30. Mai

Chapter thirty

Mai

W ith five hours left to find Jem, I wanted to strategize with Ryan. Work out what the fuck we were going to do. But as we pulled up to the main house and climbed out of the SUV, I knew it was going to have to wait.

Standing on the front steps was a figure I'd hoped not to see anytime soon. Talia. Just the stern set of her shoulders made my muscles tense.

"Talia," Ryan greeted with a nod as we approached.

"You've got some nerve," I said. I could feel my wolf pulling on me, wanting to be let out to teach her a lesson in protecting Pack members.

"Ryan Shaw. Mai Parker," Talia ignored the hostile reception, but her gaze lingered on me a beat too long. "I have some developments to discuss. Shall we?"

She headed inside without waiting for a response. With a shared look of resignation, Ryan and I followed her towards Jem's old study.

"Let's skip the pretenses. I know you paid Ronnie Bishop a visit earlier today. "

I bristled, crossing my arms defensively. "Are you keeping tabs on Ronnie or on us?"

Talia swung her gaze to me. "The Wolf Council keeps tabs on everybody, and I make it my business to know where certain people go."

"We're certain people?"

She inclined her head. "You keep interesting contacts."

I was done playing this game. "What exactly do you want from us this time?" I asked bluntly.

"Believe it or not, I'm just here to talk."

I snorted in disbelief. So far, Talia's definition of ‘talk' meant manipulating us.

"Are you going to ask how Jase is doing?" I asked.

Something flashed across her eyes; I wasn't sure if it was anger or guilt, though.

"He's recovering well, no thanks to you."

"For what it's worth, I am sorry about what happened to him. If there had been another way—"

"You should have found another way. Manipulating us and letting Jase get hurt does not enamor the Wolf Council to us."

Talia's face shut down and her eyes went cold. "We don't need to enamor ourselves to anyone. You need to understand that the Wolf Council is more powerful than any one Pack. We work for werewolves as a whole, and if we need to destroy a Pack to protect the rest, we'll do it with a spring in our step and sleep well afterwards."

I stared at her, believing every word. The Wolf Council looked to the big picture, no matter the cost to individuals .

Ryan cleared his throat. "Now that you're here, you've saved us a phone call. We have reason to believe Brock Madden is the leader of the ripple operation. The one they call Ghost."

Talia's expression remained impassive. "Not Ronnie Bishop?"

"No."

"And your proof?"

Ryan's jaw tightened. We both knew we had nothing concrete. Just hunches and circumstantial evidence.

Talia gave a curt nod at our telling silence. "Thought so. We need more before we can move against Brock Madden. I want to confirm everything before we move. This is too important; we can't risk getting it wrong and tipping them off."

"We're working on it," Ryan said tersely.

"Work faster. But that's not actually why I'm here." Talia straightened, her tone business-like. "Your nomination for the Wolf Council seat is due in a few hours."

No shit. It was all I could think about. There was no way we were telling Talia about Brock's blackmail. If she got involved, her priority would be stopping Brock; she wouldn't care if Jem died in the process.

"Whoever you nominate will have substantial influence shaping Council policy," Talia pressed on. "The Council is currently split into factions. Different groups want different things. Your nominee will be able to sway the votes on a number of crucial issues coming before the Council in the next four years. Their vote could be crucial in which side comes out on top."

"You want us to nominate someone who will support your side?"

"I want you to be aware of how important this role is. Not just for your Pack, but for Shifters all across the Americas. "

I shrugged. "You see the big picture, Talia. We're small pups in the den. The Three Rivers is our top priority."

"That might be so, but the nominee will be dealing with wide-ranging issues. Including issues critically important to the Three Rivers Pack."

"Such as the ripple crisis," Ryan finished for her.

"Precisely." Talia began to pace, her movements sharp and precise. "The Council seat would give the nominee a direct line into ongoing investigations, access to intel and resources. They will be heavily involved in stopping ripple, shutting down its supply, and investigating the witches."

I glanced at Ryan, knowing what he was thinking. If we nominated Brock to the Wolf Council, he would have access to all investigations into himself. He would know where the Wolf Council was going to look and have plenty of time to move his operations before they got there. He could manipulate the investigations, tamper with evidence. He'd be in a position to protect the ripple business and ensure its survival until he had consolidated his position and could appear to be the hero in putting a stop to it all.

"Did you have someone in mind?" I asked.

Talia gave me an appraising look. "Yes. I believe it would make strategic sense for you and Ryan Shaw to nominate yourselves. Joint nominations are allowed for fated mates. You could split the term, trade off attending sessions."

I sucked in a breath, blindsided by the suggestion. Up and leave the Pack? The notion filled me with instant dread. We'd only just taken control back from Brock and Hayley. The Pack's foundation was still fragile, vulnerable. How could we abandon them all now ?

"It would also establish you both as rising powers, put you in the inner circle influencing regional policy."

"We'll need to discuss this and weigh our options," Ryan said calmly. Too calmly for my liking. He couldn't possibly be considering it, could he?

Talia inclined her head. "Naturally. Your decision is due at twenty-two hundred. I'll be back in a couple of hours to set up."

Wait, what fresh hell was this? "Set up?" I asked.

"Yes, the decision will be broadcast to the Wolf Council. That way, there is no confusion, and we eliminate the possibility of you trying to change your minds after. We have learned the hard way that Alphas sometimes try to backtrack on their decisions. Broadcasting the decision nicely precludes such a situation. So, consider it carefully. Tonight is the start of a new era for your Pack and the Wolf Council."

With that, she swept out of the study. Summoning a heroic level of patience, I waited until she was out of earshot before rounding on Ryan.

"Please tell me you aren't seriously thinking about this," I hissed in disbelief.

Ryan held up a placating hand. "Let's talk it through, Mai."

I began to pace, emotions churning violently inside me. "What's there to talk about? We finally have a chance to bring stability back to the Pack. They need us here, not off playing politics at the Council. I thought we agreed we'd nominate Brock if we couldn't find Jem in time."

Ryan's eyes flashed. "This is about more than just the Three Rivers Pack. Ripple is spreading everywhere, destroying Shifter lives. We have a shot at shaping how the Council tackles this crisis. "

"I left the Three Rivers before, Ryan. I'm not leaving it again." I meant it too. There was no more running for me. This was my home, and I'd die here.

Ryan stood abruptly, his impressive frame towering over me. "I'm thinking about our people. This could help protect them in the long run."

I narrowed my eyes and briefly considered kicking him in the head. I don't know what he felt pulse along our bond, but he took a deep breath, stepped back and softened his tone.

"I'll go wherever you go. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not. But Mai, the Council seat would give us leverage, resources. We could make a difference at the Council."

"We can make a difference here. To people like Sofia and Jase. To all the Normans, Garths and Liams. To the humans in the Three Rivers. You remember the Three Rivers motel, Ryan? It was supposed to be this shiny new business when it opened, but now it's just a run-down shack. The Three Rivers have so much trade coming in and out of here. But the humans here don't thrive. None of the previous Alphas, not even Jem, thought much about them. I want to change that. They might not be werewolves, but they are still part of the Three Rivers. We could change things for so many people here." My shoulders slumped, anger draining away, only to be replaced by a hollow sense of uncertainty. Despite what I'd just said, Ryan wasn't wrong. We needed help, badly. Especially if ripple was about to flood our communities. But the thought of walking away, leaving the Pack when we fought so hard to get it back…it went against every instinct I had running through me.

Ryan took my hand gently in his. "We don't need to decide anything right now. We have time to find Jem, to come up with another way."

As Ryan enfolded me in his arms, I nodded and let out a shaky breath, soaking in the comfort of his arms around me.

"I should call Jase, check on how he's recovering."

"Mai—"

"I won't be long." I needed to hear that Jase was okay. Needed to know that our Pack, our family, was safe.

Ryan looked like he wanted to object, but in the end simply pulled me close once more, placing a kiss on my forehead.

The hallway was dim and silent as I slipped out. Heading down the corridor, I took out my phone and dialed Jase.

He picked up on the second ring. His voice sounded tired, but not in pain. "Mai! We were just talking about you."

"Should I be worried?"

"Most definitely. I was filling Sofia in on what a hard boss you are."

Sofia's laughter echoed from behind him. "Liar. He was singing your praises as usual."

"How are you holding up?" I asked gently.

"Never better," he proclaimed. "Can't wait to get out of Thomas's. Wally keeps forcing me to eat his delicious cooking and I'm scared I'm going to put on fifty pounds and be too big to fit out the door."

His bravado should have made me smile, but I couldn't bring myself to match his lighthearted tone. The memory of seeing him on the floor, bleeding, was still too raw.

Jase seemed to sense the shift in my mood. "I'm alright, Mai. Really. "

I kept my tone light. "I should let you rest. Just had to hear for myself that you were out of trouble. Again. This is getting to be a bad habit of yours, you know, you getting injured. Bet that job at Takymora's is looking pretty good right about now."

"No chance. I'll be out of here first thing tomorrow. Nothing's gonna stop me watching your back."

That was just what I was afraid of.