Chapter 68 AURORA

My stomach clenched as I looked around at the Blue Ridge wolves. My heartbeat kicked into high gear.

There was no way he could know what Holden had suggested. No. Way. And even if he did, he couldn’t have proof.

I had to take control of this situation.

Around me, the Blue Ridge wolves grew more and more tense as silent seconds passed.

None of them stood up for me. I wasn’t surprised. None of them had stood up for me years ago. To them, I was always Broken Forest. A murderer. The enemy.

Calling on everything I’d learned during the last five years, I rose. I kept my chin high and rose to my feet. I gave them all an icy glare, especially the beta.

I’d hardly exchanged two words with Archer. I didn’t know why he suddenly wanted to come after me now. Maybe he really didn’t trust me. I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let him speak to me this way.

Holden started to rise. To my surprise, so did Dane. Was he actually about to defend me?

But I held up my hand, stopping them both. “If the beta has a problem with me, let him speak his mind.”

Archer’s mouth was an unsmiling line. “I have.”

“And do you have any proof?”

“I saw you speaking.”

“You saw me speaking to a person I’ve been friends with for four years and one of my pack’s greatest allies here in the States?” I asked, arching a brow.

At the same time, I suppressed quiet worry. Damn it. Could he have overheard us? Or was he just making the most obvious guess.

I decided to take a gamble: he was making a guess. As long as I stuck to my story, nothing he said or did would amount to proof. I could still turn this my way.

I felt a little dirty doing it, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. I would honor the original deal I’d made.

But Holden had done something wrong in suggesting it. Something that could lead to war between the two strongest packs in the South.

One corner of my mouth curved in a sardonic little smile. “You’re right, beta, I did have a conversation with Alpha Coleridge. He was there when I woke up in the infirmary.”

I took a slow, easy step toward Archer, then another. “However, what you’re suggesting could lead to bloodshed and war. Either you misunderstood what you saw, or you’re making up a lie because you want war. Which is it?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He tried to hide it, but I saw.

“Of course, I don’t want war,” he said through gritted teeth.

I got close, lifting my chin higher so I looked down my nose at him. “Then I suggest you back down, Beta.”

Archer’s whole body was tight. But after a moment, he took a step back.

“Archer!” Evelyn snapped. She strode up to the front of the room.

I stepped in front of her. I was a little taller than her, so I looked down. “You are speaking out of turn. Go back with the others and sit down.”

Her jaw dropped. Even when I was Danc’s wife and she was his mistress, I’d never dared to speak to her that way.

“You wolfless whore!” she shrieked. She drew back her hand to slap me.

She had a wolf. I didn’t. Any blow from her would send my head spinning, but I didn’t have time to dodge. I closed my eyes.

There was a loud smack of flesh against flesh.

But not from her hand on my face.

I opened my eyes and looked.

Dane stood a little behind me, leaning over, his body sheltering mine.

He had caught Evelyn’s hand before it could touch me.

He glared down at her with pure rage, his body shaking with restraint. He growled, “You will obey the Luna-heir.”

He looked out on his own pack. Magic rose in the room like a tide – the strength of his Alpha power so strong I felt like I could drown in it.

“You will all respect the Luna-heir, or you will be exiled from this pack.”

He gave a little shove as he released Evelyn’s hand. She stumbled back. Archer was there in a flash. He caught her.

There was something about his hand at her waist – the way his fingers spread and pressed into her. It was… possessive.

My eyes widened. Was Archer the father of Evelyn’s child?

It didn’t seem possible. Dane couldn’t be betrayed so deeply. Not by his own beta!

Dane was still close behind me. He hovered for a moment, then stepped back. He addressed the wolves in the room. “You’re dismissed. If I have an individual job for you I’ll let you know. Otherwise, prepare yourselves. The ceremonies will be held soon.”

The wolves all filed out of the room. Evelyn was last. The glare she gave me was pure hatred.

When they were all gone, I moved to follow,

But Dane caught my wrist. He squeezed and turned me back to face him. There was tension in his face. Tension like I’d rarely seen.

Worry and guilt squeezed my chest. My breathing quickened. Could he know that I had lied to him, and to all his wolves? That Archer was right about it all?

“Aurora,” he said, his voice low, “There is something I have to know.”