Power.
“—And many connections to the dark witches that could be beneficial not just to your pack, but the crown as well.”
Control.Of course, it all makes sense. They’re corrupt to their core. Do I really want to help them achieve this partnership?
“I need time to think.”
Sam stands immediately, more than thrilled to end this meeting early. He rushes the meeting to a close, and the council appears miserable.
When they leave, Tyler and I remain, mulling over everything. He wipes his face with his hands. “What’re we going to do?”
Chapter TWENTY-FOUR
Jay
Iwas told I could roam freely within the confinements of his room. Although it is by no means small, this outside cat is getting bored rather quickly. I peek my head out the door to check if the coast is clear and make my way down the hall and creep downstairs. When I step foot on the first floor, men in suits emerge from a side room.
Familiar voices come from the same room Sam emerged from. I tiptoe to the door and peer in. Caleb and Tyler are whisper-yelling at each other.
Caleb throws up his hands and paces back and forth.
Tyler speaks, “You could choose someone else. Another wolf, maybe?”
“We don’t have the leverage we used to for an elite match. Our reputation is not what it used to be. She’s the best option we have.”
“What about the fish . . . Marinara?”
Caleb is quick to correct him. “Marina.”
“Yeah, her. What about her?”
“I don’t know if I can trust a siren. I imagine I’ll still run into a similar issue. Besides, I’m not sure how effectively I can preside over marine life from land.” Caleb runs his hands over his face, exasperated.
“Okay, so you won’t choose another wolf. You won’t pick a siren. And you don’t want a witch. Then what are you going to do? Are you going with her?”
Is he talking about Medein?
Caleb’s mouth turns downward, and his sigh is exasperated. “I don’t know. I’ll figure something out.” Caleb checks the time. “Right now, I need to go check on her.”
By her, does he mean me? Crap.There isn’t enough time to make it upstairs. I panic and hide behind a plant. When he’s no longer in view, I wait before following him.
Where is he going?
Chapter TWENTY-FIVE
Caleb
Jay is the absoluteworstat hiding.
Her scent occupies my mind all the time since the moment I recognized her. It’s my own personal drug, and the cravings are constant. Even a slight whiff of it, and I’m itching for a fix. She—her scent—has me by the balls, and her grip on them calms me when I need it most.
I head to the garden. A dirt path leads to a gazebo surrounded by hydrangeas and pentas of various pinks, blues, whites, purples and yellows.
When my father was courting my mother, she was interested in another mate. Like the persistent gentleman he was, he brought her flowers from his garden every day until she agreed to date him. After they were mated, he’d do the same to remind her of their love. She hasn’t smiled much since he died, but she almost did when I started bringing her a bouquet of these flowers. I’ve been trying and praying that, one of these days, she’ll smile for real.
In truth, it only brings me disappointment. Nonetheless, I hold on to hope that her condition might change one day, and she’ll smile at happy memories. In reality, all I’m doing is adding more to my plate.
In addition to being an alpha without authority, a hunter, a gardener, I’m also now a prison warden, it seems. And of all the tasks I have,thatis shaping up to be the most challenging.
