“Of course there are,” I mutter, checking to make sure my clothes are properly arranged. “What details?”
But his attention has shifted to Kier, and I can practically see the calculations running behind his eyes. The possessive anger that flares in his expression makes my wolf bristle in response.
“Perhaps we should discuss them privately,” Levi suggests, his gaze never leaving Kier.
The emphasis on the last word is a clear insult, and I see Kier’s jaw tighten in response. The testosterone in the room ratchets up another notch, and I suddenly feel like prey caught between two predators.
“Any pack business can be discussed in front of a team member,” I say firmly, moving to position myself between them. “What details, Levi?”
He reluctantly drags his attention back to me, though I catch the warning look he shoots Kier. “The coven have called. They’d like to know more about the enhanced guards.”
Something Levi could have easily told them about. This is pure territorial posturing, and we all know it.
“Fine,” I say, picking up my gear. “Let’s go handle it.”
As I move toward the door, Levi falls into step beside me, his hand coming to rest at the small of my back in a gesture that’s clearly meant to mark territory. I resist the urge to shrug him off—barely—and keep walking.
Behind us, I hear Kier gathering his equipment, and I don’t need to look back to know he’s watching us leave with an expression that could melt steel.
Tomorrow,I tell myself.After the mission, we’ll figure this out.
But even as I think it, I know tomorrow might be too late. The tension between the three of us is reaching a breaking point, and when it finally snaps, someone’s going to get hurt.
I just hope it’s not in the middle of a life-or-death rescue operation.
The evening passesin a blur of final preparations and briefings that feel more like exercises in avoidance than actual planning. Levi finds reasons to keep me busy until well pastmidnight, reviewing issues we’ve already discussed a dozen times.
By the time I finally escape to my quarters, exhaustion weighs heavy on my shoulders. But sleep remains elusive as I lie in my empty bed, staring at the ceiling and replaying every moment of what happened in the weapons room. Particularly Levi’s interruption.
This can’t continue.My wolf paces restlessly, torn between desire for our mate and frustration at the complications his presence creates.
A soft knock at my door interrupts my brooding. For a wild moment, I hope it’s Kier, coming to finish what we started. But when I open the door, it’s Levi standing in the hallway, his expression serious.
“We need to talk,” he says.
“It’s after midnight, Levi. Whatever it is can wait until?—”
“No,” he cuts me off, stepping closer. “It can’t wait. Not when I see you making poor choices.”
The presumption in his tone makes my temper flare. “What choices would those be?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” His yellow eyes burn with intensity. “The nomad. You’re letting him cloud your judgment.”
“My judgment is fine,” I snap. “And my personal relationships are none of your business.”
“Everything about you is my business,” he says, echoing the words from our earlier confrontation. He steps closer, his voice dropping to something rougher. “I would die for you, Lithia.”
“And I would for you. But I call that loyalty,” I say gently. “And friendship. It’s not romantic love, Levi. It never has been.”
His jaw works for a moment, emotions cycling across his face too quickly to track. “You’re only saying this because of him.”
“This isn’t about Kier?—”
“Everything is about him!” The words explode from him with enough force to make me flinch. “I’ve watched you these past weeks, Lithia. Watched you come alive around him in ways you never did before. And I know what that means.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know you’re in love with him,” he says quietly, and the certainty in his voice makes my heart stutter. “I know you’ve never looked at anyone the way you look at him. Including me.”
