Page 65 of The Forbidden Wolf

“Because no one has become a wolf via bite in a very long time.” Sebastian glanced at my covered shoulder. “Elyse might be in danger.”

“What?” I clutched my lapels as if the danger were in the elevator. “Why?”

“Because other Thrones will either want you for themselves to quickly grow their numbers or will want to destroy you to ensure ours do not.” Sebastian grimaced. “And there are some who will think he’s an abomination that will dilute our bloodlines.”

Evan laughed. “Seriously, have you been talking to my mother?”

Sebastian leveled a pointed gaze at me. “You will have to teach him our ways as quickly as you can. The amnesia story won’t work forever.”

“So, if you made me,” Evan asked, “does that mean you’re my mother now?” He grinned and put his head on my shoulder. “‘Cause I’m about to imprint on you like that Animalis bitch imprinted on Helena Bonham Carter.”

“No,” I said with disgust even as I leaned my cheek against the wonderfully whole skull that housed his wonderfully weird brain. “This does not make me your mother. And you are completely delirious.”

The elevator dinged on the 18th floor, and the industrial doors slid open to reveal a laundry room that smelled blissfully of fresh linens. Sebastian cocked his elbow in front of the door beside the button panel so it wouldn’t close.

“Go clean up,” he said. “I’ll send Ruby to fetch you after I’ve briefed Father and Mateo.”

“Ruby? Surely, she’s at home in bed.” I made a face. “Can’t you just come fetch me yourself?”

“No, because I’ll be doing my job regardless of the hour.” Sebastian scowled. “Ruby will fetch you when we are ready to administer the truth serum.”

“Why do you need a truth serum?” Evan sounded sorely disappointed. “Can’t you just smell this guy and see whatever it is you think he did?”

Somehow, after everything, I laughed. “No, Evan, I’m not like the girl on TV.”

“But you’re some sort of Chosen One, no?” Evan pouted. “Have you even tried?”

“I don’t know what I am, but I promise I can’t do that. None of us can.”

“We can smell each other’s pheromone signatures though,” Sebastian said in an oddly ominous tone. “Age, sex, rank, mating status…”

Evan leaned in and sniffed Sebastian’s neck. Then he tilted his head like a wine sommelier, nodding slowly until he suddenly barked out a laugh. He clapped one hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry. Sorry. Ha. Don’t mean to pry. Just, ah, making sure I read this right. Are you a virgin?”

Sebastian sighed. “I prefer to think of myself as a romantic, but yes, you read that right.”

Evan turned his back on Sebastian and pulled a face, mouthing, “I’m so sorry.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I am going to let you accompany Elyse back to her room because I’m not sure where else to put you at the moment, but you would do well to keep this knowledge in mind.”

Evan whipped around. “Your virginity? Why?”

“Not mine,” Sebastian growled, darting his eyes at me.

I face-palmed. On any other night, I would have ripped him to shreds right then, but I was too exhausted from literally ripping people to shreds to deal with any of his last century bullshit right now. I just wanted to get in the shower and wash off the whole Carrie-at-the-prom look I was sporting. And then I wanted to eat Damian alive.

“Seriously?!” Evan’s voice pitched higher. “What am I not getting across to you here?”

“I understand that Elyse was previously not to your liking, but you’re a wolf now,” Sebastian said with all the cringe-worthy confidence of the dad from American Pie. “It’s only natural that you’ll feel the pull to claim a mate and sire pups—”

“Okay, now I know you’ve been talking to my mother,” Evan laughed uncomfortably. “Did she hire you? Am I really even a wolf, or is this just some sort of hallucinogenic alpha male camp. Because if she thinks this isn’t going to end like But I’m a Cheerleader—”

“You’re really a wolf,” Sebastian said, “which is why we need to get this out in the open before anyone gets hurt.”

“Sebastian!” I hissed through my fingers.

“Hurt?!” Evan backed into me. “What do you mean hurt?”

“I mean,” Sebastian said, “that you and Elyse have obviously known each other for some time, so when these urges come, mating with Elyse might seem like the logical solution—”

---