VIKTOR
“On a scale of one to ten, how mad do you think he is?” I whisper into Rowan’s ear as we both watch Dominic from across the room.
He is right now talking with a couple of alphas, trying to integrate himself with them or something, with a fake smile and even faker laugh. I am surprised no one has actually walked away from him.
“Oh, he is simmering all right,” she answers with a chuckle. “And he can’t be having it easy since he can’t explode out here in front of witnesses. It makes me wonder, really.”
“Hmm, about what?”
“Well, from what I remember of him, he always believed he was right. That his actions and words were justified. So, seeing him here, trying to behave himself, trying to appear… normal and sane- and doing a very poor job of it, I might I add – it makes me wonder. Deep down, in that place where he has buried his conscience and all sense of morality, does he know he is wrong? I mean, he has to, right? If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be pretending now, right?”
“Don’t think too much about him, To,” I tell her. “First of all, he is a narcissist and as such you thinking about him just fuels his unnaturally big ego and secondly, why would you be thinking about another man when I am standing right here? I mean, what would you have me think?”
“Oh?” She asks as she turns to me with a mischievous smile dancing on her lips. “Is the big bad, scary alpha jealous for my attention?”
“Hmm, I am. Of course, I am. You are a beautiful wom-”
“Will the two of you cut it out?!” An irritatingly familiar voice mutters behind us and I turn to look over at Sven who is glaring at both of us like we had offended him.
“What?!” I grumble at him. “What is it now?”
“Many things,” he retorts. “First of all, the two of you are being too familiar and people are starting to notice.”
Oh, right.
That.
I really hate the fact that we have to keep our mate bond a secret.
I want to show it out on the roof tops that my mate is an amazing badass woman who leads the rogues.
My mate.
“Okay,” I mutter. “What else?”
“The two of you need to socialize. You know, like the way Dominic is doing now. We can’t afford to lose momentum and support. Now is the best time to make friends. Talk to people, let them know you.”
“No.”
“I don’t want to.”
He rolls his eyes at the both of us, like we were two stubborn teenagers throwing a tantrum.
“Pity,” he says. “We don’t get to always do what we want. Now, the two of you separate and go talk to people.”
“What if the bastard tries to do something to her?” I demand.
“In a room full of alphas, where we are all watching, I doubt it. He might be insane but he is not that insane.”
“I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that,” I retort.
“He won’t do anything. Like is said, we are all watching. And besides, something tells me that Rowan is not the kind of woman to take any form of nonsense.”
“I will be fine, Viktor,” she says as she pats my arm. “Trust me.”
“Oh, I trust you,” I say. “It is the lunatic I don’t trust.”
She gives me a wane smile before walking away, a few seconds later she is snapped up by alpha Black and a couple other alphas.
I send a glance across the room and see that Dominic is still in conversation with the same man
“Your turn,” Sven says.
“I really don’t want to do this,” I tell him. I rarely talk to these people, you know that.”
“Yes, but now, you went out of your way to get them here and stop Dominic. If you want to maintain the status quo, you will continue as you have been. I am not saying you should suddenly become everyone’s favorite, just be more… approachable.”
“Approachable?” I mutter with a snort. “You of all people saying that. Do you even know what the word means?”
“Hm, you know, I am not averse to punching you right here,” he says.
I chuckle at him before moving along to go do as I am told.
I have talked to about three different alphas before Dominic makes his way to me.
“Alpha Viktor,” he calls with a smirk. “I have to say, I was quite surprised when the invitation said the meeting would be at your pack.”
“What can I say, I am such a stand up guy.”
“Hmm, sure you are. I am curious, how long did you stay with the coalition?”
“Wouldn’t you know that?” I ask. “After all, you have been keeping tabs in all of us.”
“What? I wouldn’t do that?”
“No? So, how do you explain those orderly hidden spies you keep sending all over. I mean, can you actually call them spies if they are being so obvious. Did you teach them the art of stealth? How did they even hunt?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about. I never sent anu spies,” he says with the fakest chuckle as he looks around at the gathered alphas.
“Are you sure?” I ask with a smile
“Definitely.”
“Huh, that is good then. I guess I don’t have to make any reparations for the ones we killed.”
“What?”
“Well, a few wolves were discovered sneaking around my pack and rather than come in willingly, they tried to attack my wolves. They died. But it is all good though, I thought they belonged to your pack and I was going to discuss with you about them but since you denied sending any wolves, it is all good,” I finish with a smile.
Your move, asshole.
He snarls as he launches at me.
“You bastard!”