55

I jump to my feet and go to my mother’s room first, fear for her safety suddenly spiking through me.
I find Maria Jose has her dressed, bag packed and ready.
“She’s eaten breakfast, we’re ready any time.”
“They started drugging her-when? Immediately after my father’s dead?”
Recognition sparks in Maria Jose’s eyes. She knows what I know. She nods.
“And my mother suspected them of killing my father. Did you know that?”
Again, she nods.
“So they’ve silenced her with drugs that made her mad?”
“I fear it’s so, Don Carlos.”
“Wait here. Lock the door. Don’t allow anyone in but me. Understand?”
She bobs her head. “Sí, señor.”
I pound down the white marble steps and find Don Jose eating breakfast with Don Mateo on the upper terrace.
His broken nose has already healed, which makes me want to break it again. I grab Mateo this time. “What happened to my father? The truth.”
“A mine shaft collapsed. You know that.” Mateo keeps his eyes lowered, doesn’t pull the condescending bullshit Jose always tries.
My wolf is close to the surface, ready to tear out and kill all threats. I shake him. “Bullshit. You had him killed. How did you arrange it?”
Servants gather in the doorway to watch. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Juanito in the shadows. My need to protect him makes me rougher with Mateo.
“My mother knew and you started drugging her. The drugs make her crazy, not the other way around.”
“Calm yourself, Carlos,” Jose placates. “Your mother isn’t well, and neither are you.” His cell phone buzzes and he pulls it out and looks at the screen. “We have a security issue at the gate.”
That’s probably a lie, but I pull back, because I realize I’m playing right into Don Jose’s game of making me the crazy one. I have no proof but a raving woman’s diary. What I do have proof of, is financial misdeeds.
I release Mateo and straighten my jacket. Servants have gathered to watch the proceedings, along with a few pack members. I see Marisol out of the corner of my eye and she appears to be sending her husband Paco out, possibly to gather others.
I have an audience now, it’s time to make a declaration. “I’m taking over the finances of this pack. Someone has siphoned off half the profits of the mine going back at least ten years and I’m going to find out who. Anyone-everyone-who played a role in the theft or covering it up will be punished. Severely.”
That causes a stir amongst the servants. Mateo’s gone pale. Now for the coup de grâce.
“I’m also disbanding the council.” My raised voice carries across the expanse of the terrace, out into the land beyond.
The audible gasps and murmurs circulate. Wolves have appeared all around, listening out windows, drawing near from the gardens and fields. I see Paco hustling back, followed by Guillermo and his men from the mine. They are the strongest wolves. If there is a fight, they will be the ones to win it. I wish I knew which way they’d swing.
“This happened under your watch. Our pack grows poorer, sicker. Weaker. You cannot be trusted to protect the best interest of the wolves here. As alpha, that’s my job, and it’s one I accept. Your assistance in leading the pack is no longer wanted, nor accepted.”
The sound of a vehicle climbing the road to the citadel rumbles.
Jose gives a loud, fake laugh. “Boy, you think this pack would ever give control over to you-an untried, unpracticed youth-to lead, you’re as deranged as your mother. You may have alpha blood, but you don’t have what it takes to make the hard decisions.”
The other two council members arrive, walking swiftly, straightening their ties and jackets. “What is all this?” Don Julio asks.
“The council has been disbanded. Anyone who questions my authority will be banished. Is that clear enough?” I shout, making sure everyone can hear. “Who’s first?” I make a beckoning motion with my hand and sweep my gaze to encompass every wolf around. I’m ready to fight, in human or wolf form.
“The boy’s gone mad!” Don Jose proclaims loudly. “He’s dangerous. Grab him and put him in the dungeons.”
It’s on.
Three of council’s lackey servants strip to shift. The four members of the council advance on me. Alone, I could take any of them. Probably even all seven. But will the others stay back to watch? Or will they join in?
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Guillermo taking off his boots, preparing to fight. I guess I’ll find out which side he’s picked. Growling, I tear off my shirt and yank down my pants, shifting the minute my clothes are off.
Growls erupt all around. I leap, not waiting for the elders to strip and shift. Not waiting for the pack to choose sides. The warning bell tolls, calling all the pack in to join the melee.
I take down one of the council’s lackeys, and knock his flying body into another. I tear deep into his shoulder. We roll on the ground but he doesn’t give the submissive whine to signal defeat. To the death, then. I release my jaws, adjust and sink into his throat. Two other wolves attack me from both sides, but Guillermo’s wolf knocks one of them down, snapping his neck with a crunch of bone. I tear the flesh of the third wolf.
In a blur of movement, every pack member prepares to shift. Wasting no time, I flip up to my feet and lunge for the council elders, who seem to think they’re exempt from the fight. I launch into the air for Don Mateo.
Shots ring out and pummel my chest. Too late, I see the gun in Mateo’s hand. My body twists in the air. I lose my breath and my bearings and land on my side. Snarls and yips-the sounds of a full wolf fight-fill the air.