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“Is this about yesterday, Skylar?” he asks hesitantly, his eyes shining as they lift to meet mine.
“Monte, I—”
“Please don’t shut me out, Sky,” he pleads, reaching across the table in an attempt to clasp my hands in his, but I keep them firmly out of his reach.
“I’m trying not to, Monte. That’s what this was, an olive branch. Show me that I can trust you by training Isabella.”
“You can’t trust me?” he exclaims, the sincerity fleeing his face. He pulls his hands back, fisting them as he looks back at me incredulously.
“Not when you keep disrespecting my boundaries, Monte.” I sigh, glancing at his hands, reminding him of the line he just attempted to cross.
“You’re right.” I almost believe the pained sigh that escapes his lips. “It’s just hard.”
He clamps his mouth shut, clearly cutting off the rest of what he wants to say.
“I understand, but I’m your Alpha, and if I keep tolerating your disrespect, you know how that will look in the eyes of the pack.”
“I know, Sky. I mean no disrespect from it, I promise.”
“Don’t just say the words; prove them to me.” I huff an indignant sigh. “If you don’t trust me to make the right decisions for myself and my pack, then you can’t be a part of my inner circle.”
“Whatever you need,” he declares. He claps a hand over his heart, his eyes sincere as he inclines his head.
“I’m going to be staying at the Whitlock compound, gathering intel on them,” I announce and stand from my chair, ready for this conversation to be over. He’s so hot and cold. Just when I think I have a read on him, he switches it up and makes me rethink everything. I need this space away from him for my resolve just as much as I need him to become complacent.
He gasps, snapping up from his seat. “Are you … are you sure that’s the best move?” he says, his tone switching from incredulity to impassivity at my pointed look. “We could just kill them.”
“I shouldn’t have to remind you about the threat the bears pose, Monte. Not after the memorial, not after uncovering Axel’s betrayal,” I grind out.
“You’re right,” he admits, scrubbing a hand over his face as he looks up at me. “I’m just worried about you.”
My stomach twists in disgust. I used to be swayed by his care and concern. Has that all been a lie? A fabrication to lead me towards what he wants me to do?
“Don’t be. Seline will be coming with me. Besides, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself,” I declare with a derisive snort.
“I just don’t understand why you need to stay there.” His lips quirk to the side, his eyes going distant for a moment.
“I need to find out what their larger plan is, Monte. Staying there gives me more opportunity to delve deeper and expose them.” I huff out a breath of frustration, hiding the way my heart sinks at the lie. “Besides, if I get close enough to their pack, I might be able to flip them to our side and show them what treachery their alphas are truly capable of.”
Monte takes a deep breath, as though he needs a moment to digest my plan.
Shivers of disgust creep up my spine as he smiles, the conniving look shining in his eyes making my skin crawl. “I should have never doubted you, Alpha.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” I attempt to mirror his look, bile rising at the idea of colluding to go against my mates now that I know they’re innocent.
I have no idea how dangerous Monte truly is, and until I have proof, one way or another, I need to keep my distance from him. If I kill him before I have proof, I could very well be dealing with a riot on my hands. I’ve never wanted to rule by force. I’ve always dreamt of having the open communication and respect that the Whitlock pack has. I just hope it doesn’t have to come to that because I won’t be going down without a fight, even if I have to bring in unlikely reinforcements.
Chapter Six
Zayn
“Ithoughtaboutyouroffer, and I decided I will come to stay with you until we can figure out who killed my father.” Skylar’s voice echoes into the hallway. I pause for a moment, my heart leaping into my throat at the thought of my mate so near, until I register the electronic distortion to her voice.
Peeking into the narrow opening, I watch as Everett leans back in his chair, a smug grin spreading across his face.
“Oh, little wolf, I knew you’d come to your senses, eventually. If you need me to command you to do anything else—”
“Can you stop being such a domineering bastard for once in your life?” she groans, clearly done with Everett’s goading.
