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“Don’t.” For a second I think I’ve spoken out loud, but he’s moved away from me while the gamma also snarls. I blink, and Xadiel’s shaking form has Timoth by the neck, the second-in-command’s toes barely skimming the ground while they’re now nose to nose. “You have some explaining to do, Beta. What the bloody fuck is going on here?”
14
XADIEL
A FEW DAYS AGO…
Leaving her locked in feels wrong.
Everything has felt that way since she walked out of my office, the finality in her vow striking a chord deep at the core of who I am. What I am.
Shifters believe in the Moon Goddess and trust her implicitly. She does not make mistakes; each soul mate is brought together to fortify and help you grow. To bring you joy, love, and humility where needed. Yet I’ve cursed her decision when it comes to my witch—tried to break us.
I’ve hurt her. Almost severed our bonds with a verbal rejection that would’ve devastated my wolf and her essence.
I’m an arsehole.
The truth in that stings, but I grit my teeth and continue down the set of stairs that lead to my private quarters. I ignore the curious looks, the flaring of nostrils as they pick up her lovely scent, and it takes everything in me not to snap at them.
An angry bark builds, a possessive wolf’s caution, but I shake my head.
It’s not their fault.
I’ve made mistakes and plan to rectify them. Get the answers to end all my doubts.
My elite guardsmen meet me in the foyer, waiting as I walk past them and head straight for the forest. These ten will come with me tonight, hunting the warlock, although I have a feeling this will be a short outing.
He was bloody and broken, unable to hold his own weight when I left him. There’s no way he’s gotten far…
Unless Bartolo had help.
Possibly more than one person, and Isabella wasn’t one of them. That was clear when I mentioned his name and a baffled expression was her response.
At first, I’d blamed her. Can’t deny it. It made sense at the time to put this on my inability to think past my need and her softness—taste—but then I looked into her eyes. His name meant nothing to her.
No twitch. No blink. Not a bloody sign of awareness.
All I saw was the hurt and the finality to forget me. To rip me from her very essence.
It’s something I hate. Abhor the wrongness that lingers in the air between us.
“Shift and spread out. I want him found and back in the cells tonight.”
“Yes, Alpha King.”
My beast bursts forth mid-sprint, snarling into the early night sky while the pounding of paws disperses in different directions. Their minds are all connected to mine, their wolves hungry for the chase.
Slightly behind me and to the left, Cain’s sandy blond wolf appears. His head dips in acknowledgement, and then he follows my lead.
He knows how I am.
Wolves are pack animals: live, run, and eat as a family. We need the closeness. Thrive in a cohesive unit.
And I enjoy it, too, except for when I hunt.
We do not share. We do not accept anyone so much as breathing in our prey’s direction.
However, I make an exception this time.
