What? No. This wasn’t happening. Who the hell is that? I asked Dastien through our bond.
Sophia Hoel.
Related to Rupert?
His wife.
Perfect. Rupert Hoel was the asshole who’d tried to take over the pack and failed. He’d chained up Sebastian, Donovan, Mr. Dawson, and Dastien, and left them in a vampire cave. The douchebag was still on the run, but his family couldn’t be punished for his actions. Now I kind of wished they could be. They had two daughters—Imogene and Nikki. I pretty much hated both of them. Big time.
Mr. Dawson crossed his arms. “This ceremony and the Tribunal are entirely separate matters, and sponsorship for tonight wasn’t given proper notice.”
Luciana waved her hands, and fire licked the ground. “You think I don’t know what this means? The second she bites him, the second the words are said, she’s yours for good. It makes the Tribunal worthless.”
The Weres that had gone wolfy prowled around the members of la Alquelarre. The rest were watching. Motionless, but ready for action.
“Everyone knows mated wolves can’t be separated,” Luciana said.
She was right. That was why we were doing this. With the completed bond and Sebastian and Donovan’s approval, we were golden for the Tribunal. It was just a technicality. But if we didn’t cement the bond…
Mr. Dawson grinned, and I shuddered. There wasn’t even a little bit of warmth in his expression. The man was scary when he was pissed. “If you think I will allow two of my already mated pack alphas to be separated, you’re sorely mistaken.”
No way. She wasn’t getting between Dastien and me. I wouldn’t let that happen.
“Teresa isn’t just any pack member you can mate off. You stole her from our ranks—not only our leader, but our strongest coven member. The Tribunal was our chance to make our case using your methods, but by your actions, you’d obviously prefer we take her back using force.”
I knew Luciana wanted me to join the coven. She’d even tried spelling me to get her way, but it hadn’t worked. I stupidly thought she’d just wanted to speak at the Tribunal to make Dastien’s life hell. Boy, was I wrong. Did you know they wanted to talk at the Tribunal to get me back? I asked Dastien.
No. I knew they wanted to talk, but I didn’t know anything about this. I swear.
With the amount of panic and anger I was feeling through the bond, I believed him.
“But now…You’ve gone too far, Michael.”
Lady had lost her damned mind. No way was I leaving Dastien or the pack. I was done listening. “We’ve been over this.” I made sure to enunciate so there’d be no misunderstandings. “I’m not going back to the coven. Not when you were so quick to try manipulating me with magic. Not when you nearly killed my friend without a whisper of remorse. I don’t want to be anywhere near you let alone join your coven.”
“But you’ll take our help when you need it.”
That was low. Claudia and Raphael had helped me more than once, but they were family. And to be honest, the first two times I hadn’t even asked for it. “If you’re referring to my cousins, then yes. I’ll take my family’s help and I’ll help my family. But you—you’re not family. This—” I waved my arms toward the assembled Weres—“is my family.”
Fire shot from Luciana’s fingertips, and she wavered. A coven member—also dressed in white—came to help her stand. Whatever flashy spell was lighting her hands must’ve been costing her.
“Donovan. Sebastian. I know you remember the last time our people fought. Surely you don’t wish to repeat that.”
“Are you threatenin’ us? With war?” Donovan jumped smoothly down from the dais, his Irish accent thickening with his anger.
I’d never seen Donovan so furious, but when his eyes flashed to blue, I knew he was not someone I ever wanted to piss off. I stepped back, giving him room.
“It’s not a threat. It’s a fact,” Luciana said.
What the hell was going on? Why did she fucking care so much where I was? What was her endgame? It didn’t make any sense. If she forced the pack to make me go with her, then I’d do everything in my power to tear her down. To get back here. I was nothing if not stubborn.
Could she be that dense?
No. Not being as high in the coven as she was. Which meant that she had to be up to something. The big question was what?
“Luciana,” I said. My voice sounded much calmer than I felt. “I want nothing to do with you. Forcing me to go with you will not end up with me helping you in any way, shape, or form. I will never be like you.” I paused to let my words sink in. “You need to leave. Now.”