“Yeah, Alyssa and I are best friends. So what?”
“So … that means when they gear up to take on the Saints as they’ve been planning to do, who do you think they are going to come to? Us. And of course since the Alpha is mated to their best friend, we’ll all be asked to put our lives on the line … again. Our pack is still in the process of rebuilding. We can’t handle another war. But if Aiden takes you as mate, it’s a guarantee.”
My headache was coming back with a vengeance and my blood pressure started to soar. Now the truth was coming out. His dislike of me had nothing to do with me not being a werewolf. I’d have been willing to bet he’d been the one heading up the ‘committee to force me into being a werewolf’ when I still sat on the fence. Now that I’d agreed, he had to find another way to incite dissension in the pack.
I crossed my arms and tightened my jaw. “So, what are you demanding then? That Aiden and I split up? Will that satisfy the pack, or you?”
Micah waved his hand at me as if batting away a troublesome fly. “Oh, we know that won’t happen. You’re his mate no matter what you are.”
“Then what, Micah? It’s clear that nothing he or I do will please you.”
“Well, if you must know, I think we need new leadership.”
And there it was, the truth! It all boiled down to a power grab, and Micah was the one ready to snatch it up. “And I’m assuming you want to take that role?”
“I have the support of many prominent members of the pack.” He looked over his shoulder to Brady. “I’m a pure wolf. I was born and raised in this pack. I meet all of the criteria, so, yes. I do think I would make a good candidate for Alpha.”
I shot Brady my best what the fuck look. “Are you seriously considering this? Backing him instead of your brother?”
Brady held up his hands. “I have not officially given my support to —”
“Hold on,” I interrupted. “Not one day ago, you were pushing me to make the change because you knew Aiden was the right man for the job. Now you’re not so sure? You’re his brother. You have to support him.”
Brady took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he turned to Micah. “He makes a strong argument for the preservation of this pack. We must think of our own right now, while we are weak.”
“And, I have no problem taking any pack female for mate, and issuing in a new generation of Olde Town wolves.” Micah added as if that sealed the deal.
Exasperated, I threw my hands up in the air. He had it all planned out, didn’t he? And Brady! How could he throw his support behind this guy? Official or not, just the thought of him turning against his own brother … It was too much. Before I could say another word, I spotted Diana and Aiden walking up the steps to the glass front doors. They appeared friendly enough, smiling as they talked and walked toward the building. Clearly, his concerns about her had been removed. I wondered what lies she’d spun during our time apart.
Aiden’s hand on her back as he ushered her toward the glass door unnerved me. I know he was just being polite and courteous, but any physical contact set my already-hot blood boiling. If he only knew the truth about her and what had been going on behind his back, he wouldn’t look so happy.
And that Diana chick, I wondered how much involvement she’d had in this? Aiden held the door open for Diana. She walked inside, took off her coat, hung it on the rack, and sauntered over to Micah. He smiled wickedly at her as she threw an arm around his neck.
That confirmed it for me. She was playing to the highest bidder. First Brady, then Aiden, now Micah. Skanky bitch!
“What’s going on here?” Aiden asked, his eyes darting to each of our faces. His jaw tightened as he eyed his brother.
“We’re continuing the discussion you refused to finish,” Micah said.
“There is nothing to discuss. I said the matter is closed.” Aiden’s tone threatened violence.
“Actually, brother,” Brady said, “Micah makes a very valid point. I tried to say this before, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Aiden twitched with anger and spoke through clenched teeth. “You’re siding with him?”
The air suddenly became too thick to breathe. Three dominant males all sending off waves of anger and violence in such close proximity. I felt it, and I was only human. I looked to Diana to see if she might be feeling the same way. The look of satisfaction on her face told me all I needed to know. She drank up this show of power like water on a hot day. Must be a wolf thing, because while I felt tense and uneasy, she smiled and melted against Micah’s body.
Brady stared at Aiden, but he didn’t make eye contact. “I’m taking the pack into consideration—as you should be, brother.”