Page 31 of Forbidden Moon
His father grumbled, but they walked past the sentries and down the shaft into a large cavern where his uncle and cousin waited. His uncle was seated on a boulder, out of place in his tailored charcoal dress slacks and burgundy sweater, while his cousin stood to the side, in jeans and a sweatshirt. No one else was in the space.
“Where is Maya?”
His uncle jutted his chin to Brandon, who grinned evilly and went to a smaller side cave and emerged with Maya, her arm twisted behind her in a painful hold.
Garrett stared impassively. “Let her go or I’ll kill you.”
Brandon sneered, shifting Maya until she was in front of him like a human shield. “Try it, asshole.”
Garrett’s wolf had been leashed too long, angry for far too long to be held back. He met Maya’s gaze, and she gave an imperceptible nod. In one motion, he was across the space, lashing out with his hand, partially shifted to claws. Maya sagged, dead weight, at the last moment, throwing Brandon off balance and distracting him. It was just enough to expose his throat. Garrett’s claws slashed right through his throat clear to his spine.
Blood sprayed in a fountain across the cavern. Brandon’s body fell, his eyes wide in shock. Maya stumbled in the opposite direction, away from his uncle and father. When it was over, Brandon lay at Garrett’s feet, dead, Maya behind him, and Garrett faced them.
“You should have managed him better.”
His uncle only shrugged. “You took care of a problem we had. Now you can step into his role as my second.”
His father’s head whipped around and glared at the Beta. “I’m your second.”
Uncle Linc laughed. “Your son is stronger than you are. Don’t think I haven’t known that since the day he was born. He just proved his strength by coming here and handling a problem you couldn’t control. He has the will power, the determination and ruthlessness you could never demonstrate. He is a worthy second to me.”
“You mean a third. You aren’t the alpha. You are just a beta, not strong enough to be the alpha,” Garrett reminded him, knowing it was a sore subject with his uncle, who liked to throw around his weight and power in the pack.
And the mark hit its target. His uncle narrowed his gaze. “Show some respect, boy. I am still stronger than you and the Beta of the pack.”
“A Beta who needs to attack pups and females to prove his strength. Any male who needs to attack pups and females to prove his strength may not be as powerful as he thinks. Maybe you only need to scare people so they don’t find out the truth.”
His uncle’s face turned purple with rage and he stood, his fists clenched at his. Before he could respond, a choked laugh to the side made them both turn.
Garrett’s father was laughing. “He’s not wrong. Bullying everyone to show what a big man you are. All these plans were your idea.”
“You’re not much better, going along with them,” Uncle Linc countered.
“Like I had a choice. You’d kill me otherwise,” Garrett’s father retorted.
Uncle Linc waved his hand. “You came up with this plan. Focus on the boy. He’s our problem, especially since it appears he won’t join us.”
“You’re damn right I’m not. You threatened my mate. You attack females and pups, noncombatants. That is not the kind of pack I want to belong to. I reject the Saranac Pack.”
The words felt right, and he felt his bonds to the pack shatter in that moment. A weight lifted from his shoulder and he felt lighter, free. Maya’s hand settled on his back, anchoring him.
“Where do you think you’ll go? The Dirigo pack? They’ll never accept you. The Council won’t take you either, not again. Not as a mated male. Enforcers can’t be mated. You have nowhere to go,” his uncle sneered.
“Anywhere is better than here. I assume the pups are in that side cave?” Maya nodded. “Fine. We’re leaving with the pups and survivors of the attack. You can deal with the Council.”
“You’re damning your father if you leave.”
“He made his choice when he orchestrated the attack. Now he has to pay the price.” Garrett walked toward the cave opening, Maya by his side.
A movement out of the left corner of his eye made him shove Maya to the right and out of the way. His father attacked, partially shifted, his claws raking Garrett’s side, shredding his jacket and nicking his skin, not severe enough to cause major damage.
Garrett turned and faced his father, who snarled. “Is this how you want to end it?”
“You made this choice.”
“Don’t make me kill you.” Regret tinged his words, but he would do it to save Maya and the pups. Even now he could see her edging her way to the smaller cave to stand between them and the fight, in case anyone went for the pups in the chaos.
He shrugged out of his jacket. Even though it offered protection, it would constrict his movements at the same time. He faced his father, keeping his uncle in his line of sight, not trusting that either of them would keep it a fair fight.