“Fantastic,” Skender muttered under his breath.
“The sooner you get inside and talk to your Alpha, the sooner we can figure out your fate,” Decebel said.
After another couple of minutes of simply standing there, Skender finally pushed away from the vehicle. “Might as well get on with it,” he mumbled as he pulled his mate behind him and marched past Decebel. It did not go unnoticed by Decebel that Skender’s markings had changed and moved up his neck.
“Skender is here, as well as his female. Distract Costin and Sally for a bit please.”Decebel reached out through the bond to his mate.
“Can I come scratch his eyes out?”Jen growled.
“When I explained this to you the other night, you asked the same question. My answer hasn’t changed,”he said, trying not to smile at his bloodthirsty mate’s words.
She sighed in his mind.“You said Costin was the only one who would be allowed to touch him. And while I understand that, B, it doesn’t change the fact that Sally was mine first, long before she belonged to Costin. I feel like that means I have first maiming rights. Costin can have the leftovers.”
“By that logic, if something were to happen to me, Fane or Costin would have first rights to avenge me before you. How would that make you feel?”
Her growl in his mind was almost audible.“Stupid, logical male.”
“I love you.”
“Is that your polite way of telling me I’m not going to get my way?”
“Exactly. Behave.”Decebel pulled out of her mind just as they reached Vasile’s office. When Skender started to knock, Decebel put a hand on the wolf’s shoulder, careful to keep his distance from the woman. “This isn’t our stop.” He pushed him forward, and they continued toward the basement door that led down to the holding cells.
When they reached the door, Skender looked over at Decebel. “You’re confining us?”
“Did you really expect anything different?” Decebel growled.
“I did. IthoughtI was a member of this pack. I guess I was hoping Vasile would hear me out first,” he said, sounding put out.
“He will hear you out. But as of right now, we don’t know if we can trust you.” He glanced at the woman, “Either of you. We have our mates’ and pups’ safety to worry about. You claim membership in our pack. But a packmate would have contacted us long ago. From here, you just look like a rogue wolf. Offending you isn’t exactly at the top of our list of worries.” Decebel motioned for them to descend the stairs in front of him.
Once in the basement, Skender entered one of the holding cells of his own free will, his mate right on his heels. His eyes were glowing, and there was a slight growl coming from his chest.The woman never made a sound. Skender didn’t offer to introduce her, and Decebel didn’t ask.
“Vasile will be down shortly,” Decebel said as he slammed the cell door and walked away.
Just as Decebel was about to leave the room, Skender called out. “Decebel.”
Decebel paused and looked at the wolf.
“I was protecting my mate. I didn’t want Sally or Costin to get hurt. You would have done the same.”
Decebel bared his teeth at the less dominant male. “You don’t presume to tell me what I would have done. You must not be too proud to have her on your arm, seeing as how you’ve yet to introduce her.”
Decebel waited for the male to explode at the insult, but Skender simply shook his head. Decebel couldn’t see his eyes to read any possible emotion there, but he was completely shocked that Skender didn’t defend his mate. This only furthered his suspicion. Decebel wouldn’t have accepted such a slight against Jen. Without another word, he closed the door and went to Vasile’s office.
Vasile stood staring down,once again, at the letter form the Order. As if reading it over and over would somehow help him know what action to take next. But still there was nothing. A knock on his door caused him to tuck the letter away as he called out, “Come in.”
Decebel walked in, his eyes glowing amber with his wolf. “Skender is in one of the holding cells with his female,” the Beta said without preamble.
Vasile sighed. He was glad the wait was finally over, but he was not looking forward to the fallout the wolf’s return would cause. “Costin?”
“Doesn’t know.”
Vasile nodded. “Are his markings changed?”
Decebel nodded.
Vasile’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you think of her?”
