Page 22 of A Wolf's Heart

“I want to see my mate. Let us go,” Weylin said.

“No,” I whispered.

“I agree with Weylin. If the beast doesn’t settle—”

“No!” I bellowed. “Can’t you see I’m protecting you? A spy, a distraction, a sleeper. Whatever she is, she’s trouble.”

“The fates gave her to us!” Weylin argued. If he didn’t back down now, all three of us would shift.

“For what? Love?” I laughed. “The fates care nothing of love. The fates care nothing about what is happening in the real world. In the real world, a mate can be used to get to us. We are at the top, Weylin, the top. I don’t give a shit who she is, you are not to get close to her. You are not to see her, and under no circumstances are you to allow her to taste your blood.”

I stood from my seat and walked over to the door.“You will see,” I said, opening it. “You will thank me once her true character is revealed. Once we step away from this female you have met but one time, once you heal, you will see the situation more clearly.”

“And me, Kage?” Rainor asked. “I’m not hurt, yet I yearn-”

“The beast does. Let’s go to the arena and work him out, tire him. The more we subdue the beast, the better you will be.” I closed my office door behind me, locking it.

“Luna.” I turned to Emma, where she sat behind her desk.

She hastily got to her feet. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Hold meetings for the rest of the day, though Crammer can be moved to online tonight, eight p.m. Weylin and Rainor will be high-strung, so I ask that you give your services to them.”

Emma nodded, always the obedient one. Too bad that did nothing for me.

Weylin scoffed. “I will not betray my mate.” He turned away. “See you in the arena, Kage, I have a bone to pick.”

Rainor stared at me as if he were looking at a stranger. “I’ll be in the arena.” Turning to Emma, he added, “Your services will not be required in my room tonight.”

Emma’s eyes became wide. “A mate?” she breathed. “To the three of—”

“You are not to breathe a word of this. Understood?”

Emma swallowed hard before nodding. “Yes, Alpha. May I ask…my position as luna…?”

“Remains.” I walked away from her.

They didn’t see it now, but they would. They would see how much I protected them. They would see how secure their positions were. For now, though, we would battle it out.

I tookmy time heading to the underground arena. Weylin had some energy to burn off before I arrived. If he didn’t, and we went head-to-head, I would regret pushing him too far. I took the outer elevator the first dozen floors down before getting off and taking the stairwell the next dozen floors.

It was in the echoes of the stairwell I found myself able to think. Nothing but my footfalls, one after the other. Never too fast, never too slow.

It was the only place I could think. The only place I never felt my father’s presence. The only place that didn’t demand anything from me.

Lila.

Her wolf was magnificent. They thought they were the only ones affected by her ghost-like charm? By her strength and speed? Even now, as I stood alone in the stairwell, picturing those dark eyes staring up at me as she challenged me with the lift of her chin, my cock grew hard.

I cleared my throat, taking a step down as I inconspicuously adjusted myself. The warmth of my palm gave me pause, though. The sight of her hands wrapped around that gun as she pointed the barrel directly at me.

She hadn’t gone for Rain or Weylin. She’d gone for the highest threat.

I found myself moving my hand, feeling my length through my pants.

If only that evening had played out differently. If only I had pushed her further, challenged her more, would she have rised to that challenge?

The zip of my pants echoed in the empty stairwell, as did the grunt from my chest as I palmed my rigid cock, grasping it and squeezing. Only, I imagined Lila squeezing the trigger.

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