Page 52 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Maybe he’ll kill me and call it an accident,I thought.
Part of me welcomed him to try. My wolf was eager to sink its teeth into the slimy son of a bitch. The other part remembered that hubris killed wolves as often as hunters.
A fight with Lyall wasn’t one I was sure I could win.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said.
As I stripped and shifted forms, I reminded myself that Kieran had promised to stay with Elle throughout my absence. I only hoped I wasn’t mistaken in trusting him. I shook my head and embraced the strength that coursed through my body. Lyall stood beside me, and his brown fur gleamed in the sunshine. He jogged through the grassy field, and I followed him.
Lyall picked up the pace, and we quickly entered the forest. Shadows danced across the rocky ground, brambles, and shrubbery. Birds chirped, and creatures scuttled. Skirting around trees, I lost myself in the methodical motions of running. We passed other wolves on hunts and patrols, and they bowed their heads to their Sovereign, though even in wolf form, Lyall failed to acknowledge his pack.
Mates or not, I didn’t understand how Kalli loved this man.
When we leaped over a trickling creek, the afternoon sun was high in the sky. I was tempted to pause for a drink, but I refused to appear weak in front of Lyall.
The farther we got from the rest of the pack, however, the more I thought Lyall might be coming out here to try to kill me.
Part of me quaked in fear at the thought, but my animalistic side relished the challenge. My wolf was done with mind games and tedious dinners.
He wanted Lyall’s blood spilled across the forest floor.
As we navigated thicker and thicker foliage, I listened for the slightest increase in the Sovereign’s heartbeat or the smallest catch in his breath to indicate an oncoming attack.
Ahead of us, a small, wooden cabin was built into the mountainside and covered in foliage, but a single light by thedoor indicated the place wasn’t abandoned. Lyall slowed then stopped, and I copied his movements. When he shifted into his human form, I did the same.
Back on two legs, I rolled my shoulders to relieve the tension there. It was always weird becoming human again after being in wolf form for a while. Legend said that a wolf who stayed in one form or the other would get trapped that way, but I’d never heard of anyone being crazy enough to try it.
Lyall grabbed some sweatpants out of a drawer on the front porch and tossed them to me. While the Alpha dressed in his own fancy clothes, I quickly put the sweatpants on and crossed my arms.
“So,” I said, “you bring me out here to kill me?”
Lyall, now partially clothed, chuckled and shot me a feral grin. “Is that a challenge?”
Adrenaline coursed through me, and fur sprouted on my arms. My jaw ached with the need to shift, but Lyall quickly waved off my concerns.
“Relax,” he chided. “I brought you here because this is where I like to think. Sometimes it’s hard to do that with so many underlings around. You’re an Alpha. You get it.”
I had never heard any Alpha refer to his packmates asunderlings,but I bit my tongue. I didn’t want to distract the egomaniac from what he’d brought me here to think about.
“Sure,” I said drily.
Lyall opened the creaky door. “Where are my manners? Come in.”
As Lyall flicked on the ceiling light, I followed him inside. The cabin was a stark contrast to the chateau. The round kitchen table was well-structured, but old, and the beige wall paint was chipped. A worn, leather sofa faced a dusty fireplace, and the faint scent of mold wafted in the air. Lyall walked to the countertops and cabinets, built into the corner of the quaint space, and grabbed a couple of glasses.
Instead of getting water from the sink, he surprised me by grabbing a half-empty bottle of whiskey and two glasses. Hepoured both of us some. I accepted the glass and brought it to my lips but didn’t swallow any of the putrid smelling liquid. Lyall watched me closely, so I winced and cleared my throat.
“That’s strong,” I said.
Lyall smirked and polished his off.
“It better be for what I pay for it,” he said. He poured himself some more and faced me. “How long have you known you have the Sovereign power?”
No longer faking, I sputtered.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
He raised a blond eyebrow.
