Her face was a wall. “You knew he’d do the next meet in Sandstone.”
Closing my eyes, I forced the horrible guilt out at last, “I wondered if he would. It presented the largest challenge to his wolf.”
“You knew he’d shift, and you said nothing. Did you think Dad and I would just let him chase you without coming to help? You have to know one or both of us could be in danger.”
Her words slammed into my chest. “I wasn’t sure of anything then. I was scared. Of Sascha. Of your reactions. I just thought if I could get through the capture meet—”
“You decided not to accept help.” She withered.
I’d never heard a voice so cold. “Yes. I was scared—”
“You’re a fucking coward,” she shouted in my face, half standing.
Tears sparked my eyes. “I realise my mistake, believe me.”
“And then you did it again.” She swept everything off the table. “You lied to me about my own father’s death, you piece of shit. Dad’s will fucking stung, but I could rest a little easier because you were head steward. You…” She looked straight through me. “This is what you really are. A pathetic liar.”
I stood, clinging to my depleting calm with everything I had. “I’ve wanted to tell you so many times. Sascha and I had already completed the capture meet when Herc found us. He had a gun. Without me saying anything, he knew what was going on. Maybe he’d already suspected. Why else have the gun? And he tried to shoot Sascha, too, even knowing what it would do to me.”
The words rocked me. It was the first time I’d blamed Herc for what might have happened.
She rolled her eyes. “And what would happen?”
“Break me, apparently. Sascha will die if I’m killed. That’s why another Luther is after me now. He thinks Sascha’s connection to a human mate shows he’s too weak to rule the pack. Rhona, you have to believe that you’re the person I love most in the world. I can see how upset and angry you are. I understand that coming back from this could be impossible. Either way, I’m glad you know the truth. It’s nothing less than you deserve. I don’t think you’re stupid or irrational. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Bet getting all that off your chest will help you sleep at night.” The cruel words slipped from her clenched teeth.
I absorbed the blow. “Do you have any more questions?”
She laughed—a harsh noise that would give me no shortage of nightmares. I’d never heard such a devoid sound except for the mournful echoes of my own heart.
“I know enough now to make a decision I should have made the moment Dad’s will was read.” Rhona’s face twisted.
My growing fingernails dug into my palms. I spun from Rhona in case my eyes darkened. “Don’t let this come between us. Please be smarter than me. You have a right to be angry and to hate me. But, in part, I lied to protect you.”
“Get out.”
I couldn’t leave things like this.
My fangs pierced my gums and told me I was mistaken. Shifting into a wolf would be the straw on the camel’s back. “Rhona—”
She screamed, “Get out!”
“I’m not leaving you,” I lisped with the slight protrusion of my bulging incisors. “When you’ve had some time. When you have more questions. Or when you need me. I’ll be here. I love you, Rhona. Always.”
Her voice lost the whip-like edge.
In its place was a dark voice I’d never heard from a human mouth.
“You’re no daughter of my father’s. You are no Thana. I reject you as head steward. The stewards may accept you for now, but you have no dominion over me any longer. You are no sister of mine.”
Her words struck at the very oldest of my wounds and the most acute of my new fears. I gasped as my fangs surged.
“Get out,” she whispered.
Eyes blurring and hands over my mouth, I stumbled from Herc’s office.
15
I walked into the manor at dawn, waiting for the stewards to chase me out with pitchforks.
Rhona had all night to spread the sorry truth.
This was my mistake, my fuck up, and I’d come to face the music. Closure. Something no one had given me in my life. People deserved the chance to rant and rave and be furious.
But dread filled me.
The entranceway was empty of Tiptoe Eleanor, and I ducked through the kitchen to look out the window, scanning the training pavilions crammed with stewards.
Well, they were still focused on winning. That was good.
I should leave everything in order for Rhona in the office.
“Morning, Andie,” Roderick said cheerfully.
Jerking, I glanced at him. “Oh, hey… How are you this morning?”
“I feel better than most. Not much of a drinker. Are you ready to capitalise on the win? Everyone is itching for a fourth grid.”
He didn’t know. That much was obvious. “Uh. Absolutely ready. I’ll see you guys at eight.”
What the hell was going on?
Grabbing an apple, I walked to the office in a daze.
In Herc’s office, not a single book remained on the mahogany shelves. I’d seen Rhona sweep the desk clear, but she’d upturned the chairs and torn the curtains from their rails after I left.
I’d made her lose control to that degree. Just like Herc destroying her pride, I’d destroyed what was left of her. And from personal experience, I knew losing control to her temper would leave Rhona feeling like shit.
Closing the door, I set to work putting things to right. I could do that much. Maybe after, the way to setting things right with Rhona would be clearer.
By the time I’d finished, 8:00 a.m. loomed. I took a minute to ensure I had a hold of my forest calm, then dragged my ass to the meeting.
This was it for sure.
“Sorry, I got caught up.” I entered the room.
The team didn’t turn as one to glare at me. There were no ropes or burning pyres. Hope twinged in my gut. Did Rhona really put her feelings towards me aside for the good of the tribe?
Or did she think things through and see my side?
That seemed impossible after our argument last night, but what other explanation was there?
I scanned the head team, finding her in my chair, legs kicked up on the desk.
Stanley frowned at her. “You’re in Andie’s chair.”
She shrugged.
I stared, and she stared right back. She hadn’t told the stewards… but sitting there was a pretty clear declaration of her view of me. To everyone.
Whatever. I could handle a few petty jabs—I deserved no less.
“It’s disrespectful is what it is,” Stanley boomed.
Rhona didn’t answer.
Put her in her place.
My wolf hadn’t spoken since the grid last night. Ignoring her was harder when she spoke, but I’d fucking manage.
“It’s okay, Stanley.” I smiled. “I don’t need a particular chair to get the job done.”
I took the seat next to Rhona and glanced into mostly shocked faces. Pascal’s was blank. Valerie appeared to love the show. Under my attention, she schooled her features.
I said to the table, “Personally, I’m here because I want to win another grid. If everyone is in agreement, I suggest we move on.”
Dissent between the Thana sisters was a huge deal. It would confuse the head team and that would trickle down to the stewards. Rhona held my future in her hands. At any moment, she could tell all. Did she want to make me sweat? Was that it?
Regardless, by challenging my authority, she wasn’t putting the tribe first as I’d expected.
“Personal problems have no space in this room,” Pascal said to Rhona. “We can’t expect to do our best for the tribe if we don’t put our differences aside.”
My sister leaned forward. “So we have Clay and Water to choose from.”
The command in her voice was clear.
My mouth dried as I realised what her angle was. She was try
ing to lead the meeting. Rhona wanted my spot. She might not have outed me for my part in Herc’s death and the mating call yet. She could have told the stewards everything and simply stepped into the top spot. Instead, Rhona planned to tear me down to become head steward.
Ouch.
“Clay is the obvious choice,” I took over. “Even with our new plans for Water, revealing operations there before the time is right would be a mistake. In contrast, Clay is a more even footing. Operations there aren’t as versatile, but they carry less cost to carry out. Plus, the tunnelling strategies we’ve considered will take time to put in place.”
“I disagree,” Rhona announced.
Roderick, who’d been about to speak, closed his mouth and gaped at her.
Yep, I was right. “Is there a reasoning behind your disagreement, Rhona?”
“The stewards are high on a win. That means something. We should use it to tackle Water again. See if we can chance a victory.”
“I hardly think that’s a solid plan. We can’t rely on luck to win,” Nathan said.
His words seemed to shock her.
She studied the other head team members, her mountain air scent pulsing. Weird. What did that mean?
“What are the other thoughts on Clay versus Water?” I asked.
Pascal replied, “Clay is the logical choice.”
“We’re not ready for Water,” Stanley grumbled.
Roderick quirked a smile. “Your stewards are eager to return to Clay after your debut there.”
They wouldn’t be so eager to take my side if they knew what Rhona knew. “Clay it is. Moving on, we have Timber back. This is the first time I’ve been here for a grid turnover. What happens with the businesses?”
Trixie leaned forward. “That’s my role. I put all Timber employees on standby before the game. They should be heading to their desks and jobs for a smooth takeover as we speak. Luthers are required to leave everything in acceptable order.”
“Good. Thank you. Out of interest, where do the Timber stewards work when we didn’t have that grid?”
“We absorb some of that number in Sandstone and Iron. The Timber crew rotate shifts in those grids and otherwise use their accumulated holiday leave. At that point, caring for them comes out of the tribe funds.”
“I see. If we were to win Water and Clay, would we have enough staff to cover all five grids?”
She tapped a finger on the table. “We’d have to pull staff from our three grids to cover the head positions in the new grids. Being stronger and faster, the wolves don’t hire any outsiders to help with work, whereas we’d definitely need to hire from the general valley population which makes things very tricky if the grid is switching back and forth between the tribe and pack. It’s likely that people would need to move here from neighbouring regions to work for us. There’d be the question of accommodation for them.”
Complicated. About what I expected. “Trixie, I’d like you to form another team, please. Your objective is to ensure that if we win Clay next week, there’s a clear path for filling staff positions. One recommendation would be to book out tourist accommodation in town for any new workers. Not only will this help us relocate them, but it will create a dent in how many tourists can visit and spend money at The Dens.” We owned all accommodation in town.
She jotted a few words in a notebook. “We can advertise jobs and delay the starting date if needed. The team can troubleshoot too.”
“Please confer with Stanley regarding marketing costs. Stan, I trust that’s something you’ll have no problem with?”
He grunted.
I’d take that as a yes.
I ignored Rhona simmering beside me. What did she expect? To walk in here, click her fingers, and have the head team members jumping to her side? “I’ve read over the Victratum contract. It clearly states that care of the land must be exhibited at all times by the side in possession of each grid.”
“What are you insinuating?” Rhona snapped.
I noted several annoyed expressions around the table. Dammit.
Sighing, I faced her.
Her eyes flashed.
Yep, she hated me alright, and it was like a burning dagger to the gut. “Rhona, I love you dearly. I value your input and your presence at my side. Whatever lays between us cannot affect the game. I know you’re aware of that. I also know that sometimes shitty things happen in life, and it’s hard to put feelings aside. If you’re unable to do that today, that’s okay. But if so, I’ll need to ask you to leave this meeting. There’s a job to do.”
She pressed her lips together so hard they turned white. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
I waited for her to reveal everything. I could see it in her eyes—the indecision.
It was her right to tell whomever she wanted. To my error, I tried to control her without really knowing the consequences of doing such a thing. What happened next was her choice. I’d made my bed.
Rhona shoved her seat back.
“Please meet me in my office in twenty minutes,” I told her softly.
Study would be skipped for the day. Pretty sure I was a hair’s breadth from failing as it was, but some things couldn’t be helped.
The room shook from the force of her slamming the door.
“I’ve never seen her like that,” Valerie gasped. “What happened?”
Pascal saved the day. “I heard she broke up with Foley last night and caught him fooling around with Laura in the spa. She wasn’t happy.”
“Wade said you spoke with Foley after,” Roderick said to me.
I swallowed. “I did.”
“She’s got a lot on her plate.” Nathan peered to the door. “I’m worried about her.”
“Something else must have happened,” Valerie pressed.
“I’ll speak to my sister after the meeting,” I said. “Otherwise, I agree with Pascal’s earlier words. Personal problems have no space in here.”
Scanning each of them, I gave space for their disagreement.
They didn’t give any. Probably because steam was coming out of my ears.
“Back to my point,” I said. “I’d also like to restart a team that Mrs Frey tells me once existed. This team will brainstorm ways we can display greater care of the land in our grids. The team was disbanded ten years ago, and I can’t help wondering, with the progression of environmentally friendly technology in recent years, if we’re doing everything possible to ensure the wellbeing of this valley. This is a fundamental clause in the contract, and I don’t want to give the Luthers any excuse to challenge us in the future.”
“The team could analyse the Luther’s grid care for weaknesses too,” Trixie said.
With half a mind on the discussion around me, I released a pent-up breath.
Stretching my hearing in the direction of the office, I listened for sounds of Rhona’s breathing or pacing, unsurprised when I didn’t hear signs of life.
Rhona was making a stand for head steward.
And she held the ace in her hand.
“Shit and fuck.” Wade gaped.
I flopped on the bed. “Tell me about it.”
Ironically, turning into a wolf was the easiest part of my week. Rhona had made the last three days a living hell. She’d ignored my summons to talk and evaded attempts to track her down. She’d returned to head team meetings with barely veiled animosity but had set her intention to contributing to the best of her ability. I could tell some of the head team were impressed at the sudden change.
“That explains a lot.” On the couch, he sipped on a cider.
I wouldn’t mind a bottle of gin right now. Sabotaging myself had never held such appeal. “Like what?”
“Uh, she’s sprouted some weird views in training the last couple of mornings. That we should take a more violent approach with the Luthers. That the wolves were able to handle a literal landslide and with the two hardest grids coming up, we can’t restrict ourselves to a soft approach.”
I stared at the wood ce
iling. There was no doubt that more violence would be popular to some stewards. “Right. Dare I ask what the reaction was?”
“She has her supporters, but like me, most people were uncomfortable with her comments and a little confused. She was almost criticising you, but just falling shy.”
I’d always maintained Herc was wrong about Rhona. She had the capacity to lead. Her weakness, in my eyes, rested in her lack of subtlety when it came to managing people.
Because, in short, people didn’t like to be managed.
It wouldn’t be her weakness forever though.
“Hopefully her words don’t gain momentum,” I said after a beat. “I’m not here to kill Luthers or maim them. Maybe she’s right though—about the soft approach. I mean, I never would have cleared the landslide operation, yet that won us Sandstone.”
Perhaps Rhona was the right leader. Maybe I was resisting a change of leadership that would benefit the tribe. Didn’t I believe her to be the better choice from the start?
Wade dragged me to sitting. “No way. Don’t do that maybe she’s right bullshit, Andie Thana.”
“I’m Andie Booker though,” I whispered.
Wade set his cider down and gripped my shoulders. “I’m all for choosing whoever the hell you want to be, but never for a minute think someone else can choose that for you. If you want to be a Thana, then you’re a Thana. Rhona’s hurting. And yes, maybe you could have handled things differently. But what’s done is done. You’re the best person for the job. I’m not telling you that because I’m your friend. I’m saying that I’m your friend because of it.”
I glanced up at him. “What?”
“I like powerful friends. Don’t distract me. I’m trying to say that you can’t doubt yourself. Any doubt from you hits the stewards. They look to you for reassurance and guidance. Rhona must be managed and not left to her own misplaced and bitter devices. If she plans to reveal everything, then we’ll change our plan down the line, but perhaps reminding Rhona of what her actions would mean for the tribe is a good idea.”
He’s right, my wolf said.
Go away.
Your stubbornness grows wearisome.
Stones and glass houses, I snapped back.
Moon Claimed: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 2) Page 16