Chapter 21

  Lucas sat back in his chair with his hands behind his head. The frustration of the meeting he’d just had was now bleeding into resignation and defeat.

  “You’re the Alpha, Lucas. You still get the final say,” said Thomas.

  “You heard the advisory team. If they’re questioning me so thoroughly about why Dane Larssen hasn’t been given a rank, then the rest of the pack won’t be far behind. The original excuse of needing him to overhaul the army isn’t enough anymore. He’s already proven his worth, and Henrik Paulus can take over that role.”

  “If you give him a rank, he will undermine you every step of the way.”

  “I don’t like him any more than you do, probably even less – as far as I know he hasn’t fucked your mate – but I’m running out of reasons to keep an experienced pack leader, from a Beta bloodline, in such a low position.”

  “I think you’re making a mistake,” argued Thomas.