Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Azbogah glared at me as he stood next to Dick and said, “We’re in the middle of a vote. Sit down .”
No. If I budged, they’d finish the vote, and then I’d have to try to reclaim the title from Dick. Staying firm and asserting myself before Griffin lost the role was my best strategy. “But he isn’t the rightful representative,” I repeated loudly. The more confident I acted, the more inclined at least a few of the other representatives would be in hearing from me.
“Sit down ,” Dick said through clenched teeth. “This doesn’t involve you.”
“But it does.” I took a step forward.
Rosemary turned in my direction and shook her head marginally.
I didn’t need a pack link with her to understand what she was telling me—sit down and shut up.
What are you doing? Griffin’s fingers trembled on his pant legs under the table. You can ’ t tell them what you are.
Luckily, no one but Saga, Rosemary, Ulva, and I could see him shaking. His face remained confident as he pretended to not be fazed—like any real leader would do.
Maybe. I had to admit that I hadn’t thought this through, but something had to be done.
“I said”—Dick spat the words as his face twisted in disgust—“ sit. Down . You aren’t part of this.”
“Actually, she’s the current Shadow City alpha’s fated mate. Weren’t you planning on presenting her to seal your relationship in front of the council, and thus, the Divine?” Yelahiah lifted a hand in my direction.
Warmth flowed through our bond as Griffin stood and looked at me. “She is, and effective immediately, she’s the alpha mate of Shadow City.”
“You do realize you’re about to lose that position?” Dick gloated.
“I wouldn’t be so certain.” Yelahiah motioned for me to come forward as she continued, “Technically, this is supposed to be an open environment where anyone can speak their piece. Is there a reason you don’t want her to state her case?”
“Why would you ask such a question?” Dick placed a hand on his chest. “We were just in the middle of a vote. She can speak at a later time.” The evil inside him swirled so thick that there was a faint mist around him.
I’d never been able to see it before. Usually, I could feel ill intent only within my soul like a coldness and ickiness that radiated off a person.
“I, for one, want to hear what she has to say before casting my vote.” Yelahiah walked over to me and stopped at my side.
We faced the council down together, and the third wolf shifter representative’s sea-green eyes sparkled with interest, contrasting against his olive skin. He was only a couple of years older than Griffin, with sable brown hair that fell naturally against his face. It wasn’t gelled back like Dick’s or Griffin’s. He seemed more like a wolf shifter who lived outside of the snobbish city. But like several of the other council members, there wasn’t anything notable about his essence—as if he were neither good nor bad. “I would like to hear what she has to say, too.”
“Ezra,” Dick hissed. “I said we don’t need to hear her.” His eyes glowed faintly like he was trying to force the younger shifter into submission.
So that was how Dick had managed to take the wolf vote by the balls. He bullied this representative into doing whatever he wanted, and Griffin had been so wrapped up in his grief from losing his father that he’d handed the control right to him. “Are you seriously trying to force him to take back what he said?” I would call Dick out on it if no one else would. “Everybody is here and can see you doing it!”
Dick’s face turned pink as his nostrils flared. He was losing his composure yet again. He straightened his shoulders. “I’m merely looking out for his best interests. If you’re able to sway these intelligent people with whatever insane story you’re trying to weave, he would be the one kicked off the council, seeing as he is the weakest of the three current members.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” I filled my lungs, making sure my voice remained steady. I wanted to give him pause and drive him crazy. “After all, you admitted that this council is intelligent, so why would you even try to prevent them from stating that they’d like to hear my very interesting story.”
A smirk spread across Yelahiah’s face as she rocked back on her heels like she was enjoying the show. “She has a point. Wouldn’t you agree, Azbogah?”
Azbogah scowled at us, but he nodded. “Sure. Whatever she has to say, I’m sure it’ll be a waste of time, but we can see if anyone else would like to hear her story.” He gestured at Ezra. “So one person has agreed to hear her story. Would anyone else like to express interest?”
“I would.” A thin man leaned forward in his chair, and his peony scent told me he was an angel. His white feathered wings spread behind him, almost blending in with the white suit he wore. The only color on him was his butterscotch-blonde hair and piercing sky-blue eyes. One of the purest essences I’d ever encountered warmed me inside.
“Of course you would, Pahaliah.” Azbogah shuddered and pressed a hand to his stomach. “You wouldn’t want your precious wife to be mad at you.”
So this was Rosemary’s father. He looked nothing like I’d expected him to. With her darker complexion, Rosemary definitely took after her mom.
“What about you, Gwen?” Dick puffed his chest as his arrogance fell quickly back in place while his attention landed on a gorgeous woman who sat between Ezra and Pahaliah.
Gwen tapped her four-inch burgundy nails on the table as hate flashed through her chestnut-brown eyes. “I don’t want to even hear from the wolves who are already part of this council, so that’s an easy decision for me.” She licked her cranberry lips, stopping to emphasize her sharp teeth, which screamed vampire, and ran a hand through her messy, shoulder-length ivory hair. “In other words, that’s a no.”
We had two yeses and one no. If they did a majority rule type of thing, we’d at least be at a draw, and then I’d share my story, even if they didn’t want me to. I’d respect this little game they wanted to play since it was buying time from them all betraying Griffin.
The witch who sat between Pahaliah and Alex flipped her waist-length, deep forest-brown hair over her shoulder and leaned back in her chair. She ran a finger along her black-stained lip as her coffee-shaded eyes lit with mischievousness. “You know what? I’m in. I could use a good laugh.”
“Breena,” Erin scolded the younger witch. “We have a lot of stuff that needs to get done back at the coven. Why are you wasting our time?”
“What if she does have a story worth hearing?” The dark-headed witch shrugged. “I don’t want to be too hasty.”
“Don’t worry, Priestess.” A maroon-haired witch chimed from the end directly opposite Griffin. “I understand the importance of getting our work done, so I don’t want to waste precious time on some desperate girl who’s willing to throw herself under the bus for her mate.” Her ebony eyes matched her soul. “It’s kind of pathetic.”
“See, you should be more like your sister.” Erin chastised Breena once again and smiled sweetly at the redhead. “Diana, you always make me proud.”
“Anyone else?” Azbogah asked, avoiding looking at Yelahiah. “I’m assuming Griffin is a yes, so all it would take is two more to hang the council.”
“Then I’m all ears.” Alex leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “I’m hoping Matthew will agree with me.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Fine,” Matthew huffed. “I will humor you this one time, but it’ll cost you.”
“Do I even need to ask how you’re going to vote?” Azbogah’s head flinched back, and his gaze clouded as he glanced at the female angel.
Yelahiah batted her eyes, smiling victoriously. “You’ve never wanted to break protocol before, so why start now?” She touched my shoulder. “Yes, I’d like to hear the girl’s story, especially since you and Dick seem almost desperate that we don’t.”
“Not desperate.” Azbogah waved his hand at me, gesturing for me to take the floor. “Just trying to be efficient, but please, proceed. Delight us with your carefully crafted tale.”
Oh, how kind of the prick. Anger tightened inside of me, but I couldn’t let it take hold. All that would do would allow me to miscalculate and mess up this chance. “There is something that everyone here should know,” I said the words slowly and deliberately, buying time so my pulse settled and my mind cleared once more. “You see, one of the wolf council members does need to step aside.”
“Those are some bold words without backing them up, girl ,” Azbogah barked.
All my life, I’d been taught to hide my heritage. That being a silver wolf put a target on my back, and boy, had I learned it was true. Not only had my brother been kidnapped and my entire pack massacred, but someone was desperately trying to capture me. Yet, maybe staying hidden had given away part of our power. Instead of standing to fight and keep our place in this society, we ran and hid, allowing corruption to take an even stronger hold in those we’d left behind.
Sterlyn, what are you doing? Griffin sounded scared. Don ’ t sacrifice your safety because of me. We can figure something out without throwing ourselves on the mercy of the council.
I ’ m doing what we should ’ ve done all those years ago. Maybe I was being stupid, but with Yelahiah standing behind me, I became even more certain. I ’ m taking back our place in the world. Proudly, I said, “I’m Sterlyn Knight, the alpha of the silver wolves, and the shifters voted centuries ago that my race should be the council’s shifter representatives.”
Yelahiah inhaled sharply, and her hand tightened on my arm.
I wanted to check on her, but I refused to avert my gaze from Dick’s. He’d take it as cowardice, and probably many of the others here would, too. I lifted my chin, making it clear that I’d stand my ground.
“A silver wolf?” Alex gasped as he pounded the table. “That’s not possible.”
“But it is.” I urged my wolf forward, feeling the tingle along my skin. I removed my suit jacket so they could see my bare arms as silver fur sprouted. Then I pulled back on my wolf, not letting her go any further. A partial shift was hard to hold, but the full moon was close.
“Oh, my God.” Ezra’s breath caught. “She is.”
“This is impossible.” Azbogah's hands fisted as he turned to Dick. “Did you know about this?”
“I...” Dick stuttered. “I didn’t.” The stench of rotten eggs poured off Dick, alerting everyone that he’d lied.
Murmurs filled the room as Azbogah closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You knew about her?” Griffin rasped as his feeling of betrayal rushed into me. “For how long?”
“I don’t answer to you.” Dick scanned the room as if in search of an exit.
Dick had known about me all along. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Even though I was relieved that my instincts had been right, I couldn’t help but feel horrible for Griffin. He’d trusted this man for so long, and to find out that he’d not only been sabotaging him, but hunting me, made him feel responsible.
The way to right the wrong was to address it head-on. Make him submit to you. I could do it, but this was something Griffin had to do for himself. He needed to realize the strength he held inside him. Not just that, but he’d command respect from the others in the room. Griffin needed to do this for himself. If I took care of it for him, I’d insult him on so many levels.
I refused to be that kind of mate. He and I needed to support one another and make each other stronger, not try to outshine each other.
“Actually, you do.” Griffin jumped to his feet and marched around the table toward the older man. “You aren’t fit to lead the wolves or be any sort of representative for the shifters. You’re selfish and conniving.”
“I’ve sacrificed everything to earn this position,” Dick said as he pointed in Griffin’s face. “I made the hard calls while you screwed your latest conquest or got drunk with that pathetic alpha who was supposed to be in charge of guarding the city.”
“I’m going to college to get the kind of education I can use to help this city grow,” Griffin countered. “If my dad were still alive, he'd have been leading the city while I was away.”
“Exactly,” Dick snarled. “If he was still alive. He isn’t, so you should’ve stepped up, but you were too weak.”
“You told me to go to college.” Griffin’s eyes glowed faintly as his anger took control. “You practically pushed me out the gate, telling me I needed to set an example for others and attend the university so more supernaturals would come.”
Once again, Dick had been manipulating him for who knows how long. There was no telling what kind of deceit he’d fed everyone, and though I hated to see Griffin spiral in front of the council, this confrontation had to happen. It was long overdue, and hopefully, the damage wouldn’t be too terrible.
“Let’s not forget how you dropped off the paperwork at my house for what you’ve put me on trial for, telling me you’d be back soon to get the signed documents. Paperwork you created.” Griffin spread his arms out. “You risked letting the city be revealed to humans just to put me in this position so that you could take over as alpha of my own city. This stops now. You’re no longer part of the pack, and you need to go.”
“What? I did not.” Dick stumbled back as the sulfuric smell assaulted our noses yet again. “You can’t do that. We’re about to vote you out. Besides, no one believes you.”
“But he’s not voted out yet.” I put my jacket back on as I moved to stand next to my mate, showing my support for him. He and I would always be a package deal, and no one would ever take that away. “And everyone believes him. Or did you forget that supernaturals can tell when someone lies?”
Dick’s face turned pale, and his attention shifted behind me, I assumed to his mate.
I wanted to turn around to see her reaction, but I had to remain focused, especially now. We already had a ton of stuff against us—Griffin with his flippant lifestyle before he’d met me, and the silver wolves running away, leaving the other races behind. They had to believe that we were different and would change the tides.
“She’s right.” Yelahiah took her spot back at the table. “We haven’t voted, and it’s clear that Griffin isn’t the one who should be on trial. So the previous vote is now void, and a new one will begin. Isn’t that right, Azbogah?” She beamed at the dark angel who had been in alliance with Dick just moments ago.
If he said no, he’d be discredited completely. His reputation was already partially ruined.
“Yes, a new vote shall be taken.” Azbogah nodded.
“ What ?” Dick’s shoulders slumped as if he’d been deflated. “But—”
“Who is in agreement that Dick should be removed from the council, effective immediately, and replaced by the silver wolf standing before us as decreed by the divine?”
One by one, each council member said “aye” until only Griffin remained.
My mate locked eyes with the man who had once been like a father to him, and magic pulled inside him as he called his alpha will. He bellowed, “You are no longer part of this council nor part of Sterlyn’s and my pack. You have until tomorrow to get your affairs in order and leave.”
Despite Dick being part of Griffin’s pack, it was clear that he didn’t respect my mate as alpha. He hadn’t challenged him…yet. I was so proud of my mate for making the douchebag submit to him before he could cause any additional problems.
Dick bared his teeth as he averted his gaze and vowed, “You haven’t seen the last of me,” before stomping out the door.
“So what does that mean for us?” Saga asked from the back, not even bothering to follow her husband. “Does that go for me and Luna, too?”
“Yes.” Griffin spoke low but clearly, and he didn’t bother to turn around. “Your daughter tried to kill my mate. You all must leave, too.”
“Fine,” she whimpered, and the door slammed behind her, leaving the gawking council’s attention on the two of us.