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Surprised, Evan laughs. “I suppose that’s true, though not all wolves are created equal.”Not all of us are monsters like Axel. I’m glad Nora got to know Toth’s pack first. Toth is a good man, and Rook is one of the best.
“I’m sure they aren’t. Just like with any group of people. I’ve seen the worst of the human race all my life, but I know there are good ones out there. As for wolves, well, I admit I quite like you guys. Aside from the rogues that attacked me, I’ve had a great experience dealing with your race.”
Evan smiles proudly. “I’m glad to hear it. And, might I add, if you do decide to make the change, you’ll be a wonderful addition.”
I don’t know how to answer that. How can I explain Rook’s possessiveness without explaining my curse? It’s not something I want to get into tonight with a man I just met. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you to say.”
The song comes to an end, and Evan lets go of me with a playful sigh. “I suppose I should return you now. But seriously, Nora…” His smile vanishes, and his face grows somber.“Thank you.”I start to protest, but he shakes his head. “No. You saved my life. I am in your debt. If there is ever anything I can do for you, all you have to do is ask.”
Arguing is futile, so I force a smile and nod. “I’ll do that.”
Evan walks me back toward Rook, but Axel steps in front of him, his hand outstretched to me. “Think you have one more in you?” he asks.
His smile is more of a leer and makes me feel dirty, but I force myself to stay pleasant. “Of course.”
“So…” Axel says on the way to the dance floor, “you’re the woman who saved my beta. Evan talked about nothing but you for weeks.”
We reach the spot where Evan and I had just been dancing, and Axel pulls me into his arms. Unlike his gentlemanly beta, Axel lifts my arms around his neck and slides both of his hands low around my hips, pulling me closer to him than I care to be. I grit my teeth and force my smile to stay on my face.
“He said you’re special, not the average human.”
“I have my gifts,” I say vaguely. It appears Axel and I have the same purpose for this dance—to feel each other out and glean as much information as we can.
I wonder what her powers are. She’s so dominant, and if she’s as powerful as rumors claim, she would be a great luna for my pack. Much better than Marie. She’s so much more beautiful, too.
“You definitely have your gifts,” he agrees. It’s completely suggestive, and he squeezes my hips a little to emphasize his point. I want to gag.
I’ll have to get Marie out of the way.Easy enough to tip off Peter to her location. He’ll take care of her himself. Rook’s going to be a problem, though.“So what’s the deal with you and Rook?” he asks.
Again, I’m not sure how to answer him. I can’t decide if it’s better to let him think Rook and I are together or fake an interest in him. I decide to go with the first option, because wolves can smell lies and it would be very hard for me to fake any interest in Axel. “It’s complicated. We’re very good friends, but it seems Rook’s wolf is demanding more. I think he’s claimed me.”
Axel’s brows reach for the ceiling. “Then you two aren’t dating?”
Again, I decide truth and vagueness are the way to go. I shrug. “He cooked me dinner and escorted me to his Pack’s social.”
Hmm. It’s more serious than I thought. I’ll have to get Rook out of the picture before I turn her. That means I’ll have to take care of his brother also. I’ll have to order hits on them both before we attack Peter’s pack. I can’t have theWinters brothers fighting with Peter. They’re too powerful.
“Well, my congrats to the happy couple, then,” Axel says, without missing a beat. “I have to admit, I didn’t think Rook would ever choose another mate.”
I chuckle. “Neither did he. We were both quite surprised when his wolf started acting so possessively of me. Alpha Toth was plain shocked.”
“I can imagine.”He’s probably worried Rook plans to take the pack back. Perhaps letting Rook live a while longer is a good thing. He’s probably an excellent distraction for Peter. I’ll have to ask Jeffrey what he thinks about it. He just can’t mate with Nora. He’ll be so much stronger then, and she’ll be that much harder to force into submission.
I shudder at that last thought and try to focus on what he said about Alpha Toth’s beta. So Jeffreyisin on the plan to attack. At least, in some capacity. He’s spying for Axel, at the very least.
The song comes to an end, and Axel stops spinning me in slow circles. He doesn’t let go of me just yet, though. He pulls my hips so close that our bodies press together, and he leans down to sniff my neck. After a deep inhale that has my skin crawling, he nuzzles me, as if deliberately trying to wipe his scent on my skin. “It was lovely meeting you, Nora,” he whispers.
Across the room, there’s a fierce snarl and we both look over to see that Alpha Toth and Terrance are holding Rook back. He looks like he wants bloodshed. Nick, too, for that matter. Axel chuckles and lets me go, but he takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Until we meet again.”By Christmas, you’ll be mine.
I don’t think so.
I somehow manage to force one last smile, then quickly escape the creep. He must realize he pushed Rook too far, because he doesn’t escort me back to my friends, but rather, melts into the crowd heading toward the exit.
I hurry back to my safety net of friends, trying to shake off the heebie-jeebies Axel left me with. “Well,” I say when I reach the group. “That was unpleasant.”But informative, I try to add with my eyes and a subtle nod.
Rook scoops me into his arms, eyes lit up like torches and chest heaving. I freeze, knowing this is his wolf I’m dealing with and that he’s extremely unhappy. Alpha Toth, Nick, Terrance, Parker, Wulf, and even Oliver all look ready to jump in and save me even though there’s no way Rook would hurt me like this. Hurt anyone else who gets to close, yes, but me? He’d protect me with his life.
He buries his face in my neck and snarls again when he smells Axel on me. His entire body starts to shake. Terrance doesn’t like that sound and matches his snarl with a protective growl of his own.
