AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That wasn’t what we agreed,” he snapped.
Dario held his hand up toward Turk, silencing him.
“No, let’s be reasonable, Bishop,” Dario said. “It comes at no cost to you if you give her up. Like you said, she’s not a part of the pack. We get our power, you get yours, and you lose nothing.”
My anger rose to the same intensity that Turk’s anger still pushed up against me.
“I’m telling you that it’s not happening.” My voice had become a growl, my magic loose and my wolf awake and growling. “You can choose anyone else in the pack. I’m not even giving you a limited group to choose from. Anyone. Have at it.”
Turk shook his head and laughed bitterly.
“I knew this was going to be a bullshit meeting. What the fuck?” Turk glared at me and flared his power, letting it roll over me. Turk had never been a very powerful shifter, and even now, his power was less than impressive. He was a spoiled brat about to throw a tantrum, and I wasn’t in the mood.
“Why don’t you go take a walk to calm your tits while the grown-ups talk?” I clapped back.
Turk’s jaw dropped, and his eyes changed, becoming the jewel-tones of his wolf.
“Let’s not lose our heads over this,” Dario said.
“You’re right,” I said. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”
Dario looked at me pensively and stroked his salt-and-pepper beard. His eyes shifted between me and Turk as he thought.
“Let’s get down to the facts,” he finally said. “The deal was, we give you Alina’s spell to give you more power in return for a suitable mate for Turk.”
I nodded.
“I can appreciate that we weren’t specific enough on our end, but Turk has made up his mind. We’re specific now.”
I frowned. “Don’t tell me it’s not negotiable. Everything’s negotiable.”
“Is your need for power?”
I stilled at that. That part wasn’t negotiable at all. I needed the power so I could protect my own, keep my pack safe, and expand my territory.
“I didn’t think so,” Dario said. “Turk set his heart on this wolf shifter you’re so set on keeping away from us, and I’m afraid we’ve reached the point where I’m going to have to give you an ultimatum. If he doesn’t get Rory, you don’t get your power.”
I stared at Dario. “Are you kidding me?”
Dario laughed as if I’d said something funny rather than snap at him incredulously.
“Come now, Bishop. A businessman like you should understand how negotiations work.”
“You’re not negotiating,” I said grimly.
Dario didn’t answer, and my mind spun.
If I didn’t give up Rory, I wouldn’t get my power. If I did, I would lose her, but I’d have the power I needed to prevent what had happened with Aster from ever happening again. Then again, if I didn’t have Rory… wasn’t that like handing Aster over myself? I had to choose between power and love. I had to choose between my inherent need to protect and the woman I was so desperately trying to protect.
Fuck!
My skin burned hot, and my magic grew. It felt like I was being torn. On the one hand, there was Rory, and on the other, there was the ability to be the alpha my father never was, the protector that could take care of my own.
“No,” I said, my mouth moving of its own accord. Apparently, my mind had been made up. My subconscious had gone ahead and made the decision before my consciousness had caught up.
Rory wasmine.
“I beg your pardon?” Dario asked. “It sounded like you said ‘no.’”
