Hunters' Shadow (Book one of the Hunter Chronicles)

Chapter Seventy Two

There was a noise behind him. A murmuring like the angry noise of the sea before a storm. With it, a surge of speculation via the Elmwood pack-link so strong that Blake felt it press against the edges of his consciousness. Sweeping outward like a rising wave, the news washed over every inch of the territory and soon, the attention of every wolf was fixed firmly on the hall.

But while Blake braced himself for imminent attack, Rothan exuded a supressed agitation. Unable to shift and end the confrontation swiftly, an unusual impatience had taken hold, and it niggled at the edges of Blake's mind playing havoc with his own calm demeanour.

Meanwhile up on the dais Syrus half-lay against the Seat, a series of strange, strangled, noises emanating from his throat. Whether he was trying to communicate or simply struggling to draw breath, Blake couldn't tell. The look of smug pomposity had crumbled away to reveal parchment like skin and a face aged ten years in just a few seconds.

Gareth also seemed frozen in a moment of pure horror, his eyes wide with disbelief, a litany of damning emotions flashing clearly across his flaccid features. Hatred, fear, guilt and tellingly, no hint of surprise to see Kaden return to life right in front of him.

“Bu – Bu – Bu – ” His mouth opened and closed uselessly, whatever he was trying to say lost behind a mind struggling to comprehend how swiftly the tables had turned on him. 

Now what?

Kaden glanced at Blake, then took a breath but the words died on his lips as another ripple of thunder, this one more severe, shook the windows. This time, everyone noticed.

Meagan’s trembling form struggled against his rogue instincts. Spit dribbled down the corner of his mouth and his eyes, dark and murderous, were turned on his half-brother. Barely in control, he had never looked so feral.

The Gamma, Aiden, was clearly out of his depth casting wild and frantic eyes repeatedly at his Alpha.

“What are you doing here?” Meagan growled at Kaden.

“I live here,” Kaden snapped back. “You're the one out of place.”

Had Syrus been slower to recover, it was likely no force in the world could have held Meagan back at that moment. But with great difficulty, the Alpha wrenched himself out of his stupor to assert some control over his volatile son. Still, it took the full force of his Alpha dominance to sate Meagan enough that he stopped trembling.

Yellowed teeth barely showing behind his thin smile, Syrus pulled himself out of his seat.

“My son!” he exclaimed in a sickly sweet voice. “You have returned to us.” Holding his arms out limply in the most insincere welcome Blake had ever seen – he resembled a man who had just offered an embrace to a live snake.

Kaden ignored the gesture, staring at his father with silent, accusing eyes that spoke volumes.

Syrus let his arms drop, licking his lips nervously in the face of his son's cold glare. His eyes flicked towards Blake. "But you return in such dubious company," he deflected. “How did you find yourself with the Blackridge pack? And, where have you been all this time?"