Chapter 26
Chapter 26
“If anyone asks, we’re partners in crime. It’s our official status.”
Unknown
I’d expected a crowd for the reckoning, maybe a hundred people, but this…this had to be at least five times that, spread throughout the length of a football field. Men, women, and teenagers standing around, even some elderly members of the pack parked in foldout chairs. Along the edges of the clearing, I couldn’t help but notice some of the larger, more intimidating men propped against trees – Alpha Enzo’s warriors no doubt.
As soon as they caught sight of us, the crowd hushed and parted like the red sea to make a pathway through the center for us. Their eyes were wide with interest as they stared at us.
Or me, I should say.
Every man and woman in the crowd bowed at Enzo as we passed, but then, their gazes shifted to me, and the muscular arm thrown around my shoulders. Whether it was because I was human or their Alpha had strewn a possessive arm over me, I’m not sure.
Nobody spoke or whispered (at least not that I could hear), but it did nothing to make me feel more exposed.
There were so many people that it took me a moment to find what they were all huddled around, but once I did, my eyebrows knit together in confusion.
*Is that a stage?*
Constructed in the center of the clearing looked to be a large, wooden platform with steps on either side.
“Mama, is that our new Luna?”
“*Shh*, Jeremiah!”
I glanced at the small, sandy-haired boy who’d spoken, tucked behind his mother’s legs and staring at me with blatant curiosity.
“Is it really necessary to have children here?” I whispered under my breath to Enzo.
He barely even glanced at me, his gaze blank and unreadable as he acknowledged the bowed heads. “Yes,” he said quietly, “They need to learn too.”
I wanted to argue, to bite back that these kids, some barely more than toddlers, probably didn’t need to witness whatever violence was about to take place, but I didn’t get the chance.
Once we were within ten feet of the stage, Alpha Enzo stopped walking and
gestured for me to stand to the side of the stage. “Stay here,” he ordered, and there was an edge to his voice that hadn’t been there before. “I’ll know if you wander off.” He didn’t bother waiting for a response before he walked to the side of the stage, and began whispering with one of his guards.
*Now would be a great time to make an escape attempt…if not for the warriors posted around the clearing. I’m guessing they’re the insurance policy to make sure nobody, including me, leaves during the reckoning.*
“Oh, look, I get a front row seat to the show,” I muttered sarcastically. If he heard me, he didn’t bother replying to the comment.
Still, I did as he asked, moving to the spot he’d gestured to and crossing my arms over my chest. I could see why he wanted me to stand here. I was directly in his eyeline from the stage, which made it even harder to slip through the crowd.
Speaking of the crowd, although I was slightly removed from the massive throng of people, I still felt the weight of all their eyes.
It was more than intimidating, but this time, I scanned the crowd in search of one particular –
“Scarlett!” I hissed.
Less than twenty feet away, she was nestled between a family with a crying child and a bored-looking teenager, looking just as out of place as I felt.
Probably because, you know, she hadn’t walked in on the arm of their Alpha.
Fortunately, she glanced up at the sound of her name and spotted me immediately. Her green eyes went wide, and as discreetly as I could, I gestured her over.
*He said I had to stay here, not that I couldn’t invite someone else to stand with me.*
With some hesitation, Scarlett walked over.
“Thank God you’re here,” I sighed, and I almost instinctively pulled her into a hug out of sheer relief but stopped myself short. I squeezed her shoulder. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”
My eyes roamed over her. She looked unharmed, and like me, wore a fresh set of clothes, but hers hung more loosely on her petite frame. Physically, she looked fine, but I still asked, “Are you okay? Nobody hurt you, did they?”
If someone had managed to attack me in the hallway, who knows what they could’ve done to Scarlett? It was weird to think about, but her and I…we were connected now.
I’d convinced her to leave her old life (and mate) behind, and she’d agreed to help me get back home.
I’m not sure if “friend” was the right term for our relationship. More like partners…partners who’d gotten themselves in a whole lot of trouble now.
Her eyes widened at the onslaught of questions. “I’m fine. Everyone I’ve met has been nice, the guest room I slept in last night was huge – like three times the size of my old room.”
“Given that you slept in a cramped attic, I’m not sure that’s a high bar,” I replied, “But I’m glad you’re okay.”
“One of the guards brought by fresh clothes today, and then told me I needed to come here. Said it was mandatory. Do you know what’s happening?”
“Sort of,” I replied, “Someone –”
I never got the opportunity to finish my explanation.
There was a loud yelp of pain, and the crowd went as silent as a funeral, our gazes all turning to the same thing.
I gasped.
Two of the warriors emerged from the other side, hauling my attacker between them.
It’d been in the dim light of the hallway the first time I saw him, but I’m not sure I would’ve recognized him anyway. Not with the blood streaming down his face. With little effort, they tugged him onto the stage, throwing him at Alpha Enzo’s feet.
My mate, the same man who’d spoon-fed me breakfast less than an hour ago, turned to the crowd with a chilling, sadistic smile. “Members of the Dark Moon pack, I’m sure you can tell what I’ve gathered you here for,” he said, and his voice carried over the clearing with absolute authority. “We have a reckoning to carry out.”