Page 85 of Alpha's Rejected Warrior
“I’m under house arrest. I’m not supposed to—”
“Fuck that. You’ve got a brother to save.”
Chapter 32 — Rhiannon
Thea sinks into the plush couch beside me, then shifts uncomfortably, one hand resting on her swollen belly. I’d rather be on my feet, but the cuts and bruises Olcan hasn’t treated yet protest the idea.
Strangely, my hand keeps tingling. The same one I pressed against Ethan’s chest in the courtyard.
For a moment, I felt his heartbeat inside mine, like two halves of one whole.Impossible.Humans and Lycans don’t connect like that.
My wolf stirs, disagreeing. She’s been restless since that moment, pacing beneath my skin like she knows something I won’t admit.
No. My wolf’s just latching onto the first person who’s shown interest since Xander’s rejection. Ethan saved my life. Of course there’s some twisted emotional attachment forming. Trauma does that.
His emerald eyes, holding mine in the courtyard, means nothing. It changes nothing.
And I don’t have the luxury of sitting around to dissect all of this right now. Not when peace with the Shaman hangs by a thread and there’s a Scarlet Wolf in our dungeons.
Xander leans forward in his chair toward Thea. “You didn’t have to come for this, my love.” His voice carries that protective edge it always does when she’s involved. “Everything is under control.”
Thea’s chin lifts. “You can’t blame me for being concerned after I heard you had to intervene yourself during Jayme’s latest incident.”
Latest incident.Such a diplomatic way to describe a Scarlet Wolf nearly tearing through my highest-ranking guards.
“You don’t need to concern yourself. . .” Xander’s voice fades into the background as my mind drifts to Branson.
All those months of loyalty to the Guard, to the pack, while harboring this secret. I can understand the desperate attempt to protect his brother, but endangering the pack, who aremyfamily? The betrayal stings deeper because I trusted him. I still haven’t figured out how to tell Xander.
Yet Ethan’s words keep circling back.What if someone’s controlling him?
The theory seemed ridiculous when we thought Jayme was one of us. But Scarlets can connect to magic, their ancient bloodlines making them susceptible.If someone knew what Jayme was, if they deliberately triggered his transformation into that...
Once everyone knows the truth, they’ll say this was inevitable. A Scarlet Wolf in our midst is as good as a ticking time bomb finally detonating. The blame will fall on Branson for concealing it. Rather than a single execution, we potentially face two now.
But being Scarlet doesn’t explain the timing. Jayme’s been part of this pack for over a year. If this was so inevitable, whynow? Why would he target the Shaman, andus, at the exact moment we were getting closer to resolving our feud?
It’s too convenient. Too perfect. And it doesn’t explain why someone Ethan swears looked Shaman would attack us while Jayme was imprisoned.
Either way, we’re fucked. The thought that I somehow failed him refuses to leave.
“Will you be able to salvage the peace talks?” Thea’s pointed question brings me back to the present conversation.
Xander’s exhaustion shows in the unusually harsh lines carved across his face. “Honestly, I don’t know. This summit has been worse than I ever imagined. I have no idea what I could say that would make any difference now.”
“But you’re still going to try,” Thea says softly.
“Of course. I won’t allow Kortan to be cursed again, whatever it takes.”
“We’re committed to peace at Kortan,” she says. “That’s what matters.”
His determination steadies me. The Xander I knew before would’ve stormed off, given up. That man doesn’t exist anymore. I glance at Thea. She probably has something to do with that transformation.
I nod in firm agreement.
“Unfortunately, this does mean Stasio is going to want Jayme’s head.”
My body tenses. “My Lord—”
