Page 14 of Huntress and the Thorn Court
The woman was blocking my path, so I took a step around her only to have her move with me, preventing my departure once more. I narrowed my eyes at her unsure of her game.
“There’s a line, you know?” She said like it was obvious. I glanced around not seeing a line. Had I mistakenly stepped into one? Could there be a line with only one person in it? “To Gideon,” she explained. “Did you really think you could jump in front of all the she-wolves chumping at the bit for a chance at the Alpha?”
“I don’t want in the line.” I stepped the other way, but she blocked me again.
“That’s right. You’re a hunter, so to bed one of us is beneath you.”
Was she serious? I’d had enough of her. I couldn’t put hands on her without bringing Gideon’s wrath down on me, even if it was just to move her out of my path. Standing taller, I met her stare. “If you know that, then why are we having this conversation?”
“So you admit it.”
“I’m not really sure what you want here. Either you’re upset because you think I want to sleep with Gideon, or you’re upset because I don’t. Which is it?”
Before she could answer, a man stepped beside us having watched our altercation grow to this tense point. “Is there a problem ladies?”
She smirked looking away first. “No problem, Adam. We were just discussing something, but I think we’ve come to an understanding.”
“Isabel?”
I returned her smile. “No problem at all.”
The woman departed leaving me standing alone with the man that looked to be about ten years older than myself. His brown hair was streaked with the random gray and his face held just the hint of lines. He wore a form fitting t-shirt that showed off his defined muscles and a pair of gray, loose fitting sweatpants that hung off his hips.
“We haven’t met,” he offered me his hand. “I’m Adam, Gideon’s Beta.”
I shook it. “Isabel, but you already knew that.”
“The hunter that Gideon took as prisoner? I don’t think anyone in our pack doesn’t know who you are.” He stared after the woman. “Don’t mind Carla. She’s all bark.”
“A werewolf joke?” I teased. His brow furrowed so I explained. “You know? Bark?”
“Oh! Ha! No, I’m not that clever. Anyways,” he shrugged, “Gideon asked me to keep an eye on you after you tried putting Rick and his buddies in their place. I heard about the back fist. I can honestly say that there are many who wish they could have been the one to deliver it to Rick.”
“Thanks.” I fidgeted, unsure how to respond. I wasn’t used to receiving compliments for something I was being punished over.
“Okay well, I’ll be off. Stay out of trouble.”
He turned to walk away but I called after him. “Hey Adam?” He twisted back around. “Are you the only one Gideon has watching me?” I couldn’t be sure, but I had my suspicions that that was exactly what was going on.
He smirked mischievously before continuing on his way. His lack of response was the only reassurance I needed. Gideon was indeed having me watched.
8
The next morning, I found myself outside the pack’s—for lack of a better term—throne room. After waiting for almost an hour, I’d almost given up when someone finally came out. “The Alpha will see you now.”
Annoyed over the power play, I didn’t utter a word as I stepped into the room. The space was huge and exactly what I thought an old-fashioned throne room would look like. Straight ahead from the door I entered, was the biggest, most uncomfortable looking chair I’d ever seen. The chair was gold. Whether it was real or not I didn’t know and I had no plan on getting close enough to figure it out. There were carvings of wolves and the moon phases all around the edges of the blue velvet cushion.
“We only use it for receiving dignitaries,” Gideon explained coming out of a side room. “Come in, Isabel.”
When I entered, I realized he wasn’t alone. Two wolves, his Beta and Head Enforcer, were there. One sat leisurely on the brown micro suede couch while the other stood stiffly against the wall in a very military style stance.
Noticing me eyeing them, Gideon spoke. “Speak freely, Isabel. You requested this meeting and my time is limited.”
Pursing my lips, I turned my focus to the Alpha wolf who was preoccupied with sorting papers on his desk. It agitated me that I didn’t have his full attention, but I didn’t dare say anything. Not for fear that I’d offend him, because frankly I didn’t care about that, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he bothered me. “How exactly do you plan for me to lure the culprits out if you have me being followed?”
He glanced up but his gaze was aimed at his Beta who smirked. “I told you not to reveal yourself, unless necessary.”
“Carla had her claws out. I simply intervened.”
