Free Branches of the Willow 3 by Christine M. Butler Page A

and threw more power into him. “SUBMIT!” My voice was all power, and had I looked around the room, I would have seen everyone else there on their knees. He fought it for a second, and then he dropped, wincing from the pain it caused him to attempt defiance. Not only did he drop to his knees, he lifted his chin, holding his head off to the side, exposing the column of his dirty-caked throat. His body was shaking under the weight of my command, and the fact that he didn’t want to submit, but knew he couldn’t fight me. When he began to let out little startled whimpers of pain, I released the hold my power had on him. He collapsed forward, catching himself with the palms of his hands.
    “Do not, for one minute, think that I have this position because of the color of my hair. I am the white wolf. I hold the power of generations of leaders within my blood. I hold council with the wise ones still. I will not tolerate another showing like this. You let John Freedman know the next time he wants a voice, it better be his. If I catch another of his inbred, stink-covered, vile betas in my business or near these lands again, they will come back to him in a God Damn body bag.” The man was still shaking where he kneeled over. “Get. Out.” I tossed a wave of power over him, and he crawled on hands and knees until he hit the door.
    When he was gone, I turned back to see everyone still down on their knees, necks exposed. It was a startling show of submission from some of the most powerful alphas we had in this part of the world. It took everything I had not to suck n a surprised breath. I nodded to them all. I hadn’t forced the posture on anyone, but John Freedman’s man. They took the position out of respect, and to show that they backed me. I appreciated the gesture, even if it was unsettling.
    “I am going to have some food ordered for everyone. No one is to leave this room right now.”
    My father approached me then, “Jess, what are you doing?”
    “You didn’t invite Freedman, did you?”
    “No, obviously not.”
    “Well, I’d like to know who the little birdy is that leaked information about this meeting to him. The people who were invited are all here, so let’s see which one tipped him off.”
    “It’s your show, Jessica. Just be careful with it.”
    “I don’t think anyone in this room did it purposefully, but we need to know who they talked to about coming here.”
    My dad walked back over to the table to start talking to the other leaders as Mikael approached me. We both walked out into the hall to let Sierra know that we needed some food ordered. She was the unofficial secretary during traditional pack meetings so she was around whenever my dad was here now. Once I got her situated Mikael started talking.
    “You gained his respect, but you damn sure didn’t gain a friend there.” Mikael said to me through clenched teeth. “It took everything I had not to go punch his nose out through his asshole.” He was still seething over the episode with John’s man.
    “His nose through his asshole, huh?” I laughed at Mikael, trying to shake off the tension that had settled in him.
    “Yeah, well, you know what I mean.” He pulled me close to him, “you handled yourself brilliantly in there.”
    “You should not have bowed down before me though. We’re equals.”
    “Oh, no ma’am. I will bow down to you until my dying day. You are mine to worship and cherish. Besides, you never complain about me being on my knees before you when we’re at home.”
    Sierra’s laughter behind me let me know that she’d walked up at just the right time to hear him. “Should I get you two a room as well?”
    “Not necessary.” I grinned at her. “How long for the food?”
    “About an hour and a half thanks to the drive time.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, it was the best I could do, unless you want to put some of the pack to work cooking for you guys.”
    “Maybe I should add restaurants on pack lands