CHAPTER EIGHT
– AZALEA –
Karev’s eyes are bouncing flames instead of pupils, and his voice sounds as if there are three people snarling, “Give her fucking access.”
I can feel the anger bouncing off him and I rush forward to grab him by the wrist.
“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’m a big girl and can hold my pee, no worries.”
He completely ignores me and takes a step forward. The sound and the way the floor trembles underneath me? Holy shit. It’s not stomping your feet, but more like the weight of an elephant stomping his foot to squash a melon.
“Triton, remove the binding spell completely,” Sevrin states as he steps into the room.
Triton glances at Sevrin. “It was a club decision, Prez.”
Sevrin glares at the warlock. “Look at your VP, Triton. You want to end up a pile of ash? Besides, I’ve removed the binding handcuffs I put on my fated mate myself too without asking. Fucking do it. Now.”
Triton snaps his fingers and I can feel the pressure of the walls deflate after a flash of red electricity circles his hand.
“Calm down, Karev. Shifting in a confined space will also harm your woman who is standing right next to you.”
Sevrin’s words make my eyes widen. I’ve seen Karev shift outside of the clubhouse. The space that consumed the blur from his human form shifting into a massive hellhound did take up a lot of space. This bedroom might be enough room...if the bed, and we weren’t in it. Shit, Sevrin is right.
A low rumble flows from Karev’s chest. His eyes are still flaming and I can feel the power vibrating under his skin.
“A little help here, Lea. Try to calm down your mate before he loses his shit,” Sevrin whispers. “He’s never going to forgive himself if he hurts you in a blind rage.”
“Blind rage. They really are perfect for each other,” someone snickers from outside the room.
I have no clue what they expect me to do, and I really can’t do anything to stop his anger. Anger spiking because I couldn’t use the bathroom. Kinda sweet. On the other hand, it’s not worth getting any backlash from it, even if we’re immortal.
Still...he cared and wants to fight his own club brothers, which in return makes me want to kiss him.
Scratch that, I simply want to kiss him.
Without thinking, I stop in front of Karev, spread my wings to push myself off the floor and get our heads on eye level.
I place my hands on his cheeks and kiss him.
I feel the rumble of a snarl on his lips, before I gasp from the sudden impact. His arms are around me and I’m being pressed flush against his body. I retract my wings and groan when his tongue slides between my lips.
This is my first kiss. Sounds sad and impossible, yet having a sheltered upbringing doesn’t leave a girl many choices.
On the other hand, I’m thrilled my every first will be with my fated mate.
This thought makes Blondie pop into my head, making me aware I’m not his every first. I abruptly end the kiss and jerk out of his arms.
A growl rumbles from Karev. His eyes aren’t filled with flames, but they do mirror the heat I feel running through my veins. Still, knowing he’s touched other women makes me turn and slip into the bathroom. I hear Sevrin’s voice, and some of the others while I quickly handle my business.
I stare at my reflection as I wash my hands and mentally try to calm down my annoyance.
Karev clearly didn’t lead a sheltered life.
Why should he? He’s the vice president of a motorcycle club and the way he looks?
No freaking wonder females offer themselves to him.
Some wait for their fated mate, even if they never find him or her.
Karev didn’t even know about me when Blondie offered herself. I shouldn’t have killed her. Shit. I still would have killed her anyway. Doesn’t mean I don’t get it now. Feelings suck. Maybe this all-consuming urge to protect my mate from other females will fade once we forged our bond.
For now, I guess I have to somehow restrain myself.
Something that’s going to be a challenge.
I flipped my shit when I saw a woman’s photograph in the drawer of his bedside table.
Then to see the word heart on the back? Ugh.
Control. Clearing my throat, I take a deep breath and calm myself as I open the door.
To my surprise, I find the room completely empty. The door opens and Karev steps inside, holding a plate with some food. Cheese, nuts, pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, and what smells like spicy chips. My mouth waters and I realize I haven’t eaten in a while.
“I thought we might as well eat some snacks while we chat. Water okay?” he asks and holds up two bottles of water.
I nod and take a bottle from him. He takes a seat on the bed and places the plate next to him. I walk around the bed and sit down next to him. Reaching for the spicy chips, I pop one into my mouth and groan. Yes, I’m really hungry.
“Something tells me I should have brought more.” Karev chuckles. “Shall I order us a pizza?”
“Pizza.” My eyes widen and the chips I was about to shove into my mouth freeze in front of my lips. “I’ve never had pizza. Could you? Please?”
“You never had pizza?” he asks, completely surprised.
I have to wash down the chips with some water. “Father has a chef who prepares all our food. He considers pizza below his talents.”
Karev shakes his head. “And you’ve never gone out and bought one?”
I frown. “I don’t have any money. Besides, we’re technically not allowed to leave the premises.”
“What the fuck?” he snarls, making me jerk my hand back from the delicious chips...which I almost devoured all by myself.
“So, your father is basically holding you prisoner?” he snaps.
His anger makes me sit up crossed-legged while I grit, “Not the way you’ve done. At least he gives me the freedom to roam around.”
Which he probably doesn’t know about, but that’s a minor detail.
Karev narrows his eyes. “It was a club decision. Not a strange one after the pile of crimson goo and bones you left in the parking lot.”
I grit my teeth to refrain from snapping how the woman asked for it.
He releases a sigh and reaches for his phone.
“I’m just going to order a stack of pizzas so you can try whatever you want.
We’ll save this discussion for another time because it pisses me off to know your father kept you from the world.
What if my half-sister wasn’t involved with those stolen coins?
Fucking hell, then I would have never met my fated mate. ”
I know he’s right, but the reason why we wouldn’t have met snags my attention. “Your half-sister was involved? How?”
He gives me a piercing look. “Can I have your word that what I’m about to tell you stays between us?”
“Of course. Besides, it’s not like anyone asks me anything.
I always stick to the background and am practically invisible to my father.
My sister is the one with the weight of the throne on her shoulders.
My middle sister is the runner-up, and I’m considered the one being swept under the rug because the backup of the backup is practically unnecessary.
Which is fine by me,” I rattle and shrug.
Karev shakes his head. “No one is going to sweep you under the damn rug. Never again. You’re the VP’s old lady, the mate of an alpha hellhound.”
I shoot him a grin. “That’s considered sweeping my big sister off her throne, right?”
He snickers and all too soon gives me a serious look.
“I believe you will, especially with what I’m about to tell you.
Now, my half-sister was pulled into this shit, and let’s stick with the fact that the coins ended up in her possession without knowing.
She put them aside with some medals and didn’t know the value of the coins, or the fact that they were stolen.
Some people were after the coins and kidnapped Floraline, my half-sister, and one of your father’s men who went undercover working for her.
She called me in distress. I was too far away, but the vice president of the Nowalk chapter, was close. ”
“Heart,” I murmur, remembering the name written on the back of the picture I found earlier.
“Heart,” he echoes. “When I found Rob tortured to death in the woods, I knew he was a werewolf and that’s how I linked the coins to your father. It’s why I showed up on your father’s doorstep to make sure Floraline stayed out of the mess. Lina is human.”
I can feel my eyes widen in surprise. “Human?”
“Human,” he repeats with a twitch of his lips.
“She was originally a hellhound. Now she’s a human who doesn’t feel any pain, and luckily still has some healing abilities since she does heal faster than humans, and what I’m about to tell you...
you really can’t mention to anyone. I only recently told Sevrin, and no one else knows. ”
My head bobs as if my life depends on it.
I’ve never heard about a supernatural having a human sibling.
My sisters and I are homeschooled, and I’ve only heard and read about supernatural beings, along with human history.
I’m intrigued by the things Karev just shared, especially when he mentioned he never told anyone except Sevrin... and now me.
He decides to confide in me. Me. Where everyone has basically ignored me all my life, my mate does the exact opposite.