Page 94 of Moon Claimed

The team didn’t turn as one to glare at me. There were no ropes or burning pyres. Hope twinged in my gut. Did Rhona really put her feelings towards me aside for the good of the tribe?

Or did she think things through and see my side?

That seemed impossible after our argument last night, but what other explanation was there?

I scanned the head team, finding her in my chair, legs kicked up on the desk.

Stanley frowned at her. “You’re in Andie’s chair.”

She shrugged.

I stared, and she stared right back. She hadn’t told the stewards… but sitting there was a pretty clear declaration of her view of me. To everyone.

Whatever. I could handle a few petty jabs—I deserved no less.

“It’s disrespectful is what it is,” Stanley boomed.

Rhona didn’t answer.

Put her in her place.

My wolf hadn’t spoken since the grid last night. Ignoring her was harder when she spoke, but I’d fucking manage.

“It’s okay, Stanley.” I smiled. “I don’t need a particular chair to get the job done.”

I took the seat next to Rhona and glanced into mostly shocked faces. Pascal’s was blank. Valerie appeared to love the show. Under my attention, she schooled her features.

I said to the table, “Personally, I’m here because I want to win another grid. If everyone is in agreement, I suggest we move on.”

Dissent between the Thana sisters was a huge deal. It would confuse the head team and that would trickle down to the stewards. Rhona held my future in her hands. At any moment, she could tell all. Did she want to make me sweat? Was that it?

Regardless, by challenging my authority, she wasn’t putting the tribe first as I’d expected.

“Personal problems have no space in this room,” Pascal said to Rhona. “We can’t expect to do our best for the tribe if we don’t put our differences aside.”

My sister leaned forward. “So we have Clay and Water to choose from.”

The command in her voice was clear.

My mouth dried as I realised what her angle was. She was trying to lead the meeting. Rhona wanted my spot. She might not have outed me for my part in Herc’s death and the mating call yet. She could have told the stewards everything and simply stepped into the top spot. Instead, Rhona planned to tear me down to become head steward.

Ouch.

“Clay is the obvious choice,” I took over. “Even with our new plans for Water, revealing operations there before the time is right would be a mistake. In contrast, Clay is a more even footing. Operations there aren’t as versatile, but they carry less cost to carry out. Plus, the tunnelling strategies we’ve considered will take time to put in place.”

“I disagree,” Rhona announced.

Roderick, who’d been about to speak, closed his mouth and gaped at her.

Yep,I was right. “Is there a reasoning behind your disagreement, Rhona?”

“The stewards are high on a win. That means something. We should use it to tackle Water again. See if we can chance a victory.”

“I hardly think that’s a solid plan. We can’t rely on luck to win,” Nathan said.

His words seemed to shock her.

She studied the other head team members, her mountain air scent pulsing. Weird. What did that mean?