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Was is the key word there.
I know what she’s asking me. If she knew who I was when I walked into her cabin, then I’m betting she knows who my mate is; if not Ryker’s name, then that he’s another Alpha. Me? I’m the genius who went and confirmed it because it just dawned on me that there’s more to a formal mating than just moving into Ryker’s cabin, banging him whenever I want, and actually listening when he talks to me instead of refusing because I know best.
“Henry was killed by the former Beta of this Pack,” I say cheerily, my hands folded at my side so that she doesn’t notice that my claws are out, curling against my palm. I don’t want to threaten her, but I also don’t want her thinking we’re friends just because the Wicked Wolf insisted I stay in this cabin. “About a year and a half ago.”
“Davis killed him? Or… a year and a half ago?” Elizabeth nibbled on her bottom lip. “That could’ve been Rob. Maybe Martin.”
Oh. That’s right. My bio-dad has a nasty habit of going through Betas the same way I go through hair ties: I’ll use the same one for a couple of weeks to pull my blonde hair out of my face before it snaps, or it’s stretched out of shape, or I set it down on the bathroom counter and it just—poofs—disappears. Something that should last a while is replaced in an instant, as Gem grabs another one from the pack of fifty in her dresser drawer. Jack Walker treats his second-in-commands the same way. I wasn’t exaggerating when I threw the number in Shane’s face when he confronted me back in Muncie. He was lucky number one hundred and fourteen, and I can only imagine how many were between him and Christian.
“Henry was a good man.” For a heartbeat, she meets my gaze. I swallow my gasp as she says, “He didn’t deserve that.”
Holy shit. Black eyes. All of a sudden, her irises have gone the color of ink.
Now, that’s a bit unusual, isn’t it?
Elizabeth lowers her gaze, her eyelids gone hooded. I have no doubt in my mind that I saw what I saw, and that she’s aware of it, too. Now she’s hiding, and I don’t blame her one bit. Black eyes? I’ve seen Ryker’s go the color of molten lava when I test him—and they’re more like pure gold when he’s seconds away from coming inside of me—but black?
I’ve never heard of something like that happening before, and I already thought the silver was freaky.
“Yeah, well, from what I hear, there’s a lot of things that the Wicked Wolf does that his victims don’t deserve.”
My comment was meant to be flippant. The way Elizabeth’s head jerks up, her eyes wide and staring, makes it clear that she didn’t take it that way.
“Shh… you can’t talk like that.” She hurriedly waves her hands, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. The inky black of her eyes fades until they’re back to the shocking silver. “Not here. The Alpha has eyes and ears everywhere.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
Okay. Fine. No jabs at the Alpha so that I don’t give my new roommate a heart attack.
Got it.
Another grin. This one’s more to calm Elizabeth than anything, but it seems to work. “Sure thing.”
She shudders out a breath, tip-toeing around me, careful not to get too close. Swooping down, she grabs the suitcase nearest to her. “Come with me. I’ll show you to your room.”
* * *
The knockat the door has my inner wolf up and alert. This time, she knows exactly who is out there before Elizabeth pulls it open.
Christian. The Beta.
Behind him, I see that it’s finally starting to get dark. I lost track of how long I’ve been at the cabin, putting my stuff in an empty dresser that Elizabeth pointed out to me, but it’s gotta be at least six or seven by now.
Elizabeth’s hand tightens on the knob. I can hear the metal squeak as she gives the Beta an innocent look. “Christian. What are you doing here tonight?”
“You’ll be eating with the Alpha tonight. I’m here to escort you.”
Her shoulders immediately slump, but she covers it up with a small smile. “Thank you. I’ll be ready in a moment.”
His flat eyes lock on me. “You, too.”
Excuse me? “Oh. Yeah, I think I’m gonna have to decline. Jet leg, you know? I just finished unpacking. I think I’d rather stay in if it’s all the same.”
Christian purses his lips. “It’s not. The Alpha was very clear. He wants you to see everything the district has to offer. Dinner included. Unless,” he adds wryly, “you’d rather break your agreement with him so soon.”
Right. When I’ve yet to set eyes on Trish, I’ve been separated from Jace and Duke, and he has my phone.
That’s something I noticed when I was unpacking. I’d had it turned off for the plane ride, tucked in one of my suitcases so that I didn’t leave it behind in Accalia accidentally. Once I was alone in my borrowed bedroom, I immediately searched for it so that I could tell Ryker what was going on before he got too worried.
