Chapter 215

Amber’s POV

I took a deep breath and then spoke. “Do you feel that you truly have the best interest of the pack at heart, when you are gallivanting around –”

“’Gallivanting?’” Julian laughed.

“Yes, gallivanting,” I insisted, trying to play my part. “Running all around with that hussy of a mate –”

“Now wait one minute,” Julian said, his smile abruptly falling. “You can’t talk about my mate that way.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “We are supposed to be practicing for the debate. You can’t think Tony isn’t going to try to trip you up like this. He’s definitely going to talk badly about me just to give you a hard time.”

“Then I’ll correct him too,” Julian said.

We were both sitting on the couch in the living room. Though I was holding paperwork with mock questions on them, Julian had his hands free. He slid one of those hands now along the back of the couch behind me.

I lifted a playful brow at him. “Hopefully not in the same way.”

“No,” Julian said, inching closer. “But even from you, I can’t tolerate anyone talking badly about my mate.”

“Julian…” I said in mostly-false warning. I already knew these papers were going to end up on the floor totally forgotten, very soon.

Julian lifted his free hand to cup my cheek. “Now for your punishment,” he said, and kissed me.

I smiled against his lips. “If this is supposed to be a punishment, I don’t think it’s working.”

“Sounds like you haven’t had enough,” he said and kissed me again, licking his way into my mouth this time.

I hummed delightedly.

When we parted again, I said, “I don’t think I’ll ever have enough.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I never want to stop.”

As he kissed me once more, I knew with my heart the things I wasn’t ready to say out loud.

Mostly…

I don’t want it to stop either.

Too soon, the night of the debate arrived. We had invited Aunt Kathy to the house to help watch Alice. After some debate, we decided this wasn’t the time for her to make Tony uncomfortable. We were proud of her for wanting to help in that way, but in an event like this, where it would be Julian and Tony along up on a stage, we didn’t feel it necessary to drag Alice through it.

So after hugging her tightly, we left her at the estate with Aunt Kathy, the regular staff, and a handful of guards Julian was fully confident were most loyal to him.

I was wearing a conservative dress with a high collar and down to the knee. Julian had on his sharpest suit. His tie was aquamarine, matching the color of my dress.

Tonight, we had to be a unit, working and moving together. We were heading directly into the lion’s den, where the only ally we would have would be one another.

In the backseat of the car, I slid my hand across the space between us to take Julian’s. He held onto me tightly, his grip firm.

Though we didn’t speak aloud, we let this connection talk for us, comforting one another in place of words.

We will make it through.

We will be okay.

Julian’s POV

The debate was to be held in a vast auditorium, which, I could tell even from backstage, was already filled with people.

Amber and I were standing behind the curtains, having been directed there by some of the crew. The event had yet to start, but we were practicing where to stand so that the people and the cameras would be able to see us best.

On the stage were two podiums, one for Tony and one for myself. Amber would be with me in the beginning, during the introductions, but then she would have to leave the stage.

The directions seemed simple enough, and I thought that we could complete these technical issues easily. That was good. With how charismatic Tony was, I knew I would need all of my concentration for the actual debate, with none to spare for stage positioning.

With most of the directions assigned and understood, Amber and I were left to just stand slightly offstage for a time, while the crew worked. There was still fifteen minutes yet before the debate was set to start.

Seeing us, the head of the council came sauntering over. He should have been down in the crowd, but he always did have ideas and hopes of grandeur. I guessed I shouldn’t have been surprised that he would have turned so quickly against me.

I wondered what Tony and Olivia offered him to make him so happy to betray me.

He walked toward us with a smile on his face, like he was planning on reuniting with an old friend.

I could be polite – cordial, even – but I wasn’t going to pretend he was anything but a traitor. This man was leading the group that was keeping me from seeing my sick mother, and was allowing the scenario in which Tony could continue to poison her.

“Alpha, I’m pleased you decided to come,” the head of the council said. “There are those that doubted you. They didn’t think you would have the nerve to face Tony in a manner like this.”

“I’d remind you that this entire debate was my idea,” I said. “I wouldn’t suggest something to just back out of it.”

The head of the council simply shrugged. “Tony is exceedingly popular. You cannot blame the people for thinking it.”

Amber inched closer to me, pressing her side against my arm, offering her silent support while I faced down this villain. It gave me strength, knowing I had her beside me, even if she was choosing to stay quiet for my sake.

With her support and her love, I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t achieve.

“I’m proud of you, Julian,” the head of the council said. “Most Alphas would be tempted to take an authoritarian hold over their pack, but you are here, ready to speak with the people directly. I truly hope they like what you say.”

I didn’t believe him.

“If you truly feel that why, then why have I been denied the right to see my ailing mother?” I asked, unable to withhold my anger anymore. “You say you are proud of me, but all I see in you is a traitor making a power grab.”

The man’s face went very pale as he blustered, making several inarticulate noises that could have been outrage.

“That is an insult, Alpha, and I would advise you to be more careful with your words.”

“I’m done listening to your advice.”

The man grumbled more. “We on the council are simply trying to maintain the peace until these disputes can be resolved.”

“What does that have to do with keeping me from seeing my mother?” I demanded.

“There is evidence that you have been purposefully confusing your mother to get her to lie for you,” the head of the council said. “That’s egregious. She is your mother, and after all she has done for this pack –”

“I’d like to see that evidence,” I snapped. “Let me guess, Tony presented it?”

“Why… yes, but –”

“Maybe you hadn’t considered that Tony is the one guilty of what you are accusing me of?”

As the man continued to sputter, Tony himself came storming over. “Keep your accusations for in front of the camera, cousin.”

“Don’t worry, Tony. I will,” I told him.

“Gentleman,” said a nearby crewman. “Please take your places. We are about to open the curtain.”

Good. I couldn’t wait to start this debate and tell the world what Tony had been up to.

His betrayal had cut deep.

But now it was time for me to take my pack back.

Amber’s POV

As the curtains drew back to the applause of the crowd, I glanced around, taking in the faces of many people that I knew, and many that I had treated. While it wasn’t clear which of the two they were cheering for, I could only hope that Julian had more friends than enemies here.

But then, I spotted her.

In the back of the auditorium, Olivia’s figure was undeniable.

I felt her watching me, mocking me.

Was she planning something?

Too long had she had everything her way. Now was the time to finally confront her.