“Well, considering I can feel waves of frustration running off you, which also seems to be sucking all the oxygen out of this car, I do have a little bit of an idea.Could you tone it down?”Lola’s brow rose as she watched him attempt to get control of his emotions.
“I’ve never struggled with my control until you.”Callon didn’t sound particularly happy about it.
Lola tried to pull her hands out from under his, but Callon wasn’t having it.He just held on tighter—not enough to cause any pain, but enough to let her know he had no plans to give her any space.“I’m sorry I make you lose control.”She tried hard to keep the hurt from her voice.
“I’m not.You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.My beast and I will learn to keep our crap together.But can I ask something of you?”
Lola glanced at him and nodded.
“Be patient with us.”Callon ran a thumb across the top of her hand.The touch was so gentle, a complete contrast to the beast who’d stood in her room ready to kill for her.“We’re going to get it wrong a lot more than we get it right.”
Chapter 4
He Didn’t Really Like Anyone.
“We used to inhabit a dark and tumultuous world, dreaming that if we moved to another place, it would be different.But all we succeeded in doing was bringing the darkness along with us.”~Gage
Gage knocked on the door to the Alpha’s office but didn’t wait for a response before he pushed open the double doors—ostentatious doors, in Gage’s opinion—and strode in.The man who’d led their kingdom for as long as Gage could remember stood in the center of the room, his phone held to his ear.
“How long have you known?”Nox growled as fur rippled across his chest and arms.
Wolves’ body temperatures ran hot, so they only wore shirts when it was deemed socially inappropriate not to—though Gage himself gave slightly less than two piles of feces about what was socially appropriate.His long, black trench coat covered enough of his body.He didn’t need a damn shirt just to make others feel more comfortable with his presence.
The Alpha’s chest rumbled with a deep sound as his eyes began to shift to his wolf’s shape.Gage hesitated.Something was seriously pissing Nox off if he was losing control of his beast.Gage tried to listen in on the conversation, but Nox had a mechanism installed on his phone that made it nearly impossible for even supernatural ears to hear.So instead of being able to glean the information through eavesdropping, he’d have to wait and see if the Alpha would feel inclined to share.He might not.There was no love lost between the pair.Gage wouldn’t be shocked if Nox told him to jump off a cliff rather than let him know what was going on.
“No,” Nox gritted out.“There is no negotiating concerning mates.You know this, Taras.”
Ahh,the Kingdom of Claws.Maybe some males were fighting over a female.Wouldn’t be the first time.
“I understand that discretion is needed.Of course, I know that leading my pack into New Orleans would cause Azure to be suspicious.When is the serpentine ass not suspicious?”
Good point.
Nox ran a hand through his hair, mussing the strands, making it stand on end.“When exactly was she taken?”
Gage’s wolf perked up.So, not two wolves fighting over a female.This was more interesting, and squarely within his line of work.
“It’s been three hours, Prime.Again, why did it take so long for you to notify me?”Nox listened as his eyes narrowed on Gage.He held the Alpha’s stare.Gage probably should at least put forth the effort of submission, considering how flustered Nox was.But Gage wasn’t just any wolf.He was the only one in the kingdom that could hold the gaze of the Alpha.Finally, both of them looked away at the same time.Gage had no desire to rule.He wouldn’t challenge Nox.But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t annoy the hell out of him any time he got the opportunity.
“Does she know what she is?How did you find her?”Pause, and then a small chuckle.“Sounds like she’ll fit right into the pack.Her friend will have to wait.I don’t care whose mate she is.You’re no longer calling the shots on this mission.”Nox let out a vicious snarl.“And if it was one of yours?How would you feel?”There were few moments of silence.“Exactly.”
Nox ended the call and gripped the phone so tight in his fist it was a wonder the device didn’t break.He closed his eyes, and Gage knew the Alpha was gathering himself and getting his beast under control.There was no shame in it.Even Gage lost control, though it was extremely rare.
“I called you back in a fortnight ago,” Nox snapped.Apparently, his beast wasn’t completely leashed.
“Don’t you mean ‘two weeks,’ old man?”Any time Nox got angry, he reverted to the old language, and usually it was in their own tongue.But he had enough sense about him to speak English—for the moment.
“Don’t be an ass.”Nox walked over to his desk and sat down on the edge.He crossed his arms in front of his chest, the phone still gripped tightly in one hand.
“I take it you just got bad news?”Gage nodded toward the phone.
Nox took a deep breath and then blew it out.“Now you’re just being purposefully obtuse.”
Gage stood there, quietly, patiently, letting his Alpha gather his thoughts.Though Gage didn’t particularly like Nox—he didn’t really like anyone—it wasn’t something the Alpha had done to earn Gage’s ire.He just didn’t have much use for people—beastwalkers or human.He did what was asked of him because he was good at it, and it gave him a purpose, which was really the only thing keeping him from going to meet his Maker.
Nox let out a long breath.“Ananimushas been abducted by some members of KOV.Turns out, she’s got a wolf tattoo.”
Gage shrugged.“So?What’s a wolf tattoo got to do with anything?She could be a mate to any member of any kingdom.She isn’t any more special than the otheranimiI’ve come across in Azure’s clutches.”
