By nightfall tomorrow, once and for all, the bastard would be put out of his misery in front of the entire pack. Though, why Lukka had chosen to waste said time on pretending to heed the rules of an official challenge?
Well…
Kyle tried not to includebroodingin his celebratory plans.
After all, he wasn’t an Alpha. Scheming and evil planning weren’t his forte—his job was to put those plans into action, no questions asked.
“I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”
Kyle winced as his entire body prickled with the awareness of his Alpha. He looked up to find the man in question watching him from across the room. With a sigh, he wiped his lips with the back of his hand but wasn’t inclined to stand to attention like a good little soldier.
Yet.
“Hphm.” Lukka glanced around, blue eyes deceptively bright, demeanor relaxed—though Kyle wasn’t fooled. “And here I was thinking that you would be upset. After all, McGovenissued a direct challenge, despite your clever little murder scheme. He wouldn’t do so if he didn’t have the Eislanders on his side already.”
Mentally, Kyle rolled his eyes, preparing for some lecture on “loose ends” and shit. As if he didn’t already know that. He hadn’t been unable to sleep at night thinking of that bastard roaming free.
But hey, he was trying to “look on the bright side” and “be optimistic.”
Which scenario would be more satisfying?
Tearing apart McGoven himself or watching the man be ripped to shreds by the very people he had once been hand-picked to lead?
Maybe if he drank enough, the latter option might sound more appealing…
“I’m sure you have nothing to fear,” he grumbled, fighting to keep his tone under control. A flash of warning shot through his chest anyway. To distract from it, he snatched a bottle at random from the desk, tore off the cap, and downed it in three vicious gulps.
The low percentage of alcohol didn’t affect him like heavy booze would. Maybe it had somethingto do with his metabolism that basically rendered the liquid into water before it ever had a chance to work its magic on his system?
Hmm,he thought, dropping the bottle to roll across the floor.Lycan physiology…
“I want him dead, Kyle.” Lukka’s tone bordered on the edge of a growl even while he maintained that nicey-nice posture. Anyone who walked in on them now might have thought that they were in the middle of a conversation aboutsparklesor something equally as asinine.
Not revenge, or subterfuge and…well, murder.
McGoven’s would just be the beginning.
Kyle snatched another bottle from the desk, though this time, he cradled it in his palm, feeling the firm contours.Easy,he thought, frowning. It would have been damn easy to turn the delicate glass into glitter with the right amount of pressure, at the right spot, at the right time.
That was how most things in the world worked—so easily susceptible to damage by those who knew how to inflict it.
“Fuck a direct challenge. You force him to trespass. He will come afterher,” Kyle said. “Either that or you let this charade go on so he can unman you in front of the entire pack. Before you panic and sick your minions on him, of course. Because that’s what you’re planning, isn’t it?”
That stupid idea alone deserved another drink.
“Remember who you’re speaking to, subordinate.”
Alarm raced up and down his spine in response to the anger he could sense in the Alpha’s tone—dangerous ground.
“I say we just kill her,” Kyle grumbled, skirting an apology. “Frame it as the Eislanders. Use her body to goad McGoven into making a misstep. You kill two birds with one stone.”
Mate or not, the murder would whip McGoven into a frenzy—making him about ten times the threat he already was—but the thought of seeing the bastard in that kind of pain was too tempting to resist. As far as Kyle was concerned, stickingLoren Connors’head on a pike was a damn good plan of action.
Of course, it wouldn’t be so easy. Still, he couldn’t risk adding, “But you’ll adhere to the old laws…right?”
Lukka shrugged. “Of course. I am bound to them. But you? I’m letting you off your leash.”
Kyle blinked. “Huh?”