Page 88 of Wild in Spirit

In the long pause, her mind raced.

“You remember the packwide instructions I gave for everyone to be on the lookout for her stalker, to keep a watch out for Bailey while she was our guest?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“And the specific instructions I gave for you only, trusting you to be the best man for the job?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Tonight, I received an emergency link from Mrs. Crowlee. She described a girl with Bailey’s description being dragged across her street, followed by sounds of an attack. Screaming, begging. So, I immediately sent a patrol to her address. Your street. Your house.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He had to be kidding. This couldn’t be happening.

“When the patrol arrived, they were able to observe the alleged attack for several minutes without you realizing. Do you both understand why that is a problem, or do I need to explain it to you?”

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have—”

“Silence, Bailey. How you are trained and expected to act in your pack is between you and your Alpha. But in mine, every wolf follows orders. Every wolf is trained in observation, in readiness. I chose Nassau to guard you because he is one of the best, the most dependable, more so than either of my younger sons. Or so I thought. But it looks like your safety and my orders were not his number one priority.”

He turned his attention back to Nassau, slowly advancing on him, and it hit her why everyone warned her away from the fierce Tuisa Alpha. Why everyone feared him.

“Our pack, our borders have taken onextra risk to our entire world for her, and no matter what she says or does, she is still at risk from this stalker. Yet you were otherwise occupied. Even after you were told to leave Bailey alone. I didn’t think I would have to treat you like I treat Isaiah. But here we are. What would have happened if the stalker had taken advantage of your little distraction to sneak up on you, kill you, and take Bailey from this pack? That would have been the perfect opportunity, out in the open, for the world to see…and for what?”

Nassau didn’t answer him right away, only lifting his chin, so when she stole a look at him, she realized his eyes were on her, frozen in fear for her.

“It won’t happen again, Alpha. Her safety is my utmost concern.”

“Ajax. Take Bailey to her room. Maybe remind her that none of this is a game. That her presence here is a courtesy, and the danger she brings to my pack is not something I take lightly. If she can’t respect our pack rules, then she will return to her pack.”

Ajax stood, grabbing her suitcase from Nassau before holding the door open for her. She followed him robotically, glancing back at Nassau before catching his eye. He had shut down all expression, only watched her as she moved.

She did this. She made him go against his own character and look like a fool to his Alpha. But she knew that wasn’t what bothered him. The pain in his eyes haunted her. Guilt ate at him. He had relaxed his guard and could have let her get hurt, and that’s what he was upset by. That his Alpha was right.

“Wait. Alpha…I want to say I’m sorry. And thank you. I know it seems like I’m not grateful, but I really am. I gave Nassau a really hard time, and he’s never taken my safety lightly before. It was a one-time mistake on my part. He’s not at fault. I am.”

She didn’t expect an answer, and didn’t want one, so she turned back, following Ajax up the stairs back to Makaii’s old room. The hallway was dark and empty, and she was grateful because she didn’t think she could handle Zhair’s smirking face. Not after that embarrassment.

“Come on, trouble. I promise his bark is worse than his bite. He will be fine by morning.”

“Thanks, Ajax.” She flopped onto the bed, covering her face.

“Listen. You grew up in a pack where safety was a given. Aisling’s borders and security were never a concern. But here…it’s different. People will always look for a way to infiltrate Tuisa, and all our wolves understand that. They’re trained for that. They can’t and don’t relax.”

“I got Nas in trouble.”

“Nas got himself in trouble. But you must keep in mind things don’t work the same here. It’s a lot more traditional, and it’s one thing to stretch the rules a little, but you…your style of persuasion will not be accepted easily.”

“So, you’re telling me I won’t be seeing Nas again.” She knew that this could be a good thing, that she needed to be forced to stay away at this point. But it didn’t stop her heart from aching. The part of her that wanted her mate, that wanted him to mark and mate with her forever, still wanted her time with him. She had her heart set on a week with him, no matter what.

“Maybe. Maybe not. What I can guarantee is that Nas won’t take his assignment lightly again.”

Stepping back into the hallway, Ajax gave her a hard stare before leaving. “Behave yourself. We aren’t back in Aisling where you can hide in my house from all your parents’ rules. You’re too old for that behavior now. Act like it.”

Once the door closed behind him, she numbly went through her nighttime routine. Turning on the hottest shower she could handle and blanking her mind, she sat in the spray of the watertrying to ease her guilt, her mind exhausted from the push and pull between her body and heart.

Chapter 22

Monday, November 22

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