by H Q Kingsley
Alfred snorted and shook his head. “And that’s why you lost last week, huh?”
“Let’s just keep Dimi away from any card games,” Jonah said.
The smile on Dimitri's face faded. It had been a while since I’d heard anyone call Dimitri by his childhood nickname, and by the look on his face, he didn’t seem to appreciate it. Who could blame him? The last person to use it was probably...
“He still owes me $500 from a month ago,” Jonah finished.
“And he still owes me from two months ago,” Mark added.
I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched them gang up on Dimitri.
“Woah, Woah.” Dimitri held up a hand as he straightened in his chair. “I can’t owe you all something...” He whipped his head around to look at me. “Alpha, help me out here.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to get involved.” I reached behind my head, gathering the wild, curly strands of my hair and tied it into a tight bun.
I brushed away the few long red fly-away hairs from my shoulders and grinned. “But, if I may,” I said, holding up a finger. “You owe the same amount to me.”
“Damn it!” Dimitri threw his hands up. “That’s just great.” He put his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “Mishel is not going to like this.”
I swallowed down a laugh knowing just how much trouble Dimitri would be in if his mate found out he was losing bets left and right. Mishel was barely half Dimitri’s size, but boy, did he know how to keep Dimitri in line. It was almost comical to watch Dimitri, built like a tank, get laid into by Mishel, who was all of 150 pounds, at best.
I let out a long breath. Speaking of keeping people in line, I needed to find a clan to attack for the sake of my people.
I dropped my gaze back to the map on the table, scouring every inch of it. There had to be someplace that we were overlooking.
I dragged my finger across the map, passing over the dozens of spots marked with a black X to signify where we had already conquered. Come on, come on, come on.
I rubbed my jaw while trying to decide on a plan of action, wondering if maybe it was time to consider an early retirement.
I sucked in a breath when I finally saw it—a small island several miles offshore.
I furrowed my brow. How the hell had we missed that?
“Hey, Alpha.” Dimitri climbed to his feet and flanked to my side. “You good?” he asked, clearly aware of the change in my demeanor.
“This island right here... do any of you know of it?” I tapped on the small green and brown landmass.
Dimitri leaned in and shook his head. “Alfred?” He shifted his gaze to the oldest member of the council. If anyone was going to know, it would be Alfred.
Alfred craned his neck and his face lit up. “Oh, yes.” Alfred nodded. “That’s Maehelio.”
He looked up at me as if I were instantly supposed to know what he was talking about.
Alfred rolled his eyes when I didn’t respond. “It’s run by the Oceania Clan. It’s a backwater clan, and that’s putting it kindly. Simple folk.” An evil grin pulled at his lips. “I imagine they’d be pretty easy to take from.”
“And also pretty illegal,” Jonah interjected. “Maehelio is protected land, as is the Oceania Clan itself.” Jonah met my gaze. “We can’t go there,” he insisted, but just in the act of telling me we couldn’t go, he’d sealed the fate of the Oceania Clan.
“Protected by whom?” Dimitri asked, obviously a little less stubborn than I was.
“The Conclave of Clans,” Jonah answered.
Dimitri cackled. “Is that all? We’re a rogue clan, Jonah. The CoC doesn’t tell us what to do.”
“They’re growing more powerful,” Jonah insisted. “They’ve looked the other way for a long time because we haven’t attacked anywhere that would affect them. But the Oceania Clan exports goods to the mainland, namely the rare pearls that are only found in their waters. Maehelio is important to them. There will be repercussions if we attack.”
I met Jonah’s big, brown eyes, pleading with me to make the smart choice instead of the reckless one he already knew I would make.
I sighed. “Well, this is a council meeting. You’re my advisors, here because I trust you and your opinions.” I nodded to each one of them, even Jonah, though he’d clearly been hiding this island from us. “What do we think?”
“Fuck the CoC,” Mark roared, pumping a fist to his chest.
I chuckled. “I second that vote.” I shot Jonah an apologetic look.
Alfred cleared his throat. “What if there are more than two options?” Alfred offered.
My brows knitted together. “What do you mean?” In my experience, there were only ever two options—attack or don’t attack. Kill or be killed.
Alfred stood up, stroking his chin as he circled the table. “What if we just ask for the island?”
I laughed. “Just ask? And what? They’ll hand it over, just like that?”
Alfred shrugged. “Possibly. Once upon a time, in my youth, I visited Maehelio. They’re a peaceful people. Completely ignorant of the way the world really works. They have no army, no combat training. Why waste the resources when we could just ask and receive?”
I frowned. I rather liked wasting the resources. I liked the fight and so did the clan, but Alfred had a point. There would be another fight another day. And to have an island on which to fortify ourselves would certainly come in handy for that fight when it arrived.
I turned my gaze to Dimitri. I valued the opinions of my entire council, but his was the one I trusted above all others.
“What do you think?” I asked him.
“I think we should take a trip and ask the question. What’s the worst that can happen? If they refuse…” He gave a ruthless smile. “We do what we do best.”
I nodded. “It’s decided then. We’ll have a word with Oceania’s Alpha at first light tomorrow. Jonah, send a communiqué notifying him of our impending arrival.”
Jonah nodded, and I looked around at my council.
“Is there anything else that needs my immediate attention?”
I scanned the room and was met with silence.
“Good,” I started. “Then this meeting is adjourned.”
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Excerpt of Pledgeling
"I guess it's just you and me," Nick said in a voice so husky I nearly creamed my fucking pants right there. "I'll walk you back to your room."
"That's okay," I said quickly, and was suddenly very aware that I was trapped in the booth by his big body. "I can make my way back."
"I said I'm going with you. It's easy to get lost, especially for a freshman." He paid the check, but his leg stayed pressed against mine, making my heart race at a million beats a minute. "Ready?"
"Yeah," my voice cracked and I cleared it. "Yeah, let's get out of here."
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The Cabin Fever Series
Each novella is a standalone and can be read as its own book.
Stay the Night
Heal My Heart
Cheer Me On
Fix Me Up
Coming Soon
Feed My Soul
Guide My Heart
The Short & Scorching Collection
Honeymoon
Pledgeling
Tour Guide
Coming Soon
Bandmates
Pool Boy
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