Page 60 of Sold to Three Alpha Kings

“Her wolf isn’t ready,” Sinth speaks before Wayne or I can. “The healer’s been clear about that from the start. Forcing a bite now could kill her.”

“Or push it back into dormancy for good,” I add. “Permanently. There’s no undoing it once it happens.”

Elder Edgar, seated across from Corvin, tightens his jaw. “So the great scent-match. The fated mate the three of you swore would bind this region together is a shiftless wolf who cannot even survive the bond?” There’s irritation in his tone.

“She’s not shiftless.” My voice comes out hard, fingers clenching into fists. “Her wolf is dormant. Not dead. Learn the difference before you insult her again in my presence.”

Silence follows. It’s heavier than I expected.

“She’s working to recover.” Wayne, uncharacteristically calm. “Healing takes time.” He stares at Edgar. “I mean, you of all people should know that considering how long it took for your wife’s broken heart to heal after she found out about your affair with the fair maiden in your household.”

The room falls silent.

Edgar’s expression darkens, a glint of shame flickering in his eyes.

I knew Wayne’s unusual calmness was fishy; I just didn’t expect him to strike such a low blow. But then again, the idiot is unpredictable.

Sinth lowers his head, a stifled chuckle falling from his lips. The other two elders don’t say a word, and their mean expressions refuse to soften.

Corvin clears his throat to fill the awkward silence. He studies the three of us, also unwilling to push further, not with all three of us united on this. “The council will allow more time. Reluctantly. I trust none of you plan to waste it.”

Nobody answers that. The meeting ends unresolved.

***

Charlize is waiting near the corridor outside the chamber. The second the doors part open, she tries to hide, but we already saw her. She stops, scratching the back of her head.

“Hey, cutie, what’re you doing here?” Wayne asks as we walk over to her.

“I uh…” She clears her throat. “I couldn’t sleep.” Her voice comes out thin. Guilty. “I heard you three were having a meeting with the elders, and I wanted to know what they were saying about me. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I promise.”

“How much of that did you hear?” Sinth asks her.

She swallows. “Enough.”

The part about her wolf. The part where they’re disappointed we’re wasting time on someone who might not survive the bond.

I hate that she heard all that, and it makes my blood boil.

“Listen, I want to take the bite,” she says, her voice laced with desperation.

A pause.

Then Wayne asks her, “Did you hit your head?” He turns toward Sinth. “Feel her forehead. Maybe she has a fever.”

“I’m serious,” she insists. “I want the bite.”

“No,” I say with finality.

“Chris—” She steps forward, her glassy eyes pinned on me.

“I said no.” Sharper than I mean it, but I still don’t take it back. “It’s too dangerous. Can’t risk it.”

“But I…”

“The bite could kill you, Charlize,” Sinth says, calm and composed. “Or push your wolf back into dormancy for good.”

“We can allow that,” Wayne adds. “We won’t.”