CALIFF
And there is more- probably a hundred more.
This time, I rolled my eyes, which I didn’t do it. “Of course. It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t come prepared.”
A small smile appeared on her lips as if she was winning her arguments. “I want that bitch out of my sight, away from you, and if I smell your scent on her, I will rip her throat out of her pretty neck.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Your wolf, or you are the one talking.”
“Both. I know she’s a daughter of your ally, but she should know her place. If she keeps coming to you because you are fucking her, I suggest you decide whether to keep me or her.”
“Shadow.” I let out a warning growl. “Don’t make me choose because there’s nothing to choose from.”
“Well, that’s the nicest thing I heard from you since you kidnapped me,” she proudly said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“And we fucked. That was weeks ago. I already ended it up since I found you.”
She gulped down. Her eyes met mine. “You knew. Well, sorry to be a disappointment.”
“Yeah, but I guess I’m a dick, and I tried to fight it, but I already knew it was useless to fight when you are made for me. And you’re not a disappointment, Shadow. You know that.”
“So she’s right then that you don’t want a mate to run your freaking empire.”
“That’s not true,” I told her the truth. “I told her because she’s not the one for me. I knew it. I don’t feel connected to her than I have with you.”
“Oh yeah.” She sighed. “She’s just the roll in the hay.”
“You’re jealous, but remember what you said to her?”
“You’re eavesdropping?” She was pissed off right away. How could she switch so fast from being cool to an animal filled with rage?
“He’s all yours, huh?”
“Well, she’s so desperate over you. And the decision should come from both of you. She can’t sleep with you if you’re not too willing, Alpha.”
“I swear to Goddess. I’m not going to sleep with her again.”
“Fine. But you can’t force me to mate with you and mark me.”
“I know. I’m sorry about last night. It was just the first time I felt so connected with you, and my wolf took over me. And my emotions were just there banking and banking, and I didn’t know what to do with them. And when you kissed me back, something snapped inside me.”
“Can we go now?”
***
“Holy shit!” Duke hugged me tight before he let me go. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to tell Kin about this.”
“She knows, dumbass,” I said dryly.
His eyes widened. I was more surprised that Kindra didn’t tell him. “Really? Why didn’t she tell me?”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
He looked disappointed. “Why? Don’t you have to announce and mate?”
“I let her decide, and she made a deal with me until she’s ready.”
“Okay. But you two are good, right?”
“Yeah, without thousands of conditions.” I snorted. I couldn’t believe I agreed with her, but maybe this was what mates were all about.
“You should tell Everlee to stay away from you because judging by the challenge with Tor, Shadow can break her neck without putting effort into it.”
“I know.”
“Did she tell you how she did that in the infirmary?” Of course, he knew. Kindra told him.
I shook my head as I went to open the safe and took her phone and some bills. “You can’t tell anyone about that either. I don’t want to put her in danger until I know her limits.”
“I didn’t believe it when Kin told me, not until I saw Tor walking after just a few hours. He was completely healed.”
“I’m still shell-shocked myself.”
“Do you think that’s the reason why those fuckers want her back?”
“I’m not sure they know her ability, and Goddess knows what else she can do.”
“Why don’t you just ask Shadow?”
The door opened wide. “Ask me about what?” Great. She overheard that we were just talking about her.
“Hey.” I waved the phone at her.
Her eyes lit up as she grabbed it from me. “I thought I lost this. I hope it still has service.”
“I will get it reconnected.”
“It’s low battery. Do you have a charger I can borrow?”
“Yeah. I have extra in my room, but you can charge it right here.”
She gave me her phone back. “Awesome. Thanks. But what do you wanna ask me about?” She bounced her gaze between me and Duke. When she heard nothing, she glared at me. “Add this to the list, Alpha. If you want me to trust you, there are no secrets and lies between us.”
“That’s definitely a good idea.” A smile curved up my lips.
“Why are you smiling?” She saw my eyes glint, putting a line between her brows.
“What happened in the infirmary? You said it yourself. No secrets and lies, Shadow.”
I could see her brain reeling, thinking if she should tell us or gamble it for secrets and lies.
“Fine.” She rounded my desk and bent down, hoping she would not do what I thought she was about to do in front of my Beta, and I was right. She knew I had a knife strapped at my ankle.
“What are you doing?” My Beta was alerted as he saw Shadow had a knife.
She didn’t hesitate, grabbed his finger, and made a small cut enough to bleed.
Duke hissed. “A little warning would be nice.”
She looked at him. “Would you let me cut yourself?”
“Probably not,” he hesitated.
“Exactly.” She drew a deep breath and pressed her thumb where the wound was.
Duke gasped. His brows furrowed. When Shadow let go of his hand, he checked his finger and showed us as if it hadn’t cut before, aside from the trace of blood on his finger. “Fuck. How did you do that?”
“I wish I had the coolest gifts, but that’s what I got from my mother, but I feel there’s a danger bound to it.” She turned to me. “You knew, and you didn’t ask me. Why?”
“I don’t want to overwhelm you with questions, and I’m still wrapping my head around it.”
“Does it hurt?” Duke asked.
“It depends on the severity of the wound or how far the sickness is. Like what I did with Tor, it was excruciating.”
“Have you tried it before? Healing someone.”
“I got angry at Kent. I lost control. I was young and had just learned to shift fully. I attacked him. Thankfully, he had a tranq gun. He shot me before I could maul him. It didn’t knock me down, but I shifted back to human form. When I saw what I did, I cried and apologized, but he said it was his fault. I was so emotional. I held where I scratched him and kept apologizing. Seconds later, I cried in pain and couldn’t let go of his arm. A minute later, his wound was healing.”
“You told Kindra last night about the story of your pack. You were telling her about your parents, weren’t you?”
“Stop eavesdropping. It doesn’t suit your rank and masculinity.” She turned to Duke. “And you, if I heard someone ask me about what I just told you, I would rip your limb apart.”
“Did you just threaten my Beta?” I asked amusingly.
“I think I just did.” She pressed her lips together. “And oh, my bite is fatal to werewolves. Not instantly, but you will feel it later in your life.”
“You’re fucking joking, right?” My jaw dropped. “Just to us?”
“Fatal to a werewolf? Then what are you?” Duke asked. His voice filled with caution. Good question.
“Kidding. You should have seen your faces.” She barked out, laughing. “If you’re worried about completing the mating process, don’t worry. Only a Lycan Alpha bite is fatal. And I’m not.”
“Then what are you exactly?” Astound, Duke asked again.
“Hybrid.”
Fuck. Me. I was right, after all.