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I gulped down my tears. He held too tight. I started to tell Searlehe’s still my mate, then my brain swerved in another direction.
“You don’t have to face him,” Searle went on, voice like steel wires. “Just walk away. Stay with me.Staywith me.”
This wasn’t the Searle to argue with.
“We can leave. We can go back to AmberHowlnow. We’ll use the vial.” His grip wasfartoo tight.
Between my legs throbbed with the memory of his grip. My chest reminded me of him pinning me to the bed while I screamed.
Was this how I ended up stuffed in a bag and thrown into the bed of a truck? My battered, anguished brain stumbled while my heart beat in an anxious rhythm. “You know Demetrius and Marcella will insist I face him. That was the deal. We can’t leave. We can’t look like cowards.”
Searle’s grip hit a burning pinch, then he snarled to himself before saying, “Yes, yes, they will. You’re right.”
I slowly turned on the television and turned it to inane public access, which featured someone discussing a spate of recent alien abductions and bisected bovines.
It seemed like a long time before Searle sat down on the bed to read a book. Not sure he actuallyreadanything, but that’s what he seemed to be doing.
Eventually,someone came to knock on our door.
My heart jumped.
Searle went to answer it. Demetrius and Henri were on the other side, wearing jeans and shirts. The presentable but not too fussy version of themselves. Less human attention in our current surroundings.
“It’s time,” Demetrius said.
“For?” Searle inquired.
Demetrius gave Searle anare you dumblook. “For her to see Sterling. Go with Henri.”
“Alpha—”
“He survived, Searle. We knew it was a possibility.”
Searle gripped the door. “Alpha—”
“Searle. Sheisn’t yours,”Demetrius growled. “Donotmake me discipline you again. This time, I will do it with an audience. This matter with Sterling is concluded, and the next chapter doesn’t involve me looking the other way. Sheisn’tyours. No matter what happens with Sterling, she’s not coming back to you.”
Henri reached around in front of Demetrius and shoved Searle’s hand off the door. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”
Searle moved as if to turn back towards me, but Henri pulled him forward and propelled him down the hallway.
Demetrius stepped fully inside the hotel room. The door swung shut behind him. “Good. I see you’re ready.”
I’d made myself scrub as much of the brown dye out of my hair as possible. Housekeeping had been a little bewildered by my request for dish soap, but supplied it anyway. Now my hair was a stained reddish shade like dead autumn leaves. Not as good as Mint’s professional touch, but good enough. I’d chosen a dress of muted pink and plain panties. I needed to look presentable, but not like I was trying to sell myself when I confessed my sins.
“This might end badly,” I told Demetrius.
Demetrius took in my hair. “If it does, we’ll figure it out. Although I wish you had left your hair dye intact.”
“You know that wasn’t going to work long-term.”
“No. There are already rumors you’re alive. Very strong rumors. I imagine no matter what happens, I am going to be compelled to produce you.”
“Youknew, though.”
He shrugged while he turned his phone over in his hands.
“I know you didn’t expect this, but tell me you at least have a plan,” I said. “Because I don’t get the feeling we’re going to get out of your maw. If you’re planning on double-crossing us, I really don’t suggest you do that. Garrett’s expecting it.”
