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Sienna shook her head. “You’re kidding, right? Sounds like a B sci-fi movie to me.”
“I’m serious. The alpha’s nature would allow for only one in a pride. All other males have to support me and not open themselves to being more than that. Otherwise, we will fight.”
“How big is your damn ego?” she almost shouted. “And what do you mean males? What about the women? Or can’t they be leaders?”
Toron spun on his heel and headed toward the exit. She had no choice but to follow, hoping she hadn’t desecrated his brother’s viewing or something with her attitude.
When they were outside in the square, he paused and spoke to her before any of the others could approach.
“Contrary to what you think, I am not some sexist who doesn’t believe women can lead. My mother did so for years on my behalf.”
That surprised her, and she didn’t interrupt.
“Many of our women hold key positions in careers and even in government. When it comes to the pride, we live by instinct. Period. If anyone, male or female, or even Holt rose to challenge my authority and wanted to lead my people, I would kill them. That would not be the decision of a man. It would be the lion in me. I’m sorry if you can’t understand that—or won’t. That is what we are and what we will always be. Now, please excuse me. I have to make things right with them.”
Sienna watched him walk away and the crowd swallow him up. Over the hush in the group, she easily made out his deep voice, strong and authoritative yet apologetic. A wave of healing flowed over them, and she knew he had initiated it. There was so much she could learn, but no matter what he said, there was no way she would fit in here or even wanted to. No single man should have that much control over others, and the fact that it was Toron was even more terrifying. As she had already planned to, she was leaving, that night, and she wouldn’t be back.
* * * *
“Are you serious?” Sienna growled in frustration. She stood on the side of the road, arms folded around her to ward off the chill . Her taxi driver bent over his tire trying to change it. To make things worse, it started to drizzle.
Sienna sneezed and shivered. “I don’t suppose your jack will hold if I sit in the car, huh?”
He eyed her over his shoulder, and something told her even if it did, he wanted her to suffer along with him. She was the one that was sacrificing way too much of her savings getting him to drive her this far. In the next major town, she planned to arrange for a bus to take her the rest of the way home, or if not then a train. She’d be the first to admit her escape wasn’t well-executed, and really what was one more night and half day when Toron planned to send her and Davon home in a comfortable and roomy car?
She sighed. Sometimes she made the most idiotic decisions, ones she regretted later on. What was she proving anyway, by leaving on her own terms? That she was scared of Toron and the attraction she felt toward him?
When lights flashed, and a car pulled in behind the taxi, Sienna craned her neck to see who it was. Surely, someone hadn’t spotted a lone woman and thought to grab her. With the mood she was in, she’d whip her claws out and tear him a new one.
A redirection of the wind blowing the rain brought her the scent of the man stepping from the lavish vehicle, and Sienna caught her breath. Toron. How the hell had he found her?
The rain chose that moment to pick up, and it drenched them both. She stared at the rivulets running off his handsome face, especially over his lips, which were compressed in a straight line. With hair plastered to his forehead in the sexiest way, he glared at her. Her heartbeat kicked up a few notches as she watched him approach, so nonchalant.
He didn’t speak to her, but slipped a hand into his pocket and removed his wallet. He peeled off a few bils from a thick knot and handed them to the cabbie. Then he opened the back door and took her bag from inside.
“Is this okay, miss?” the cab driver asked.
Toron scowled at him, and he fell silent. Although it was pointless, Sienna nodded to the man and allowed Toron to take her elbow to guide her to his car. She folded into the soft seat, surrounded right away with warmth. On the other side, Toron got in and reached into the back seat. He handed her a towel.
“Thanks,” she muttered, ungrateful.
He started the car and threw it into gear. “I won’t ask why you couldn’t wait until tomorrow afternoon. I am requesting that you do now.”
“Fine.”
They rode in silence back to his house, and she followed Toron inside. Talk about humiliation, it drenched her, but she had to appreciate that he didn’t press the issue. Not more than a whispered good night left her lips before she jogged up to her room and locked the door behind her. She leaned on it and shut her eyes, chest heaving. The man invaded her thoughts and threw he
r off balance.
Okay, Sienna, just get ready for bed, sleep late, and then you go home. She took a step away from the door, and a knock made her jump. He didn’t have to call out to know it was him. Sienna glanced down at herself. Her blouse, still a little damp, stuck to her moist skin. The thin material defined her bra.
“J-Just a minute.” She rifled through her bag looking for her robe, but couldn’t put her hand on it. The door opened and closed. She froze with her back to him. “You shouldn’t just waltz into a woman’s room without getting permission.”
His hands brushed her shoulders. “May I come in?”
Bastard! Her heart hammered in her chest, and her throat went dry.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound like it. “Your scent is driving me insane. Tell me to go, and I will .”
