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“Well, it doesn’t take much with Leven. He’s always been like that. Even I don’t know why he’s so slow to trust.”
“Trauma, it seems everyone in this place has some, but buries it down.” I laughed humorlessly. “What’s yours?”
“Abusive parents and abandonment,” he said. “You?”
“Death after death and choosing life over tradition,” I admitted. “I’d have suffocated and died in that pack too.”
“Well, then I’m glad you escaped,” he said gently. “It’s been much more fun around here.”
“Me too,” I sighed. “I just wish I didn’t have a stalker.”
He chuckled. “Well, we’ll figure that one out eventually, I’m going to have a security meeting tomorrow if you want to come.”
“That’d be great,” I admitted. “I hate being left out of shit that involves me. I’m not helpless.”
“I’ve never thought that for even a second. Leven has, but I haven’t,” he promised, and I believed him. He may have been cautious, but I’ve proven my worth.
“He won’t trust me until the threat is gone and I’ve left the pack.” That part kind of hurt.
“You plan to leave?” Callum asked, turning to look at me intently.
I shrugged. “I will if I’m not welcome here. Why stay if I’m sleeping in a tiny room in a house that doesn’t want me, constantly having to prove myself?”
“It won’t be like that forever. And I’ve offered to change your living situation. I never thought he’d do this,” Callum grounds out. “Give the rest of us a chance.”
“I am,” I promised.
“Speaking of, the full moon is this weekend. We do a big dinner which I’m sure Emma will recruit you to help with, but would you like to go with me?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I teased. He smiled, but all hints of cockiness were gone.
“I am,” he admitted. “We can keep it casual if you want for now, I’m just shooting my shot here.”
“I’ll be honest, I’m not looking for anything permanent, and I’m not willing to be exclusive right now. I don’t want to add to the tension around here. Not yet,” I explained softly.
“That’s fine. Just come with me,” he urged. There was a hint of playful pleading there, and with a flash of dimple, I was hooked.
“She’s coming with us.” Leven’s voice cut in. We’d been so caught up in talking that we hadn’t heard him approach. Callum had a way of drawing you in like that.
“I don’t think you make my decisions for me, Leven. Especially after making your feelings very clear this morning. You can fuck right off with that,” I told him evenly, not letting my voice betray me. He didn’t need to know how much his words hurt or how they affected me.
“Nyx has been dealt with,” he said like that solved things.
“You had no right. He did protect me and Garren all night. Whether he slept or not is irrelevant. It was the first real sleep I’ve gotten since arriving,” I bit out.
“What did you do?” Callum asked, angry now. “Last time I checked, I’m the alpha of this pack.” He stood to match Leven’s height, the two men staring off, brute strength and calm fury meeting face to face.
“And I’m in charge of security,” Leven growled. “He’s suspended until further notice.”
“No he’s not. Reinstate him. He did his job; you just don’t like anyone getting close to Vanya. Which is odd because you have been nothing but trash to her. She lives in a fucking cell, you dismiss her at every turn, and the way you talk to her is ridiculous. If you don’t fix this, and fast, you’ll find yourself demoted. I won’t have someone protecting my pack if they can’t even treat one woman with respect.”
Leven seethed at Callum’s words, his nostrils flaring as he breathed fast and hard like a bull. If Callum wasn’t the alpha, I had a feeling he’d be punching him in the face.
“Callum, where does Nyx live? I need to go apologize for this,” I asked loudly. “And yes, I’ll go with you to the full moon gathering.”
Leven and Callum both turned to me, one a look of triumph, the other of pure loathing.
“He’s right next to the pavilion,” Callum answered. “The one with the biker garden gnome out front.”
