“Congratulations, Alpha Vant,” Pre-Dominant Harka said. She held his gaze, her eyes hard. “Learn from the mistake of your predecessor. Keep your Pack safe.”
Mere wisps of her power were enough to make Vant lower his gaze and get down on one knee in front of her. “I will guard them,” he said.
“See that you do,” Pre-Dominant Harka warned. She then looked out at the crowd, releasing Vant.
The wolves clapped politely—and a few howled—as Vant returned to his spot near the back of the crowd.
I uneasily watched his Pack’s reaction when he returned to them, noting the way none of them seemed to smile or be happy.
Dolph was terrible, but I’m not sure Vant is going to be that much better for them. Though I suppose, as long as he doesn’t make them take wolfsbane, that’d be a huge upgrade for them.
I glanced over at Greyson—who had his usual unreadable and stone-like expression slapped on since we were in public.
But I don’t think he’s going to be any better a neighbor than Dolph was. Although I think he’s smart enough not to wander into Northern Lakes territory and pick a fight.
“Given what has been uncovered about the Low Marsh Pack,” Harka continued once the wolves settled down, “I’ve decided to completely absolve Alpha Greyson and Hunter Sabre from the death of the Low Marsh Pack wolf. The Northern Lakes Pack responded to a threat to the humans they live with. It was appropriate—and to be applauded. They are no longer under any investigation of any kind.”
“What!” Amos Fletching fought his way forward, an angry sneer branded into his face. “How can you say that?”
Pre-Dominant Harka peered down her long nose at him. “The Northern Lakes Pack had nothing to do with the wolfsbane.”
“The Northern Lakes Pack has had a near perfect survival rate of those who have attempted the change for the past decade, and more wolves make the change successfully. Moreover, the number of wolves in the Pack with the competency and capacity to be an Alpha is so high it should be statistically impossible,” Amos snarled.
“Such things are not side effects of the potion—no matter what dosage it is taken in. The elves would never stand for positive side effects when they wanted to use the potion to enslave shifters,” Pre-Dominant Harka wryly said. “And even if it was, you have been unable to find any trace of wolfsbane anywhere besides Low Marsh Pack territory.”
“But their statistics are impossible,” Amos argued. “They’re using something to achieve those kinds of numbers!”
“Be that as it may, the Fletchings were sent to investigate the death of the Low Marsh wolf, and the wolfsbane.” Pre-Dominant Harka glanced down at Amos as if he were a bug. “At this time, the Northern Lakes Pack is not under investigation.”
“You can’t do that,” Amos argued. “They aren’t natural!”
“What can I not do?” Pre-Dominant Harka’s voice was dangerously sharp. “Choose your next words carefully, Amos Fletching.”
Even though we hunters weren’t affected by an Alpha’s presence, Harka’s raw strength was pretty hard to miss—or oppose.
Amos snapped his jaw shut and retreated to where his family was clustered, but his expression was murderous.
This isn’t over. I frowned as I watched him whisper something to one of his hunters. He’s not going to give up that easily. He’s too obsessed with the Northern Lakes Pack.
“A new investigation into wolfsbane is opening, but it will be headed by the Dominant.” Harka nodded down at the Dominant’s secretaries. “Due to the nature of the case, details will not be available until the Dominant publicly posts the findings, but the Low Marsh Pack has already agreed to cooperate with further investigation. The Northern Lakes Pack is entirely cleared. That’s all.” Harka turned her back to the wolves and moved to stand with Rafe and the wolves from her Pack.
Behind me, Aeric released a deep breath. “So we’re free,” he said. “Awesome! I can’t wait for those hunters to get out of Timber Ridge—no offense, Pip.”
“No, I get it.” I shifted my weight, trying to balance so my heels wouldn’t punch through the grass into the dirt. “But at least they’re gone.”
“They have a ton of stuff up north that I’m sure they’ll come get.” Wyatt tucked his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and jingled his keys. “But after a day or two they’ll be gone.” He glanced at Amos—who was stalking off through the trees, his face dark with anger as his family raced after him. “I hope.”
“If they don’t leave, we’ll be able to kick them out,” Aeric said. “Right? Alpha Greyson?”
Greyson watched Amos, his golden eyes cold. “They’ll leave.”
Why does that feel like more of a promise than a prediction?
Aspen, who’d wandered closer to us as the meeting let out, frowned. “I think it’s shameful the wolfsbane supplier wasn’t uncovered.” She glanced at Greyson in a way that made me think she was implying he needed to step up and handle it.
The Pack shifted uncomfortably around us at this valid but problematic point.
“We’ll watch for the dealer,” Greyson said. “And join the Dominant’s investigation. Though it’s likely the dealer already moved on, rather than risk detection.”
“I suppose so,” Aspen said, a smile budding on her lips at the thought.
“Aspen,” Rio called.
Aspen slightly bowed her head to Greyson, then slipped off to join her boyfriend where he was talking with some of Harka’s people.
Some of the other Pack members began talking, leaving Aeric, Wyatt, and me to our own devices.
“This whole thing got me wondering, though.” Aeric thoughtfully peered up at the sky and watched a squirrel jump in the trees overhead. “Why do we have such a great survival rate, and have so many potential Alphas in our Pack?”
“I didn’t think it was that big a difference,” I said. “I just figured everyone else exaggerated the difference.”
“No,” Wyatt said. “We’ve been crazy successful. That’s why Pre-Dominant Harka asked for Aspen to join our Pack—her chance of surviving the change was way higher.”
Together, all three of us turned to Greyson, curious if he’d give a reason.
Greyson stood up. “The Northern Lakes Pack is what it is.” He walked off, heading for Pre-Dominant Harka.
“And that is that,” Aeric said.
“Unsurprisingly,” I grumbled. “Of course he wouldn’t share anything.”
“Really?” Wyatt leaned back in his chair. “I think it was pretty telling.”
I eyed him. “Telling of what?”
“That there is a reason for it,” Wyatt said. “Because if there wasn’t, he would have just told us we were idiots.”
Aeric and Wyatt exchanged nods, then moved on.
“We should eat somewhere in Magiford for lunch before we head home,” Aeric said.
“Yeah, agreed. Oh, there are a few specialized weapon forgers in Magiford. I’d like to check them out before we leave, too.” Wyatt took off his glasses to peer at the dirty lenses. “And I want to stop at the board game store downtown. Is there a car shop you want to visit?”
“You know me too well!”