Chapter 43 Not a Silent Partner #2
Luke sighs. “Lyall hasn’t seen snow and she was bored waiting for your deliberately late arrival. I’m fairly new to having a Luna, but I’ve decided it’s best to let them have what they want. At least most of the time. For this one, in particular.”
Lyall pants and nuzzles against her mate, playing the role of the pampered and adored mate to perfection.
“Who the hell taught you that?” the Deacon hisses. “Who let you think it’s wise to let a Luna think she can get whatever she wants? She’ll have you running around in circles in no time.”
Luke’s eyebrow arches, a wry smile curling at his lips.
“I think, if I remember, it was you, Paul. Something about respecting your mate and keeping her happy.” He pauses, his expression full of mischief and the amusement of a man who knows he’s about to deliver a fatal blow.
“I recall you and your Luna being rather insistent about it after my father died. It’s just taken me a few years to realize you were right. ”
The Deacon’s face flushes with irritation, his mouth opening as he searches for words that seem to evade him.
“You could have told me you knew him,” I hiss.
“It would have ruined the fun,” Luke replies, laughing wickedly. “And you’d have acted like a nervous teenager if you knew he was my father’s best friend and that doesn’t impress anyone.”
I seethe. “We’re discussing this later.”
Luke swallows, aware he and Lawson are going to be taking some shit from Lyall and me.
“She’s quite capable of protecting herself, in case you were wondering. She is a High Lord, after all.”
The Deacon’s jaw clenches.
“I’m well aware of Nia and Lyall’s capabilities.
The severed head has gone down in ignominy.
The rumor is she paraded it around like a dog toy before she finally chewed it to pieces.
” He shakes his head and waves his hands frantically as Luke opens his mouth.
“I do not need to know if that rumor is true or not, Luke. You do not want to make my job harder for me. I will not thank you for it.” He huffs, then puffs, then sighs like he’s trying to blow a brick wall down.
“You expect me to just fix this for you, don’t you? ”
Lyall nods before anyone else reacts.
“Fucking hell, she’s worse than you, Luke,” the Deacon sighs. “Look, I can sort out the shit back in England. Just. Carl's already taken over the pack and I’ll arrange some sort of conclave and hash it all out.”
My wolf whines and her ears prick, drawing the leader of The Council’s attention. Lyall isn’t going to be a silent partner in whatever gets decided here and she’s making damn sure that the man in front of her is certain of that fact.
“The man's a cunt,” she snarls. “But he’ll protect what remains of the pack and we can work with him.”
Lawson howls in agreement and I stiffen, unsure.
“He’s an Elite, Lyall.”
“One we can take down without any problem. He’ll owe us and he respects us. Trust me on this, Nia.”
I roll my eyes at my wolf and Luke’s fingers curl through her fur, tightening his hold.
He’s hesitant too, but for different reasons.
He has no doubt about Carl’s suitability but is concerned that the suggestion will give away his involvement, and that might make matters worse. For everyone, including our pack.
“I’m sure the Elite Guards are thrilled one of their own is holding the fort,” he sighs. “Hopefully it’ll go better a second time around and maybe Carl can earn himself a permanent position. The Elites would be pleased with that.”
The Deacon steps closer. “Don’t think I don’t know about all of it.
I know all about the fun and games you had with the Elite Guards and how you persuaded them not to follow my goddamn orders.
I’m not impressed at all.” He rubs his forehead and both of our wolves grin.
“There’s fuck all I can do about it either. Not when she’s a goddamn High Lord.”
Lyall tips her head the other way and curls her tail around her paws. She’s going for the cute and adorable look that makes her mate melt, trying it on to see if it works with the man whose anger is a front and who has no intention of hurting us.
“You’ll make Carl an Alpha, Paul?” Luke asks.
He nods his head. “He’s capable. Quite reasonable too. And smart enough to leave the pair of you alone.”
“And the covenants?”
The Deacon stares down at my wolf and offers her his hand to sniff.
He waits, holding perfectly still as Lyall nudges forward, stopping as she looks to Luke for reassurance.
She breathes in and pulls back, then pushes her muzzle forward again, hesitantly taking another deep sniff of the world around her.
Lyall repeats the cycle, each time a little less unsure and a little more canine, each time growing in confidence.
“Goddess, she’s adorable,” he says. “You suit each other. Does she really not know how to be a wolf?”
Luke shakes his head. “Wolfsbane and silver almost killed her, as I think you’re aware. We’ve got a lot of time to catch up on.”
“I’d pet her but I’m sure she’ll bite my goddamn hand off.
Bastan always was a cunt and I should have cut his rot out sooner.
I never thought he’d stoop so low. It can’t be undone but I can make sure The Council leaves the pair of you alone.
I can ease the damage he’s done, but repairing it completely is harder.
Fortunately, that’s not my job, Alpha. You’ll have your work cut out with this one, Luke. Take care of her.”
He turns and walks away, trudging back toward the wood and the snowstorm from which he emerged.
“That’s it?” I ask.
Luke laughs. “Yeah, that’s it, Nia. I’ve known Paul since I was a kid and he’s never broken his word.
He could have demanded my head but he offered you his hand instead.
He’s not the kind of man who’d go to these lengths if he didn’t like you.
I’ll tell you more when I’ve stopped freezing my balls off. ”
His silhouette fades as the snow comes down harder and he stops and glances back over his shoulder. His gaze lingers on us, soft and almost sad, as if he’s looking back on a memory that he lost in a storm.
“Your father didn’t get his second chance, and the Goddess doesn’t grant them often. Don’t waste yours, Luke. She’s worth it, and so are you.”