Kiss Of The Alpha : A YA Paranormal Romance

Chapter 112: Chapter 112

Heather

I wiped my hands on my robe again. "Fine. But don’t get all pissy when it hurts. I don’t want any whining."

Brent gave me a small smile. "I’m not going to whine."

"Sure you won’t."

He held out his arm for me again and I grasped it with both hands. I met his gaze and sucked in breath.

I so didn’t want to do this. Not even a little bit. My stomach churned at the thought.

I started to bite down, and then stopped, whining a little. I hopped from foot to foot. "This is so messed up."

"Just do it."

I started to put my mouth on him and then pulled back. "I can’t. Shouldn’t we just skip to the spell?"

You can do it. I’ll be okay, he said through the bond. One little bite and it’s done.

My stomach churned as I tried again. "Fine. Count to three. I’ll go on three."

I rested my teeth gently against his skin.

"One."

I squeezed my eyes tight.

"Two."

Just do it, I told myself. Don’t be an idiot in front of all these people.

"Thr—"

An explosion cut off Brent’s word.

Brent jumped to action, shielding me as I covered my ears. My hands shook as I lowered them, looking to see what had happened.

"She’s not yours to claim." A familiar voice called out.

Brent growled. His spreading fur rippled under my hands. His anger was making my blood burn. I was angry, but he...he was pissed the fuck off. His emotions were so strong that the nearby Weres started wolfing out.

That couldn’t happen. Whatever was going on, I needed him in human form so we could deal with it. "Brent. You have to calm down. Please."

The crowd parted and suddenly our roles reversed. Brent grabbed my arms as I lunged forward.

Luciana wore all white. A dress, flowing with many layers. The spell that lit her hands made her look like an avenging angel, but I knew she was the opposite of anything angelic. Behind her were at least ten other people dressed in white.

How in the hell had she managed to sneak up on all these wolves? Especially with the extra guards Brent and Donovan had posted.

I felt it then. It wasn’t just the moon that was making me itch. Magic hung thick in the air. "I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you weren’t invited. Leave now."

Wary of the brujos, the wolves who’d already shifted flattened their ears and a few still in human form slid away, leaving space between themselves and whatever magic Luciana was working.

"No." Luciana looked past me, dismissing me. "We had a deal, Presley."

"I’m not aware of any deal that would affect anything we’re doing tonight."

"You gave your oath that the coven would be allowed to speak at the Tribunal. Now you’re breaking your word?"

Mr. Langdon pressed his lips together in a firm line. "Both this ceremony and the Tribunal are Were-only events. Outsiders can’t participate without a pack sponsor assigned on a case-by-case basis. You might have a sponsor for the Tribunal, but not for tonight. You don’t have the right to be here."

I nearly gave a fist pump. Thank God for rules I was totally clueless about.

"I’ll sponsor her." A voice rang out from the crowd.

The pack separated to show a woman in a black robe. Her brown hair fell in waves around her face. "I’m her sponsor for the Tribunal. I’ll sponsor her tonight as well."

What? No. This wasn’t happening. Who the hell is that? I asked Brent 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. Langdon, and Brent, 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—Callista and Nikki. I pretty much hated both of them. Big time.

Mr. Langdon crossed his arms. "This ceremony and 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. Langdon 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 Brent and me. I wouldn’t let that happen.

"Heather 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 Brent’s life hell. Boy, was I wrong. Did you know they wanted to talk at the Tribunal to get me back? I asked Brent.

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, Presley."

Lady had lost her damned mind. No way was I leaving Brent 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."

The spell on her hands strengthened, and I blinked my eyes from the sudden bright light surrounding her. "I think Donovan and Sebastian would disagree. Is it worth it to fight now? Why not complete your ritual at the next full moon? Give us the chance to make our case."

"Or else?" I asked.

She held up her hands. "I’ll do what I must."

The circling wolves moved forward, but knocked into an invisible barrier that surrounded the brujos. They snarled and a few more Weres shifted as they ran at the barrier.

One of the coven members threw a bottle filled with red powder at the closest wolf, and it cut through the invisible wall.

The wolf yelped as the glass smashed against his hindquarters and he went down in a whimpering heap as magic flashed.

They were going to fight. Over me. People—my pack—could get hurt. I had to stop this.