,” her pack responded in unison.
“Lies!” Gwyar interrupted, barging forward.
Alpha Due pounced, grabbing him by the throat. “Gwyar, I’m moments away from challenging you myself.” His voice was silky, despite the dangerous grip he had on the other male. “You come on to my territory and call my mate and my pack liars, and expect me to accept it with no recourse? You are too far above yourself.” He let the male sputter before flinging him aside.
“You may believe it to be lies, Gwyar,” Eirian addressed him, the light dimming from her eyes, “but the proof is right in front of you.”
“Tricks. It’s all tricks,” he gasped out. He glared at me first and then Luna. “I still demand the return of my pup, Beta.”
I growled, stepping forward. “She was never your pup. She will never be your pup. You play games and twist stories in your head because you can’t think of anything but power and hate. You lost. Your plot didn’t work.”
His lip peeled back, and his eyes tracked to Alarick. “If you’re the alpha, as you claim to be, then it’s my right to challenge you to take control of Lupine Hollow.” He pushed to his feet with a smug smirk on his face. He crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at Raff as though he expected him to intervene, to beg Gwyar to stop, to admit he was lying and he’d take his son’s place.
“As Alpha of Lupine Hollow, I am required to accept your challenge,” Alarick deadpanned. Gwyar’s smile began to fall as he watched him. “In return, I challenge you for control of Starlight Woods. As Lupine Hollow currently holds the highest number of diplomatic ties due to the academy, by law of the conclave for the safety of the pups of all werewolf packs, and to prevent outright war and possible exposure, I also request that a public viewing of the duel be held with witnesses of packs present after a time period in which allies of Lupine Hollow have the choice to withdraw from the territory if they so wish.” Snarls and howls of rage from Starlight Woods echoed up the driveway and off of the mansion as Alarick stared Gwyar down.
Gwyar whirled toward me, his face a mask of utter rage. “You! Did you do this?” I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the manic laughter, considering I had no idea what the hell was going on.
I raised a hand meekly to interrupt Eirian’s snarling as she stepped toward Gwyar, backing him away from me. “Uh, someone want to explain things to the former human? I don’t even speak legalese, and I think that was politicalese.”
Ian groaned. “Kitten, you know that isn’t a word.”
“After that, it totally is,” I insisted, handing Luna another petit four from the platter when she giggled.
Gwyar scoffed. “Pathetic excuse for a beta, she doesn’t even understand how anything works.” His eyes were narrowed slits, and color flushed high on his cheeks as he hissed the words.
I scowled at him. “Okay, let’s see you lose your ability to shift, be dropped in the middle of California, and be told you’re married with three kids you have to support and that you have a job as a high powered executive in a firm. See how you’re doing two months in with no prior knowledge of how to live in that world. Considering I’m only seventeen, and I’ve been part of your execution plans on numerous occasions, I’d say I’m doing damn well for myself.” I fluttered my lashes at him before flipping him off.