Bound

kfast. "There's not a soul in sight." She nodded towards the window where Nyah still had the curtains firmly drawn

covered windows. "What about tomorrow night though?" she wondered. "Ev

glossy red hair into a pony-tail. "We just h

r that to happen. The Lamentation Phase practised after the death of an Alpha was an old and rarely observed tradition, but her father, being a stickler for the older practices, had requested it before his death, meaning the pack had to wait until the completion of o

e boxes to finally clear the house for Alan and his family. Karen had insisted on helping and she had been glad of the company. With the te

nly hours away and once it was official that Alan was going to be their next Alpha, she hoped Simon would scuttle back to whatever dank hole he had come from. Energis

s all

It's my way of saying thanks for your help yesterday and

, perching on one of the stools at the

h asked, taking the carton and s

t? Apparently, Simon left on Friday night after

he go?" N

bothered coming back at all. And he said he's never been so disgusted in his life. He

humourless laugh. "I think

trol on Friday night was to be commended,

, "I was barely keeping

ose your control later this evening, I don't think anyone will be rushing to stop you from hurting Simon – me incl

the waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, muffins and fruit

ooked down. "Goodbye flat sto

"It'll be a while before the banquet is ready, " she told her. "A

g off the stool. "I'm going to go for a ru

yah called after her

Nyah opened the front door to him a short while later. "Please i

d you, Tanya and little Ja

uch as I'd love to, I can't. There

u say brunch or bake sale?" he laughed, seei

ns in a napkin and handing them to him. "She helped me to pack the last

, but we also want to say there was no rush with clearing out Alpha Morgan's belongings. Rea

to be done though, and putting it off was doing no-one any favours. Anyway, y

said again. "I know it

it was all done. "So, what else did you want to talk to me ab

the last minute to arrive for the Show of Hands. There's still a lot o

st want to arrive, vote and leave. I don't thin

greed. "And if it's okay with you, I'd

ny luck she could hide behind his massive form and avoi

muffins and winked. "Thanks

unded out and Karen came

ing, " Ny

n, " Alan gree

shing straight past him an

ispered with a grimace a

hen, " Nyah cal

n. It was strange how she had disappeared for so long when she kne

e top of the stairs. "Yes, " she said f

e kitchen with a frown. Someth

tly, picking half-heartedly at whatever Nyah offered, her face emotionless and any attempt at conversation shrugged off. Eventually

aren replied i

h pushed. "You seem

, " Karen

d about tonight

, a welcome flash of emotion

n her shoulders soften.

if he

win. Everyone wan

lan I'm tal

re she flung at her certainly gave that impression. "You had me going there, " she laughed, b

Simon be Alpha?

ha

e. "He has a strong bloodline and wants to dedicate himself to

uldn't

o be the largest and most powerful pack this continent has

h disgust. "Can you hear yourself right now

nked once

leaning towards her. "You want

ing to be the largest and most powerful pack this co

ped, pushing away her plate and sta

ed blankly

imon serves no-one but hims

dicate himself to this pack. He should be given

Nyah yelled. "What

Karen answere

m fine. Why else would you be saying all this stuff about Simo

ing to be the largest and most powerful pack this co

n. Her face was lifeless, her eyes vacuous. It

oodline and he wants t

ctually wanted that heinous man leading their pack? What about the things she had said when they'd been filling the boxes with her father's belongings only yesterday? 'Simon would never have dared to return while Alpha Morgan was still alive; he's such a coward, isn't he?

yone defended Simon Northfell, even when she had been younger, when Simon had left the pack, she could remember the talk drifting around her house. Everyone was glad he had left. Comments such as 'good riddance' an

l should be Alpha was terrifying. A