Chapter Fourteen #2
Her only reply is the clicking of her heels against the floor as she takes a seat. The rest of the audience cautiously return to their seats, bewildered by the cleared floor.
I lean slightly toward Caleb and pull on his shorts.
I’ll worry about my dignity later.
When he looks down at me, I disguise the fear in my voice with nervous laughter. “Come on, you’re not actually going to choose a witch, right? I . . . I mean, that’d be just crazy . . .”
The corner of Caleb’s mouth upturns and there’s a twinkle in his eye. My laughter fades to a frown as I register the seriousness on his face. He struts over to Tyler and pats him on the back. “I think I just found my Luna.”
***
After every bachelorette was presented, Caleb had decided but not yet announced his mate his choice, it was time for Tyler to choose.
Tyler isn’t bad to look at. It’s just his personality that’s flawed. He calls out names from his list and tells them to step forward.
Three women step forward to stand before Tyler. All wolves, reserving the hybrid pair for the higher ups.
They stand tall, not uncomfortable in the slightest at being ogled at by him.
He sits back in his chair, scanning them up and down.
Tyler’s objectification of them as he flirts doesn’t bother me, but it’s Caleb’s flirting with Medein that has a surprising growl escape my lips.
At the sound of my wolf’s lack of impulse control, the soft growl catches Caleb’s attention, whipping his head at me.
Puzzled, his brow furrows then he slowly drags his eyes to what I was growling at, then he grins at me.
What is he so smug about?
Tyler lifts his chin in a slight nod, then whirls his finger around in the air in a small circle. “Turn.” Getting a good look at their backsides, he peers over his shoulder back at Caleb and winces with a disappointed shrug.
I didn’t realize a voluptuous bottom was a requirement to lead.
Embarrassed by his beta’s behavior, Caleb hides his face.
I scoff at his ridiculous public assessment. The room whips their heads toward me and frowns disapprovingly at the disruption.
No big deal, just my worst nightmare. It’s fine.
Caleb glares at me and holds up two fingers. “That’s strike two.”
I shut my mouth so hard it clicks.
“Ladies, thank you. I’ll let you know,” Tyler says.
The women look to Caleb for confirmation they are indeed dismissed.
Caleb waves his hand, excusing them.
They curtsey and return to their seats.
Caleb asks Tyler. “What do you think?”
Tyler does as well and leans into Caleb.
“As a hookup, I’m down. But . . . What if I choose them, and their fated mate dies waiting for them?” He shakes his head. “I can’t do that to someone else.”
“No worries, I get it. This is just a formality. The crown wants you to consider your options in case your mate doesn’t come along. They’re more concerned with my match.”
Tyler rolls out his shoulders and exhales his relief. Who would have thought someone so hellbent on appearing like a horn-dog could have virtuous values? And I’m wondering if that’s his armor, a defense mechanism to appear like an obnoxious monster, so the world doesn’t find out he’s sensitive.
Caleb stands, clearing his throat. “Thank you all for coming. My beta, and I will review your information, and I will present my final decision to the council. Upon their approval, we will contact the necessary parties. Until then, you are dismissed. Thank you for your time today.”
At first, I’m relieved it’s over, but then I remember that can only mean I’ll be returned to my cell. The collar on my neck suddenly becomes tighter.
Once the room clears, I expect Caleb to drag me back to the dungeon immediately, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he plops back down in his seat and wipes his face, groaning. “Ugh, I really don’t want to do this today.”
“Me either.” Tyler stretches his muscles and exhales. “Is it too late to cancel?”
Caleb laughs, and his biceps flex, veins splaying over the muscled hill as he stretches over the back of his chair. . .
I catch myself staring and shake my head at the dirty thoughts plaguing my mind.
I saw that, my wolf says.
Saw what? I feign innocence.
He has nice arms, doesn’t he? She wiggles her brow.
Thankfully, he stops stretching, so I can breathe again.
How could someone so hot be so awful? His genes should have gone to someone more deserving.
Speaking of jeans . . . my wolf teases.
Shut. Up, I tell my horny wolf.
“I wish. But that wouldn’t go over well. Besides . . .” He looks back at me, sporting an evil grin that sends chills up my spine. “We have a special surprise for the pack.”
I take the opportunity to put in my two cents.
“Princess . . . Azura? Is that how you say her name? I liked her. I especially liked what they had to say about peace.”
And with any luck, she’ll help a girl out and make Caleb let me go, I think to myself.
He ignores me.
I switch tactics. “You never answered my question before about Medein. Are you really going to consider mating a witch?”
Eager to hear the answer, my wolf rushes to the forefront of my mind, and I mentally elbow her to the back again.
He chuckles. “You sound jealous.”
“What? Me? Jealous of Medein? No,” I snort. “Please, why would I be jealous of her?” But the way I say her name, I know I sound defensive.
And Caleb’s grin tells me he heard it, too.
Time to recover.
“I don’t trust witches. The only reason I care about who you’re choosing is because they will also have a say in what happens to me. No other reason. Trust me when I say you couldn’t satisfy me as my mate.”
He waves his hand in dismission. “Please. I’d have that pussy weeping for me without even having to touch it.”
Man, he’s cocky. I hate cocky. It only makes me want to put someone in their place.
I scoff. “Yeah, right. Not without a diagram.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’d lose that bet, baby.”
My wolf purrs at the name, but it only causes me to snarl. “You’re pretty cocky for a guy who looks like he can’t find a clit.”
He busts out with a laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” I ask, annoyed.
“Because I could have you submit to me in seconds.”
“I know you’re probably used to women falling all over you, but I’m not one of them.”
Proud of himself, he cheeses. “The ladies do love my charm.” He fist bumps Tyler.
“If that were true, they must not have taste. I’m surprised someone like Medein is even interested in you.”
Caleb squints at me. “You think you’re better than them.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Didn’t have to. I can smell your judgement.” He waves a hand in front of his nose like he caught a whiff of a bad fart.
“Ha-ha.” I brush my hair behind my shoulder, appearing unbothered. “That’s—”
Ridiculous, crazy and absolutely not true. I try to tell him I’m not judging these women, but he cuts me off mid-stammer.
I don’t need to defend myself to him. Let it go. Don’t feed into it. He’s only trying to get under my skin . . . Well, it’s working.
“But it is. Admit it. You think less of them for seeking an alpha male.”
“Okay, hold on.” I turn my whole body to him, holding up a finger. “I don’t think less of them, I just find it disappointing that these are some of the most powerful women I’ve ever met, and the best they can do is . . .” I scrunch my face in horror. “You two.”
Tyler and Caleb exchange a glance, Caleb’s hands open-palmed as if to say, do you see what I have to deal with?
Tyler chimes in even though nobody asked him. “That’s the exact same thing he just said.” He points to Caleb.
“No, it’s not!”
Okay, maybe it is, but I’m too deep into this.
With the back of his hand, Caleb playfully hits Tyler on the arm to get his attention “No worries. I could prove her wrong, but she’d like that too much.”
They snicker. “Prove me wrong? You actually think you could have an effect on me?”
“I don’t just think, I know.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Care to put some bite to that bark?” he challenges with a smirk.
“No.”
“Because I’m right.”
“You’re not right. I’ll prove it to you.”
“Now we’re talking.” Abruptly, he stands and snatches me by the scruff.
Wait . . . what just happened?
My wolf snickers. Don’t blame me. You banished me to the corner, remember?
He marches me over to the doors and uses my body to open them.
With his hands on my waist, he backs me into the wall.
My back presses against it. I gulp at his intense stare.
What did I just agree to?
Meanwhile, my wolf bounces with excitement.
I roll my eyes at her, forgetting where I am and who I’m in the presence of, but Caleb sees.
He grips my chin and forces me to face him. “I’m going to make you regret that. Turn around. Hands against the wall.”
“No, I wasn’t—”
“You meant to say, Yes, Master.’”
I blink.
He waits for me to catch on.
As much as I want to refuse—spit in his face, drop-kick him—I’ll play along with his little game.
I can’t help it. If I want to beat him at his own game, I have to do what he says.
Otherwise, he’ll claim plausible deniability.
If you had listened to me, you would have folded sort of thing.
Screw that. With that in mind, I lift my chin and swallow my pride. “Yes, Master.”
Slowly, I turn, and my breath hitches at the floor-length mirror in front of me. The way he stares at me through his dark lashes makes me bite my bottom lip.
Impatient, he shoves me gently.
I catch myself with my palms flat against the mirror and watch his every move.
His heated stare targets my backside. Low and deep, he hums, contemplating all the things he wants to do to me. Calloused hands tickle as they gently run along the fabric of my hips. Tugging on my shorts, he demands, “Take these off.”
Hooking my fingers through the loops, I peel my shorts down, grazing something hard as I bend farther than necessary to give him a good view.
Then I consider the chances that I can Uno reverse this situation and make him come in my mouth.
“I know what you’re doing.” His voice is deliciously low and menacing.