by Dannika Dark
When we reached the gates of Prince’s mansion, I poked my head out the window and scalded the guard with my gaze. The gates immediately opened and he lowered his eyes submissively as we passed. It made me wonder about the kind of power Prince had over his pack, and that was a frightening thought.
“You’re going to have to stay in the truck,” I said. “He’s not going to let you inside.”
Wheeler rubbed his tattooed arm as if brushing off a chill. “Hate to break the news, but I’m your bestie today.”
I glanced at his attire. “You look like you’re going on a mission to assassinate people.”
“Something wrong with all black?”
“Why didn’t you just wear the white shirt and jeans you had on?”
He smirked and scratched the bristles of his short beard. “I like to dress appropriate for the occasion.”
“My funeral?”
I opened the door and we got out. This time I parked up front and not at the side of the house as before. Prince wasn’t expecting me, and I had a feeling the guard hadn’t called him to announce my visit.
Wheeler stared at the door, specifically the brass knocker depicting a fierce wolf with a ring between his sharp teeth. “Mayhap we should stay outside.”
“Why?”
“You lose the upper hand when you enter a man’s home.”
I pushed the doorbell. “Do you guys just sit around making up these ridiculous rules? Like changing into those black jeans and boots? I’m surprised you didn’t borrow Reno’s gun.”
His brow arched. “The thought crossed my mind.”
When the door opened, Wheeler suddenly stepped in front of me.
“I don’t know you,” the man in the pinstripe suit and a fedora said. He might have passed for a gangster if it weren’t for the fact he looked fifty.
Wheeler folded his arms. “Looks like you also don’t know we’re in the twenty-first century. Where’s your liege?”
“My what?”
I stepped into view. “Is Prince here? Tell him it’s Maizy. He knows who I am.”
He gave me a skeptical appraisal. Maybe Prince didn’t entertain many women who wore cutoff jean shorts and flip-flops, but I’d been in too much of a hurry to dwell on my attire. The man’s eyes were transfixed on my lavender toenails, which April had painted for our night out. They had little adhesive sparkles on them.
Wheeler inched forward. “I think you need to take your beady little eyes off my packmate and get your boss before I show you a close-up of what the bottom of my boot looks like. ’Preciate ya.”
When he turned away, I nudged Wheeler. “Why do you have to be so rude?”
He curved his arm around me. “That’s not rude, sweetheart. You’ve been away too damn long. We don’t live by all the niceties that humans do. Everyone is a potential threat, and most people are a potential dick.”
I peered up at him. “That’s a lovely outlook on the world.”
“Just the facts.”
Prince approached with a quick stride from the rotunda in the center of the house. “I apologize for my delay,” he said in a hurried breath. “I wasn’t made aware of your arrival; I should have been notified you were on the property.” He inclined his head at Wheeler. “Can I offer you a drink?”
“No,” I said, nervously tugging at the strings hanging from the end of my shorts. He probably thought I wore the same clothes every day when I actually had three pairs of shorts that looked alike. It made me wish I had put on something nicer for this meeting. “I need to speak to you alone.”
This wasn’t a man who lounged around his house in his sweatpants. Prince probably wore silk pajamas to bed and dressed before dawn. I’d caught him off guard, so he didn’t have a suit jacket on, only a dark grey button-up with matching slacks and a black belt. His silk shirt had two buttons undone at the top, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone.
“Would your friend prefer to wait out here?”
A muscle clenched in Wheeler’s jaw. “Her friend is standing right here, so why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Prince didn’t apologize. “There are comfortable chairs in here, or I can have someone show you to the kitchen.”
Wolves liked to offer each other food as a show of hospitality. I respectfully didn’t answer for Wheeler.
After a brief pause, Wheeler glanced around the room. “Think I’ll hang out in here while you talk. I’m curious what life is like for those who live high on the hog.”
I wanted to do a facepalm, but I maintained my composure and followed Prince. His hair was shiny and pulled into a ponytail. It made me wonder what it looked like free and loose around his shoulders. Did he pull it back so people could see his regal features and handsome jawline? It certainly brought all the attention to his face, but it seemed like such an odd thing for a man in his position to wear. I expected rebellious men like Jericho to have long hair—not wealthy, prominent Packmasters who were older than dirt.
My shoes slapped against his marble floor, echoing through the house.
“We’ll have privacy in here,” he said, opening a door.
The first thing that hit me was the pleasant aroma. It was something I’d noticed before, but Prince had different scents in every room. Sometimes it was just the smell of wood, but I’d picked up a strong fragrance of roses on my last visit. This room smelled of another familiar flower I couldn’t place, and I kept drawing in deep breaths.
He smiled while closing the door, as if realizing what I was doing. This room was dramatically different than the last I’d been in. It dripped money.
“You spare no expense,” I said in a soft breath.
The paneled walls were white and the ceiling high. Track lighting ran along the outer edges, and hanging from the center was a beautiful crystal chandelier. The marble floor was gold in color, and a tremendous white rug covered the center of the room.
Prince strolled ahead of me toward one of the gold tables along the outer edge. They were antique with intricate designs on the top and front. Even the candelabrum was a golden hue. My mind wanted to say brass, but with his money, anything was possible.
I heard the sound of clinking glass and liquid pouring.
“Have a seat,” he said with his back to me.
It didn’t seem like a suggestion, so I slipped out of my shoes and sat on the gold couch. My fingers stroked the soft fabric, wondering how much he’d spent on this room alone.
Prince turned around with two glasses in his hand. “It’s the best spring water you can find,” he said, handing me a short glass.
I took a sip and found it had no taste. “Thanks.”
Instead of sitting in one of the chairs across from me, he sat next to me. I scooted to the right to set my drink on the wooden tabletop and noticed there were no coasters.
“It won’t stain,” he promised. “Tell me what brings you here. This is an unexpected visit, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased to see you.”
I turned toward him and pulled my left leg up on the sofa a little. “Have you heard about Denver?”
He rubbed the side of his nose. “That was an unfortunate incident.”
“Were your men there?”
Prince lifted his glass, took a drink, and then twisted around to set it on the table behind him. Then he scooted closer so there was little distance left between us. “My men were assigned to guard you, not your packmates. They didn’t feel you were in any physical danger.”
My jaw slackened. “So they just let it happen?”
He stretched his right arm along the back of the couch. “Had they intervened, how would that have reflected on me? The Council would have questioned why I had my men following you, and they might have hurt your packmate, or even the Packmaster. I prefer to keep my hands clean from dirty affairs.”
“Look, I came to you for a reason.”
His sapphire eye glittered. The lighting in the room reminded me of the kind they used in jewelry stores that made all the f
acets in jewels sparkle.
“Have you come to a decision on my offer? This isn’t a business negotiation, Maizy. I want to be your lover, your mate, and the father of our children.”
My stomach knotted. That wasn’t the direction I was hoping the conversation would go. “It’s not about that. I need your advice—your help. Denver’s in jail and I don’t know what the Council will decide. You’re an experienced Packmaster and probably have a good idea what’s going to happen. How can we free him? Denver was protecting my honor. Bromus threatened me sexually.”
Prince flinched and sat up straight, his eye twitching. “I was not told this.”
“Maybe your men were out of earshot. Whether he was serious or not, Denver didn’t hesitate to act on the threat. It’s my understanding Bromus has been troublesome for other Packmasters. I thought you might have some dirt on him that would help our case.”
“I don’t deal directly with men of his low caliber. His reputation preceded him.”
I reached out and clasped his hand. This unexpected gesture startled him, and for the first time, Prince had color in his cheeks. “I know you’re a good man. Anyone who pulls over on a busy highway to help a little girl has to have a good heart. Maybe now you have motives for your actions, but back then, you couldn’t have had a motive for helping a human. I’m asking you to search your heart. Denver has always been my protector, and last night was no different. It would be a sin for a man like him to be locked up for this crime, and you know it.”
“A sentencing is not what he’s facing, little one.”
“I’m aware of that.”
He lifted his hand out of my grasp and swept my hair away from my face. “There are ways I can help you.”
“I’m aware of that too. And that’s why I asked you to search your heart.”
His eyes narrowed slightly and he pulled back. “Are you testing me?”
I was uncertain how to respond. Admitting I had no interest in mating with him could murder any chance of him helping me. But if he cared for me—even just a little bit—then I didn’t want to hurt him either. Prince was an admirable man whom I wished no harm upon.
After a thoughtful pause, I gave him an answer. “Every man at some point in his life needs to be tested so he can find out if he’s a righteous man or an indifferent one.”
His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. Prince’s stare penetrated me, and I averted my eyes to the floor. “I have nothing to gain by helping your pack.”
“You’ll gain my respect.”
His brow quirked. “I thought I already had that.”
“Please help. I’m not good at verbal games. You’ve always had a good relationship with us. Austin respects you immensely.”
“And I’ve always come to your aid,” he countered. “Far more times than necessary.”
“Has Austin repaid you?”
He tipped his head to the side. “Austin has cleared his debts with me through favors.”
“Then you can’t hold that over us.”
“And if this had happened to one of my packmates, how quickly would your Packmaster volunteer to assist?”
“Austin would help you in a heartbeat. You’re one of the few men in this territory he looks to for advice. It’s not easy for me to come here asking for help when Austin doesn’t know about it. This is between you and me. I’m not asking on behalf of our pack. Denver is my best friend—”
“Is that all he is to you?” His face hardened momentarily. “Don’t think as I sit here that I’m unaware you’ve gone through your first change. It was him, wasn’t it?”
I worried my lip. It had slipped my mind that he’d be able to sense I was a newly changed wolf, and maybe that’s why he was toying with me.
Prince softened his features and held my hand. “Despite the decision you’ve made, which cannot be undone, I can still sense your power is strong. I consulted with a Relic and he suggested your blood is pure because you’re a Potential. I assumed the amount of power you’d receive would come from the man you bedded, but it has nothing to do with who made you. Your power is not filtered down through generations. My Relic is familiar with Potentials and assured me you would be a suitable mate. You will outlive your family.”
He’d consulted a Relic to see if I’d be a suitable mate? I shook my head. “Don’t talk about my life span and people I love dying when I’m already facing losing one.”
“You shouldn’t invest your energy in a man who will likely perish before your time.”
“I might outlive you,” I snapped back.
Prince chuckled. “But you will have our children to care for.”
My shoulders sagged. “Your Relic has no proof of that anyhow. It’s all speculation.”
He scooted closer and held both my hands. “You must decide how your fairy tale will end, little one. With a love that could be fleeting and hurt you in the end, or with a man who will give you your heart’s desire. Agree to be my mate and you will never want for anything. You’ll still have your family; I will not deny that to you. But you’ll have wealth, security, power, and…”
“And?”
“Me. I will be a devoted mate, attentive to your needs. Not just superficially, but sexually.”
“And love?”
He sighed. “I’ve heard that comes with time. I’ve also heard it fades. Why risk mating someone for love when you could lose that feeling? Then what are you left with if they cannot provide for you?”
I pulled my hands back and hugged my midsection. “Love is more than making sure I’ll have a place to live or the finest silks. Love is doing things without being asked. Will you sit on the steps at sunset and talk to me? Will you make me laugh? Will you read to me when I’m not feeling well? Will you hold my hand and tell me secrets? When I was in the hospital, you didn’t do any of those things. You could have sat by my side and kept me company. All you did was make me an offer.”
His lips thinned. “Is that all I did?” His voice rose and he stood up. “You seem to have amnesia, otherwise you might recall I hired one of the best neurologists in the world, not to mention the Vampire who made sure the staff was attentive to your every need. Is saving you not caring for you? Perhaps I show my affection in ways you can’t appreciate.”
“I appreciate what you did for me more than you’ll ever know,” I replied, standing beside him. I stepped back so I didn’t have to look up so high. “But that’s something that can be repaid. Please, Prince. Don’t make me beg. Don’t make me stand here and cry in front of you—cry for Denver’s life. You’re the only one I know who can help—the only one who might be able to sway the Council.”
Prince tucked his hands in his pockets. “You are not a meek woman. Why must you behave so?”
I kept my emotions bottled or I’d never be able to negotiate. “What can you do for me? What will you do for me?”
“Is there nothing I can say that will persuade you to reconsider my offer? Even if it means freeing your packmate?”
I couldn’t. It would ruin whatever chance I had with Denver, even if I broke it off with Prince later. My pack would never respect me, and I wouldn’t respect myself. But this was Denver’s life!
Prince raised his head to look up at the chandelier. “I do not wish to place you in a position where you are emotionally conflicted. I have no desire to cause you grief. I will speak to the higher authority on behalf of the Weston pack, but I can provide no testimony against the deceased.”
“Will that be enough to free him?” I asked hopefully.
Prince removed his hands from his pockets and strolled toward a Renaissance painting on the wall. “If the Council agrees to drop charges, the higher authority will still be under obligation to punish the guilty. However…” He turned around and looked at me thoughtfully. “Without the Council to press the matter, the higher authority can be swayed with money. They receive funding from private parties but often don’t have enough to expand their facilities, increase security, or hire m
ore Regulators.”
“You would do that? Pay for his release?”
Prince wasn’t good at concealing his amusement, because his eyes changed shape and sparkled with humor. “I didn’t say that, little one. That would not be a wise investment. My own pack will always take priority over everything else. But if members of the higher authority are willing to arrange his release in exchange for money, then it will be up to your pack to meet their demands. That is the best I can offer.” He approached me slowly and cupped his hands around my upper arms. “Don’t choose this option. You will never be able to afford what they ask. This is not hope I’m giving you, only an alternative. My offer remains, and I will be a patient man. After all, I’ve waited centuries to finally meet you.”
“But I’m not your destiny.”
He caressed my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “My dear, we are all each other’s destinies. Every person you meet in your life is your destiny. We alter the course of every life we touch, whether we realize it or not.”
“Then alter the course of Denver’s life.”
“I had a ring made for you—a special ring. It waits for you, as do I.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I said nothing at all.
“May I kiss you? It’s my only hope you’ll change your mind.”
“Over a kiss?”
Prince abruptly leaned down and kissed me on the mouth, lips slightly parted. He was a gentle kisser with soft lips and tenderness. But I felt nothing. He could have been the perfect man, but he wasn’t perfect for me. Sleeping Beauty awoke from a kiss, and that’s how a person should feel when they are kissed by their true love. Awake. Alive. Sparks igniting across your body and making it impossible to think about anyone else.
I leaned back and he stopped, standing upright and studying me so intently that I couldn’t hold his gaze. I should have slapped him, but I knew he’d done it with honorable intentions. It was a last-ditch effort to woo a woman he coveted—one whose heart belonged to another. Maybe after that kiss, he’d come to the same conclusion I had—that we weren’t right for each other. But then I wondered if it even mattered to him.