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16
MADDOX
Iwatched Addie pause on the stairs. Following Addie’s gaze, I noticed the dark-skinned woman with long braids, lime-green at their tips. The woman stood in the living room like she owned it. There was an air of confidence around her that some men might have found intimidating.
This had to be the witch that the Pack had called in.
I put a hand to Addie’s back to urge her forward, but she didn’t move. After a moment, she made a small sound in the back of her throat. She ducked her head and stepped aside to let me pass. Instead of leaving her there, I paused at Addie’s side and bent close to ask her what was wrong.
I stole another glance in the witch’s direction, so I could try to find what was bothering Addie. The witch smiled and waggled her fingers in my direction. She had sharp canines, which would have made me assume she was a vampire had I not already met one in the flesh.
Addie shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. Go on without me.”
My beast snarled. I stepped between Addie and the witch. If this woman was a threat to Addie, then she had to leave. It didn’t matter if the witch could help us in this case. We would solve it without her.
But the way that Addie refused to meet my gaze made me think that wasn’t the case. Addie was intimidated, but not by the witch’s power. I got the sense that Addie saw how the witch oozed sexual confidence, and she thought that she couldn’t measure up.
I wasn’t a man of words. I didn’t even know what to say in this situation. My beast had several ideas. I could push Addie against the wall and kiss her right in front of everyone. I could whisper all the things I wanted to do with her. I could make a declaration of love right here.
The realization hit me out of nowhere.
I was in love with Addie. Damn woman was a menace and a disaster waiting to happen. She ruined my life time and time again. That didn’t stop me from loving the way she lifted her face to the sun whenever she stepped outside, or how she dressed to show off her powerful thighs.
That’s when I decided that it was okay to love from a distance. The way that Addie and I used each other wasn’t healthy. We would never make a good couple. I could protect her and make sure that the rest of her life was lived out in peace, but I couldn’t love her without taking too much from her.
What a fool was I? Falling in love with a woman who caused me so much strife? It had to be one of the biggest mistakes of my life, but I couldn’t go back now. My wolf had made up its mind, and I was inclined to agree.
It was a shame that we would never be anything more to one another. If our orbits came too close, we would inevitably hurt one another again. She would drag me into another life-altering situation. I would drain her of her life force once more.
Though I deemed it an impossible romance, my beast growled at me. That growl emanated from me as I took Addie’s hand and led her down the stairs, so we could talk to the witch once and for all.
“It took you long enough,” the witch said with a smug grin. She glanced between the two of us.
Those sharp green eyes took in every ounce of information she could gather in just one look. The witch caught the way I held Addie’s hand and must have noted Addie’s reluctance to lead the way into the room because she leaned forward, putting her breasts on display, as she reached for my infected hand.
The witch was beautiful, and the bodice of her bodysuit highlighted every detail of her petite frame. A pair of small, bone earrings dangled at the sides of her face, pulling my attention to her painted lips. Oddly enough, I couldn’t have cared less. I felt nothing when she touched me. Instead, I thought of Addie’s curvier body in that tight dress she’d worn when I came for her help. She’d been wearing a modified sweater that had hidden her breasts like a present waiting to be unwrapped later.
I’d teased her for it that day, but now I looked back and wished she would wear it again.
Addie
While Bianca handledMaddox’s arm, his attention remained firmly fixed on me. My cheeks heated under his intense stare. The way the corner of his mouth lifted and brought a light to his face made my heart flutter. He never looked this happy.
The man had just admitted to me that he didn’t have a soul, yet here he was smiling like that didn’t matter.
“Hmm,” Bianca muttered. “This is definitely a kind of soul magic. Where’s that demon? Wasn’t she toying with soul magic for a while?”
Vi poked her head in the door just long enough to flip Bianca off. Bianca didn’t respond. She just rolled her eyes and went back to studying Maddox’s infection.
“You said you got this from a shifter bite?” She raised one brow as she looked up at Maddox.
“We’re not sure if the wolf was a shifter, but yeah. The creature bit Maddox.” I spoke before Maddox could, which he didn’t seem to mind.
Bianca’s lips twisted to the side. I thought she was weighing her options, then she threw her hands into the air.
“Nothing I can do about that.” She turned and grabbed her bag.
“Hold up!” I jumped in front of her to block her way. “You’re telling me that you’re on the Pack’s payroll, and you can do nothing?”
