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“Curious wolves want to know.” He grinned, then shrugged one shoulder. “It’s me. I’m curious.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I’m taking a page from your book and planning,” he said. “Huge celebration. Gigantic.”
“I’ve celebrated my birthday four hundred times, and it’s always the same. Why should this year’s be any different?”
“Because I’ve never celebrated with you. When is it?
“February thirty-first.”
His wolf howled, barring teeth over the fact that she hadn’t answered him. “Your sense of humor leaves much to be desired, Pet. Perhaps that’s what I’ll get you for your birthday.”
Laughter, pure and rich and unbridled, left her berry-red lips and instantly captured his every attention. He wanted to remember this moment forever, the thick brunette braid trailing over her shoulders, the silky glow of her skin, her soft body in his arms. For a moment, he had the irrational thought that he was holding the embodiment of the moon in his arms, so powerful was her call to the wolf.
Seconds later, after her humor had been sated, she affected a concerned tone: “Then perhaps I’ll get you one of those dragon costumes. So you can skulk around like Smaug and lord over that hoard of paper that you call an office.”
Mockingly snapping his teeth at her hand like a mutt, he was about to tease her back when Ava’s voice caught his ear.
“Alpha, your presence is humbly requested by none other than our birthday boy.”
Shooting Cortana an apologetic smile, he extracted himself from their embrace, though it sent a shock of sadness straight through him. She waved him off like it was nothing for them to part company. Following his beta, he left his mate among the wolves.
Chapter Thirteen
Cortana watched Riaz stride through the other members of his pack, those clustering around him gleeful and joyous that he was near. The alpha was just as happy with their affection, offering small but meaningful touches to their shoulders or cheeks, embracing those who needed more.
It took him several minutes to cross twenty feet of floor to where the birthday boy eagerly awaited him. When Riaz hunkered down to speak with him, Cortana lost sight of the man.
Slowly, she made her way out of the throng of bodies to linger near the wall once more, but this time, it took less than a minute before her solitude was interrupted by another.
“Look what the cat dragged in.”
Eyes finding Renata’s exotic beaty, Cortana inclined her chin. “I may have been dragged in, but at least I’m not being taken out with the trash.”
The other woman had been there only for a few seconds and Cortana was already at her wits’ end. Every syllable Renata spoke was a grating sound that soured her stomach, her fangs just aching to render the woman defenseless. The she-wolf didn’t seem to notice.
“He won’t ever throw me out, little fang. Riaz, no matter how you slice it, is a pushover when it comes to his pack. All I need do is give him the weeping treatment and he’ll cave.”
“Certain of yourself, are you?”
She gave a sordid laugh. “Our alpha would never side with some trashy vampire over his own packmate. Keep dreaming, sister.”
Cortana’s lip curled at the insult—both of them. “I’m not your sister.”
From out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Renata faced her directly, indignation flashing in the depths of her gaze.
“No, and you never will be. Despite what you may believe, Riaz’s passing fancy for you is just that: a flavor of the week. Nothing real or meaningful will come with his little infatuation. And yes, he may have danced with you, but when he goes to sleep tonight, I’ll be the one in his bed.”
Jealousy, black and seething, slithered under her skin like an oil slick. Icy fingers traced down her spine, chilling her to the bone while she could only glare at the other woman.
Riaz, unaware of their spat, drew up alongside them, grinning in that charming wolfish way that would’ve made her believe all was right in the world.
Renata was the one to speak first, in a sickly-sweet voice that’d fool even the keenest of spies. “I’m certain Riaz has completed his stately duties to you, ambassador. I’ll be taking this wolf back to my den for a bit of playtime.”
A hint of surprise furrowed Riaz’s features, his eyes tracing over Renata’s smile as if to decipher her intent. Apparently, he found nothing untoward, and that russet brown settled on Cortana instead.
He looked at the vampire expectantly, an infinity of emotion behind his eyes like he was yearning for something, anything, that she’d voice in his favor. Perhaps a confirmation that she’d experienced the same pull he had when they’d danced only minutes ago.
