Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"What do we do?" Sierra stood and rubbed her arms. "I’d rather not run into Dick if I can help it. He hollers at me enough at the bar, and I called out sick because of the whole Sterlyn thing."
"Go into one of the guest bedrooms." Griffin pointed at one of the doors back down the hallway. "I’ll meet him outside and try to keep him from coming in."
"I don’t care if he knows I’m here," Killian scoffed, and took Rosemary’s spot on the couch. " Dove can stay in here with me while you take care of business."
"No, she’s going outside with me." Griffin shook his head and took my hand. "She’s my mate, and we’ve claimed each other. We need to be seen as a united front."
"Are you sure?" Sierra furrowed her brows. "From what I’d heard, your mom didn’t rule by your dad’s side, or at least, that’s the perception we had on the ridge."
"That’s true…but unlike my dad, I have the strongest wolf by my side, and one who can lead in her own right." Griffin kissed my cheek. "And we will not be seen as alpha and alpha mate, but as their leaders together." He stilled. If you ’re okay with that.
The fact that he wanted me beside him in all ways somehow deepened my affection for him. This was more than a mate-ship—it was a true recognition of the alpha wolf in both of us. A weak man couldn’t handle a strong woman beside him, but Griffin was anything but that. More than okay. I kissed his lips, letting him feel how much that meant to me.
"Yeah. On that note…" Sierra walked out of the room, pretending to dry heave.
"Thanks." Killian groaned. "You’re leaving me alone in here and making me watch those two like a creeper."
"If the shoe fits," I teased and gave Griffin a huge kiss, making loud noises.
Griffin’s shoulders shook as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"My eyes!" Killian cried and grabbed a couch pillow, putting it over his head.
A knock at the door turned our moment of fun into thick tension.
Dick was here—and I didn’t mean the one that had given me a good time in the shower.
Come on. Griffin intertwined our fingers. Let ’s get out there before he gets pissy. He hates waiting.
A little bit of anxiety flowed into me, alerting me that he was trying to hold the emotion back. That didn’t make sense. Why would he feel that way, talking to this man? Griffin was the alpha, not the other way around.
Another round of knocking happened even though we were almost at the door. The asshole could smell us through the door at this point, but he was still being impatient.
What the hell was wrong with this guy? I’d met him for only a few minutes at the bar right after I’d been attacked on my first day here, and something had felt off about him—but it had to be more than just off given the way he was acting, and the emotions churning inside Griffin.
Unable to stop myself, I yanked open the door and stepped outside right into Dick’s space, forcing him to take a step back.
His strong, musky sandalwood scent overwhelmed my nose. His short salt and pepper hair was gelled to the point of looking greasy, and he was rubbing his fingers along his dark beard. The suit he wore was the same color as his ebony eyes, and matched the vileness that radiated from inside him.
The bear shifter’s attack had thrown me off-kilter. This man had something worse than Luna did stirring inside him. No wonder Luna struggled. She must have inherited it from him.
"What are you doing here?" Dick bit out, before smoothing his face into a charming smile. "Shouldn’t you be with Killian?"
"Why would you ask such a thing?" I batted my eyelashes and asked lightly. If he wanted to play games, I could keep up.
"Aren’t you dating him?" He chuckled, but annoyance flashed in his eyes. "I wouldn’t want you to cause problems between him and Griffin. Killian will take over as alpha of Shadow Ridge’s guards one day...surely…so it wouldn’t be in Shadow City’s best interest for him and Griffin to be at odds—especially over a girl." He reached through the door and patted Griffin’s arm.
Wow, I had to admit he was good. He came off like the concerned father type.
"I’m sure you can smell that she’s not his any longer," Griffin said stiffly at the suggestion of me being with Killian. "So you have nothing to worry about."
"That’s what I was afraid you were going to say," Dick replied as he glanced at me, before focusing back on Griffin. "Can we talk?"
Griffin lifted his chin. "Anything you have to say can be said in front of my mate."
"Look, I understand what you think you feel, but I think it’s best if we speak alone." Dick cleared his throat, pulling at his tie. "Maybe she can go back in the house or something. Or, better yet—go to Killian’s."
The asshole was dismissing me. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. "No, I think I’m good here…and don’t worry." I couldn’t help but try to fracture his fa?ade. "Killian is in the house, watching a movie, so he’s close by."
"Oh, so he knows about this." Dick’s shoulders tensed, but he sighed like he was relieved. "Well, at least that’s something."
"Yeah, it is." Griffin wrapped an arm around me and led me to a round, black-wire table and chairs stationed on one side of his concrete front porch. We sat down, facing the front yard, the white siding behind us. Some sycamores were positioned in front for privacy and to provide shade.
"Okay, if this is how this conversation will go." A vein twitched between Dick’s eyebrows as he strolled over to us. Other than that slight sign of annoyance, he appeared calm—but there was a storm brewing inside him.
"What’s so important that you felt the need to leave Shadow City and drop in on our home?" Griffin asked, as he took my hand and laid it on the table in view of Dick.
Dick sat at the edge of his chair with his back completely straight. "Maybe you two are moving a little too fast…and she hasn’t been officially introduced to the council yet to solidify things, so I thought I should tell you that I’m worried about you, Griffin."
"Why are you worried about me?" Griffin asked as he looked at me with adoration. "This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time—maybe ever."
"How much do you actually know about this girl?" Dick leaned forward, waving a hand at me, but still somehow pretending I wasn’t even there. His eyes stayed locked with Griffin’s as if they were the only two people at the table. "Don’t you find it funny that she appears from nowhere, starts dating Killian, and then somehow puts the alpha of Shadow City under her spell? She’s climbing the ladder."
Yeah…no. Him not acknowledging me ended now. I refused to be dismissed and treated like I wasn’t an equal. " She is right here and finds your accusations offensive and boundless."
I’m sorry about this. Griffin linked, stroking my hand with his thumb. I’m not sure what’s gotten into him. He’s not normally like this.
In other words, Dick was normally better at keeping his charade in place. You have nothing to apologize for. Now I sounded like Rosemary…but it was true.
"I’m sure you do." He rolled his eyes and rubbed his hands together. "Griffin, I think of you as a son, and I’m concerned. This is a conversation that Atticus would have had with you right now. You and Luna have been friends since childhood, and she loves you—"
"There was never a me and Luna," Griffin interrupted, speaking slowly. "I know that you and Saga—" That’s his mate , Griffin linked to me, "—hoped that she and I would wind up together, and I stupidly didn’t discourage either of you. That’s my fault, but it ends now. Dove is my fated mate, and we’ve claimed each other. Everything is final, and you need to let this go."
"Sometimes lust can be confused for a fated mate connection." Dick lifted a hand as he shook his head, playing the concerned father role perfectly. "You wouldn’t be the first who was confused, and Luna is willing to forgive—"
"Are you saying that Griffin doesn’t know the difference between lust and a fated mate bond?" I growled as my wolf howled inside; Dick even insinuating that Griffin should be with someone else enraged me.
He must be acting like this because Luna is upset, Griffin justified.
Whether Griffin realized it or not, this prick was insulting his intelligence. I might not have worldly knowledge, but that didn’t give Dick the right to disrespect or disregard me. There was no doubt that Griffin and I were fated mates. The feelings were similar—attraction-wise—but lust didn’t explain the immediate connection and love that you felt for the person; the acknowledgment of both halves of the same soul seeing each other for the first time.
Dick glared, and the vein somehow appeared larger. "I’m saying that attraction can be a confusing thing and that he wouldn’t be the first that thought with his—"
"Dick?" I couldn’t stop my mouth from running. "It’s funny and fitting that it so happens to be your name."
Babe. Griffin sounded both horrified and amused, which was an odd combination. I love your sense of humor, but he has been good to me. He’s helped me so much since Dad died, so let ’s at least give him a break and not poke fun at his name, please.
Oh, shit. Griffin had no clue what this man was really like. He was completely buying Dick’s act. I had to tread carefully because this could become a problem between us. It wouldn’t break us, but I didn’t want to force my opinions on him and make him bitter or resentful. I had to get him to see the truth gradually because Griffin trusted Dick.
Of course, he did.
He was letting this man make decisions on his behalf. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t trust him. I needed to warn him about his intent, but honestly, this gift was newer to me, so I wanted to make sure I was reading people correctly before throwing around accusations. Prior to coming here, I was almost always around the same people—none of whom had read negatively to me.
Thankfully, he was talking about taking back control.
"Do you think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that joke?" Dick lost his calm, and his body turned rigid. "It’s very unoriginal, which already confirms my suspicions about you." He held out a hand toward Griffin. "Someone like that wouldn’t be the fated mate of the strongest alpha of our species."
Wow, he’d laid it on thick. I had to give him props, he wasn’t half-assing. "Look, you’re right. That was uncalled for…but you came here, insulting not only me as a person, but my bond with Griffin."
"The fact that you’re calling it an insult should prove that you don’t have his best interests at heart like I do." He placed a hand on his chest and closed his eyes. "If you were his mate, you would appreciate that I’m worried about him."
Okay, that’s too far. Griffin’s annoyance flared. I’ve given him enough leeway.
Griffin opened his mouth, but I cut him off; I had to call the guy out on his crap if I wanted Griffin to see things for what they really were. "If you didn’t come here and essentially call my mate stupid and insult my intentions, maybe I’d feel differently. To add insult to injury, you tried to pimp your daughter out to him—despite him telling you that he was never interested—and that our bond is final since we claimed one another. To me, that comes across as pushy and manipulative." I smiled sweetly at him, trying to play one of his own hands against him. "I’m sure you appreciate what I’m saying since it’s out of concern, much like your words are."
"Now listen here." He locked gazes with me, challenging my wolf. He planned on forcing me to submit to him. "You don’t get to come here and talk to me that way."
"Actually, you came here." I held his stare, effortlessly. This guy might be strong, but he was nothing like a silver wolf, or even Griffin. He had an inflated sense of self-worth, which made him more dangerous. But I refused to look away. Griffin said he wanted us to lead together, so that was exactly what I would do. "You’re more than welcome to leave." I hope I ’ m not making you angry. I did care about upsetting Griffin.
No, he ’s being an ass to you, even if it is out of concern for me. Griffin squeezed my hand lovingly. You need to stand your ground. It ’s not okay, what he ’s trying to do . He has to respect not only me and you but our relationship. So do whatever you feel needs to be done.
That was exactly what I’d hoped he’d say, but I was relieved that we were on the same page. I love you.
I love you too.
Sweat sprouted along the top of Dick’s lip as his wolf began to struggle against mine.
My wolf growled inside—but not because she was feeling the strain. She was angry. She could feel the darkness in him too and was both annoyed that he’d questioned my and Griffin’s bond, but further irritated that he expected us to submit to him. "Are you feeling okay?" I tilted my head while maintaining eye contact. "You seem to be getting overheated."
"I’m fine," he rasped, his words shaking. He had to be on the brink of submitting to me. The fear reflected deep inside.
In my peripheral vision, I saw him reach a hand into his pocket. A few seconds later, his phone made a noise. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. "Oh, my phone rang." The smell of a lie was nonexistent because he had, in fact, made his phone ring.
He was a clever asshole.
I wanted to call him on it, but I’d pissed him off enough for one day. "Is everything okay?"
Dick ignored me once again and focused on Griffin. He said, "Consider what I said, and maybe call Luna tonight? She’s been worried."
"Look, I’ve let you have your say." Griffin stood and stepped behind my chair, placing his hands on my shoulders. "I’ve even watched you be disrespectful to my mate, but that ends now. You are like family to me, but Dove is my claimed fated mate. There is no confusion on either of our ends, and Killian is very happy for us. If you insinuate one more time that Dove is not, in fact, my mate, it will cause problems between you and me, which I would hate."
"You’re letting a girl..." Dick sputtered, seeming at a loss for words, "come between us? Luna loves you—"
A deep, threatening growl emanated from my chest. If he said that bitch’s name one more time, I would attack his ass.
"No, you’re going to let my mate come between us." Griffin emphasized each word. "Dove is my mate. She will be moving in with me here, and in Shadow City."
Dick took several deep breaths and then nodded slowly. "Fine, I understand." He pulled on his suit jacket. "Do you by chance have that paperwork signed?"
"Oh, yeah." Griffin relaxed. "Let me go grab it. I’ll be right back." You okay staying out here?
Not really. The guy made me very uncomfortable—but if I ran in after Griffin, I’d look weak. Yup. I ’ m good.
When Griffin entered the house, Dick smirked, "It would be in your best interest to not get involved with certain decisions. Griffin and I have a system that works. I wouldn’t want you trying to interfere more than you already have."
The unveiled threat hung between us. "Or what?" My wolf surged forward, ready to fight.