Colton~~

I set my glass of whiskey on an end table I pulled next to me and prop my elbow on the couch cushion before returning to my book. My last night as a free man.

The door of the lounge swings open, and Jonas storms in.

I reach for my glass.

"How dare you?"

I swallow the whiskey, looking at him over the rim. "You're going to how dare you me?"

He stands at the other end of the couch, his chest heaving. "Stop the sass, Colton. Erik didn't want her at his ceremony, and now she has to come to yours. You think Erik's going to appreciate this?"

I set the book on my lap and lean back.

"Another werewolf book?" he asks, distaste lacing his tone.

"I don't question the absurd amount of historical fiction on your bookshelf. Don't question my taste."

He crosses his arms. Waiting.

"Clearly if you brought her down below with you then Erik wanted her there. It's a shame that his desire was forgotten based on some fear she had."

"Erik didn't want her there." Jonas really is forgetting the point in all this. And maybe I'm letting the point slip slightly, being interested in why Erik didn't want her there rather than catering to his wishes. I heard the argument, the way he addressed not only my brother but the girl in question as well. I know there's something wrong with her, and maybe my brother doesn't see or is forcing himself not to, but I'm determined to find out what it is.

"You didn't clear it with him first?"

"I didn't think it would be a problem."

I sit up, swinging my legs over the edge. I cup the glass in my hands. "You were there. I made the announcement in front of everyone. How would it look if I took back what I said the night before I become Beta?" I take a sip. "I absolutely cannot. Of course"—I hold out my glass in his direction— "you could. But . . . it would raise questions about why you would revert something I said when I am supposed to be the final say on who comes to my ceremony. Also, don't you think you're getting too involved with this girl? Putting the whole she's Erik's girl aside for a moment, you seem too interested in her. I'm sure you have already seen when she's going to die, but if you haven't, you need to be careful. You don't want to go through what Erik did. It's the reason we're in this mess with him in the first place."

I wait for Jonas to respond, but he never does, and despite his stare, I return to my drink. No use in letting the whiskey go warm.

His footsteps fall against the rug, and he shuts the door louder than necessary.

It's always fascinating when I can fluster him.