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His anxiety spiked, and though he gave no outward sign of it, Cortana felt the alien sensation of his emotions crawling through her core. Something akin to terror was shadowing behind the natural worry.
Riaz wordlessly disappeared back into the den.
Frowning, Cortana asked Ava, “Does evacuation pose problems for the pack other than the obvious? He seems very distressed at the thought.”
“It’s not that, Cortana.” A soft admonishment. “He nearly died in a fire when he first shifted. He healed, courtesy of his nature, but his wolf never forgot.”
Reflecting on the alpha, she realized that he was predominantly a creature of joy and nurture, excited about life—except for the darkness and unease he felt around the rogues, which included discussing his sire. If his change was marked by the extreme violence of both feralness and fire, his character was all the more impressive.
Another glance toward the fires to the west and they were headed inside, the night no longer holding sway. By the time Ava fielded questions from several subordinates, Riaz was already prepping the scouts for that night’s reconnaissance. Tonight’s mission was simply keeping tabs on the facility—and not something that required her or Riaz’s support.
Cortana’s attention, however, was on the young buck trying his best to be sneaky. Casually listening in, Benny leaned against a wall on the opposite side of the great hall, arms crossed but ears alert. She jerked a chin toward him when she caught Ava’s eye.
“Benny!” The beta immediately chastised. “Get out of here!”
He treated them to an uncivilized groan before stomping out of the area, his muttered growls echoing back to them. Riaz continued, unperturbed, reciting their mission parameters.
Once he’d sent them off, the betas gathered in an informal circle and Cortana excused herself to call her sire in New York City.
Chapter Eighteen
Riaz barely refrained from watching as Cortana made her exit, muzzling his wolf who wanted to howl from the hollowness of her absence. The ghosting mating bond he’d detected earlier had started vibrating with need, a desire so visceral he’d all but given in to it in Gwennie’s parlor.
He was definitely barking up the wrong tree; the woman had no desire for him.
Sharp, his gaze cut over to where Gadriel wore a knowing smile. “How’d you convince the vampire to go for ice cream?”
The smirk that lightened his features held his secret. “I have my ways, beta.”
“Did Gwennie like her?”
Ava’s question was soft with affection. His beta’s distrust of anyone not pack hadn’t made her many friends in the outside world, but Riaz had noticed that hadn’t extended to Cortana. The two of them had become thick as thieves, an exasperating pair that only solidified his nicknaming them Trouble Incarnate.
“More than she cared to admit, I think.” Riaz grunted a laugh. “I left them alone for two minutes and the poor vampire was scared half to death by the time I returned.”
“I can’t imagine why.” Gadriel winked.
Riaz shook his head, then sobered. “I’m sorry for the other day, Gadriel. My wolf is … possessive over her.”
“What’s a bit of suffocation between friends?” His wide smile revealed just how little it’d bothered him. “Besides, it’d been my intention to goad you, alpha.”
“Perhaps rethink your position next time,” came the standard chastisement from Ava, who crossed her arms and sent him a deathly glare. “If he was mating her, his wolf might’ve killed you out of possessiveness.”
A round of chuckles followed what they believed to be humor and nothing more, but when Riaz kept stoically silent, his betas quieted.
“Riaz?”
Blazing orange eyes, full-wolf, met Ava’s curious gaze. The truth of it was apparent from his silence, but he owed them to confirm, “Perhaps I’ll ask Nova for her tips on mating a vampire.”
His betas jaws dropped in unison.
Ava recovered the quickest, leaping the distance between them to wrestle him into a bone-breaking hug. “Riaz, I’m so happy for you! I knew there was something special about her.”
Arno clapped him on the back moments later. “Fates, alpha—a mate. That doesn’t happen every day.”
As Nico and Gadriel approached him and gripped his shoulders, Riaz sighed. “I’m still working on what it means—and Cortana doesn’t know yet. She’s—I’m not certain she’s open to the idea.”
Gadriel nodded. “From the minimal time we’ve spent together, I can see how that might be a problem. But give it time, Riaz. Fortunately, you’re both immortal, which means there’s absolutely no rush.” He blushed, his cheeks becoming the same shade as his hair. “Also—please accept my most humble apologies, oh great one. I didn’t mean to rile your wolf that day in the shooting range.”
