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“She’s none of your concern,” I say slowly.
Grant raises his brows. “Isn’t she? A packless, feral she-wolf turned away from her own pack for what? Doing her duty as a wolf and informing us of a bitten witch? Sounds more like she deserved a promotion in your ranks.”
A dry laugh escapes me. “Being a snitch and a gossip doesn’t mean you’re raised within the pack ranks. And being unable to follow orders or have any gods damn common sense means I have no room in my pack—at all. Not for that kind of weak minded bullshit.”
He slowly nods his head. “I see. So, this witch—that you’ve stated is your mate—is the root cause of you exiling one she-wolf and killing another wolf. All within a month’s time.”
“Is there a question in there?” I ask, sighing. “Is there any point to this insufferable formality? I run my pack as I always have—without you.” Standing, I tug down my sleeves, adjusting the buttons. “I’ll be going—”
“Going? So soon?”
My heart drops at the sound of the voice, and I whirl around. Blonde curls frame emerald eyes, and the stench of her sickly sweet perfume makes me gag. “How the hell did you get in here?” My nails lengthen into claws, readying to shift and attack.
Monique laughs, the trill sound piercing.
I don’t miss the flinch of each councilman at the table, nor do I overlook their lack of surprise at seeing a witch in the lodge. I glare at them, keeping the woman in my peripheral. “What the hell is going on?”
Rathmann’s eyes light up. “Monique has beensohelpful. She’s been able to tell us exactly where your stupid little hybrid is and how to capture her. Can’t be too hard with her lack of magic, right?” A sickening smile cracks his face in half, and I fight back the urge to tear it off him. “Apparently, yourgirlfriendis wanted by her own coven for treason. Isn’t that something?”
Grant holds up a hand, silencing Rathmann’s laughter. “Monique, we were told you’d deal with this… issue of the bitten witch. We’ll handle Disantollo ourselves.”
“Of course,” she says, smiling from Grant to me. “You were so much fun to play with, Gideon.” The way her lips form my name is wrong, making my skin crawl. “Though, it was such a disappointment that you were able to fight my curse charms so well.”
Glancing between the council and Monique, the pieces slowly click into place. The stale air around the package outside my window, just as stale as the air outside the lodge today. The fog clouding my head, changing my wolf’s voice, making me distrust Adara, and the way she mentioned it so casually at my bar.
“Think of all the suffering you could’ve avoided if you would’ve just rejected her from the start. But no.” Her eyes narrow into slits. “You had tofall in love. You had toaccept your mate bond.You had toprotecther and ruin my curse charm at every turn.” All the rage melts from her face as her smile comes back, making my stomach turn. “Ah, but all the fun I’ll have with her now.”
The doors burst open behind Monique, the red head of my nightmares swaying over the threshold. A tight leather dress, as red as her hair, hugs Aramin’s curves, her heels clicking over the hardwood floors. She brushes past Monique without a glance, heading straight toward Rathmann. “You called.” She stops right before him, popping one hip out as she purses her lips.
“I called three hours ago,” he hisses. “Sit down or get out. You’re interrupting the council.”
A small flash of anger sparks across Aramin’s eyes, but she looks at Grant with an apologetic look. “My apologies, sir.” She bobs her head once before moving to stand at the back wall. She catches sight of me, claws out, and huffs a laugh.
“I don’t have time for this,” I growl, shaking my head as I move toward the doors to leave, but Monique sidesteps into my path.
“Make time then,” she says, her lip curled in disgust.
I keep walking, invading her space until my face is inches from hers. “I should’ve killed you the minute she showed up on my doorstep. Bleeding. Covered insoot.”I sweep my gaze down her body, traveling back up to her narrowed eyes. “If not then, I should’ve killed you when you went to lay your hand on her again in my bar. Move before I decide that this is the perfect place for your life to end—among the very creatures that you hate.” Anger boils inside me, and my fangs grow, piercing into my lip. I want to kill her now, but the need to be with Adara and protect her from whatever plans Monique has set into motion overpower that bloodthirst growing inside me.
Monique grits her teeth, nostrils flaring. “I don’t take orders from half-bred fleabags. Back up before Ihelp you.”
I shove past her, not wanting to waste my time any more than I already have, but just as I reach the door, a bolt of lightning spikes through me. I crumble to the floor with a shout, wrapping both arms around my stomach as nausea roils through me.
Heels click behind me before the bottom of Monique’s stiletto presses against my throat. She quirks a brow at me lying on the floor, but I can’t move. My body is rigid, my muscles stiff and unyielding, and my wolf is stuck inside me.
I can’t shift.
And I can’t move.
And I can’t hear my wolf.
A lazy smile spreads across her face, and she presses down harder with her heel, the sharp end piercing into my throat. “What’s the matter,” she whispers, mirth dancing in her eyes. “Witch got your tongue?”
Chapter nineteen
Adara
“You sure you don’t want to train?” Frank asks, peering over at me from the kitchen doorway.
