Moon Claimed (Werewolf Dens #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,6

wanted a protector. I never wanted any of this. “You’re doing so well looking after me, Sascha. Sign me up.”

He flinched. “I will prove myself to you. I will undo the hurt I’ve caused. I swear this to you.”

His hurt was a cool rain on the furious inferno filling my heart.

Nothing I said would get through to this beast.

His eyes searched my face. “You should know a mating call between a Luther and human is unusual. Unheard of in our pack and in others I’ve reached out to. So far as I can tell, you didn’t complete your side of the scent meet. I think it’s because you don’t possess the strength of our senses.”

Good. Something was going my way at last.

“Without it, you can’t make your final decision, and the mating process cannot end.”

My face hardened. “Again. I don’t acknowledge your rituals.”

His jaw clenched. “This isn’t going away, Andie. If an answer exists, we’ll need each other to figure it out.”

Yeah. Snort. I was sure that would work just fine with whatever he had planned for the next meet.

I turned my back on him to slam the boot closed. “How about we skip to the end? You’re unworthy, Sascha Greyson. There’s not a chance in hell I’d ever choose you.”

4

I paced inside Herc’s office, breaths shallow. This was the first time I’d faced the stewards since the day at the lake. They knew I didn’t belong in this position. And like Rhona, they didn’t even know the truth.

I shook my hands out, exhale shaking.

The point of visiting my old apartment was to decompress. After the run in with Sascha, I was a mess.

I couldn’t be a mess.

This was crucial.

Yet trying to not be a mess was just making me more of a mess.

Fuck.

The door opened, and Rhona stepped in. “Everyone’s here. It’s your turn.”

No.

I’d reached my limit. “I can’t do it.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she closed the door. “That’s unfortunate, because you need to get your ass on that stage.”

“I’ve played in the grid twice. Why the hell would anyone listen to me?”

Why didn’t I go with Timber? Something safe. Something I didn’t need to justify.

I could see it now. A sea of blank faces as they wondered why I’d bitten off the hardest grid out of the gate.

“I fucked up.” I thumped my forehead against the bookshelf ladder.

“You convinced the head team,” Rhona said. “And me.”

Except the anger fuelling me all week had chosen now to disappear. I’d used it all against Sascha Greyson. Mothershitter.

I sank to the floor, shoving my head between my knees. “I’m not doing it. Can you go out and make an excuse? I’m unwell.”

“You can’t be hearing yourself.” She pulled my arms away. “All week, you’ve said we need to be confident and unified. What the hell do you think this message will tell our stewards?”

That I sucked. I was past caring.

This was my breaking point.

Gripping my wrists, Rhona clenched her jaw, scanning my face. “Get up.”

I stayed put.

“Get up and put on my clothes,” she said, sighing.

Jerking my head up, I took in her tight black cargos and long-sleeved, fitted top. She had a red cap on that read Go Fork Yourself.

My steel-grey full-length jumpsuit was about as opposite as could be from her outfit.

I rose on trembling legs. “You think it’ll work?”

“No idea. But the tribe needs to see you tonight. And their looks of pity are grinding my gears. You be me. I’ll be you. Win-win. What do I say?”

I rushed through the points of my intended speech, watching her nod at intervals as we switched clothing.

I raked my hair into a ponytail. She pulled hers free.

“You’ll need to say it like me.” I pressed my hands into my cheeks. Shit, this was ballsy, but I just needed to not be me for five seconds.

“I’ve heard you say this stuff at meetings already. Piece of cake.”

Why the hell did Herc name me as heir? Rhona was perfect.

“You better head out first,” she said.

I fixed the red cap on and set a scowl in place. Thinking of Rhona’s expression, I injected some sadness into my eyes and left the manor. Tilting my chin, I strode through the midst of the gathered stewards.

Everyone was in attendance by the looks. Only one representative from each family was required on Tuesday evenings, but I couldn’t condemn their curiosity or their need for reassurance.

People nodded at me, moving out of the way. Crap, what I’d give to be Rhona. The way people looked at her.