She glared at him. “We weren’t invited into your village. You were too busy stealing our supplies.” She put her hands on her hips and moved closer to the bars. “If it weren’t for your raids, we would have been able to take care of ourselves. If it weren’t for the brutality of your pack, I wouldn’t have to…” She made an angry gesture and pivoted toward the door.
She took one angry step, and he said, “Please, stay. I’m sorry I upset you.”
Pausing with her back to him, Tara took a moment to compose herself. She was already developing intense feelings for her mates, but everything else she’d said was true. Elias was partially responsible for the plight of the human females. Even if the wolves hadn’t stolen their supplies and massacred their men, they would have frozen to death. The leaders back on Earth set them up to fail. They wanted the scientists to be left at the mercy of their victims so they dumped them on the planet without the tools needed to survive such a harsh environment.
Tara slowly turned around, looking at Elias warily. She wasn’t here to flirt with the wolf. This was an interrogation. “I can’t stay long or my boss will tell my mates and they will punish me.”
“Who are your mates?” Cunning flashed in his eyes as he casually asked the question.
She shrugged. “No one important, if that’s what you’re hoping. One’s a perimeter guard. Another is a carpenter. Our coalition leader works in the lumber mill.”
“Then how did they end up with someone as beautiful as you?”
He was the one flirting now. She had never been uncomfortable with her appearance, but she wasn’t the sort of woman who turned heads when she walked into a room. She dropped herlashes and fought back a smile. “They had to fight off my other suitors and Carl is huge.” The lie sounded believable, but she had no way of knowing if he accepted what she said or if he was trying to manipulate her.
“The females are awarded through combat? That’s just stupid. Why not let the women choose?”
She licked her lips and slowly raised her gaze. “The wolves would have let me choose?”
He shook his head as he stood up. “Why do you think none of the females we’ve captured have tried to run away? We treat women a whole lot better than the fucking cats.”
“I don’t believe you,” She made her voice soft and tremulous. “I saw what you did to Claire’s brother. He was only twenty-four years old, and your wolves literally ripped him apart.”
Elias crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “Have you ever watched one of those nature shows that study a pride of lions, or a pack of wolves?”
The question surprised her. Was he simply avoiding the massacre by changing the subject? “What does that have to do with anything?”
“If a male lion wants to take over a pride, what’s the first thing he does?”
She tensed, suddenly seeing where his questions led. “He kills anyone who might become competition.”
“Even adorable little lion cubs,” he persisted, challenge sharpening his tone.
She shuddered. “I hate those shows.”
“You hate them because they reveal how brutal nature truly is. Anyone who wants to survive must be willing to kill.”
“We are not animals living in the wild,” she objected.
“Aren’t we?” He paused, waiting for the implication to sink in. “We’re predators fighting for territory and fighting over mates. How do we differ from any apex predator on Earth’s game reserves?”
He’d set her up perfectly for an emotional outburst, astrategicoutburst. “Your beta took my best friend. She’s been gone for two weeks now. Is she still alive? The hunters can’t find her. Where did your beta take her? What’s happening to her?” She infused her words with emotion and let tears gather in her eyes.
His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together. For a moment she thought he wouldn’t respond, and then he asked, “What’s her name?”
“Claire.” She blinked and tears spilled onto her cheeks. She hadn’t done it intentionally, but the timing was perfect.
Elias sighed and stared past her, his expression going lax. Holy shit. Was he contacting his beta? Did Zion know Elias was capable of this?
“Claire is unharmed, as are the others. My beta is not giving anyone access to the women while the situation is so volatile.” His expression hardened, growing fierce again. “Despite what the cats love to claim, we do not abuse women.”
Explain that to Akari.It was all Tara could do not to throw the comeback in his face.
End the conversation, Isaac urged.I’ve got what I need.
“I’ve been down here too long,” she told the wolf, even managing to sound regretful. “I have to go.”
“Will you come tomorrow, or the next time they allow me food?”
