Jetta - Raven Kennedy Page 0,86
leader over all shifter pack alpha leaders in the country?”
“That’s the one. Surprised you know of him, considering you’ve been a rogue all your life.”
I lift a shoulder. “Master Kaazu always stayed apprised of all Cane politics, especially shifters.”
Hugo nods thoughtfully. “Makes sense. Since his bread and butter is the fact that he’s taking shifters and enslaving them for profit.”
“Yep.”
Hugo sighs. “That’s what we were talking about, actually. I’ve been talking to Lutzo these past few weeks about trying to get him to campaign to the Canes’ council to eradicate the law and make it illegal to collar a shifter.”
“Kaazu is collaring non-shifters too,” I reply.
The alpha curses under his breath. “I’d like to wring this prick’s neck.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” I tell him seriously. “Don’t get me wrong, your power packs a punch, and I have no doubt you could beat him in a physical fight, but Kaazu would make sure it never got to that. He’d bring you down with his power.”
Hugo lets a smile cross his face—but it’s not a nice smile. It’s wolfish and deadly. “I look forward to seeing him try.”
“Don’t underestimate him,” I warn.
“It’s the world who usually underestimates us,” he tells me. “Speaking of...it’s time to talk about that.”
“What?” I play dumb.
“Us.”
I smirk. “Relationship talk?”
“Don’t be a smartass,” he reprimands, but amusement dances in his eyes. “You’ve been here for a while now. It’s time you took your place in the pack.”
My haunches rise. “Is that an order?”
Hugo studies me for so long that he sets my nerves on edge, but I don’t fidget or break eye contact, even though it’s probably disrespectful.
“You need to decide. Stop straddling the toilet—shit or get off the pot.”
“I deferred to a master my whole life. I won’t do it again,” I reply, knowing full well he has every right to kick me out on my ass.
“Good, because I’m no one’s master,” he counters. “I’m an Alpha pack leader. You’d be joining a family, not a troupe. The choice is yours, but you’re gonna have to decide soon.”
I nod tersely. “Got it.”
“And there’s also something else I want you to consider.”
Oh, great. More decisions to weigh on my shoulders.
“What?”
“If you stayed, I’d want you to consider becoming a pack enforcer.”
I blink at him in surprise. “You’d trust me to guard this place?”
“An enforcer does more than just guard, but yes. I do trust you.”
Not I would trust you. But I do trust you. Like he already does. Right now. Even without the alpha bond. Even without really knowing me. This dude trusts me to protect the pack. I don’t know why. I certainly don’t deserve that kind of faith.
“Why would you offer something like that to me?”
“Why not?” he shoots back casually.
“Uh, because I’m a self-centered dick?”
A raspy chuckle escapes him. “Kid, you sure play that role, but I see right through you,” he says, steady eyes watching me. “Besides, we need more female enforcers. And from what I hear from Igor, you’re one of the best fighters he’s ever seen in his life. You impressed my second, and that’s a near impossible feat.”
Uncomfortable with the praise, I just stare boredly at him. That’s usually my go-to response to compliments. Well, either this or I insult them until they decide they don’t like me and therefore won’t compliment me anymore. It usually works out. But even I’m not idiot enough to insult him.
Hugo keeps staring at me, undeterred, and I realize he’s waiting for me to answer. “Uhh, noted,” I finally say.
“Good,” he nods. “And—”
His phone rings suddenly, and he brings up a finger to hold his thought as he answers. “Hugo.” I watch his face grow stony at whatever he hears on the other end, and then he’s on his feet faster than a blink. “Where.”
It’s not a question. It’s a demand for information, and I’m suddenly blasted with so much alpha aggression that it steals the breath right out of my chest.
“What about Luca and Reese?”
My spine straightens at his question, and I strain to listen to what the person is saying on the other end, but I can’t hear anything other than muffled words.
“Tell me the second you know. We go in together.”
Hugo hangs up, his arms tensed and his face full of fury.
Before I can ask what’s wrong and what it has to do with my roommate, I hear the office door swing open and then stomping footsteps precede Jericho into the room. “Alpha, she’s here.”
My brow wrinkles in confusion. Who’s here? Reese?
“Good,” Hugo