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“Okay, I’m just going to put this out there,” Kelly started. “I have this huge desire to turn around and leave. The building gives off a vibe that says something terrible will happen if I go in there.”
“Yeah, I get that. It’s magic. I can feel it concentrated at the doors. I would guess this is a shifter library and the magic keeps the humans away.”
“Huh. Well, next time they should try harder.” And then she walked up and grabbed the handle, pulling the door open and stepping inside.
Chapter 7
Luca
Back at the packhouse and working at my desk, I felt much more at ease here than at the office. My faded jeans and tee-shirt beat a suit and tie every single day. My great-grandfather might have liked the stuffy attire, but I preferred comfort. Wolves needed other wolves, and even though I was regional alpha, I had a pack of my own that I protected.
Ivy occupied every waking thought, making work difficult at best. My wolf constantly grumbled, pressing his will and insisting that we hunt down our mate and finally claim her. Giving up on the mounds of paperwork, I pushed away from the desk and headed for the kitchen for a cup of coffee. It smelled like Margaret had recently brewed a fresh pot.
As I took my first calming sip, a hand curled over my shoulder. I turned and came face to face with a smiling Violet.
“Luca, you have been working so hard. Let me help you relax.” Red lips spread in a seductive smile, and I gulped my coffee. The burn slid down my throat.
“Violet,” I took a step back. “Not now.”
Those red lips puckered into an exaggerated pout. “You have been avoiding me.”
“I have,” I sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you that it is over? You should go home.” The pungent scent of her fury hit me full force.
Violet joined my pack in hopes of becoming the regional alpha’s mate. Of course, now that I had met Ivy, that tiny possibility had disappeared. But I could not tell Violet about Ivy. I still hadn’t totally accepted that I had found my mate, but I would not tell Violet that.
“You do not mean that, Luca.”
“I do,” I reiterated, keeping the coffee mug between us.
Devon interrupted, saving me from Violet before she could ask any questions.
“Alpha, when you have time, I need to speak with you.” His eyes wandered back and forth between Violet and me.
“Now is good. Let’s go to my office.”
“Luca,” Violet tried again but I ignored her. There was nothing more to say. I never asked her to join my pack and our relationship was nonexclusive and very causal. I never promised her anything, nor did I allude that she would one day become my mate.
Leaving Violet standing in the kitchen, I headed to my office with Devon trailing behind me.
Devon, my head enforcer, joined Axel and me when he was merely fourteen years old. His dad, Draven, had been the alpha of the Locus pack but lost his life in a challenge for power. The new alpha gave Devon an ultimatum, fight or leave. He had wanted to fight the new alpha, but at fourteen, he hadn’t grown into his full strength. So, he left. When we found him, he had just found out that his mother had passed away from grief. Devon was angry and out of control, but we gave him a purpose. A pack of three, all orphans, all determined to bring change to the shifter world.
“Alpha,” Devon said with a quiet, somewhat troubled voice, lowering himself to the Ivory leather chair facing the desk. “The vampires’ are organizing. There are rumors about finding theone,but I have no idea what they are talking about. The one what?”
My heart rate kicked up a notch as I thought about the ramifications of the vampires’ organizing—ifthe rumor could be the truth. The last time that occurred, they attacked the council, wiping out numerous supernaturals and humans alike.
“And you don’t know who they are looking for?” I drummed my fingers on the desk, thinking.
“No, but the vampires are excited, which worries me greatly.” Devon hesitated and finally said, “I have been trying to dig up information on the agent, Ivy.”
The mere mention of her name made my wolf sit up and listen. It had been at least three days, but my wolf’s attraction to her had not diminished. In fact, it took every ounce of control I possessed not to hunt her down and claim her as mine.
I hardened instantly as I imagined those full lips wrapped around my cock, her gray eyes gazing up at me from where she knelt on the floor while thrusting into her warm, moist mouth. I cleared my throat and tried to think of something else. I could not give in to this mating bond blindly. As regional alpha, I had responsibilities that came first, and Ivy was an unknown. Something I planned on changing soon.
“Explain,” I said, leaning forward and entwining my fingers. I had assigned Devon the task of helping Ivy track and kill Fang, but since that night he had been quiet, distant even. I knew something had happened, and Devon would process everything and tell me if it was significant and if he thought it was important enough that I needed to know.
“Alpha, something happened that night you sent me on the mission. I should have reported it straight away, but I had no proof.” He raised his hands in exasperation. “Still have no proof that what I suspect happened ever occurred. I mean, it is not possible, and yet—something happened. It had to be her, but I have no idea how.”
He was rambling, making me more confused than ever. “Devon, just tell me.” I remember that he came back more subdued, preoccupied that night—nothing like his usual lethal self.
