“What are you doing here, Fielding?” Bane growls.
I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “I-I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
He doesn’t move his head, but his eyes roam to scan our surroundings. “You came unannounced. We’re being watched.”
“Can’t we go somewhere for privacy?”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“Please,” I say.
The other wolf gives me a hard stare, then finally relents.
Bane leads us a different route than we went last time, not going through the middle of the compounds. We’re soon traveling down dark, winding corridors below the Iron lands.
Dark stone and chilly stale air surrounds us as we navigate in the dark. We reach a larger chamber, a place largely forgotten and unused. Bane has to find torches lining the walls and the tools to light them.
He brought us to an old dungeon for housing prisoners.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Why does the Iron Pack have medieval torture dungeons? Why did youbring meto a medieval torture dungeon?”
“You’re a wolf from another pack who showed up unannounced. This is the only place I could think of where we’d be given privacy without anyone listening in. It’s either here or where we were last time.”
“Elias’s office?” I balk. “No, thank you.”
“Cells it is.”
Dull wrought-iron bars line square pits that form bare cells. Rusted metal manacles hang from the ceilings. Mold grows, creeping up on the walls.
The cold, gloomy chamber is certainly intimidating, but on second thought, it isn’t so bad. I’d rather be aprisonerin one of the cells than visit Elias’s office again, especially if the Alpha will be there.
“Relax, man,” Bane tells me. “We don’t use the dungeons anymore. We live in cut-off, magically protected land with only one other pack that we avoid. Why do we need dungeons? This is what confinement looked like the last time the place was in use.”
I nod, trying to calm my nerves. This creepy place isn’t really freaking me out. It’s the situation. This really isnotwhere I pictured having a heartfelt conversation with Bane.
“Spit it out,” he says impatiently.
Okay, I can do this. The place isn’t what matters. I need to tell him before it’s too late.
Gripping the black smartwatch tightly, I summon every ounce of courage within me. Bane’s eyes narrow as I present the charmed watch, betraying no emotion. The flickering torchlight casts shadows across his rugged face, accentuating the hard line of his jaw.
“Here, I charmed the watch myself. When there’s somewhere you need to be, it becomes heavier. The closer you get to your destination, the lighter it becomes.”
“Why did you get me a gift?” He glares at the watch, not taking it from me. “How many times do I have to say it? We aren’t dating.”
“We could be.” I swallow hard, meeting his gaze. “Don’t sacrifice your heart to get what you want, Bane. What if you could have both? Love and becoming the next Alpha?”
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “That’s not possible.”
“It is. I Recognized you, Bane.” It feels good to finally speak the words. “We’re true mates.”
When I come near enough to reach out and touch him, he raises a hand, like he’s afraid of me making contact. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
“Josh... You can’t. Don’t...”
I’m not sure what he’s trying to say. Does he not believe me?
“You’re looking for a partner. I know I’m not the best fighter, but I’m willing to learn. You don’t have to search any further. I’m right here.” I reach out, my fingers grazing the fabric of his bomber jacket. “Just accept me.”
