by Amber Lynn
I hoped he’d take the clue and let loose of my hand at the very least. He was smart enough to read my mind, so I assumed he was capable of picking up on social clues.
“Just remember that if you have any questions about me in the future, you can direct them to me. Jack may be my partner, but there’s very little I’ve actually shared with him.”
His hand lingered a bit, but he reluctantly let go. I felt a quick, hard pulse in my chest before he removed the other hand. I didn’t know what was up with him and why he had so much control over me. As I made my way out of the room without saying another word or looking back at him, I hoped I found a way to take back some of my usual control.
Chapter Nine
“If you ask me that question one more time, I’m going to kill you, Paul. And because you’ve asked it ten times in the last four days, I’m going to make it a painful death.”
I didn’t know where he’d picked up the idea that me turning him into a werewolf was a logical solution to his problems, but it was something he insisted would help. I knew he hadn’t been watching those cheesy werewolf movies Hollywood put out at home, so I assumed the four or five times he’d left the house was when he’d come up with the idea.
“You said he’s claiming both girls because Sierra’s more like him than me. As a man, and her father, I need to be able to fight that claim and the only way I can see to do that is to have you turn me.”
We were sitting in the living room of our private residence. At one time we would’ve had a security detail around, listening to a conversation they didn’t need to hear, but Paul sent them on their way to make sure we had our privacy as we discussed next steps.
I’d told Paul most of the conversation I’d had with him, leaving out the parts that concerned werewolves. I didn’t think there’d ever be a time when I would open up about that part of my life. I’d spent years running away from it, and it catching up with me was going to take a lot of getting used to.
“He’s accepting them both as his, which is just something required for the pack to accept them. Frankly, I could care less if the pack accepts them, because I don’t accept the pack, but I didn’t feel like fighting about it. Like I told you, he’s well-aware that you are their father and he’s not going to fight about that.”
“How do you know? We’ve never done testing to see what shows up for Sierra. What if she doesn’t carry any of my DNA? He could take us to court.”
I had to laugh at the thought. Picking up on the fact that the man in question wasn’t far away, kept me from laughing too long. Since he popped up on my radar unexpectedly, I clearly hadn’t made it obvious that I didn’t want him sneaking up on me.
“I’m sure he’ll explain his brilliant future plans to you in a minute, but I can assure you the court system won’t be involved, and that any test done on Sierra won’t have an ounce of his DNA.”
Paul got up from the couch we were sitting on and looked towards the door. The quickness that he picked up on my cues surprised me, but he’d been doing a lot of surprising the week we’d had before we were joined by our third wheel.
I didn’t bother looking. He didn’t let me know he was around until he was in the mansion, but I knew he was coming straight to us. I glanced around the living room I’d never really liked while I waited.
I was told when we moved in that I could change it anyway I wanted, but I found I enjoyed hating it. It was too big, which was one of the things I disliked most about it. I wanted a nice quiet, intimate space, and nothing about the decorating was quiet.
If there was something gold plated with sparkles in the world, it was in that living room. I imagined the former First Lady of the state was pissed when she found out that she didn’t get to take any of the babbles with her, or the blue suede couches.
“You might as well sit down. If I would’ve had a little more warning, I would’ve recommended pretending we were making out. It’d serve him right for not calling ahead.”
“I assumed you liked your husband in one piece, but then again I did hear you mention killing him yourself a few minutes ago. Any way you look at it, your conversation was one I wanted to add my two cents to.”
I doubted Paul heard the response, as the man was still making his way through the tourist side of the mansion. I applauded the fact that he’d lasted a whole week without any specific interactions, even if I knew he probably camped outside the house every chance he had a free moment.
“I’m getting the feeling you just like to hear your own voice. We’ve been waiting for you most of the day. I thought maybe you’d time it down to the second and be here around nine.”
Paul hadn’t listened to me when I told him to sit down, and I wasn’t going to tell him a second time. I didn’t think the man would consider it a threat like most wolves would.
“As eager as I am for us to get to know each other better, I do have a day job and I had to take care of a few things.”
He was getting closer, which meant the people who could be staring at him for talking to himself weren’t around.
“What’s he saying?” Paul walked closer to me, and it felt to me like he was trying to protect me from something, at least that’s how I read the expression on his face when I looked up at him.
“Just that he has something to say about the conversation we were having before he interrupted. I’d recommend you taking a few steps back and toning down the aggression a bit.”
“If it makes you feel better, Governor, I don’t mind you being protective of Nikki, as long as you don’t show too much possession. I’ll chalk any slips up to the fact that the years you’ve been married weren’t long enough to figure out she doesn’t need a man taking care of her.”
Whether he planned it or not, his words caused Paul to take a step back. Dragging my fingernails across the stupid suede under them, I stood up to push Paul a few more steps away. I didn’t trust either man not to attack the other, so placing myself in the middle seemed like a logical idea.
“Before you two get started, I’ll caution that even though the girls are not in the room, they are capable of hearing everything said.”
The girls were supposed to be sleeping, which I doubted they were actually doing. I didn’t have any worries that they’d run down and try to get involved with the conversation, but I wanted to make sure certain topics didn’t crop up.
“I’m aware, and I’ll make sure some of the fun topics we discussed the other day aren’t brought up. Are we going to stand around and stare at each other, or shall we sit?”
The man sounded as non-threatening as he could, but his tease didn’t settle well with Paul, whose eyes squinted into a deadly stare. I shook my head and turned to face our visitor. I didn’t like the two of them in the same room, because as much as I at one time enjoyed seeing Paul in his casual jeans and t-shirt that stuck to his sculpted body, the other person in the room made him look like a clown.
I doubted most women would’ve thought that, but looking at my mate in black running shorts and a matching tank top made me reconsider what I found attractive. It didn’t help that the sweat glistening on his body made him look like he’d oiled up just for my enjoyment.
I noticed what I assumed was a badge bulging slightly underneath his shirt. I imagined he’d flashed it at some point to make it as far as he had in the building. We didn’t have guards right on top of us, but they were around to make sure psychos didn’t bother us. It made me wonder why they let him through, with or without a badge.
“Have you taken to jogging around the mansion when you’re bored?” I asked.
It was clear that we’d somehow interrupted what was more than likely a marathon. Either that or he’d purposefully gotten sweaty because he knew I’d find it hard to look away.
“I know you hate the furniture in here, so I assume you’ll be okay with me potentially ruining the fabric.” He didn’t answer my question as he walked around to the front of the couch Paul and I had been sitting on and took a seat.
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“You two have discussed our furniture?”
“Sure, in the hour we’ve spoken before now I thought it was important to discuss my likes and dislikes when it came to interior design,” I said sarcastically. “I already told you that he can read minds. Two minutes ago I was thinking about how much I want to set fire to this room before we move out and he picked up on it.”
I’d explained about the mind reading thing so Paul wouldn’t freak out, but I supposed it was hard not to. The conversation that had followed lasted over an hour, as Paul questioned me about my own abilities. He clearly thought that if one werewolf could read minds, all of us could.
“I told you to change things if you didn’t like them.”
Neither of us moved to sit down. The couch was large enough for us all to sit without getting too close for comfort, but I’d have to sit in the middle, and I really didn’t want to be that close to the man. It was bad enough he was about six feet away.
“I don’t think it’d hurt to use my name; it’s Vik, in case you managed to forget it.” He continued to concentrate on me as he moved on to respond to Paul’s statement. “A wolf won’t change a temporary space to suit them. When we plant roots, we tend to only like to do it once, and Nikki knew this wasn’t where she was going to spend the rest of her life.”
“She tells me you have plans for my family, does that include a house picked out that she can decorate to her heart’s content?”
As cool as the man on the couch was, I could tell the one behind me was extremely uncomfortable with the situation. I stuck with just being annoyed, it was an emotion that came natural to me.
I went to address the question, but I didn’t get a chance.
“I think that decision is one we need to make together. Are you guys going to sit down so we can discuss things like that, and how we’re going to deal with the months before you’re able to leave this place in the rearview mirror?”
“Are you proposing we get a say in things?” I asked, already dreading how things were going to end up.
“I’ve already spelled out the things I require. I get to be a part of the girls’ lives, you two will get divorced and eventually Nikki and I will get married. I know most of those things aren’t appealing, but they’re important if we want happy futures for our girls.”
I couldn’t help scoffing at his claim. Nothing about a divorce and marriage would change one thing as far as the girls were concerned.
“So you admit marrying me isn’t appealing. That’s music to my ears, because I feel the exact same way about you.”
He bent to try to see Paul behind me. “Just think, with two men in her life we may be able to deal with all of her moodiness. That’s probably wishful thinking, but I don’t think we should find a third guy to try to make it even more plausible.”
“You mean you’re going to allow me to speak to her after the divorce. That’s generous.”
I was glad to hear Paul didn’t find any humor in what had been said either.
“Has she told you how lucky you are I’m not going to kill you? Generous is exactly what I’m being. You’re not aware of the life you’re getting into, but you need to be. Unlike Nikki, I think turning you is a good idea, and I’m willing to help you with that process.”
I growled as loud as I dared. Even though people weren’t milling around, I was known to shake a building if I showed my anger.
“No.” Fangs had appeared from my gums, making the single word sound like I had a lisp.
“Calm down. If one of us doesn’t do it, he’ll ask Jack, and you know how that’ll turn out. He’d be stronger with one of us as his maker and we’re going to need strength. When word gets out about us, there are going to be challenges. I’ve dealt with the ones that have come so far, but it’d be best if all three of us could help with the load when things pick up.”
Asking Jack would be a disaster, but having anyone other than me involved would also be unacceptable.
“You aren’t turning him. I don’t know what you’re talking about as far as challenges go, but I can handle anything that comes our way.”
I assumed he’d met my pack, so they should’ve been able to verify that I’d gone through the normal circumstances when I’d left.
“I’m aware of your abilities, and how you’ve proven them. You don’t understand what’s going on here, though. I’ve been here about three years and have had to fight most of the males from your pack and about twenty who have wandered in the area trying to find you. The fights from the pack only stopped when I took over and commanded them.”
He’d been pretty expressionless, only a small smirk here and there as he sat comfortably on the couch. His look didn’t really change, but a sparkle that hadn’t been there lit up his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me that last week? How many did you kill?”
I should’ve been asking why he thought anyone was trying to find me, but the news of him running my former pack was a little more pressing. One usually didn’t take over the duties unless they were the alpha’s firstborn or they killed the alpha.
“The local wolves are all still alive because I wasn’t sure if you had former ties that would make their deaths upsetting. A month or two of rehab was all they needed. None of the out-of-towners are still alive. I couldn’t have them going back to wherever they’d come from and letting others know about you.”
If Paul hadn’t been uncomfortable before, hearing that the other man in the room had killed numerous people didn’t help matters. The not-so-quiet swallow I heard behind me let me know he wasn’t prepared to hear any details about the fights that were more than likely on the gruesome side.
“Why are you trying to turn your homicidal tendencies into my fault? I lived here for over twenty years before you showed up, and I never had any problems with stray wolves.”
He patted the couch next to him, in another futile attempt to get me to sit. I liked being able to watch his facial expressions, and I couldn’t do that as well if I was sitting next to him.
“Once I teach you what you can do, you won’t need to watch me to know what I’m thinking. I promised you the other day that I’d explain why you’ve always felt like you were different. That difference is why I’ve had to go to extremes to protect you, and why we’ll eventually need to be married. While you’re married to a human, you’re vulnerable to be taken by another wolf as his own.”
“Like hell I am.” I had to stop the nonsense he’d decided to start preaching. I had a mate mark, and that meant other wolves looked the other way.
“In most cases a mark works, and you’d think that since I have a matching one that things would be easier, but as long as you’re married I can be challenged for you. Whether you want to admit it or not, you are a prize many would gladly die trying to win.”
I expected a drum roll to sound, indicating he was telling a joke. The more he spoke, the more I wondered if he was pitching a paranormal soap opera. He hadn’t gotten to the main pitch, but I had a feeling it was coming.
“The prize part of your statement is obvious, but I’d like to know how much danger Nikki and the girls are in. If you’ve had to kill people to keep them from her, maybe we should expedite the divorce.”
I looked over my shoulder at Paul and raised my eyebrows. Crazy was clearly catching.
“If the only reason he wants us to divorce is because he’s tired of dealing with challenges, he can let me handle them. I can keep us safe and we can move off to a secluded spot when you aren’t needed to sign things.”
“As your mate, I won’t kill him or the girls, but there’s no guarantee the others won’t. I don’t want to say this, but Selina and you are probably safe, Paul and Sierra would be the ones in danger.”
“You think because Selina’s yours that she’s somehow safer?” Paul asked. I could tell he was offended Sierra hadn’t been raised up on a pedestal.
“Honestly, yes. They won’t kill Nikki because she’s the reġina lupu …” He let h
is words trail as I turned back to face him.
I’d remained focused on Paul for a few seconds of the conversation to get an idea of how he was taking things, and had been surprised to find that even though he didn’t like the other man in the room, he was prepared to hear him out.
“Which would make Selina the lupu magħżul if you’re the mexxej lupu, and the look on your face is telling me you at least believe that. You can’t seriously be saying we’re the par lupu.”
I thought his reference to it in the police station had been odd, I hadn’t expected him to think the tale every wolf was told as a child was true.
“My lovely queen, that is exactly what I’m saying. It was foretold long ago that we’d eventually meet and create the chosen wolf, who, I might add, is getting tired of pretending she’s sleeping and would like to join the conversation.”
If I was prone to fainting, I would have. I settled for stepping forward about ten steps and slapping the man across the face as hard as I could. I’d show him how queen-like I really was.
Chapter Ten
“I’m pretty sure that was unwarranted, but if it makes you feel better, I suppose I won’t complain.”
He didn’t move to touch the bright red portion of his face that bore my handprint. I should’ve punched him in the nose, but at the same time there wasn’t anything soft about it when I used my open hand.
“I don’t feel it was unwarranted at all. In fact, I think my reaction was rather mild for what you’re implying. It’s time for you to leave.”
I would’ve liked him to totally disappear from my life, but I assumed that was too much to hope for. If he truly believed the web he was spinning, I didn’t want him anywhere near my family.
“Our family,” he said with a glare in his eyes. “Is it really that hard for you to believe you’re the destined wolf queen? We both know that you’ve always felt different than everyone else and that you have a severe issue with authority.”