“You sure they were the vamp’s? I mean, you bit her, too. It could be your old bite or he did just the same. A love bite.” My phone chimed in my pocket. I got it out and saw it was Asher calling.
In all honesty, I thought Alec was exaggerating, having anotherthe parasite stole her from memoment, but Bloodsucker Fucker blinking on the screen on the same day got me worried.
“Asher is calling.” I glanced up at my brother, who dashed at me, and took the call. “Kayden.”
“We have to meet. Beast Clearing. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Belle is coming with me,” Asher said.
I took a deep breath, watching Alec consumed by anger, fully shifting now. “We’re already there.”
Hanging up, I rubbed my twin’s wolf head. “Asher is bringing your girl here, and we’ll figure this out. Looks like you’re going to tell her everything you wanted to this morning and couldn’t after all.”
CHAPTER 24
KAYDEN
An engine died right before the hiking trail. Must have been Asher parking his car at the nearest spot to here. It wasn’t easy to find this place through the woods. The clearing of the willow tree, also known as Beast Clearing. As it was famous for being a place where big wolves and bears liked to chill, very few were eager to explore the area or go off their hiking trails to find Beast Clearing.
Where we hung out, held our pack meetings, let out steam, and where the devil’s deal had been made right under the willow tree.
Leaves and twigs rattled. One heartbeat raced in my direction, the smell of fear tagging along. Lots of it.
On the other side of the woods, Alec’s beast heart was rumbling. I’d told him to go for a run and vent so he would come back in his human form when she arrived.
And I remained in the middle. Waiting. Being the Alpha.
What was the charm about this position? Why would an entire pack fight for it? From where I stood, it had zero glamour, only burden after burden.
The Alpha couldn’t go after what they wanted. They went after what was best for the pack and its members. The Alpha couldn’t behave the way they wanted. Couldn’t feel the way they wanted. Control the anger. Control the fear. Control the desire.
Control the heart.
A gust of wind spiraled from the right. I turned, and Belle was on Asher’s back, arriving in a blur.
He put her down and held her staggering body. “Where’s Alec?”
“Running,” I uttered.
“How the hell did you do that?” Belle asked in a whisper, dazed.
I rolled my eyes at the leech. “Did you bother to explain anything before you went all Twilight on her?”
“I didn’t have time.” He kept rubbing her arms, and I pictured ripping his off his shoulders.
“Explain what?” She was sobbing now, her eyes darting between us, then examining my shirtless body. “Why are you half-naked…in the woods?” Her stare flicked at Asher. “Why did you bring me here? This is abduction.” She nodded frantically.” Yes. This is what abduction looks like.”
It took me a moment to realize what this must have looked to her. “Oh, no no no! Belle, no one here is going to hurt you. I…I was swimming at the creek. Alec will finish running, take a dip and come here, too, so we can talk.Onlytalk.”
“Then fucking talk!” she yelled and twisted at Asher. “How could you run this fast?”
He waved a hand aimlessly, his mouth parting for a second as if trying to find the right words, and then he just shrugged. “I’m a vampire.”
She scrunched her nose like she’d smelled a fart. “Seriously, Joshua? Is this your idea of a joke after this day I’ve been through?”
“He’s not joking, Belle,” I said.
“Yeah, and you’re a werewolf. Ha ha. Very funny. The next thing you’ll tell me I’m that Rena woman’s doubleganger,” she mocked. “Yeah, I’ve seen all the movies, watched all the shows and read all the books.”
“Reincarnation,” I mumbled.
