little regard for my pack that they couldn’t even show up on time. Didn’t they understand what we’d all just been through? I almost growled. Even without the group’s fear of what would happen to them all if my true identity was discovered, and the deep-seated grief that marked John’s passing, they were all on tenterhooks about the imminent arrival. Would the Brethren like them? Would the Brethren find out who killed John? Would the Brethren save the world? Would we be honoured enough to be allowed to wait hands and feet on them? I snorted, making Tom look worriedly over at me again. I ignored him. Screw the Brethren. Part of me wished that I could have been long gone and then wouldn’t have to be witnessing the pathetic displays of my pack, my surrogate family, straining at the bit to do anything to please the sodding Brethren. Idiots.
I’d confirmed that none of them other than Julia had ever had cause to come in contact with the Brethren before now – well, let’s face it, we lived in a backwater town in Cornwall for chrissakes, nothing had ever happened before that would have warranted the Brethren’s attention – but the crème de la crème of the shapeshifters’ reputation still preceded them. They were known to be bloody, ruthless and entirely without mercy for anyone who didn’t meet their exacting standards. And still, the pack sighed over them as if they were gallant heroes galloping in to save the day.
And, as it was, I’d have to stay throughout the ceremony, so that the shifters who had taken me in when I was all alone wouldn’t be faced with any hard questions, or harder punishments because they were one ‘shifter’ short. We couldn’t afford to have the heroes looking for me as a suspect for John’s murder when the real culprit was still out there. In three days’ time I’d be free to find the bastard myself. I wondered if the Brethren were so arrogant to think that they would solve it that quickly and with that much ease, or if they just didn’t care and didn’t want to spend any more time away from the bright lights of London than was absolutely necessary. It didn’t matter. Whoever was responsible for John’s murder was going to die a slow and agonising death at my hand. Added to which, my late night conversation with Julia preyed on my mind. I wanted desperately to believe that she was telling the truth and that they all actually did indeed need me.
A sound came from outside and the waiting pack straightened their shoulders and puffed out their chests as if they were one. I did the complete opposite and tried to hunch down. The wooden doors at the right of the hall swung open and twenty or so people, all dressed from head to toe in designer black, came casually striding in.
As if they owned the place, I thought, gritting my teeth and hunching down lower.
The Brethren stopped and lined up in front of us. All of their hands were resting lightly on weapons that hung from their belts. Even from my lowered position I could see the glint of steel. Flexing their authority, no doubt. I looked fixedly down at the floor instead.
A tall gray haired man stepped forward, eyes sweeping over all of us. The room was so quiet that I fancied I’d be able to hear Anton’s balls finally dropping behind me. I risked a glance up at their new leader. He wasn’t what I’d expected. No obvious outpourings of power or charisma. He didn’t look weak physically but neither would I have thought that I couldn’t beat him in a fair fight. This was just a guy – and an old guy at that. I studied him carefully. There was certainly an air of grace and elegance surrounding him and he held himself with confidence and the suggestion of strength but still…I didn’t see it. Maybe it was a shapeshifter thing.
He started to speak. “The Brethren brings condolences for the loss of the Cornish pack’s alpha. We know that he was a good leader who kept the Way and held you together. Do not fear that we will not uncover the truth of what happened.” His slate gray eyes slid over the room. “His death was untimely and – unexpected.”
I blinked at the sudden unexpected rise of tears and my throat constricted and felt tight. John had kept us safe, all