Page 52 of Savage Desire

“Slightly different than the witches’ building, huh?” I state, and she nods. It was my first thought when I stepped into her dorm. It’s basic in there, no character or heritage on display, but I’m sure it’s hidden away somewhere. Since they’re all different covens under one roof, I assume their priority isn’t focused on sharing, while here, we’re one. One pack, filled with pride, loyalty, and a penchant for silvery things.

I watch her throat bob as she gulps, turning to take in the space again, and I try to see it through her eyes. The ceilings are high, silver-thread tapestry hanging from the walls, with dark mahogany furniture spread around the room.

Unlike her dorm building, where you walk into one big open space, ours breaks off into different areas. The lounge is to the right, the staircase dead ahead, leading both upstairs and downstairs, while the corridor to the left leads to the kitchen/dining room, and the alpha’s office at the far back.

That’s where I lead her, my hand nestling on the small of her back. Again. It’s addicting. I can feel her heat through her sweater.

Damn.

I don’t bother knocking as I swing the door to the alpha’s office open to find everyone gathered already. Pizza boxes are spread across every surface; the desk, the coffee table to the right, the arm of the sofa, and Wylder’s lap.

“Hey,” Minnie hollers first, rising to her feet as she dusts off her hands. She cuts the distance between us, but it’s Polaris she’s after. She wraps her in her arms and I sense Polaris calm at her touch.

Lincoln glares from his seat behind his desk, but Tatum and Wylder watch with a hint of desire and awe in their eyes at the two girls’ interaction. Minnie doesn’t let anyone close, especially not someone who isn’t a wolf, but it seems the undertone I get from Polaris unravels into friendship despite her quadrant.

The two of them get comfortable on the sofa, Minnie feeding her just like she did at the wolves’ table in the dining hall the other day. Lincoln’s irritated glare turns my way, but quickly falls to the journal in my hand. He tilts his head, confused, but I give him a brisk no under my breath as I take my seat on the armchair across from him.

He may be the alpha, our leader, and rightfully so, but if we dive into the issues we’ve got in the wrong order, we’ll end up going completely off plan, and that’s the last thing we need right now.

Instead of jumping into all of this shit, I follow Polaris in grabbing some food. If I don’t, these fuckers will eat it all without a care, and it seems staving off tasting Polaris has left me hungry.

Conversation floats around me, mainly between Wylder, Tatum, Minnie, and Polaris, but I don’t really take it in. I’m too busy struggling to not reach for my cell phone, which is still going off, while also willing my dick to actually settle down. It’s only when Lincoln begins tapping his pen on his desk that I’m aware his irritation is heightening, and I better get to it.

Clearing my throat, I spin the armchair so I can see everyone in the room. “What’s being done with Declan?” I ask, and Lincoln scoffs.

“If you think I’m discussing anything wolf related withherhere, then?—”

“Oh, I can leave,” she snaps, immediately jumping to her feet. “Just give me my things and I’ll be out of your hair,” she adds, curling her fingers toward me, indicating she wants me to hand over her journal, but I’m shaking my head before she even finishes speaking.

“Sit down, Silver.” She purses her lips, eyes narrowing on me, but to my surprise she drops back down with a huff. Only when I’m certain she’s not going to hightail it out of here do I turn my gaze to my alpha. “If we expect her to discuss the witchy shit then we discuss the wolf crap too. Balance, Lincoln. Don’t let your ego get in the way of this.”

His jaw ticks, his eyes sparkling, but he leans back in his seat with a sigh. “Fine. We’re not honoring his loss. He played with fire, burning his connection with his pack. I’m sure the rest of the pack members are going to ensure they don’t follow the same path as him.”

“And do we think it may have had some connection to… The Crow?” Tatum asks, his words trailing off at the end as if the name is a curse on his tongue.

Lincoln’s irritation grows thicker, but I nod. “I think, but there’s no certainty.”

“The Crow?” Polaris murmurs, eyeing each of us nervously, and I offer her a tight smile, one I’m certain will fall flat.

“He’s a… difficult man that has a large presence within the supernatural world. If he gets you in his grasp, you must conform or die.” She gulps, her face paling slightly. “But you’re not going to find yourself in his line of sight, so there’s no need to worry about knowing all the details,” I add, hoping it will suffice,and she nods, twisting her hands together in her lap, the nerves clearly not dissipating despite her acknowledgment.

“Is there any way of finding out the connection?” Minnie asks, eyeing me, and I shrug.

“I’ll put some feelers out, but I don’t want to draw any attention to us,” I answer truthfully, keeping track of Polaris in my periphery. It’s clear she knows little of what we’re talking of, but she doesn’t dig deeper despite the inquisitive shimmer in her eyes.

“On to the witchy stuff then,” Lincoln states, turning his attention to the lone witch among wolves, and I’d say everyone follows his line of sight, but she already had most of everyone’s attention already.

“Witchy stuff?” Polaris repeats, pressing her lips together nervously, and I nod, but it’s Tatum who speaks.

“You didn’t look okay out there today, when Declan and Blaze were…” His words trail off and her cheeks heat as she glances down at her lap. “What was that?” he adds, and her gaze snaps back to his.

“What do you mean?”

Wylder clears his throat, scrubbing his hand through his cropped hair as he eyes her with a soft gaze. “I think what he means is, we know what that was, but do you?”

She shakes her head nervously, and everyone’s stare turns to me. I was the one experiencing her up close, so I guess that’s fair.

“I’m going to assume you’re a center, Polaris.” My words cause her to still as her heartbeat spikes, but her lips remain clamped shut. “I’m also aware that we don’t know if you are part of a coven or not,” I add, but she remains stoic.

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