Clearing his throat, Cam gestured for Alec to sit with the others and then walked around to the head of the table. “I spoke with a member of the council last night.” Alec sat straighter in his chair. “It seems Alpha Newell made good on his threat. He’s accused this pack, me as alpha, of knowingly performing an illegal bite, covering up the crime by kidnapping said human, and forging documentation.”
“Fuck.” Alec couldn’t help but glance over at Nathan; along with everyone else around the table.
Ignoring everyone but Cam, Nathan met his alpha’s gaze and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I’m so sorry. Forgive me for putting you and our pack in this situation.” He looked tired and was far too quiet for Alec’s liking. This wasn’t the version of Nathan he found easy to dislike—the memory of that pack meeting would be forever burned in Alec’s memory. It was what he’d clung to when the guilt became too much in those first few months.
This Nathan, who sat at the table, looked subdued and sad, like a man approaching the anniversary of his parents’ death. Glimpses of that angry, hurt, and scared eighteen-year-old boy sneaked through as Nathan watched Cam walk towards him.
Guilt tightened Alec’s chest, and he averted his gaze when Cam put his hand on Nathan’s neck and bent down to whisper to him. The words were clear enough for everyone present to hear though.
“No matter how it started, by his own free will, Jared chose not to report you to the authorities. I made the decision to offer him a place in our pack and to organise the necessary paperwork. From that point forth it was my doing, not yours. As your alpha, I take full responsibility for whatever happens.” He ran his nose along Nathan’s neck, scenting him, and Nathan shivered before slumping against the back of the chair. “Thank you for your apology, but it’s unnecessary. Forgiveness has already been granted and is no longer an issue.”
Nathan let out a long, shaky sigh. “Thank you.”
Cam stood and returned to his seat. “All I ask is that when you’re questioned by the council, tell the truth. No matter what that might reveal.”
Nathan’s head snapped up. “But—”
“Lying to the council can be punishable by death, Nathan. Nothing is worth that.”
Gareth laid a hand on Nathan’s arm, and Nathan nodded. “So, what happens now?”
Cam sat and looked at each beta in turn. “The council have called a meeting, which we are all obligated to attend. We’ll find out everything there and how they plan to proceed.”
“When?” Alec didn’t tend to get nervous, but the thought of Cam standing in front of the alpha council sent a prickle of anxiety through him.
“Tomorrow afternoon. Three o’clock.”
“That soon?”
Cam’s smile was wry. “The purpose of the council is to stop another pack war from ever starting. They need to move fast to prevent escalation.”
Daryl glanced over at the double doors. “And to prevent any evidence from disappearing.”
Cam nodded. “That too.”
Their evidence was one floor below, in a secure flat guarded by Alec’s unit.
“Talking of which, how is our guest?” Cam looked to Alec, but it was Tim who answered.
“Lucky to be alive.” The roughness of his voice surprised no one in the room. If Alec were in Tim’s position, he’d have found it hard not to march down there and take matters into his own hands. The rogue and his packmates had tried to kill Seb, Tim’s mate, and had injured him badly enough that he chose to be bitten. While that had ended well for Tim, nothing sparked a shifter’s protectiveness like a threat to your bonded mate. Even the mild-mannered doctor wasn’t immune to that.
“He’s as well as expected.” Alec offered. “Anxious to discover what fate awaits him. As he should be.”
“I’m sure.” Cam tapped his fingers on the table. “Well, it’s out of our hands now. He’ll find out when the rest of us do.”
“Where’s the jacket you took from Appleton?” Daryl asked. “Do we need to take that tomorrow?”
Cam gestured behind him at the cupboards lining the wall. “In there. And no, we don’t take anything tomorrow. If they decide to take things further, then they’ll send people here.” He turned to Alec. “Actually, we should probably keep it somewhere more secure.”
“I’ll see to it as soon as we’re done here.”
“Thank you.” Cam sat back in his chair. “The meeting tomorrow will be at the alpha headquarters near Ashcombe. I’d like us all to meet here at nine thirty.” He looked at each of his betas in turn. “Bring two from your units as security. Newell might be on the council’s radar now, but I don’t trust him.”
Taking that as a dismissal, the others stood and quietly filed out of the room, leaving Cam and Alec.
Alec walked over to the tall cupboard and opened the door. The plastic wrap covering the jacket was slightly open at the top, and Mark’s now-familiar scent washed over him, taking him by surprise. Memories of earlier that morning assaulted him, and his wolf stirred. It took several moments to get himself under control.
Cam joined him, Alec’s reaction obviously not going unnoticed. “And yet you’re not seeing him again?”
“No.” If that’s how he reacted after one night with Mark, then all the more reason not to. “I don’t need any complications in my life right now.”
“Right now, or ever?”
Alec glanced over at him. “It was one night. It meant nothing more than any of the others I’ve had.”
Cam hummed. “Are you sure about that?”
Turning to face him fully, Alec tried to ignore the jacket. “Do you want me to be involved with a P-pack member while both packs are under investigation by the alpha council?”
“I’ll admit it’s not ideal, but—”
“But nothing. I’m not seeing him again, there’s nothing to discuss.”
Sighing, Cam gave his shoulder a quick squeeze. “I worry about all my pack, Alec. That includes you. Especially you, sometimes.”
Looking down at his feet, Alec tried not to show how very uncomfortable this conversation made him. “I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.”
“You’re an excellent beta, loyal to a fault. I trust you with my life and the life of every member of my pack. But you are not fine. Punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your fault, is not fine.”
“I’m not punishing myself.”
“Aren’t you?” Cam’s voice was soft. “I remember what you were like before, Alec. And it wasn’t this cool, unaffected exterior that you let everyone think is the real you. You didn’t keep everyone at arm’s length. That Alec would have grabbed the chance at having a mate with both hands, even if there was only a slim possibility of it. Just the chance to try would have put a smile on his face.”
“Things happen, people change.” I changed.
“I know that. Believe me, I know.” A shadow crossed his face, and Alec cursed himself for being such an insensitive fuck. Cam knew better than he did. He’d lost his wife. “But it’s been ten years, Alec. Maybe time to let go of the past. I’m not saying it needs to be Mark, but just think about letting someone in.”
Alec glanced at the jacket, then back at Cam. He couldn’t lie to his alpha. “I don’t know.”
“At least think about clearing the air with Nathan. The two of you must expend far too much energy avoiding one another.”
A laugh burst out of him, and Alec shook his head. “Let’s not get carried away.” He reached into the cupboard and took the jacket out, keeping it away from his body. The rogue shifter’s scent still clung to it, and Alec concentrated on that rather than Mark’s. “I’ll get this wrapped better and locked away.”
“Thank you. And think about what I said, Alec. Please.”
Alec nodded. “Of course.” Careful to keep the jacket from touching him, Alec left the room and headed down to his flat.
Tim leant on the wall next to his door. He looked up and smiled. “Hey. Thought you were never coming out.”
<
br /> Alec held up the jacket. “Have to take care of this.”
“Is that all?” He gestured to Alec’s face. “You’ve got sort of a pinched expression.”
“Do I?” Fishing out his keys one-handed, Alec then opened the door and went inside. Tim followed.
“Yes. But I won’t pry. That’s not why I’m here.”
Alec walked through to his bedroom and stopped in front of his wardrobe.
Tim paused in the doorway. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Not sure. Can you have a look inside and see if there’s anything suitable.”
Opening the wardrobe doors, Tim glanced at the row of hangers. He pointed at a zipped-up bag at the end. “What’s in there?”
“One of my suits; I had it dry cleaned last week.”
“Have you worn it since?”
“No.”
Tim grinned. “That’s probably the most scent-free thing you’ve got.”
“Agreed.”
Between them, they swapped out the suit for Mark’s jacket and hung it back on the rail. Alec’s flat was more secure than the meeting room, and they had no safe or anything big enough to fit it in. That would have to do.
He led Tim back out to the living room and sank into the nearest chair. “So, why did you come here? I take it it’s not in any professional capacity?”
Tim sat on the sofa, elbows resting on his knees. “No. Not unless you’re hiding a life-threatening injury?”
“I’m not.”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing, considering. I heard a bit of your and Cam’s conversation earlier, and I was worried.”
Alec sighed and closed his eyes. “Fuck, not you too. I’m fine, honestly.”
“I know what day’s coming up, but you’re not usually that reckless. At least not until the actual anniversary. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but Mark Appleton? What the fuck were you thinking?”
Tim was the only person other than Cam or the betas who could speak to him that way and not find themselves thrown against a wall. Even so, Alec wasn’t fond of his tone. “If you listened to our conversation, then you heard Cam say it’s no big deal.”
“I know but—”
“Leave it, Tim. Please.”
The silence stretched between them until Tim eventually gave in and broke it. “Okay. Sorry if I pissed you off. I’m just worried.”
Alec rubbed his eyes, tiredness setting in. “I know. And thank you, but there’s no need. It was just a shit day yesterday that triggered a few memories. I needed to let off some steam. It’s done.”
A slow smile spread across Tim’s face. “I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall when Newell finds out. He’s going to be so pissed off.”
An uneasy feeling settled just under Alec’s ribs. “He is.” Alpha Steven Newell had willingly gambled the life of one of his pack to gain leverage against Cam.
“And that’s just when people say they saw you together at one of his clubs. Imagine if he knew the pair of you fucked?” Alec didn’t say anything and Tim’s eyes narrowed, his smile vanishing. “Please tell me you did your best to make sure Mark didn’t smell like the two of you’d had sex all night?
Alec shrugged.
“For fuck’s sake, Alec.”
“I told him to be careful.”
Tim stared at him, incredulous. “Oh well, that’s okay then. As long as you told him to be careful.”
Sighing, Alec met Tim’s gaze. “What should I have done, then? He’s old enough to make his own decisions.”
“That’s such bollocks, and you know it. He’s what, twenty-three, twenty-four years old?”
Alec nodded.
Tim swore under his breath. “Fuck. You should have forced him to stay away from his pack building until your scent faded.”
“And how would I do that exactly?”
“I don’t know, but you can’t just have your fun and then throw him back into the lion’s den.” Tim sighed when Alec didn’t answer, but what could he say? They both knew Tim was right. “Do you think Newell would punish Mark? I mean, Cam didn’t seem unduly concerned.”
Alec’s laugh was hollow. “Newell is not Cam.”
“No, he’s not. Do you think he’ll believe that it was just sex? No nefarious plan on your part.” At Alec’s raised eyebrow, Tim swallowed. “Yeah, probably not.”
Even more reason not to see Mark again. “Let’s hope he has the good sense to avoid his alpha until my scent wears off.”
Tim glared at him, still looking pissed off. “Yes. Let’s hope.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Hey, Mark?”
Mark startled awake to find Will peering round his bedroom door.
He yawned, sat up, and groaned. “I feel like shit. What time is it?”
“Ten past twelve.” He came in and shut the door behind him. “Jason’s here.”
“Arse.” Mark lifted his shoulder and tried to sniff his skin. “Can you still smell Alec on me?”
Will walked over to him, shaking his head. “The things I do for you.” Stopping next to the bed, Will leaned in, gave him a sniff, and grimaced. “Yeah. You still smell like the good time you had last night.”
Mark smiled, remembering, then glanced towards the door. “Is he in the living room?”
“Yep. Asked me to come and wake you up. Said he had something important to talk to you about.”
“Fucking hell.” Mark bent over and grabbed his jeans off the floor. “Well, I was thinking about telling him anyway. Decision made.” Pulling on his jeans, he met Will’s gaze. “How do you think he’ll take it?”
“I don’t know, but for what it’s worth, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
While Mark agreed with him in principle—he disliked the idea of keeping secrets from his beta—it didn’t mean he was looking forward to telling him. “Come on, let’s go get this over with.”
Jason glanced up as they entered the living room. Will allowed Mark to go first, and Mark saw the exact moment his scent registered with his beta. Jason’s nostrils flared and his gaze shot to Mark’s, eyebrows raised comically high. “Something you want to tell me?”
Mark sat in the chair with a sigh. “Actually, yes.” Will sat next to Jason and gave Mark a small smile of encouragement. Might as well get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid…. “I had sex with Alec Knight.”
“I see.” Jason wasn’t surprised by the words. Shit, do I still smell that strongly? “And are you planning on seeing him again?”
“No. I think it was a one-time-only offer.”
At that, Jason did pause and regard Mark curiously. “But you’d want to if it was a possibility?”
“No, I—” What? Do I want to see him again? He pictured dark hair, dark eyes, and those broad, strong shoulders…. The answer was a resounding yes. Will snorted, and Mark scowled at him before facing Jason. “If things were different, then yes, I would. But since he’s a beta in a pack my alpha probably hates right now, then I don’t suspect it’s a good idea.”
Jason hmmed. “But having sex with him was?” He didn’t look annoyed. If anything, Mark thought he seemed a little amused.
“Well, I might have been a little drunk at the start and a whole lot pissed off.” He didn’t say anything else, conscious of the fact Will still didn’t know about yesterday morning.
After a quick glance at Will, Jason met Mark’s gaze. “That’s understandable. I’d probably feel the same under the circumstances.”
“Are you going to tell Newell?” Mark sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, waiting for Jason’s reply.
“No. And I don’t think you should either.” Another not-so-subtle glance at Will, who caught it this time.
Will managed not to roll his eyes. Mark was impressed. “Do you need me to leave the room?”
Jason reached out and grasped the back of Will’s neck, rubbing his fingers back and forth. “That won’t be necessary. Sorry for keeping you in the dark, but it’s for your own safe
ty. You’ll have to trust me on that.”
“Of course.” Will relaxed into the sofa cushions, and Jason let go of him, clasping his hands in his lap.
“Alpha Newell is under a great deal of pressure at the moment. He’s not quite… himself of late.” Jason sighed, and Mark got the feeling Newell wasn’t the only one under a lot of pressure. “That’s why you need to keep the jackets to yourself. Don’t tell anyone where you got them, or why.”
Will frowned. “I already told my sister.”
“Shit.” Jason rested his head in his hands. “Just don’t tell anyone else until this whole mess is dealt with.”
Will looked from Jason to Mark, then back again. “What mess?”
“I can’t say just yet, but you’ll find out soon enough.” He stood and smoothed down the front of his jeans before facing Mark. “There’s an out-of-territory meeting tomorrow. I’ll come here for you at nine fifteen. Until then, try not to leave your flat but shower some more. With any luck, it’ll have faded enough by morning.” Before heading for the door, he glanced at each of them in turn. “Just be careful for the next few days, okay?”
They both nodded.
Mark walked him to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jason moved in close and ran his nose along Mark’s neck. The gesture soothed him until Jason laughed softly. “Fuck, Mark, you have the worst timing. Just try not to get too close to Newell tomorrow.”
“I’ll do my best.” Personally, Mark didn’t think it would be a problem at all. He had no intention of getting anywhere near him if he could help it.
“I’ll fill you in on the details when I pick you up.” With a squeeze of Mark’s neck, Jason opened the door and was gone.
When Mark walked back into the living room, he met Will’s incredulous expression.
“What the fuck was that all about?”
“You know I can’t—”
“I know, and that was fine before, but come on, Mark. Out-of-territory pack meetings? Since when did you get to be so important?” He shot up out of his seat and started to pace. “I thought you only went yesterday as the bloody driver? And what’s that crap about our jackets? Why can’t we tell anyone? Have I dropped Jen in the shit?”
Bitten By Desire (Regent's Park Pack Book 3) Page 5