Moon Claimed (Werewolf Dens #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,64
was lacking in the first week. Last weekend, I learned what happens when duty and health aren’t balanced. I apologise for myself and for Rhona for not informing you of the switch. The first instance was last minute, and I admit, I was too ashamed to tell you the truth. The second, well, there’s little excuse for that except health.”
“And that theory we were testing,” Rhona piped up behind me.
My stomach lurched. “My main objective was to recoup, but perhaps we can present our theory to the head team after the meeting on pack lands. We’ll be late if we don’t leave.”
“And I’m coming,” she said.
My gums ached, but I stepped in front of her, tilting my chin. Her lips curved, and I didn’t hesitate to let her see my sadness and pain.
“Because I care for you and this tribe, my answer is no.”
“Perhaps we could put it to a vote,” Valerie said, the sneer evident in her voice.
I glanced over my shoulder. “If you want every decision to be a group vote, Valerie, we’ll soon suffer from gross lack of efficiency.”
“Even so. Given the circumstances with Herc,” she simpered.
My wolf was bursting under the surface to take charge of the situation and put Valerie in her place way at the bottom. For a furious moment, I considered letting her do just that.
Tightening my hold, I focused. “I’m disappointed at your lack of confidence and trust in my decisions, Valerie. Some of that is on me too though. Something I’ve done has clearly made you feel that way. In the future, I hope you’re able to support your head steward.”
Her cheeks flushed.
“Those who believe Rhona has a right to visit pack lands on this single occasion, raise your hand,” I said in a ringing voice.
Yep, I already knew the answer.
The majority of hands rose, including Rhona’s.
“Damn selfish, I think,” Stanley said, glowering at the others.
Bile rose in my throat at the sickly sweetness of Rhona’s vanilla glee. “Rhona will come to pack lands. The two of us will meet the rest of you there.”
“I’ll ride with the head team.” She shouldered me on the way to the driver’s seat.
No one missed the blow.
Valerie smirked, and I turned away before my wolf decided to chomp through her jugular.
“See you all there.” I moved toward Ella F.
Wade was coming down the stairs to make up Rhona’s position on the head team. I waved him away, mouthing, “Not today.” His grey gaze shifted over my shoulder to Rhona, and he stopped short.
Yep.
I just lost that round big time. Rhona wasn’t just coming to pack lands. She’d won a powerplay with the head team.
No sooner had I pulled out of the manor gates, waving at Cameron, when my phone buzzed.
“Oh my god,” Wade said. “What happened? The tension was crazy.”
“You know how Rhona and I switched a couple of times? She just told the head team.”
He swore long and hard, then turned his ire on Rhona.
“What she’s doing is mean, yes,” I said, sighing. “She’s only doing it because I hurt her so much.”
“You don’t have to call her what she is, but I certainly will.”
I shook my head. “I’ve got a bigger problem. She also told them about the theory she had.”
“The one where Sascha had the mega hots for you?”
“She’s trying to make me sweat. More. I’ve delayed discussing the theory until after meeting the Luthers, but it will come up as soon as we’re back. She could be telling them about it right now.”
The line was silent. “Baby girl, I don’t mean to be a butthole, but you need to stick up for yourself.”
“Nothing she’s saying is untrue. We did switch places.”
“Exactly,” he exploded. “We.”
“Only one of us is head steward.”
“This fight has to end or the tribe loses. You need to make her back down.”
Didn’t he understand? I couldn’t do that to my only remaining relative. My sister. She grieved for a father and mother who’d lied to her. She grieved the loss of a position she’d always believed would be hers. She felt alone and adrift. Me fighting her just proved to her that family wasn’t forever—that the term sister didn’t mean anything.
I refused to do that. “No.”
“You cannot be hearing yourself.”
“I am, Wade. Fighting or not, I lose either way. If push comes to shove, I choose to lose the head stewardship over my family.”
“Alright,” he said just as I wondered if the signal had dropped out. “I don’t think that’s best for the tribe though. Moving on,