AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stands, clearly too antsy to stay seated any longer, and paces toward the window. “It’s a long story, but… I’m looking for a woman.”
“A woman,” I repeat, the words dry in my mouth.
“The rogue attack you helped with—which again, I’m extremely grateful for—spooked her. She took off, and none of the trackers I have left can find her. Her scent disappeared near your territory line, otherwise I would never bother you with this.”
I can feel myself growing irrationally angry over the emotion in his voice.Calm the fuck down,I warn my wolf.
Nuh-uh. That’s all you, pal.
“No one touches my territory without me knowing about it,” I tell him. He’s a simple enough guy, I expect that to be enough to send him looking elsewhere, but I’m wrong. I can see the slight narrowing of his eyes, the suspicious pinch of his brow-line.
“I believe that,” Callum agrees easily. “Which is why I’m here to find out what you know about our missing woman. Her name’s Tess, she’s petite, but hard to miss. You might know her.”
I hum noncommittally, turning my attention to the computer to check my email. I don’t normally treat other Alphas so dismissively, especially not ones we consider allies, but I have no interest in indulging this man’s interest in Tess.
I can feel Cross’ eyes on me. This is such a fucking headache. If I had never gone to see the Luna Sovereign, I might have delivered her readily. But now, I feel a drive to protect Tess that I don’t like and can’t quite explain. My guilt over sending the rogues her direction in the first place only makes it worse.
Cross didn’t keep her safe; I will.
“Parker.”
“Cross.”
I can practically hear his teeth clenching from here. “Her sister wants her home, Parker. And I want her home too.” He walks back to my desk, his hands deep in his pockets. “Look, I know as well as anyone that having her around can be… troublesome. It took the whole first year to make sure my pack knew she was off-limits. Her scent is enticing. I can’t imagine anyone would want to take that on in a pack as big as this one, so if you know anything about where she might be…” he trails off, leaving me room to fill in the blanks.
I don’t.
“Can you at least talk to your pack? Ask if anyone’s caught wind of a strong scent passing through? I’m telling you, none of your men would have missed her if she came within smelling distance.”
I can already tell this guy isn’t leaving without answers.Tell him she’s ours, that’ll do it.My wolf is as helpful as always.
“Sure,” I lie.
Instead, I link to my pack and offer a warning,No one breathes a word to Callum Cross. Do you understand?
Yes, Alpha,echoes from across the pack.
“No one’s seen her,” I tell Callum. Maybe I could try a little harder to be convincing, but I’m really not all that concerned about him. He just lost half his pack in the rogue attack, there are bigger things he should be worried about right now than a woman.
Callum plants his palms on my desk and leans in as if we’re old pals. Apparently, my help against the rogues gave him the wrong idea about how close we actually are. I didn’t mind helping out his pack because occasionally we do construction projects together or trade resources.
“Look,” he says, his best mediator’s voice on, “I love this woman, and I think she got spooked and maybe found herself in trouble. There’s no other reason she wouldn’t have come home to us by now. I’ll do anything to find her and bring her home again, no matter who is standing in the way. You understand?”
Hearing him say he loves her disgusts me. The jealousy—as irrational as it is, as much as I don’t want her—burns me up from the inside. My wolf wins out.
“Tess Jarreau is my mate, and she’s staying. Now, feel free to see yourself out, and tell her sister she’s perfectly safe here with me. In fact, safer here than she was with you.”
Cross reels back as if I’ve struck him.
“Your mate? Tess came to my pack after yourejectedher. Which is all the more reason to send her home, since you clearly didn’t want her, and I do.”
“Things have changed.” At least until I can figure out what I want to do about her.
“I want to talk to Tess,” Cross demands.
I shake my head sternly. “Absolutely not.”
“That decision isn’t up to you. She’s a grown woman, and she can decide for herself if she wants to see me. You don’t speak for her.” He’s reddening, growing angrier by the second. He wasn’t lying about his feelings for her, he clearly feels passionately.
