Page 32 of A Wolf's Heart

“Then, maybe Weylin is right.” He glanced back out the window, avoiding my stare. “Maybe she is the mate we need. She hasn’t discovered her full potential, and she is powerful all the same.”

Silence fell on us, and sometimes that was all Kage needed. Quiet companionship while he took on the heavy weight of the pack. “Did she really tell the beast no?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard from him since. He’s there, just…content.” It had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

“I want you to look into her bloodline, get a DNA sample.” He walked over to the sprawling map that took up almost an entire wall of his office. This map was different than the others; it was old, handed down through the generations. The edges were frayed and the material stained with time.

Every pack that had existed in our area was listed and marked on this map, past and present. Cridhe Pack worked differently than most other packs. Wealthy and powerful in finances, numbers, and skills, Cridhe was often sought after for alliances. We were good at creating alliances and exploiting weaknesses. We didn’t play the game to survive; we played the game to thrive.

When packs conformed and fell into line, they joined in our riches, but when they declined… I stared at the sheer numberof burned-out names on the map. We weren’t the largest run territory for nothing. A pack built off the blood of the weak.

That was what Kage took care of. That was what he controlled, managed, and ensured ran smoothly. It was a position I didn’t envy.

So, when he had fears Lila would cause issues, yes, they were valid. “I’ll see if she will give a DNA sample. If not, I will take one.” I moved to leave the room when he cleared his throat. I turned around, waiting for him to say what was on the tip of his tongue.

“When is her heat?”

A growl vibrated far inside of me.Ah, there you are.

I never left.

“She hasn’t disclosed her heat cycle with us. She was raised human, and I assume it’s not a conversation humans have upon the first meeting.”

“See that you find out.”

I frowned. “You would breed her without claiming? Perhaps you need to be clear—are you rejecting your fated mate or claiming her?”

“If I can get an heir before I reject her, I intend to. If she has as much potential as you and Weylin seem to think, perhaps we will be a good match for offspring. After that, you and Weylin can do what you want with her.”

I will spill his blood, the beast snarled.

I left before he could say another word, telltale shivers running up and down my back showing me how close the beast was. I made it to the elevator without incident, but it was getting hard to breathe, so I gripped the railing.

“Rain!” I heard Kage call out. My head whipped back, but the door was already closing. It was in the reflection of the stainless-steel doors that I saw what Kage did. My eyes were now glowing red.

Shit.

Go to her, the beast demanded.

No.It had been a miracle he didn’t rip her limb from limb during their first interaction. I refused to take that risk again.

Go to her!My insides shook with his force. The elevator door binged and opened, and as I attempted to get off on mine and Weylin’s floor, it was as if I was walking through water, my legs weighed down as the beast fought each step taken in the direction he didn’t want to go. I grabbed the frame of the elevator door and used it to force myself out into the hall.

He promised her chained to my bed for me.Let me out.

“No!” Weylin obviously wasn’t in his condo, since he would've heard my struggle by now. I pushed on, closing my eyes against memories, the flashbacks. I felt the pull, and he tried to drive me under, forcing his way to the top, so he could take control.

Let me take over. Let me take the pain. Let me be the wolf.

“Gahhhh…” I yelled, the transition always more painful when I fought it, but no matter how hard I fought, black hairs began pushing through my human skin. I fought the transition so hard that every time a bone broke to shift into wolf position, it broke slowly with my resistance. The pain was excruciating.

Large arms wrapped around my body, and I swung to dig my claws in, catching whoever it was in the ribs. Kage grunted. “I have you,” he said, manhandling me into my condo.

I couldn’t relax yet. I continued to fight the beast for control as Kage pulled me through the foyer and into a room with no lights, no furniture, and no windows. This room was bare walls and floors. The little light from the foyer spilled in and lit up the claw marks and savage etchings in the stainless-steel reinforced walls.

The beast lashed out even harder, knowing where we were headed. Kage cursed and grunted in the struggle before throwing me away from him and slamming the door shut behind him.

I was plunged into darkness, the thump of the door locking and sealing echoing through the room. “Are you okay?” Kage asked from the other side of the thick door.

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