Page 46 of Siren's Kiss & Feral Beasts
“What did she say?”
Brina’s expression is apologetic. “We don’t want to anger you, Alpha. It wasn’t nice.”
“Say it. Don’t sugarcoat a single word.”
“That you weren’t a true king. That wolves deserved better than a filthy, untrustworthy pirate and his kin.” It hurts to hear, burns in my esophagus like the worst case of acid reflux. “She also wanted to know about a stone. Kept repeating something about a black gem and how important it was to find it. The reward she’d give Spiro for his help.”
“Not you? Just Spiro?”
“And Levi,” Jonathan adds. “Both were too eager to help, with Spiro thinking himself worthy of the crown.”
“The guards on watch that night, too,” his mate says, picking up the now lukewarm coffee her mate set down and takes a few sips. “She bent them to her will, got them to let us walk past without alerting anyone. Like we were invisible.”
My claws scrape the desk. When they emerged? No clue. I’m too busy filing every single word away. Cataloging the betrayal of a centuries-old agreement between her grandmother and my grandfather.
He’d drilled it into my head since an early age. Our bloodline wouldn’t swim in the sea, and the mermaids wouldn’t sing for wolves.
A treaty Nerissa Del Mare broke.
My traitorous little siren.
“And the scent blockers?”
They share a look, but I catch how Jonathan pats her hand with his unoccupied one. How his body shifts toward her—support and comfort.
“I made it.” Her voice is tinged with fear, yet underlined with optimism. “My father is a man of science, and I grew up around herbs and compounds—the territory leader keeps him well stocked. He’s tested and tweaked that recipe for years, and a few years ago, perfected it. It gave him leverage in our pack, a way to move up the ladder by asking for a marriage alliance I didn’t want. In the end, it helped us. Kept us hidden.”
Before I could ask for further clarification, her mate leaned forward. Not much, but enough to pull my gaze to him. “Alpha, please know we didn’t want this. We just wanted to be free and safe. It’s why I played along with Levi that night, until he got pushy. While Spiro challenged you, he wanted us to create a diversion—use Brina to get the males riled up—but the attention I caught was that of your beta and gamma.”
Tilting my head, I study the two. There’s no malice or lies in their explanation. Instead, they look at me with hope.
“Do you want more than freedom? A home here?” They blink, and the excitement that builds brings a smile to their lips. Both nod quickly. “I’m giving you a chance for more. Pack, protection, and a future with your mate. Do not let me down. You’ll be on probation, but will help where needed and earn my people’s trust. Fail once, and I will personally kill you. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha. Thank you.” Again in unison, each signing their names on a contract I push across my desk before dismissing them. The other pack omegas will help them get set up in a home, then pull them into the chore rotation.
When I get back, I’ll deal with the scent blocker and the issue it might provide in the future. For now, though, my thoughts head back to Nerissa. Her call tugs at me, even miles from sea.
I’m coming, pretty siren. And you’ll have a lot to apologize for with that sinful mouth.
17
NERISSA
Fingers sweep up and down my back, getting lower with each pass. It feels so good, and I’m pulled from a deep sleep by the touch. The hand is strong and manly, the rough patches of skin from manual labor only adding to the erotic touch. More so when he digs those fingertips in deep, working on tense areas.
Because the last few days have been rough. My eyes ache from tears that don’t fall. It’s why mermaids sing their lament to the open, endless sky. We release our troubles, weep for those who died at sea, and bless the waters with our essence.
And yet, everything fades away when warm lips kiss the base of my spine. When the scent of Guaiac wood and pineapples wraps around me. “Open those pretty eyes for me, little treasure.”
My lashes flutter open, my mind slow to process, but there he is. My Kai. My mate. It’s impossible. I know this is a dream, and yet a smile curves at my lips. “Hello, Alpha.”
“Sweet Nerissa.” His voice is tough and guttural, his wolf watching me through his human eyes, and I shiver. I’m happy and relieved, but then sadness slams into me from all sides.So much has happened, and I’m free-falling into an abyss that scares me.
“No, sweetheart. Don’t cry.” This command is laced with patience, and for some reason, it only makes me feel worse. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Everything, Wolf. Every freaking thing.” I let out a shuddering breath as the sky breaks with a torrential downpour. It’s violent and strong, whipping against the outside of my home in Avaria. How did I end up here? Before I can ask him just that, lightning strikes right outside my window, and I jump.
It surprises me.
