He was right. I was dancing around the truth when I needed to get straight to the point. “The reason he killed the pack is because none of them-including me-would ever support someone
corrupt. I mean, that was the whole reason my people left Shadow City centuries ago.” “There’s never been a race that left Shadow City.” He glared at me.
Interesting. But then how did Rosemary know about silver wolves? “There was. Your father knew about us. He invited my father to visit around two years ago.”
“Your dad…” He hmmed. “Silver hair, like yours?”
“Yes.” He must have seen Dad during his visit, but why hadn’t his father told him of our existence? Had he, like my father, thought he’d have more time? Atticus’s death was starting to seem rather conveniently timed. “Your dad wanted our pack to come back and live in the city.” My mind went back in time to the last time I saw my father, and I wrapped my arms around myself. “In fact, with his last breath, my dad told me to go to Shadow City and find Atticus. That he would protect me.” I took a deep breath. “That he was an ally of the silver wolves.”
Griffin held himself completely still. “Are you saying silver wolves are real?” He glanced at the moon and then back to me. “And you’re the only one still alive-which means you’re the alpha they want.” He ran his hands through his hair, making it disheveled, which added to his allure. “But your children would only be half silver.”
Our legacy was such a well-kept secret that even Rosemary hadn’t known this. “No. Any child I have will be a full silver wolf. It’s due to the power of the moon.”
“And you’re running away…because you love Killian.”
“Yes. He’s already done so much for me. I can’t let him wind up dead like the rest of my pack.” And here was the grand finale. The last bit of logic that would feed his self-serving side. “And I’ll be out of your hair. You won’t have to see me again, and you and Killian can go back to the way things were before my messy ass interfered. It’ll be like I never existed.” Damn, saying that hurt, but I had to seal the deal with him.
“Like you never existed,” he said. He scanned my face as if looking for something.
I held my head high, trying to portray confidence. “All you have to do is let me go.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
Relief filled me. “Thank-” Wait… he’d said no. “What? Why not?” He hated me.
“Call me selfish, but I don’t want you to go.” He sighed as his eyes faintly glowed and he took a step closer to me. “I can’t.”
My body warmed with anticipation as I got closer to him too. My hand itched to touch him, but I held it close to my side.
“Why not?” None of this made any sense. “You’ve been gone for weeks.”
“With the wolf attacks and some council decisions being made, I had to stay in Shadow City for a little while. Also, Mom needed my help cleaning out Dad’s old things. And, if I’m being completely honest, I was trying to stay away from you.” He blew out a breath. “I feel something for you, and it’s wrong on all types of levels.”
My heart pounded. “What do you mean?” I shouldn’t ask or encourage him to tell me how he felt, but a part of me had to know if what he felt was similar to what I was feeling.
“I can’t get you out of my head, and seeing you try to run away-” He clenched his hands. “And the thought of never seeing you again-” He paused. “That would kill Killian.”
We both knew he didn’t mean Killian, but our hands were tied. He was with Luna, and Killian and
I were supposed to be exclusive. “But I don’t want anything to happen… to him.”
“I’m the alpha of Shadow City, and if my dad would’ve protected you, then that’s what I’m going to do.” He cupped my cheek, and my skin felt like it was on fire. His touch warmed the coldest parts of me inside, and I never wanted him to pull away. “I’ve been putting off acting like the alpha for too long, and with you here, it’s time for me to make some changes.”
“I don’t want you to change for me.” I would never ask that of anyone. “If you aren’t ready for that responsibility, then me staying here is a lot to ask.”
“You didn’t ask.” His gaze landed on my lips. “I want to do it. Besides, I’m going to make sure that being with me is the safest place for you.”
The air between us charged, and my mind yelled at me to step away. To run as I’d planned. But I was at his mercy. “How so? Someone already threatened me at the university.” “What do you mean?” His hand dropped.
I filled him in on the painting, Rosemary, and the wolf in the woods. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I’m not paranoid. They’ve found me here, and that’s why I need to run.”
He unlocked his phone, and I saw he had over twenty-five missed calls. I hated that I looked, but I couldn’t help myself. He cleared the log, pulled up a contact, and began texting. “I’m getting some Shadow City guards over here to protect you with more of Killian’s coming. We’ll make sure there are four positioned around the house at all times.”
My heart quickened. He was taking care of me…and that thrilled me more than it should.
From our spot in the backyard, I watched a taxi pull into Griffin’s driveway.
“Oh, hell.” He grumbled and lowered his head. “She’s fucking insane.”
“Who are you talking about?” For him to have that kind of reaction worried me, but surely the group looking for me wouldn’t take a taxi and pull into the Shadow City’s alpha’s driveway.
A car door opened and shut.