The crowd fell silent and parted to let the funeral procession through. Remington held one corner of a wooden gurney, Jacob’s Tracker and two of his Soldiers held the other corners. They walked slowly towards the funeral pyre. They lifted the wooden gurney over the pyre and gently set it down. Remington turned to the Elders and took a sandalwood log from Emmanuel. He set it at the base of the pyre. Margaret, another Elder, gave him a stem of Holy Basil, which he placed halfway up the pyre.
One of the Elders lit a torch and offered it to Remington. Without saying a word, he took the torch and touched it to the base of the pyre. The dry kindling quickly ignited. He walked around the pyre, periodically touching the base, setting more kindling on fire. After he had completed the circle, he tossed the torch at the base of the pyre and stood back. Remington stood motionless as the flames from the fire heated his body.
The fire blazed for several hours. They all stood silently as they watched the body of their former Alpha burn. Once his body was reduced to ashes, the wind would disperse it throughout the forest, thus completing the ritual.
As the fire began to die down, several torches were lit and dispersed among the crowd. Remington faced the crowd of wolves, ready to defend his title.
He nodded to his Soldiers and two of them made their way into the crowd to stand behind the challenger.
“As you all know, my father, Jordan Tarchannen was murdered by a coward,” he said loudly, addressing the crowd.
“My Tracker has found this coward and it isn’t a human,” he revealed. Surprised gasps and murmurs were heard throughout the crowd. Remington gave them a moment to let the information sink in. He motioned to Galen and he stepped forward, holding a black Remington M24 with sniper scope. He raised the rifle above his head so that the pack could see it.
“This is the weapon used to murder my father. It was recovered earlier today,” he growled, barely controlling his rage. Remington’s golden wolf eyes flashed brightly.
“Instead of challenging him to a fight, this coward shot him in the back of his head.”
The crowd demanded to know who was responsible, demanded his flesh.
“RYLAN!” Remington screamed, spittle flying from his mouth.
Rylan stood beside Evie, his arm casually around her waist. When he heard Remington call his name, he reacted instantly, releasing Evie, moving to stand protectively in front of her and the children.
What the fuck is going on? he wondered as the Soldiers moved closer.
“Bring him to me!” Remington demanded.
Rylan relaxed his stance and walked towards the funeral pyre. He stopped several feet away from Remington.
“I don’t know anything about that rifle, Remington. I have no issues with you or your pack.”
“Then why did you kill my father?” Remington demanded.
“I didn’t,” Rylan denied.
“Evelyn,” Remington called. She stepped forward to address her alpha.
“He didn’t do it, Remington. Rylan is innocent.”
“Where was he yesterday, Evelyn? Between lunchtime and dusk?” Evelyn refused to answer.
“Was he with you?”
“No,” she admitted quietly. “He was on patrol.” The crowd roared and the Soldiers surrounded Rylan to protect him from the infuriated wolf pack.
“He didn’t do this, Remington. He has no reason to,” Evie pleaded.
“Rylan has committed an act of Treason. The penalty is death.” The crowd cheered at his sentence. Evie glanced worriedly at her father, Ethan.
“You will be executed tomorrow evening, Rylan. Take him to the jail,” he commanded. Rylan allowed the Soldiers to escort him to the town’s jail and lock him in a cell. He could have fought the Soldiers and escaped but a life without Evie and her children was unappealing. He was sure that in the light of day, Remington would see that he couldn’t have engineered Jordan’s murder.
Remington’s display of power did much to renew his pack’s faith in him. Satisfied that he was on his way to reclaiming what was his birthright, he strode out of the forest and headed to his cabin.
Kai stood anxiously a few feet away from Evie, watching as her father consoled her. Several of the other Alphas surrounded Ethan and Evie, blocking them from the nasty glares of nearby wolves. Evie’s children were standing with their father’s parents at the edge of the clearing.
Kai recognized Aleksandr Hoyden. According to rumor, Aleksandr had a female Soldier. Feeling her best chance was to approach Aleksandr, Kai took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Sir?”
Aleksandr barely heard the soft voice among the noise of the crowd. He turned to find a young wolf standing beside him.
“Sir, I don’t think Rylan did this, Sir.”
“And why not?” he asked as he turned to give her his full attention. Lucien and Stefan heard her statement and turned to listen as well.
“I—” She glanced around nervously. Maybe this was a bad idea. I don’t know these wolves. Would they use this information to humiliate Remington or to help Rylan?
Evie’s heart wrenching sobs finally convinced her to share what she knew.
The pack had dispersed and Kai stood a few feet away as the Alphas discussed their plan. Her mate’s parents had insisted that Evie and the children stay with them. Wanting to stay in town, close to Rylan, she readily agreed. They left, leaving Kai alone with the Alphas.
They all understood Remington’s position. He had a tremendous burden on his shoulders and no mate to comfort him. Along with being stubborn, as most Alphas were, convincing Remington he was wrong was going to be a challenge.
“Lucien, I don’t think you should talk to him. He has issues with your mate being human,” Ethan disclosed.
“I suppose I could do it,” Stefan offered.
“The woman came to Aleksandr,” Grayson pointed out. “I think he should speak to Remington.” Aleksandr nodded in agreement and turned to Kai.
“Take me to your Alpha’s home.”
She nodded and led the way. Kai’s stomach was in knots.
“Do not be nervous, Kainda.” Aleksandr’s deep voice was comforting.
“I can’t help it, Sir.” Aleksandr smirked. She reminds me of Izzy.
“I can take care of your nerves,” Aleksandr offered. Kai stopped and turned around, surprised at the Alpha’s offer.
“Well, Kai? Do you want me to fuck you or not?” Aleksandr was well known for his directness. She didn’t realize he was direct in intimate settings as well. Nodding her assent, she stepped closer to him.
“Strip,” he ordered as he began to undress. Kai stood naked in front of Aleksandr. Though she was no shy virgin, she was unsure of how to proceed with an Alpha. Aleksandr pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her.
“I’m sorry we don’t have time for a proper fucking. It will have to be quick.”
“I love quickies in the morning,” she shared with a wide grin.
Aleksandr moved them to his left, gently pressing Kai against a tree trunk. The rough bark against her smooth back was surprisingly stimulating. Aleksandr slipped his hand between them, massaging her breasts before capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. His fingers traveled down to her curls and he easily found her engorged clit. He toyed with her clit, eliciting a moan. He slid his fingers down further, slipping one finger into her silky channel. Finding her ready, he removed his finger and lifted her up, spreading her legs.
Kai wrapped one hand around Aleksandr’s neck while her other hand reached between them. She grasped his thick cock and guided it into her.
“Oh, Aleksandr,” she sighed as he filled her. She caressed his chest and nipples while placing light kisses along his shoulder and neck. Aleksandr moved his hips, pushing into Kai with short, fast strokes. Then he changed his rhythm. He thrust slowly and deeply, enjoying the feel of her tight, silky channel wrapped around his cock. Gradually he increased his pace, still thrusting deeply. Aleksandr grunted as he felt Kai’s silky sheath grip his c
ock.
Kai dug her nails into Aleksandr’s shoulders as her body tightened suddenly. With a loud moan, she rode the building wave of her orgasm. Her body shook as the wave crashed.
With a loud grunt and a final thrust, Aleksandr emptied his seed inside of her. He didn’t have to worry about impregnating her. She was not his mate, so it wasn’t possible. He withdrew from her almost immediately, setting her down gently. With a soft kiss, he stepped away from her and dressed.
Sated and no longer nervous, Kai dressed quickly and led Aleksandr to Remington’s cabin.
Remington sat on his sofa, sipping a double Scotch. He swirled the glass around absently. Deep in thought, occasionally he would take a sip before swirling the glass. When he tasted a few drops of water and no Scotch, he set the glass down on his coffee table and poured another generous portion of Scotch.
A soft rap on the door didn’t make him pause as he poured the Scotch.
“Come in,” he called. The door opened and Aleksandr followed Kai into the cabin.
“I need to talk to you, Alpha,” Kai began. Remington sniffed the air. The scent of sex clung to them and he growled.
My mate should have been here to comfort me. To fuck me.
Aleksandr pulled Kai behind him, ready to protect her from her irritable Alpha.
“Do you wish to remain Alpha?” Aleksandr demanded.
“Are you challenging me?” Remington barked as he stood up.
“I have my own pack to worry about. I don’t need yours,” Aleksandr asserted.
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m here to keep you from making a fool of yourself.” Remington’s golden wolf eyes flashed.
“How dare you—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen for once, Remington,” Aleksandr ordered. Before he could protest, Aleksandr continued, “Stop and think. Rylan is here to protect Evie and her pups. He’s fucking her. Do you really think he would want to give that up to become Alpha?” Aleksandr knew firsthand what a burden it was to be Alpha.
“Rylan came to town recently and was accosted by a group of your females. They were looking to become Alpha Bitch. According to Kai, Rylan insisted he wasn’t interested.” Remington scoffed.
“Of course he would say that if he was planning—”
“Another wolf is responsible for Jordan’s death, Remington. His scent is at the scene,” Aleksandr interrupted.
“Another wolf? What are you talking about? Galen, my Tracker never mentioned another wolf.”
“That’s because he couldn’t figure out where the wolf went,” Kai added quietly. Remington focused his gaze on Kai. She stood straight, bravely facing her irate Alpha.
This is for the good of the pack, she told herself as her heart began to race.
“You! Are you insinuating my Tracker is incompetent?” Kai knew she was in trouble. Remington was taking this as a personal attack. Since he chose the Packer, any incompetence on his part would be reflected badly on Remington.
“The wolf was cunning, Sir,” Kai said in an attempt to sooth Remington’s ego.
“Why don’t you determine that for yourself, Remington? After all, you are the Alpha and you must prove to be more cunning than your enemy,” Aleksandr countered. Remington considered the excuse Aleksandr gave him. The wolf was a cunning enemy that only he could uncover.
He reached down for his glass and chugged it in one gulp.
“Let’s go,” he demanded with a snarl.
Kai led them through the forest, stopping at the clearing where the casing had been found.
“I scented two wolves, one scent more faint than the other. The stronger scent seemed to disappear, which is why Galen focused on the older scent. That scent is Rylan’s scent. He has been patrolling these woods for weeks now. It is not surprising that his scent would be here.”
She stepped to a mature Cottonwood and pointed to a branch.
“Up there. The wolf shot Jordan then leaped up here. From there, I suspect he kept to the trees until he was a safe distance away. Then he returned to ground and left the area. At some point he managed to get the rifle into Rylan’s bedroom. It would be easy to enter their house through the Wolf Door.”
Remington stripped and shifted. He scented the area and caught the scent of four different wolves, Galen, Kai and two faint scents. One of them was Rylan’s. The other was faint and strangely familiar. He shifted and climbed the tree. Shifting only his head, he sniffed the area. Recognizing the scent, he growled a low warning.
Traitor.
Thinking about what Kai had deduced, he followed the scents to other trees, eventually finding the spot where the wolf assassin returned to the ground. Kai picked up Remington’s clothes before she and Aleksandr followed him as he leaped from one tree to the next. Aleksandr shifted and sniffed the area where Remington stood. He could scent the other wolf as well. He would be able to identify him if they ever made contact.
“Whoever planted the gun as evidence would have left their scent in the house. Evie, Rylan and the children have been in town since early morning,” Kai disclosed.
“Then we go to the cabin,” Remington snarled.
Remington sped to Evie’s cabin. Aleksandr sat in the front passenger seat while Kai sat alone in the back seat.
He parked and exited his Jeep, his companions were only two steps behind him. He entered the cabin through the back door that Galen had left unlocked. He shifted his head again and sniffed the Wolf Door. He could scent the traitorous wolf. He stripped and shifted fully. He followed the scent upstairs, to Rylan’s bedroom. The gun had been shoved hastily under the bed.
That traitorous bastard.
Remington howled with rage.
Chapter 18
Needing to work out his rage, Remington stayed in wolf form and took off. A run through the woods would cool his temper and he would be able to deal with the traitor. Kai picked up Remington’s clothes, folded them neatly and carried them back to the Jeep. Aleksandr drove them back to Remington’s cabin and parked his Jeep.
“You did the right thing, Kai.”
“Then why do I still feel sick to my stomach?”
“You are worried about Remington as well as the pack,” Aleksandr responded. “And the repercussions of what you discovered.” Aleksandr reached over and squeezed her hand tenderly.
“If you are ready to be fucked properly, drop off his clothes and take me to your cabin.”
“Are you always this direct?” Kai asked.
“Would you rather I waste time being vague?” he retorted. She shook her head.
Being direct saves a lot of time, Kai agreed.
She ran to the door, dropped off Remington’s clothes in a neat package and ran back to Aleksandr. Taking his hand, she led him to her cabin. Eventually they made it to her bed.
Later that afternoon, Aleksandr, Kai and the other Alphas gathered in the Tarchannen jail. Rylan was still in a jail cell. He stood behind the metal bars, his forehead pressing against the bars as he reached for Evie.
“I’m sorry, Honey,” he apologized again as he wiped away her tears.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Evie responded in between hiccups. She knew Rylan had nothing to do with Jordan’s death.
“Don’t worry, Rylan. I’m sure Remington will come to his senses,” Aleksandr said reassuringly. He didn’t want to explain what Kai had found because it was Remington’s duty to reveal the identity of the traitor.
Rylan was set to be executed at dusk. As the daylight began to slowly vanish, Remington strode into the jail, his Soldiers and Tracker behind him. Galen glared at Kai. She refused to cower before his gaze.
“The area is secure, Sir,” one of his Soldiers reported after doing a thorough search.
“Dry your tears, Evelyn. I’m not going to execute your lover.” Relieved, a fresh set of tears flowed down Evie’s face as she turned to Rylan.
“Release Rylan,” he ordered. One of his Soldiers unlocked the cell and Rylan stepped out
. He immediately went to Evie, held her close and kissed her.
“Rylan, I—” Remington’s throat seemed to close up as he tried to apologize. He took a deep breath and tried again.
“From the evidence that my Tracker first found, it appeared as though you were the culprit.” Rylan turned to face Remington, keeping his arm securely around Evie.
“Kainda found new evidence. The traitor will be dealt with shortly.” Realizing that this was the closest thing to an apology he would get from Remington, Rylan nodded. He was well within his rights to demand a formal apology in front of the pack as well as challenge Remington to a fight to restore his honor. He could also claim his right to execute the wolf who framed him. None of those actions would do anything to restore the pack’s faith in Remington. In fact, it would further weaken his authority. Rylan didn’t care about anything other than getting Evie home and into their bed.
The Alphas in the room waited for Rylan’s response.
“Kai is…a valuable asset, Remington,” Rylan began. Aleksandr nodded in agreement. Galen snorted.
“Did she fuck you too?” he sneered. Rylan growled in response and Galen gulped. He lowered his eyes submissively before the enraged Alpha.
“That kind of idiocy is…damaging to your pack. I suggest you choose your words more carefully.” For Evie’s benefit, as well as Kai’s, he added, “No, I didn’t fuck Kai. I don’t need to fuck her to see that she is a talented Tracker.” Kai’s eyes lit up at the compliment from Rylan.
Rylan turned to Remington.
“You owe Kai a large debt, Remington, as do I. You were manipulated because of your ego. I hope you won’t let that happen again.” Remington nodded curtly. Everything Rylan spoke was the truth and it enraged him even more to be in the debt of a female.
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