Chapter 11: Axel

Goddess, how am I going to get us out of this one?

“Give those back,” Ryker snaps, lurching forward. But Everest tips back, an evil grin slowly spreading across his face.

​

“I don’t think that's fair, St. Claire. Not only have you been screwing my soon-to-be mate, but Talon drank all my favorite whiskey before I could arrive. You CrestRidge fuckers owe me.”

​

My jaw clenches at just how much ​Everest knows about what’s going on. He will not hesitate to share Talon’s problem with the world.

The bastard twirls Talon’s keys. “Tell me, what do you think will happen when I tell Lycroft Academy that THE Talon Darlington, heir to the Darlington dynasty, is actually an alcoholic? What will his parents say?”

​

A vein throbs at the base of Ryker’s neck, and I latch on to Talon more firmly.

​

“We have money. Five thousand dollars to pretend this situation never happened,” I offer stiffly.

​

Everest’s black eyes flash. “A bribe? How desperate do you think we are?”

Desperate enough to destroy us by targeting our weakest pack member.

​

Ryker pushes his blond curls away from his face, bracing for a fight, and Everest’s buff betas growl in response.

​

But Talon only grows colder.

​

On any other day, I would put Everest and the Blood Fang pack in their place, but today, we need to get Talon out of here, and fast.

​

Right as Everest’s right-hand man is about to pounce, I bark, “STOP!”

​

They all freeze. Even Everest, whose eyebrows lower.

​

I look between Talon and Ryker, and then think about Hunter. It is my job to protect them. If that means making a sacrifice that scares them, then so be it.

​

I pull Everest aside, grateful Talon isn’t awake to hear what I'm about to do.

​

“I can give you something else. Something I think you’d want,” I bargain so quietly that the Blood Fang betas and Ryker don’t hear.

​

Everest’s eyebrow curves up, “Oh? And what could that be? A car? A vacation?”

​

“A girl.”

He scoffs, “My boys are already obsessed with one CrestRidge slut. Clarissa is enough.”

“No, not another wolf. A human girl, Olivia.”

One thing I know about Everest Reed? He loves things no one else has, and no one else has Olivia.

​

Sure enough, Everest perks up, scent spiking. Meanwhile, my wolf riots in my chest against the idea.

“I’m listening.” He leans forward, practically foaming at the mouth.

​

I remember Olivia’s steely brown eyes staring up at me when I grabbed her: daring me. Challenging me.

​

Ruining me.

​

“Hunter is being forced to care for her,” I ground out. “Technically, she belongs to him. But if you give me those keys, the car, and swear not to tell anyone about Talon, I can get her for you.”

​

“A human, huh?” Everest keeps his voice steady, but his pinewood scent puffs out at dangerously lustful levels. “Is she hot?”

​

“Beautiful.” I force the word past my lips.

I’m disgusted with myself because I think it’s true.

​

“Well damn.” Everest whistles. “And how do you plan to give her to me? It doesn’t exactly seem like she belongs to you. Like you said, she’s Hunter’s, and not even fully.”

​Talon’s heart beat pounds unsteadily over my shoulder, and I just want to wrap this up so I can get him to safety.

“I’ll worry about the logistics. You just worry about making the trade. In or out?” I deadpan.

​Everest’s dark eyes glow with the possibilities. He’s so lost in thought that I could snatch the keys and run, but that’s a sure fire way to guarantee that Everest squeals Talon’s secret to the world.

He muses, “A Jeep for a girl? It doesn’t seem fair to her. That’s a life we're talking about, Parker.”

This motherfucker doesn’t give a shit about a life. He’s just trying to see how dark I can get.

I give him what he’s looking for.

“A human life is worth less than a Jeep if you ask me. We’d be better off without Olivia.”

His fanged grin confirms I just gave him the right answer.

Everest has the darkest eyes I've ever seen. No light. No humanity. But now, somehow, they get even darker.

Have I made a mistake? Am I about to endanger a helpless girl?

Do I care? My wolf riots every time I make a choice against her. My cock responds to her in ways I can’t stand. But do I actually care?

​The Jeep keys jingle toward me and silence my train of thought.

“Axel motherfucking Parker,” Everest almost sounds friendly, “we have a deal.”