Page 2 of Malcolm

“Don’t worry about Castian; he has a chip on his shoulder,” the Fox yokai said before offering his hand. “I’m Tiller, the demon who’ll manage you and keep you on your leash.”

“Raijin.” The ogre behind him grunted.

Malcolm didn’t take the demon's hand; instead, he gave a short nod before glancing at his father. He’d only called him father because he’d mated with his mother. But he’d been the one who’d allowed the Alpha to mark his sister even when she desperately begged him not to.

He looked away from him. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, and quickly,” Tiller said, moving away from him as he made his way toward the dark gate. “I never can get used to the smell of wolf fur.”

Malcolm followed him. He’d lost so much that made him who he was, but he only regretted being forced to leave, not killing the Alpha. He’d live with the blood on his hands and dishonor on his name.

The Deal

Malcolm

Four Years Before Bk 1

“You must be the wolf that they were telling me about.” A languid feminine voice said, accompanied by the sound of clicking heels. The smooth voice was like thick liquor to his ears. He’d heard so many rumors about the witch who ran the Shade that he wasn’t sure what he would find when he finally went, only that he had no choice but to go.

Like many of his kind, he suffered from heat. This period was tough for both Werewolves, male and female alike. Both sought out their mates to impregnate them or be impregnated. Without a mate, his rut was hard to get through, and most werewolves would be in so much pain they’d lose complete control over themselves, resulting in them harming innocent bystanders. In his tribe, it was tradition for a male wolf to hold off on sleeping with anyone until they met their mate. Not everyone adhered to this, but Malcolm had taken pride in holding back for so long.

It didn’t help that he’d had little time to find a mate, especially when working for that conniving fox Tiller. The time he’d thought about returning to his land to hunt had passed his mind a thousand times, but he knew he wouldn’t be welcomed.

His jaw tightened. After everything he’d done so far, it was surprising to him that he balked at doing this—mating with one outside of his race and someone he had no feelings for.

He took in the woman in front of him. Her skin was shiny mahogany, and her black hair was long and loosely curled. She rubbed the side of her index fingers against the black cigarette between her fingers; her nails were a bright red that matched her curved lips. Under her right eye, there was a beauty mark. “How can I help you, puppy?”

The smell of dark magic leaked off her, the scent acrid to his nose. He squinted; how could the council accept having such a high-level witch so close to them? Then again, when many males are in key positions, the women who use them usually thrive.

Her black eyes looked him over before she pointed to the right with her free hand. “The hall of my business isn’t where we should perform such transactions,” she said, walking away.

He reluctantly followed her, surprised when he entered a generically decorated office with primarily dark grey and soft teal color schemes. She took the love seat with its back to thewide window. With a flash of flame, the cigarette in her hand disappeared.

The door shut behind him, causing him to flinch before he walked over to the couch and sat down. Malcolm couldn’t shake his tension; his kind had always been uneasy around magic.

“So, I ask again, what do you want from me?”

“A Women. I need someone who can endure the heat,” he said gruffly, not bothering to beat around the bush.

“You want me to give you one of my girls?”The witch’s lips pursed. Her eyes twinkled in the dim light of her office. “Why should I give you anything?”

Clasping his hands together, he tried to quell their nervous tremble. “I heard you provide women for money?”

“Yes and no,” she said with a chuckle, her eyes brightening. “For those who only have money, I make them pay.” She brushed imaginary dust from her pants. “For those who have something more, I ask for it.”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying you’re a dog for Tiller.” He stiffened, “And we both know that sneaky fox has been cleaning closets of many of those who’d appreciate their secrets kept hidden. So.” She smiled, her eyes curving. “Bring me information about the ones he’s captured, and you can sleep with any of my girls or…boys.”

The hands he had clasped in his lap tightened until his skin turned pale where his fingers pressed into them. “Is that all?” he questioned, his voice low.

“Yes,” she said as she stood and snapped her fingers. A contract dropped before him, as well as a pen that plopped on his lap. “Sign it, and we’ll get you your first girl.”

Malcolm weighed the pros and cons of working as a double agent for this witch. He owed his brother's loyalty, but Tiller? He grabbed the pen and signed the contract. That fox could go tohell. He’d endured two years of heat, and if he did it again, he’d hurt someone.

Once he finished signing, the contract vanished.

Lanias walked towards the door. “Well, since that’s done, ah, one more thing.” she half turned to face him. “This means I now have you on a leash.” Her iris took over her eyes. "And if you betray me, I’ll destroy you.”

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