Page 48 of To Challenge a Wolf

“I must have, somehow. But I didn’t mean to be a threat.”

Malachi’s eyes took on the glow of the wolf he contained. “And you weren’t, because I’m not threatened.”

Right. This alpha wasn’t only an alpha. He was seventeen-percent wolf. He was ultimate strength and power among wolves, here in Rhett’s den reading Tom Clancy. Rhett lowered his eyes for a moment, and when he looked up again, the glow had faded from Malachi’s. “Believe it or not, that wasn’t snark.”

“I’m not offended, Rhett.”

“Just not going to beat around the bush when a measly fourteen-percent wolf mentions being a theat.”

Malachi smiled. After what Rhett had said, anyone who didn’t know Malachi would expect his eyes to grow colder, even predatory. Or maybe Rhett expected it despite knowing him only because of his own screwed-up past. The alpha’s gaze was warm, even kind.

“Well, shoot, I was going to apologize. Sounds like you don’t want me to.”

“Not at all. I knew your nature when I welcomed you in.”

“Right.” Rhett flashed his teeth in a grin that felt safe to indulge. “So freaking powerful, you brought an alpha wolf into the pack and had no worries whatsoever.”

“Correct.” Mirth glittered in his gold eyes for a moment, and then he sat quietly studying Rhett.

Rhett fidgeted in the chair. “What?”

“You finally acknowledged your nature.”

“What? When?”

“You just referred to yourself as an alpha wolf. That’s new, Rhett.”

Rhett tried to make a scoffing sound and ended up nearly choking. Had he said…called himself…no. He hadn’t. He wouldn’t.

“Why is it still so troubling to you?”

“I can’t lose them.” More blurted words. Somehow Malachi always got him to say the precise thing he’d promised himself not to.

“Ah.”

“What?”

“Is that why you’ve resisted it all this time? You think you’ll wake up one morning and decide to challenge me again, try to take the pack?”

“Nah, I’m too smart for that.” He tried to smirk, but his face wouldn’t cooperate. It was flattening out. He looked down at his hands. Hands that had been paws a few hours ago despite the crescent moon. He forced his gaze back up. “But what if I acknowledge it and then go out searching for a pack that needs an alpha? What if my nature drives me away from here, away from y’all?”

“Rhett.” The word held reproof now.

“I never want to be at the mercy of myself. As a wolf, as an alpha. As the son of a Helvering, the product of his training.”

“To my knowledge, you never have been. You’re not likely to lose yourself now.”

“I’ve never gone full alpha and changed form without the full moon before either.”

“Were you lost at the time?”

Rhett let out a growl of pure vexation. Malachi made arguing so difficult with his calm, reasonable rebuttals. “No. I was myself, choosing for myself.”

“Then if you’re settled on this point,” Malachi said, “given the hour, let’s move on to why I’m still here.”

“That wasn’t it?”

“Not at all. I have two points of my own.”

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