82
Matt
After Tony announced that exile was the other option, the whole room went silent. Our nanny turned pale.
"Where's the Luna?" someone asked.
"Lucy is off taking classes and getting treatment," Tony said. "In the meantime, I'm making it a priority to clean up the pack and figure out how the hell she was taken in the first place."
His heart didn't skip when he lied, but I could see that no one really believed him. There were a few people who seemed a little disgruntled, as if they knew he was lying.
"Alpha, do you want your report now?" our Beta said. His chin was lifted, and his heart was calm.
"Yes," Tony said. "Since we're on the topic."
"They say that she's doing well. The poison is mostly out of her system, but they want to keep her a bit longer for observation... They still don't know what kind of poison it was."
Tony nodded. Our nanny's shoulders seemed to relax. I felt her relief and the belief begin to build throughout the whole pack.
It seems that it's still true: if you can get her to believe it, everyone else will believe it too.
Almost, Tony said. We'll look into them individually.
"We're starting from the top. Everyone that is missing. Their families?"
"Gone," someone said.
I gritted my teeth and pulled up a chair. Our nanny's gaze shot to me, and she came over.
"You tore them again?" she asked.
My lips twitched. "It's always me, but this time it's Tony's fault."
She chuckled and ruffled my hair before going off to get her medical kit. She came back and knelt beside me.
I gritted my teeth and hissed as she applied some silver antidote to the wound on my back and pressed a bandage to my side. It smelled like tar and motor oil, but the ache in my back was easing, and I could feel the stitches coming back together a little easier.
Her eyes were full of tears, and she smelled like regret and worry. Then, I realized that she hadn't been fooled at all. There was guilt in her eyes.
Find out what she knows, Matt.
"She'll be alright," I said softly. "She's getting the care she needs."
She looked up and met my gaze before looking down at the bandage.
"... It's not her I'm worried about."
I frowned, anger roiling in me. "What does that mean?"
Her jaw trembled. "You both are... getting to be that age... the signs are already here."
I looked over at Tony and winced as I realized what she was talking about. He looked bigger than he had a week ago. I didn't know if he would get even bigger once the spell broke or what would happen. His face was fixed in a permanent growl.
Every muscle in his body looked tense, as if he was seconds away from shifting and killing everyone in the room. Worse than that, his voice was taking on a wolfish growl. How powerful was this spell if it was barely keeping him contained?
I set my jaw and looked back at our nanny. Her eyes were full of pleading. I nodded. I wouldn't let Tony lose his mind, and we'd find Lucy somehow.
"I consider it an attack on the den," Tony said with a snarl. "I've opened an official investigation through the Council. Everyone will participate and cooperate and know that exile is the kind option."
Everyone flinched.
"Let me be clear," he continued. "We are not our father. We don't expect you to fear us. We have made the choices we've made to ensure peace and protection for this pack. If you would prefer his method of doing things, that can be arranged, but know that it is not a door you can close once opened."
He turned away from them. "You're dismissed until the investigation force arrives tomorrow. If you aren't present when called, you'd better have a damn good excuse."
"Alpha, don't you think it's a bit much to involve the kids?"
He snarled. "Isn't it a bit much to tell a young girl that she's not a real wolf and so she doesn't deserve steak?"
Several people turned pale. His eyes narrowed. "Every single member of this pack will be questioned. And you will answer. Exile is the kinder option, rest assured that death is the other option."
He turned toward me and glanced at the wounds. "Get some more rest, Matt."
I nodded and shivered as he passed. The anger rolling off him was serving its purpose to scare everyone. I felt our nanny go still and tremble beside me as I turned back.
"What happened to the surveillance footage? Have you been able to recover any of it?"
A member of the security force stepped forward. "No, Alpha. One of the people missing was part of the surveillance team. Based on the footage that's there, they'd been corrupting the footage for a while and filling the archives with old footage. It's... honestly a mess."
"Anything else?" I growled. "No developments at all?"
"No, Alpha."
I sat back. "Explain to me why she was being served by another group of people."
People shuffled their feet.
"Th-They volunteered to bring her food." I looked at our nanny, who looked guilty. I looked back at the woman who spoke. They were all from different families in the pack. No one thought it weird..."
I glared at the woman. "I already have a sense that members of the pack, not just those that have vanished, were opposed to Lucy being our mate because she's a half-breed."
I bared my teeth. "But if you think that will spare any of you when the full truth is revealed, you should think again."
You were right, I told Tony, bracing for the wave of fury.
I heard a crash of something upstairs. Our nanny jumped, and I refrained from it. The whole room seemed to shake with his roaring voice. The surge of his fury washed over me, rattling my sense of peace. The windows shook.
It made me think of our father, and I knew Tony didn't want to be anything like him. If this went on, I couldn't be sure if Tony would be able to stop. No, I knew he wouldn't. He'd said as much.
I watched most of the pack look down with regret and guilt.
"If she had died," I said slowly as I got up. "I can't say if he or I would have killed you all, but know that it would have happened."
Our nanny shuddered.
"The fact that you have nothing to offer with regard to the incident tells us that we would be justified due to your apathy." I growled. "We saved you from joining that row of graves, and all we have asked of you is loyalty. Don't make us regret that."
I found Tony in his bedroom on the balcony, panting. His shoulders were heaving with fury. He was flushed all over and sweating. The anger was still rolling off him. I sank down beside him, and we sat in silence the way we used to when we were younger, and our dad was going on a rampage.
The scent of something sweet and musky tickled my nose. I looked at him and found a cigarette hanging from his lips. He stared out with an empty gaze.
You think they're scared enough?
I took the cigarette from him and took a drag. Where'd you get these?
Black Scales Apothecary.
I frowned. How the hell did you manage that?
Schmoozing.
There's not enough schmoozing in the world! Since when did you really make friends with the Black Scale Tribe?
They were one of the most prickly dragon tribes, but their apothecary was the best in the supernatural and human world. They made just about everything, including the best cigarettes and alcohol.
A while ago.
You've been holding out on me.
You've been disinterested, he said and took his cigarette back. Besides, what do you need calming down from?
I huffed. For future reference, if we're friends with dragons, or anyone else with awesome exports, I want to know.
He chuckled darkly and took a deep breath. I'll keep it in mind.
The next morning, I came down the hall, and Tony stopped me midway to our breakfast nook. There was a feast laid out, and no one was around.
Seems like you scared the shit out of them.
Good. He looked at me. "How's your side?"
I winced. "It's terrible, but I'll be okay. Let's just eat."
We sat down and started to eat. I set my jaw. The table was only set for two, and there were only two chairs. I could tell by the vicious way Tony was eating his steak that he was pissed off about it too.
"As I think about it..."
"I know," Tony growled. "I feel like an idiot for not noticing."
I nodded. The table only had two matching chairs. There was never a third one ordered. Lucy always sat in a random chair that didn't match the table. It was a small thing, but looking back, it felt like just one more reason for her not to want to come home.
Do you... think she's with another pack?
No.
I nodded. He cocked an eyebrow. That's it?
I smiled. You're my brother. I trust your judgment.
He chuckled at that. Once we finished, we headed downstairs just as a caravan of cars arrived.
"They're here."
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