coming into effect. But a niggling thought still remained. I was one of the most powerful alphas in the US. If we had to step back into the Dark Ages and fight amongst the alphas for the right to rule, I’d pretty much wipe the floor with Michael’s ass. Was that it, then? He hated me for rejecting him?
I sighed, wanting to rub my forehead to ease the ache behind my eyes. But that would be a show of weakness, and alphas were not weak.
I just wanted this to be over so I could go get Mom.
The gavel knocked again and the room subsided into silence. During the discussion, the council members had remained at the table, had not mixed with the alphas at all. Smart move since so many of the alphas were so unhappy.
“Now that we have the ruling on record, we can adjourn the meeting. You will all receive copies for the addition via email within the next day. And of course, we welcome any discussion regarding the new ruling. Meeting adjourned.”
The moment the gavel hit the block a final time, the room erupted into discussion. The council members filed out in a hurry, and it was easy to see why. They weren’t the most popular people around. A large number of alpha families gathered around us, and a few of them patted me on the back or the shoulder, murmuring words of support and encouragement.
We stayed until the first alphas began to leave, an Odel family rule of old. We were officially the highest-ranking family, and even in Justin’s home, Dad acted as the host. Not that Justin minded, either. He’d been an honorary member of our family since we’d joined his in marriage.
***
As soon as Grams and I got back to the apartment, she rushed into her room and grabbed her bag. She glanced over her shoulder as she headed for the door. “I really have to go. I’m not sure if I’ll get back before you return, so be careful, Kai. I mean it. Don’t go taking any unnecessary chances.”
“Yes, Grams.” I agreed, knowing as I spoke that I merely said the words to satisfy her. Whatever happened when I went to Wrythiin, it would happen as needed. I had no plans to avoid anything the Wraiths may have in store for me.
The apartment was silent after she left, just the soft tick-tock of the hall clock to break the deathly pall. I was bone tired and needed some sleep, but the insistent vibration of my mobile told me I had at least one message waiting to be attended to.
A glance at the list of texts confirmed a message from Lily and one from Logan. It was well into the early hours of the morning when we’d returned from Justin’s, but I responded to both messages, hoping both senders were asleep and would receive them in the morning, thus relieving me from any further disturbances.
No such luck.
The phone buzzed and I was forced to answer. “Hey, Lily. Why are you still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice light.
“Where the hell have you been?” came the strident question.
“Sorry, it’s been a freaking long day.”
“I was worried,” Lily replied, an accusing note to her words.
“I’m sorry. I got home late, then saw Tara, then had to head off to a Walker Council meeting that still makes my stomach turn.”
“Walker Council?” Lily asked. “What do they want?”
I sighed and sank into the couch. “Nothing much. They just want to make sure half-breed alphas who don’t partner with another full-blooded Walker lose their alpha-hood.”
“What? But, Kai, what about Logan?”
“Hey. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It looks like the alpha families won’t be taking the council’s shenanigans lying down.”
“So someone is going to do something about it, then?” she asked hopefully. She seemed as upset about this as I was.
“I certainly hope so. And by the way, Lily, this has nothing to do with Logan, okay?”
“What do you mean? If what they say stands, then you won’t be allowed to be with him.” Her voice was strident and almost panicky, as if the thought that anything happening to Logan and me
I sighed, wanting to rub my forehead to ease the ache behind my eyes. But that would be a show of weakness, and alphas were not weak.
I just wanted this to be over so I could go get Mom.
The gavel knocked again and the room subsided into silence. During the discussion, the council members had remained at the table, had not mixed with the alphas at all. Smart move since so many of the alphas were so unhappy.
“Now that we have the ruling on record, we can adjourn the meeting. You will all receive copies for the addition via email within the next day. And of course, we welcome any discussion regarding the new ruling. Meeting adjourned.”
The moment the gavel hit the block a final time, the room erupted into discussion. The council members filed out in a hurry, and it was easy to see why. They weren’t the most popular people around. A large number of alpha families gathered around us, and a few of them patted me on the back or the shoulder, murmuring words of support and encouragement.
We stayed until the first alphas began to leave, an Odel family rule of old. We were officially the highest-ranking family, and even in Justin’s home, Dad acted as the host. Not that Justin minded, either. He’d been an honorary member of our family since we’d joined his in marriage.
***
As soon as Grams and I got back to the apartment, she rushed into her room and grabbed her bag. She glanced over her shoulder as she headed for the door. “I really have to go. I’m not sure if I’ll get back before you return, so be careful, Kai. I mean it. Don’t go taking any unnecessary chances.”
“Yes, Grams.” I agreed, knowing as I spoke that I merely said the words to satisfy her. Whatever happened when I went to Wrythiin, it would happen as needed. I had no plans to avoid anything the Wraiths may have in store for me.
The apartment was silent after she left, just the soft tick-tock of the hall clock to break the deathly pall. I was bone tired and needed some sleep, but the insistent vibration of my mobile told me I had at least one message waiting to be attended to.
A glance at the list of texts confirmed a message from Lily and one from Logan. It was well into the early hours of the morning when we’d returned from Justin’s, but I responded to both messages, hoping both senders were asleep and would receive them in the morning, thus relieving me from any further disturbances.
No such luck.
The phone buzzed and I was forced to answer. “Hey, Lily. Why are you still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice light.
“Where the hell have you been?” came the strident question.
“Sorry, it’s been a freaking long day.”
“I was worried,” Lily replied, an accusing note to her words.
“I’m sorry. I got home late, then saw Tara, then had to head off to a Walker Council meeting that still makes my stomach turn.”
“Walker Council?” Lily asked. “What do they want?”
I sighed and sank into the couch. “Nothing much. They just want to make sure half-breed alphas who don’t partner with another full-blooded Walker lose their alpha-hood.”
“What? But, Kai, what about Logan?”
“Hey. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It looks like the alpha families won’t be taking the council’s shenanigans lying down.”
“So someone is going to do something about it, then?” she asked hopefully. She seemed as upset about this as I was.
“I certainly hope so. And by the way, Lily, this has nothing to do with Logan, okay?”
“What do you mean? If what they say stands, then you won’t be allowed to be with him.” Her voice was strident and almost panicky, as if the thought that anything happening to Logan and me
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