C12 Charlie

I stared at William in horror. Beside me, Regan stiffened and drew breath like she was about to argue with him. But then, turning to Regan, William added, “Or maybe it will be you.”

I felt all the blood rush out of my head. The world spun around me, and I had to grab one of the benches to stay standing. “Excuse me? I’m … You’re joking. This is a joke, right?”

Regan was pale and deathly silent beside me.

“Not a joke,” he corrected. “Rather a pledge. Tonight, we are hosting an engagement party for the impending marriage of the next alpha. Whichever of my daughters that turns out to be.”

My half-sister stiffened behind him. Her eyes went round and her nostrils flared.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I protested.

“It makes too much sense, and there’s the logic in it that can’t be overlooked, unfortunately. No matter our ... feelings,” he said with a pointed look at Regan that sent a ripple of dread through me.

“Dad, what did you do?” Regan asked.

“It’s time for both of you to learn about the treaty,” Dad said. “Sit down.”

I did what he told me to, but not because I wanted to be obedient. I just didn’t have any other choice. My legs wouldn’t hold me up anymore. Regan didn’t budge, but she was breathing hard, and I guessed she hadn’t known any more about the marriage thing than I did.

Marriage? Was he crazy? Had living out here in isolation amongst only werewolves rotted his brain?

“Look, whatever you’re trying to do, traditions to uphold and all that, it’s not for me. I can’t get married,” I said, trying to sound as calm as possible while my brain whirled in hysteric circles. “I’m not old enough. I’m not in love. I’m not—”

“An organization as old and noble as our pack has enemies,” my dad began as if I hadn’t even spoken. “This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. But in this modern day, we can’t openly wage war anymore. If we spill blood across the forest in the heat of battle, humans will notice, and there could be ... problems.” Dad kind of looked wistful about that, like he thought it was a shame he couldn’t maul his enemies. “We’ve been forced to find better ways to resolve disputes. Negotiations, politics, acts of good faith toward peace.” He said the last word with distaste.

“What does this have to do with a wedding?” I asked.

“The Council of Elders and I have been working to arrange a marriage that benefits all parties. This goes back to before your mother was killed, Regan,” he warned. “This is the best way.”

“All parties? What does that even mean?” I demanded. All his talk of wars and elders and disputes was making my head spin.

“It means whichever daughter assumes the role of alpha will wed Owen Rossi.”

My exclamation was drowned out by a resounding, “Hell no,” from Regan. I wasn’t sure who this Owen person was, but he must be pretty horrible. It was the first time I’d heard her disagree with anything Dad said, but as soon as the words were out of her mouth her face reddened and she dropped her eyes. “Sorry, sir. But I mean, isn’t that a bad idea? No, a horrible, wretched, unthinkable idea? They killed Mom.”

“We don’t know who killed her, Regan, and that’s what I intend to find out.” Dad looked back at the wedding preparations like a drill sergeant inspecting a bunker. “One way or another,” he muttered. “But that’s not your concern. A marriage between our families will bring goodwill and peace at a time the pack needs it most.” He frowned. “This is purely political. You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it.”

I looked at Regan, hoping she’d say something, anything, to convince our dad he was being crazy. I couldn’t be expected to marry a complete stranger, especially one so horrible Regan suspected him of murder. Who was this guy? Another werewolf, I assumed. But Regan wasn’t giving up anything; she’d recovered from her earlier outburst and was tensely silent. She met my gaze and I could see the burn of temper underneath the surface, but she didn’t speak. I was on my own.

“You can’t expect me to be a part of whatever political game you’re playing,” I said. “This is stupid!”

Dad gripped my shoulder. His hand was heavy and it clenched down tight on my clavicle, but not painfully so. His glare hurt more. It sliced right through me.

“I expect you to do what you must to save the lives of the pack. You are a Vuk. I expect you to act like it.” He included Regan in his glance. She stared back for a half a second before her gaze fell away. I could understand that; Dad wasn’t the type you could stare down.

My silence must’ve satisfied him because he let go of me and stepped back, eyeing the progress of the workers again.

“Hey, that doesn’t go there,” he snapped at a harried-looking boy with glasses.

The boy was balancing a stack of chairs in his arms and they were wobbling side to side while he tried to figure out where Dad was pointing. “I’ll see you both at the meeting later,” he said, barely glancing at us as he strode toward the now frightened-looking boy.

I turned back to Regan. She was standing rod straight and staring hard after Dad. “How bad is it?” I asked. She blinked, almost like she’d forgotten I was there. “This wedding,” I prompted when she didn’t answer. “Owen what’s-his-name.”

“Rossi,” she muttered. “It’s beyond ridiculous. That’s what it is.”

“Did he really kill your mother?”

“Well, not him personally. I mean, he could’ve but I doubt he’d get his hands dirty with mercenary work. He’d send someone. That bodyguard of theirs is high on my list.”

“He has a bodyguard?” Her explanation was getting more and more confusing. Who was this guy? If his family was so powerful around here, how come no one had mentioned him on our tour of the town? Maybe he was from a different pack farther away.

“His whole family does.” She smirked. “They just don’t want me to catch them alone.”

I thought of the men yanking trees out with their bare hands. Of Carter fighting off six human kids at school without breaking a sweat. I could only imagine what Regan was capable of in a fight. “What did they do to make everyone hate them so much?”

She rolled her eyes, like the answer should’ve been obvious. “They don’t have to do anything. It’s what they are.”

I shook my head, thoroughly confused. “Which is?”

“Hey, Vuk,” someone called from the other end of the field.

Both Regan and I turned and I immediately felt my cheeks flush at reacting to the name. Carter was coming toward us, and he was clearly talking to Regan. Why would anyone here be calling out to me? “Bevin just called. She said to tell you she’ll meet you at the training field tomorrow at seven,” he told her.

“Thanks,” Regan said.

Carter’s brow quirked. “What’s that about?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You meeting my sister at the ungodly hour of seven in the morning.”

“Oh.” Regan shot me a glance and I got the feeling I was suddenly unwanted. I looked around, but it wasn’t like there was anywhere for me to go. “She’s going to help me get some training time in. For the competition,” she said, shooting me another glance.

Light dawned on Carter’s face. “Gotcha.”

I kept my gaze averted, like I hadn’t just heard all of that, but it was insanely awkward. So Regan was already setting aside time to practice to beat me in the competition? Clearly, she’d already bought into the whole duel idea our father had planted. Was I the only one who thought this was crazy? Or outdated?

“So, what’s the deal with your old man, anyway?” Carter asked. “I just heard about the Rossi thing. This wedding idea is bullshit. Even he has to know that.”

“You would think.” Regan shook her head. I followed her line of sight to where Dad was still berating the kid with the chairs and making sure he placed every single one of them perfectly. “I don’t know. He seems to think they’re innocent and that we should unite our families to end the feud. Blah, blah, blah.”

Carter’s brows furrowed in what looked like genuine concern. “You think losing your mom pushed him over the edge?”

“I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. He says the Council agrees with him, and it’s not like we could argue anyway. Don’t forget he’s the acting alpha right now.”

Carter scowled. “How could I forget? But seriously, marrying Rossi? That’s just insane. What are you going to do?”

“I’ll figure something out,” Regan muttered.

Carter continued to talk to Regan about names and events I’d never heard of. I tuned it out and tried to think of a good reason to excuse myself. I was dying for a reason to leave and they both spoke like I wasn’t there anyway. I couldn’t believe Regan was going to train the next day. Had the entire day—all of our time spent getting to know each other—been a lie? Did she even want to know me? Or was she just trying to get information from me, to find out how to take me down? I’d had enough.

“I’m going back to my room,” I said, abruptly cutting off whatever Carter was saying about patrol schedules and the party security. Both of them just looked at me like they’d forgotten I was there.

“Give me a second, I’ll go with you,” Regan began.

“I can find my own way,” I said, cutting her off. I turned and walked off, leaving her and Carter to discuss my demise in private.