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If I wasn’t already on Roman’s shit list for fighting Monroe out in the open like that, I might’ve risked pissing the Cadre off by challenging Shane while he wore a vamp fang in a Fang City.
I can’t, though. The last thing I need is another visit from Dominic or Tamera.
Worse, what if it landed me an eviction notice from Muncie?
He’d like that, wouldn’t he?
Well played, Shane. Well played.
“Anyway,” he drawls, and I have to resist the urge to snarl over at him, “I just wanted to tell you. The ruby? It was your father’s idea. I still want you to consider it a mating gift, but it’s more than that.”
“Oh, yeah? What is it?”
I didn’t think his dimples could be that deep. But as Shane widens his smile, the tiny craters in his cheeks only become more noticeable.
“It’s a summons,” he tells me, almost gleefully. “The Alpha of the Western Pack is calling you home. And, believe me, I did my research. I know exactly what happened to every last one of those one hundred and fourteen Betas so that I don’t end up one fifteen. If you ignore his summons? You’llwishhe was as lenient with you, Gem.”
And then, before I can come up with another retort, Shane Loup has the nerve to blow me a freaking kiss before he strolls back into the park, content in the knowledge that—right now—there ain’t a single thing I can do to stop him.
Bastard.
* * *
To make matters worse,when I slink back to the apartment with my tail between my legs, Aleks isn’t there.
Not like he should be. He has his patrol to worry about, and if he got in touch with Roman, odds are the leader of the Cadre called him over to headquarters. One of the main reasons why I’ve never met Roman is that he rarely leaves the penthouse that the Cadre is based out of. And, like most older vamps, he doesn’t care for the telephone. He expects his reports in person so of course he’d order Aleks to HQ.
I try to tell myself that that’s fine. I’m more pissed that Shane blunted my claws by walking into Muncie with a fang of his own than the fact that he was responsible for the ruby that had me obsessing these last few days. The summons from my dad? That’s not even something for me to worry about. Unless he wants to march into Muncie and drag me out kicking and screaming, no way in hell am I going anywhere because Wicked Wolf Walker wants me to.
Still, this is a new complication that I don’t freaking need.
It only takes a few minutes of debating with myself before I go searching for my phone. I’d left it behind on the charger which was probably not the smartest thing I could’ve done since I ran off toward the sound of the howl without knowing justwhatI was running into, but it hadn’t occurred to me at the time. Now, though? I need it.
I’m just finishing my call when I sense Aleks back in the apartment. I quickly hang up, tossing the phone somewhere behind me as I listen. Soft footsteps echo down the hall before stopping just outside my bedroom door.
Knock, knock.It’s such a gentle rapping sound.Knock, knock, knock.
I almost call out that the door is open, that he can come in, before I think better of it. Inviting Aleks into my bedroom? Yeah. Probably not the best idea.
“I’ll be right there,” I yell out instead.
Through the wood, I hear Aleks’s accented voice say, “I’ll be in the living room waiting for you.”
Works for me.
I give it a few seconds, then leave the bedroom. My boots hit the wooden floor of the hall so much louder than his careful steps, I can’t help but notice.
If he recognizes that I’ve changed out of my pajamas, he doesn’t say anything about it. He just rises up from the couch, giving me a careful once-over as if making sure that I’m in one piece.
It’s nowhere near the leer that Shane gave me while I was still in my pj’s, but something about the worry in his gaze has me feeling just as uncomfortable.
I clear my throat. “I thought you went out on patrol.”
“Not yet. I had to go see Roman.” Yup. Thought so. “So you know, he is aware of the situation.”
“Well, that howl was fucking loud. I think everyone in Muncie is aware of the situation.”
“Not that. Stefan.”
