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“I lost control. My wolf saw him and wanted him. He refused to wait.” Alek ran his hands through his messy, deep brown hair. “Shit.”
“Shit is right.” Mac stormed away.
Alek threw his hands up.
“You can’t blame him. This is a problem, Alek. After what you did, how are the vampires supposed to trust us? We can’t act like savage Neanderthals and never expect any kind of retaliation from them,” Taleb explained rationally. “Wick is doing his best to smooth things over, but the evidence was there. We look like we can’t control ourselves, especially our animals.”
“He’s right.” Justice stood. “You owe him a sincere apology.”
Alek looked like he’d rather be thrown in isolation with the defiant alpha than go back and face Belleron.
Justice walked in front of his brother, leading them down the hall to the study. Alek trudged slowly as though blindfolded, walking the ship’s plank. Justice went in before Alek to be sure the vampire didn’t react first and ask questions later. Everything seemed fine, and Belleron’s composure was comparable to Wick’s. At that moment, it was good that vampires weren’t known for over-dramatizing.
He was sitting on the camel leather couch with one leg crossed over the other. He was long and slim, his fingers resting gracefully over his knee. Most of his long hair was behind him but some of it was over his right shoulder, including that long silver streak.
Wick introduced Justice properly, then the rest of his brothers. Mac was standing behind Alek now, with one hand on his shoulder since it looked like he might tip over without the support.
Justice gestured to Alek. “Allow me to formally introduce you to—”
“My Belove.” Bell interrupted Justice, easing himself off the couch without so much as a squeak from the leather and came to stand brazenly in front of Alek. His brother looked just as stunned as he had out on the lawn an hour ago. Maybe it was the vampire’s voice, because it was a sound only heard in the sexiest dream fantasies. Or perhaps it was his appearance in total. To say Bell looked like the modern-day vampire was a gross understatement. If Christian Dior’s brand was looking to start a vampire collection of designer suits, Belleron Liatos would be his first choice as a model. To Justice, there was no one as amazing and beautiful as Wick, but damn if Bell didn’t put the rest of the species to shame.
“I can’t apologize enough for—”
Belleron cut Justice off again. He didn’t appear to be doing it to be rude; he looked as if he was only interested in what Alek had to say. “No apologies, Alpha.” Bell stepped even closer to Alek, his voice a melodic whisper. “You have some bite, Beloved. Perhaps, you’ll allow me to show you mine as well… soon.”
Bell elegantly brushed past Alek, a subtle placement of his scent on Alek’s arm before he walked out the door. The act alone voiced Bell’s forgiveness.
“Where’s he going?” Alek growled, clenching his fists at his sides.
Justice couldn’t believe the fragile grip his brother had on his mate-lust. He couldn’t let a repeat happen. Bell had every right to take some space to contemplate what’d just happened. His life would never again be as he knew it. Alek had to be respectful and give him at least twenty-four hours to think. Justice understood that feeling. He’d felt the pain and discontent of his animal when he’d been away from his mate in the beginning, but he’d appreciated Wick’s patience.
Their brother was right. They didn’t want the vampires to be nervous around them. No doubt, Taleb was thinking about the sweet and shy Chamber Lord that he’d slow-danced closely with in front of their entire pack. They weren’t true mates, but that didn’t matter at all. When there was a strong connection, all on its own… that was enough.
“He’s not upset, Aleksei. But he can overanalyze a situation. Let him get back to our base coven for now and do his job, then he’ll be able to think rationally about your mating,” Wick told Alek.
“You will not go to him,” Justice told his brother. It wasn’t a request, it was an order from his alpha. “You will give him the space he wants. You will respect his wishes.”
Alek tightened his jaw and clenched his fists. His nod of acceptance was stiff but it was there. Moisture built up in the corners of his eyes, and a cloak of dread washed over his face. Justice’s wolf whined for his brother. He pulled Alek’s thick body into his for a tight hug. “You’re gonna be okay. This is good, you’ll see. He’s already in love with you, bro. Just give him a minute. He can’t stay away long.” Justice ached to console him.
“He’ll need to feed, and now he can only drink from you,” Wick said softly. “You do understand that.”
