Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I inhaled deeply as I stood, trying to keep my heart from beating too quickly. I didn’t want Dick to think he had some sort of power or influence over me—even if he did. Granted, the emotion he inspired was anger, not fear—but egocentric males like him always tried to make themselves feel more powerful.
Even though it wasn’t fear, he would pretend that it was.
"Look, I don’t know what you’re up to, but Griffin will come around." Dick’s nostrils flared as he marched over, crowding into me.
He wanted to make me feel threatened and to step back, but I refused to budge. Instead, I lifted my chin and looked down my nose. "Yeah, he will. I agree. He’s smarter and stronger than you give him credit for."
A frown peeked from the corners of his mouth, and he inhaled sharply, making his chest touch mine.
Even though he had multiple layers on, and I was wearing a thick shirt, I still felt dirty. An ickiness coated my skin, and my natural inclination to jerk away almost took over.
Almost.
But I used every ounce of self-control I had to prevent that. He was doing anything possible to force me to be the one to cower first, and I couldn’t let the asshole win—even though my desire to jerk away had nothing to do with me actually wanting to submit to him, but rather to get away from the maliciousness that wafted from him and coated me.
Griffin’s footsteps grew louder as he approached the front door once again.
Unfortunately, Dick was smart enough to take a step back, an amicable smile replacing the scowl from moments before. He was going back to his little persona that worked on my mate. But it wouldn't last for long.
I’d make sure of it.
The front door opened, and there was Griffin with a stack of papers in his hands.
I wanted to ask what they were, but it didn’t matter—I could see his signature on the back few pages, so I could only hope that he’d read the documents thoroughly before signing.
"Thank you," Dick said as he swiped them from Griffin’s hand. "I should be getting back to Shadow City now so we can file these with the council."
"Very well," Griffin said as he nodded, and placed an arm around my waist. "And I understand that Luna may be upset, but she’ll be okay. Don’t worry. With time—and when she finds her fated mate—things will get better."
"Not everyone finds their fated mate." Dick cut his eyes over at me. "You know that."
He must have thought that if he kept insinuating we weren’t fated mates, Griffin would believe him. The arrogance behind the strategy was insane. Even if we weren’t fated mates, we’d claimed each other. Our bond was complete, and the only thing that could break it was...
Death.
My heart sank.
Could that be his plan?
"But that was before we began leaving the city and integrating back into the world." Griffin kissed my cheek and continued, "If we hadn’t done that, then I would’ve never found St—Dove." Shit, I ’ m sorry. It ’s just…Sterlyn fits you so much better.
Dick’s eyebrows rose, but what made me most nervous was that he didn’t comment. That meant he’d noticed Griffin’s near slip and stored the information.
I cringed. The less Dick learned about me, the safer we all were. At least Griffin had caught his slip before my whole name came out. It ’s okay. Just got to be more careful.
"Well, then. I guess I better go." Even though Dick’s face was smooth, there was a slight edge to his voice. "I’ll see you soon." He turned around and strolled toward the black Mercedes.
That was when I noticed there was someone in the driver’s seat—like a chauffeur.
Who the hell did this guy think he was? The president or something? Why does he have a driver?
No clue. Griffin chuckled. He ’s had one for as long as I can remember.
But you don ’t? You’d think out of the two of them, Griffin would be the one with that kind of luxury. I understood that the guy was on the council, but Griffin was the alpha heir.
God, no, he replied as we watched Dick’s car pull out and drive away. I like being behind the wheel. Dad was the same way, but from what I understood from Dad, Dick ’s whole family is like that.
Dick had to be who my dad had sensed was still corrupt. The amount of negativity coming off him was enough to upset my stomach. There was a little badass in everyone, but I’d never encountered something that awful before. Even the people attacking us weren't that negative—though, granted, we’d learned that some of them weren’t doing it willingly.
Griffin opened the door, and I entered, brushing past him.
Killian remained on the couch, watching television. He paused the show. "So, what’d he want?"
Oh, this would be all me. "To inform Griffin that he thinks our fated mate bond is only lust and that Griffin belongs with Luna."
"Wow." Killian pursed his lips. "Took a long time for him to say those two things."
"He was long-winded." Griffin plopped onto the loveseat and patted the space beside him. "But don’t worry, Sterlyn put him in his place and had a semi-standoff with him."
"That he ended." At least the dumbass was smart enough to know when he couldn’t win. "Sierra, it’s safe to come out now."
The bedroom door opened, and she padded down the hallway toward us. "That didn’t take as long as I was afraid it would. Did he catch my scent?"
"He didn’t say anything." That was the one good thing about the entire situation. "He was too preoccupied trying to get Griffin to leave me for Luna. " It angered me that I even had to say her name in the same sentence as my mate’s.
"And I always thought he was smart." Sierra shook her head. "But everyone can smell your scent on each other. He knows that you’re both claimed."
"Oh, he knew." I tried to pretend like I wasn’t watching Griffin’s reaction. "And he mentioned how I’d better not get involved with any council or city decisions."
"What?" Griffin’s face tensed as his jaw twitched. "Where was I?"
"Where do you think, dumbass?" Killian deadpanned and crossed his arms. "In here getting whatever paperwork he had drawn up for you to sign."
"Speaking of that." I had to ask. There was no way I couldn’t, especially now that Killian had brought it up. "Please tell me you read over the documents before signing."
"Of course, I did. It’s authorization for some of the Shadow City guards to get more training." Griffin waved off the concern as he turned his body toward me. "But he threatened you, and you didn’t use our link to tell me?"
"It wasn’t a big deal." Right now, Dick was the least of my concerns. Well, that was an exaggeration, but considering how few people could actually leave the city, I doubted that my attackers were Shadow City residents. "I can handle him. Dad prepared me to handle sexist wolves my entire life."
"Really?" Sierra sat on the other end of the couch from Killian, closest to me. "He’s kind of over the top. At work, he pretends that I don’t exist unless he has to talk to me. Of course, it’s usually to tell me to go clean the bathrooms or some other sort of ‘woman’s work.’"
Griffin’s brows furrowed. "That’s surprising. He never treats the women on the council that way."
"That’s because they aren’t wolves, and he needs something from them, man." Killian leaned back and placed his hands behind his head. His arms flexed, revealing how muscular he was. "Have you not noticed this before now?"
"No." Griffin ran a hand through his hair. "But it kind of makes sense. We were locked away, and our culture is archaic because of that."
"Shadow City isn’t the only place like that." I’d been prepped and warned. "Dad told me I’d experience that kind of sexism in the world, and honestly, there was some even in my own pack. But it doesn’t matter because, at the end of the day, I’m stronger than Dick, and there is absolutely nothing he can do about that."
"Girl, I knew I liked you from the get-go." Sierra leaned over the end of the couch and patted my arm. "Change is coming, and poor ol’ Dick will wind up a limp noodle before it’s all done."
"What?" Killian’s face smooshed in disgust. "Really? You two are like sisters to me, and you’re making sexual innuendos in front of me?"
"Would you rather we act them out?" Sierra gave me a huge smile, revealing both rows of her teeth.
"Maybe bringing you here was a bad idea." Killian pouted and bounced a leg. "Between your comments and Griffin pawing at Sterlyn, I’m going to have nightmares." He pointed at me. "What happened to keeping your legs closed nice and tight?"
Laughter spilled out of me, and I hadn’t realized how much I needed the release. During the first week I’d stayed with Killian under the ruse of dating him, he’d found out I was a virgin and been shocked. I’d made that comment to explain things to him.
"Oh, don’t worry." Griffin wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. "She still does for everyone else but me."
Killian huffed and stared at the television like he was too disgusted to look at any of us.
"Well played," Sierra said, as she saluted Griffin. "He’s speechless for once."
Comforting warmth expanded in my chest. In this moment, things felt normal; four friends hanging out, trying to get a reaction from one another. In fact, I’d never gotten to experience things like this until I found Killian and Griffin. They’d given me a piece of normalcy that I hadn’t been able to find with my birth pack—a sense of belonging that let me know that life might be shitty, but there were bright spots.
Spots that I cherished more because of the bad.
Not that I wouldn’t love to have my parents here with me, along with the brother I’d never gotten to meet. I would—so damn much—but that wasn’t possible, no matter how much I wished it.
There ’s a sense of happiness ebbing from you. Griffin intertwined our fingers. I ’ ve never felt this from you before.
Is that a problem? I teased, able to feel how pleased he was. Should I be broodier?
God, no. He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. I hope you feel like this more often. You look even more breathtaking right now.
"Ew," Sierra groaned. "Maybe I was wrong to give you hell. It is kind of sickening to watch them be all lovey-dovey."
"Nope, you sided with them." Killian crossed his arms and bared his teeth. "You don’t get to complain. That right is solely reserved for me."
The flapping of wings notified us that Rosemary had returned. The back door swung open, and her rose scent swirled into the room as she stepped inside with a black duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
"Well, come on in." Sierra snorted. "Make yourself at home."
"I believe I just did." Rosemary strolled to us. "Which bedroom am I staying in?"
As usual, we could count on her to get straight to the point.
"The bedroom down that hallway on the right." Griffin gestured in the same direction that Sierra had come from. "You’ll be on the other side of the hall from Sierra’s and Killian’s rooms. Sterlyn and my room is at the very end of the hallway."
"Good, I’ll be close to Sterlyn?" Rosemary frowned and gestured to me. "If someone attacks, I’ll be her best ally."
"Uh...I’m the alpha of the protectors of Shadow City." Killian pounded on his chest. "If anyone—"
"You and your pack are the protectors by default." Rosemary flipped her hair over her shoulder. "And only because angels have more important jobs than watching for potential threats. We come to your aid in wars, but Sterlyn’s pack was always meant to be the true protectors."
Killian growled.
She’d kind of insulted me and praised me in the same breath, and made Killian feel inferior. "We need to work on your manners."
Are you sure that ’s wise? Griffin asked.
I trusted my gut. We ’ ll find out.
"Excuse me?" She frowned, her twilight eyes blazing. "I’m only speaking the truth."
"Being rude and speaking the truth are two different things." That was part of the problem—no one ever tried to explain to her why what she said was uncalled for. If no one was going to correct her, I would. "Killian and his pack have sacrificed a lot to protect Shadow City and their own. To the point of losing his entire family. Do you think calling him weak and telling him he does something you find worthless is the way to make him want to help protect you?"
"It’s not worthless." Her face fell. "I just meant that angels—"
"Stop." I stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Angels have other things they are responsible for, but they don’t mind coming to help fight when an adversary rises."
"That’s what I said." She blinked and looked at the others.
"No, it was most definitely not." Sierra pinched the bridge of her nose. "You said that angels have more important jobs."
"Which is—" Rosemary started, but I raised a hand.
"Not true." I leveled my gaze at her. "You don’t think protecting Shadow City is an important job even though Killian’s pack aren’t silver wolves?"
"Oh." She bit her bottom lip as realization dawned on her. "Yeah, okay. I see what you’re saying." She pivoted toward Killian and frowned. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Sterlyn is right—the way I worded things was inconsiderate. It’s just—"
"That’s good." I had a feeling if she kept going, it would negate everything she’d just said; I was surprised that she’d apologized on her own. "That was very nice of you. Wasn’t it, Killian?" I glared at him, daring him to not cooperate.
"To say I was shocked would be an understatement," Killian offered.
"All you all have to do is point things out like Sterlyn does." Rosemary blew out a breath. "If something bothers you, just say it. That’s what’s wrong—"
"Let’s get you situated." I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bedroom Griffin had pointed to. "And then we all need time to relax before tomorrow." And I meant that, even if we relaxed separately.
I yawned as Griffin and I walked into the coffee shop on the Shadow Ridge University campus extra early the next morning. The night before hadn’t been as relaxing as I’d hoped because Rosemary had watched a movie with us. I’d been on edge, waiting for her to make Killian or Sierra angry again. She hadn’t, and the night had been pleasant, but the anticipation had kept me a little tense.
The inside of Shadow Ridge Coffee looked like a standard coffee shop. A few tables were scattered around the room, and two espresso machines were positioned in the center of the counter, with the cash register on the right.
Carter walked out from the back, and his face fell when he found the two of us there. I snatched an apron from the hook on the wall behind the counter, refusing to let his reaction bother me. Of course, my return made him tense because whoever had ordered him to drug me was probably watching.
"It’s so good to have you back." Carter tried to sound sincere, but the sulfuric stench of a lie wafted around us.
"Just act normal," Griffin growled, lowly. "Or you’re going to get us all killed." Maybe this wasn’t a smart idea after all.
We got here early so you could hang out and get comfortable before your classes. I kissed him and then went to the cash register. We have to act normal if we want this to work.
"God, remember no PDA here." Carter stomped a little and grabbed some of the items needed for the espresso machine. "And I thought you and Killian were bad."
A loud rumble bellowed from Griffin.
Great, this day was starting out wonderfully.
"Right, Killian did kiss her often." Luna’s voice rang in my ears. "I wonder what else they might have done in here when no one was looking."
And there she was. I’d figured she and I would have it out soon. No better time than the present.