Page 66 of Malcolm

He didn’t hesitate. He bent down and took a bite, the sugary flavor filling his mouth. Swallowing it, he spotted sugar at the corner of her lips, and leaning forward, he licked it up. Pretending not to notice the slight hitch in her throat.

Pulling back, he licked his lips, meeting her surprised stare with a wicked one of his own. “Delicious.”

Lips trembling and cheeks hot, Eliza turned away from him sharply.

As if she could hide herself in broad daylight.

“Brother, Uncle asked me to send you to the main lodge when I saw you,” Lilly said as she took another donut out of her bag. "He said the Aldermen were trying to choose when they’ll have all of the Alphas and other Pack Aldermen meet.”

Nodding, he turned away from her, throwing over his shoulder. “Then I will be leaving her with you.”

As soon as this issue was wrapped up, he would focus on important things, like seducing his mate and convincing her that the best place for her to be was with him.

Eliza

She watched him leave as she chewed thoughtfully on the sweet bread in her mouth. She had been right to ask Morgan if she could stay in her cabin. Otherwise, she’d be stuck with that annoying man for the duration of the Ceilidh. He clearly didn’t get what she was trying to put down.

She looked around, seeing that people had slowly congregated here and there. A few women talked as their children ran around at their feet, and men laughed boisterously near what looked to be the bar area. “Is it too early to get something to drink?”

Morgan laughed at her question. “My new best friend, it’s never too early to drink, at least not to us wolves.”

She laughed, following Morgan. It wasn’t like she wanted to be drunk, but she wanted to stop thinking so much. About the goddess, Malcolm, and her future, she wanted for just a few moments to be a normal woman again; even if it was temporary, she wanted to be old Eliza. Who’d gone out with her friend and spent way too much time shopping for clothes.

Heck, if she thought they had a decent bar, she’d have offered to mix a few drinks. She’d planned on becoming a bartender until she’d heard that only real witches could work behind the counters.

Another moment, she’d envied full-blown witches; aside from her ability to make little sigils and talismans, her magic could barely scratch the surface of what other witches could do. But now she had more than enough power, she scoffed. Not that that power had made a lick of difference. She’d been a puppet and used as nothing more than a killing machine.

She was sure the man who’d created her hadn’t even known her name. He’d only been possessive of the thing inside of her. When she thought about him, she couldn’t help feeling sick.

She wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse that she couldn’t remember his face.

Malcolm

“You summoned me?”

Malcolm asked as he entered the open tent where his uncle sat. Three other Aldermen were seated next to Robert. He greeted each of the old warriors with an incline of his head.

Robert waved him over. “It would look like some things have changed.”

“What things?” he gruffly asked.

Malcolm didn’t need any more surprises; he’d had his fill of things not going as planned. “I came here for only one reason: to meet the other Alphas and ensure their hands aren’t dirty.”

“Well, there is going to be a bit of an issue. The Alpha of the Dougal pack has sent us a challenge letter,” one of the men, Issac, interrupted. He spat into the small fire in the circle's center. “The bastard is an outsider who just showed up and attacked the Dougal Pack out of nowhere; if the rumors are true, he nearly massacred their guard.” He cut his eyes to someone behind Malcolm, half-turning. Malcolm followed Issac’s line of sight and frowned; the male's back was to him. His hair was a bright red, and he seemed to be about his height.

“Is that him?” he asked as he turned back around.

“Yeah, he brought only a few people and tossed this at my feet.” Robert held the letter out to Malcolm.

Taking it, Malcolm frowned. “A blood price?”

Robert nodded. “Have you met him before?”

Malcolm thought back, but he couldn’t remember anyone with such bright red hair. “No, at least that I know of.”

“Well shit, this is going to cause a delay in having a meeting,” Robert groused, taking the letter back. “We will have to schedule the challenge; honor demands it.”

“So? Then I will fight him, and we can meet as planned,” Malcolm said. “Or he will drop the issue. I sincerely hope he drops it.”

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