Page 39 of Rogue Wolf

Kodiak turned and glared at Tamaska. “You want me to listen? I’m fucking listening now. This isn’t a game. So, spill.” It took all his self-control to remain in his seat.

“Okay, just…” She took a shuddering breath as she massaged her temple and his heart both ached and raged. How she could pull him in so many directions at the same time baffled. “He…he said something about the opal.”

“Got that.”

“He said the Blood Opal gives the vampires power. It rejuvenates them, makes them stronger.”

“And allows them to walk in the light,” said Kodiak softly. Shit. Maybe she had a point about his hard ass stance but he needed to while they all transitioned into the new pack order. And with the fucking vampires…

Vampires who could walk in light. “Weak light. It’s why Amdis didn’t burn up into dust, isn’t it?” And they had the opal.

Worse, it looked like they needed Tamaska for something to do with it. Did that mean if they got her, really got her, their powers would increase more?

“Fuck, if the opal comes to full power, could they walk in full daylight?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t mention that.”

Frustration bit Kodiak like a swarm of angry ants. He had to prepare for the worst, whether Tamaska could confirm it or not.

But he kept circling back to the importance of Tamaska to the bloodsuckers.

“And your blood will activate the Blood Opal, or something like that?”

She closed her eyes a long moment and nodded. “Something like that.”

“Fuck, we have to get the gem back.” It wouldn’t be enough just to protect Tamaska. But then, he had always known that.

“Amdis said there was something about my blood…”

“What about it?” If Amdis had told Tamaska something that might help, Kodiak had to know.

“That my blood is the reason why I’m attracted to you…I don’t know what that means.” She looked at him, misery bright. “Maybe that means it’s why you want me. It’s just blood, not because…not…”

Not because he loved her.

She thought that?

She thought her worth to him was nothing more than a trick of fucking blood?

“If that were true I woudn’t have disliked you when we met.”

Her lip trembled. “B-but there’s something weird about my blood. Am I some kind of freak, Kodiak? It’s not enough to be a freak for being human to your pack, I have to be a freak to the world because there’s something wrong with my blood?”

Damn, Kodiak. Do something… Ash’s thought hit him full on.

He didn’t even spare her a glance. She was right. But this wasn’t in his set of skills. How the fuck was he meant to soothe a human female. It wasn’t like he could just have sex with her here, in front of the others.

“Tamaska… No. You’re not a freak.”

Kodiak softened a little toward Tamaska. The world she knew had been shattered, and he needed to help her. But there was so much to teach in so little time that he didn’t know where to start.

He ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head. Thoughts surfaced like young pups, all demanding attention.

She nodded and rubbed her temple again. “Amdis said it has to do with my ancestry, but I have no idea what he’s talking about. My parents and grandparents, who immigrated to Australia, were normal.”

Kodiak’s eyes widened. “They did. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“This is Australia. Most of us have immigrant ancestors.”

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