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Taken care of. Does that mean what I think it means? “Axel’s dead, then?”
Alpha Toth nods. “He went after Rook first. Rook killed him in self-defense. All of the wolves who fought for Axel were killed, including about ten rogues that Axel hired.”
I nod. It’s strange that I’m not as upset about all the death as I should be. Perhaps I’m finally getting used to the underworld and its violence.
My heart skips a beat. I’ve learned enough about pack life in the last few weeks to know what it means that Rook killed the alpha of the Warterloo pack. “So, you’re going to be the new alpha for Waterloo?”
I’m proud of him, but a surprising ache throbs in my heart thinking that he’s going to move to Waterloo and become their alpha. He won’t have time to train me anymore. I’m going to miss him.
As if he can sense my sadness, Rook gives my knees a squeeze. “I didn’t accept,” he says softly. “I handed the position over to Evan. It’s his pack anyway. He loves those wolves and has been looking out for them, trying to shelter them from Axel as much as he could for a long time. He deserves the pack and will make a great alpha.”
I bite my lip, trying to hide my relief. It makes me feel selfish to want to keep Rook away from a position he was born for. “Is that what you really want?” I ask.
Rook lifts his hand to my face and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I think you know what I want,” he murmurs.
My face flames, and I look away, unable to meet his gaze. “Rook…”
“You’re not ready,” he says. “I know that. But I’m not willing to let you go, either. Not now that I know what I want. You might not have been turned, but my wolf has still claimed you. Whether you accept me or not, I am yours.” He clears his throat and sits back. “I’m leaving my pack and moving in with Wulf.”
My eyes snap back to him, and I gasp. “Rook! Why would you do that?”
He pins me with a determined stare. “To be closer to you.”
My heart stutters in my chest. “Rook, they’re your pack. You can’t give that up just to—”
“I shouldn’t really be in the pack, anyway,” he interrupts. “I have no place in the hierarchy if I’m not going to be alpha. I know it, Peter knows it, and the pack knows it. I’ll be fine in the city with my brother.”
I shake my head. “You weren’t before. You told me yourself that the last time you went to live with your brother, you missed your pack and needed to come home.”
“It’s different now,” he says quietly. I don’t ask what he means. It’s obvious in his stare.
I can’t believe he’s doing this. I’m both thrilled and terrified by it. I want him to be closer to me. I love his company, his friendship, and I know he’s good for me. My relationship with him has been healing me. I’ve come so far with my fear of physical touch since we started hanging out. Werewolves are so affectionate. He constantly touches me, and when we’re training, he has to touch me. And I allow it, because, deep down, I trust him. I need him. I just worry that he’s sacrificing too much, and that I won’t be able to give him everything he wants in return.
“It’ll be okay, Nora,” he promises. “You’re going to need me, anyway. With your glamour gone, you’re going to need all the protection you can get.”
His statement completely derails my train of thought. “What do you mean? Why?”
All the men in the room exchange serious looks. It’s Nick who decides to be the bearer of bad news. “Sirens…in history…have been…hunted.” My eyes bulge.Hunted?“They were hunted to extinction. Or so we thought. You may very well be the only one. Your mother was, no doubt, in hiding. Her death may not have been random, either.”
I gasp. Could my mother have been killed by rogue vampires because of what she was? Had they been hired to kill her? My chest burns at the thought. “Why?” I croak. “What’s so bad about being a siren?”
“You’re strong, Nora,” Terrance says. “Very powerful. One of the most powerful kind of fey there is.”
“Many fear your kind. Men, especially. They say there’s nothing more powerful than a siren’s song. You have the power to control minds. You can capture men with a single look.”
My blood turns to ice in my veins.That’swhat happened before. When that sorcerer kidnapped me, and again when the rogue wolves attacked me, I had used my siren’s song on them to save myself. The wolves were terrified of what I was doing, and the one I’d captured in my thrall was so angry he tried to rip out my throat. Nick’s right. I’m dangerous.
“It makes so much sense,” I whisper. “The way men have always been attracted to me…”
“It’ll be worse now,” Parker says. “Your glamour was suppressing your gifts. Only a fraction of your power was escaping. Now you’re…”
He looks me over with admiration, and dread washes over me. “Oh, shit.” I look around at the group of men surrounding me, and my stomach churns. “I’ve done it to you guys, haven’t I? I’ve captured you or whatever.”
“You drew us to you, maybe,” Rook says. “But you’ve never taken our will. We’re here for you because we want to be.”
“We’re not hopelessly in love with you, either,” Nick says and grins. “Well, at least notallof us. Magic boy over there is a goner, but you haven’t ensnared me.”
Oliver blushes, and I glare at Nick on his behalf. Nick chuckles. “Don’t worry about us. We all have the power to leave if we want to.”
“But we won’t,” Parker insists. “You’ll learn to control your gift, and we’ll keep you safe while you do.”
I take a deep breath and try to accept what they’re saying. They don’t seem worried, but I have doubts. I don’t want to hurt them. I’m starting to love each of these men in their own ways. They’re my friends. My family, even. I don’t want them in my life because I’ve put them under some kind of spell. As I look at all the determined faces around the room, I gather up my own resolve. I will do whatever it takes to learn to control my curse.
