Jessica slurped a noodle into her mouth and grinned at me from across the table. It was a nice contrast from the utter silence we'd had for the past hour.The tension was so thick I could taste it.Luther tapped the tip of his index finger against the table, his knee bouncing against mine. "So, this steak is to die for," I said, taking a long bite, and eyeing Barbie down the way.She winked at me. "Thank you, Blaire."Another five minutes of silence occurred, and I sighed. "How about that weather?"Luther cursed beneath his breath. "Stop it, please," he begged. "Can we talk about what Marcus and Axel planned out for the lycan kingdom?"Marcus leaned forward, and pushed his plate away. "We mapped it out, and Axel knows a way inside without signaling any guards. We're ready now."They were leaving soon. I understood the urgency in Marcus' voice, and the plea on his face. He needed closure or answers, whichever would come from their trip.But my stomach ached at the thought of being away
"Could you be any louder?" I asked over my shoulder to Axel. He crunched on every leaf in the woods surrounding the lycan kingdom. "Am I not being stealthy enough for you, Luther?" he asked in a sarcastic voice. "I'm so very sorry. I'm only sticking my neck out for you … again. Excuse me—," "You both shut up," Marcus hissed, crouching down suddenly. The lights of the kingdom were near, and I wasn't sure sending Axel up to the door was a good idea or not. We used a small storage shed on the outskirts of the property as coverage. "There are lycans guarding the front door." Marcus looked over. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Luther?" "No," I said honestly. "But they will be more willing to help another lycan than some wolves." Axel nodded. "I've got this taken care of. I'm personable, and everyone loves me." Marcus rolled his eyes, while I fought the same urge to strangle him. "Okay." Axel stood up and walked out into the clearing of the driveway leading up to the gate. The tw
It felt surreal sitting across from the woman that I thought was my mother. She looked older in the face, but everything else seemed as if I'd been tossed back into time. As if I'd never been taken back to the apartment building, or put into foster care.Aunt Caterina looked happy to be away from the lycan kingdom, but ultimately fear rested in her eyes, which scared me. We'd just beaten the dragon king, and now we're facing off with a lycan king that we knew nothing about."You look tired," I said, standing up after we'd finished our Chinese food. She'd nearly eaten her entire takeout plate and the sight of her so hungry made my stomach twist. "I don't know if the cable is still turned on but—,""It is," Luther said from his spot across the room. He'd finished eating way before us, his elbows rested against his knees, his hands interlaced in front of him.I smiled to myself. I didn't know why Luther kept my apartment for me, maybe out of pity, or in case I ever got pissed and wanted
Blaire slipped into a short summer dress that made my wolf go crazy, as if we hadn't been in the shower until the water turned cold. No, I said to him. We have to save my brother. He's your brother not mine, he said. Bastard. Blaire untucked her hair from the back of her dress, and glanced over at me. "Look, I know you're pissed, but I didn't know he would be there." Sliding my fingers into my wet hair, I sighed. The truth was I secretly felt proud that Blaire had stood up to Zane. Even though it was one more problem to add to my list. "Blaire," I said, stepping in front of her, bracing my palms against her shoulders. "It's over with. There is nothing we can do now. Zane is known for his drastic measures to prove a point. I don’t believe for one second that he won't show up here. He will. But you'll be with me. I'm going to have you miles away from the kingdom, but close enough to me that I won't worry. Some of the wolves will stay behind to protect you while we get Marcus a
The man that stood in the doorjamb of my bedroom, of my one bedroom apartment, despite his devilishly good looks could have used a lesson in social skills. He had the tall, dark and handsome thing going for him, but he couldn’t notice the fact that I wanted him to leave—like yesterday. How many subtle cues would he need to hear before the dingy—probably pull string—lightbulb would go off inside of that perfectly sculptured head of his? How many, 'well, that was fun,' or 'I have an interview soon,' would he need me to say before it clicked? "Thomas," I said gently, pulling my lacey white satin top over my head, and stepping into my un-ironed pencil skirt. "I have an interview in like," I glanced at my watch, "thirty minutes. I'm leaving," I said, standing up straight and putting my hands on my slender hips. "So that means you need to leave, too." Thomas stood up straight, his broad shoulders took up the width of the doorway, and there went that lightbulb. "Oh," he said. "I'll go get
Hire her now. That fragrance would send me to my knees, make me beg, and grovel like a child. At the age of thirty-five, I never imagined I'd find my mate this late. I'd concluded that I would be mateless, and I'd become accustomed to that fact. Then she walked into my office. Blaire Summers. With the attitude of an undisciplined sixteen-year-old, and the body of something sculpted from a male's imagination. I watched her walk away; her hips swaying down the sidewalk as she bluntly disobeyed what I told her. My fingers curled into fists, and I fought the urge to stalk after her. Seeing her with Axel Davers set every nerve in my body on fire. I had made up my mind to let her go, ignore that I found my mate, and return to my life. Then I glanced out my window, scotch in one hand, while the other rubbed my temple in frustration, to see her fraternizing with the enemy—Axel Davers. The Lycan King. The bane of my existence. He mimicked my every move in business. When I opened the club
I blinked my eyes several times, trying to determine if I'd walked into some kinky hot dream or really opened my door to Mr. Luther Reed of the Alpha Inc. The impeccable hunky grump that looked impossibly perfect for eight something in the morning. Once I gathered my thoughts, I crossed my arms over my chest. "What are you doing here? How do you know where I live—you stalker—and again, why are you here?" His gaze lingered on my clothes—or lack thereof. I'd been snoozing when he so rudely pounded on the door to wake me. Couldn't he have got my number from my application and called me like a normal pushy boss? Or got the hint that I didn't want to work with him? Either or would have sufficed. Luther licked his thick lips and dragged his eyes away from my legs to my gaze. "You're late for work, Ms. Summers. Get dressed. We're leaving." A bubble of laughter slipped from deep in my chest. I was sure Mr. Luther Reed was used to getting what he wanted—especially if he wore that stupid dr
She's driving me crazy. The sad part was that she didn't even realize that her presence had my wolf begging and pleading like a pup. When she called me out in my office, I wanted to pull her close and kiss her senseless, until her legs turned to rubber. Even the look Mr. Brown gave her—a polite smile—sent my nerves up my stiffened spine. My heel tapped against the carpeted floor of the conference room, while my fingertips drummed along the table to the same rhythm. "In all," he said. "We're very happy with the progress that Alpha Inc. has given us at Brown's Rentals, and we would like to extend your services to our partner company Brown's Towing, LLC." "We'd be happy to take on Brown's Towing, Mr. Brown. Let's schedule a time for our normal consolation and get things set up," I said, almost robotically. Brown was a huge client, but one of many for Alpha Inc. He smiled underneath his bushy handlebar mustache. "I'll call the front desk and schedule myself in then, Mr. Reed. As alway