Deacon - Nicholas Bella Page 0,76
and shrugged. “He hasn’t not expressed interest. I don’t believe he’s ever truly forgiven Julie for his parents’ death.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Ahh, that’s right. He revealed to me, while quite drunk at the time, that it was Julie’s idea to attack the dragons on the full moon.”
“Why would Connor take her advice on the matter?”
“Because, Elliot, a true mate, from what I understand, is the other half of you. He trusted her and her opinion. Perhaps, it made sense to him. On the full moon, we are at are strongest, however, that is only physically. Had we attacked on any other day, we might have had a chance. Had the majority of our pack not been weakened by their animal forms and could have used a sword or fire a silver bullet from a gun, our chances would have been different. This cannot be denied. Royce knows this, and he had been holding his resentment for nearly fifty years,” I said.
“If he does take the challenge, Julie will be no match for him,” Elliot said.
“Not only that, but neither will I,” I said.
Elliot smiled and rose from his chair, then walked over to my bar and poured himself some more whiskey, then returned to his chair, crossing one of his tremendously long legs over the other. “Your eye is on the position?”
I sighed. “I have always wanted to rise to greater heights. For so long, I have wanted growth in the ranks, yet Julie has passed me over for lesser wolves. I have watched wolves younger than I am, with fewer accomplishments than me, rise to Beta Capo. I would have challenged Julie if I didn’t think Royce and other wolves as powerful as I am wouldn’t follow my rule. Julie gets respect, because she was our Alpha’s mate. She has a great deal of his essence and some of his strength,” I said.
Elliot downed his drink and nodded. “She has done that almost as a punishment to you. I don’t know what you’ve done to cross her, but she doesn’t think highly of you.”
It was true, from the moment I’d embarrassed her for daring to defend her honor at the meeting of the Alphas all those decades ago to me wanting to marry Sanese, I had fallen out of favor. I was sure that Graham, the last remaining wolf who had murdered my parents, played a part in her resent of me. Much like with Elias, Graham was of that fold along with Bernard and Angus, who had turned Elias against me. The day would come when I would get my revenge… I had patience; I could wait.
“I would follow you as Alpha,” Elliot said.
“I know,” I said with a smile.
“Do you think Royce would challenge Julie for the position?” Elliot asked.
I sighed and shook my head. “He may resent her, but he respects his father too much to challenge her, let alone to kill his father’s mate.”
“Even if he did, would you fall in line under him as Alpha?”
“If he did, I would have no choice.”
“But that isn’t want you want.”
“Royce is my oldest friend.”
“Yes, but he is also the one thing that is truly standing in your way.” Elliot got up to pour himself a glass of whiskey this time.
“For fuck’s sake, just take the bottle,” I stated, seeing as he’d already made four trips to the bar for the whiskey. Might as well take the rest.
Elliot chuckled and did just that, returning to his chair and taking a swig straight from the bottle. “Could you betray a friend?”
“What kind of man would that make me?” I asked.
“One who would never let anyone or anything stand in the way of your quest for greatness.” That came from my wife, Charlene, who had entered the room.
“My love,” I said as she approached me. “What are your thoughts?”
She climbed onto my lap and I could tell that she wasn’t wearing any underwear. Not only could I smell her lust, but it was in her eyes as she looked down at me. “I am but a loving wife who would see her husband rise to the position of power he is worthy of.”
“What about Julie?” I asked as I cupped both of her asscheeks. It didn’t matter that she was wearing a dress, I could still fill those firm mounds beneath the wool fabric.
She shrugged. “Alphas are challenged all of the time. If she were to be killed by Royce, and then Royce killed by you, that is the way it