"No, you will leave her alone until your brother returns."
Jackson re-addressed Ronan with a low bow of his head.
Ronan added, "She can have a week before I come to her again. Let her adjust and see what she needs to assimilate better. If this doesn't work, I will seek out the others.”
He was admittedly curious about the other Silvers, and if they had the same scent. But would they all look like her? Have the same curves, or the same silky hair? For a sliver of a moment, something other than fear had crossed Rem’s gaze—some form of interest in him that made her entire posture correct. He had liked the intensity in her eyes, then.
Mix that with the way her scent pulled him in, far easier than he was ever used to…
"Of course, my liege," Jackson said, and Ronan side-glanced to the shifter. "Are you at least pleased by her appearance?"
"Who wouldn’t be?” Ronan asked. “But I need a mate, not an ornament—” already his instincts fought him, making him wonder if an ornament with such a beckoning scent might be worth it… “—my time is pressed, but she can have a week. We’ll see who she is once the fear subsides."
Ronan turned to walk away after Jackson gave a final nod, with Erik following close behind, the gravel path crunching underfoot. They had used it in place of stone, still expanding the masonry to the outskirts as they reclaimed this world.
The temperature rose along with the sun, and Ronan would be glad when summer was over. Fortunately, it already waned on the calendar. The northwest of the Americas was beautiful with the greenery, but overall, too hot for him in this time of year.
"I want an eye on this home as well," Ronan commanded Erik, scratching his neck. "Those Callons are odd but intelligent. Jackson, however, does not give me confidence."
Ronan preferred it the Old Way, where the females individually came tohimin the comfort of his own den for however long he wanted them there, rather than having the potential mate live with another family. But the Elders insisted on this change, and he'd abide by their requests. They were chosen by their goddess Æris, who led the Elders in spirit while Ronan ruled over the pack.
"I agree. Rem was said to be compliant. I am not sure why she was afraid with you just now—at least, not to the degree that you claim she was."
Ronan deeply exhaled. "She may have been compliant on the way here, but she isn't now. I don’t blame her, but there are twelve other Silvers in the Scarlet alliance. I don't have time to be picky or give someone space, not with the way the hunters are moving in the south. Or how we hear the rumors of them wanting to hunt any unmated Silver before she is turned."
Erik remained quiet, and Ronan was certain the Prime Beta agreed with his assessment. Ronan did not mind giving Rem patience, but their winds carried dark warnings of war and betrayal.Not just for shifters, but for the Silvers, as well.
R E M
Rem stood there,breathing heavily as she stared at the door.
Whatever they said outside didn't appear pleasant, and she knew she was in trouble. She looked around the room with no real intention, her body begging for her to dosomething.
But there was nothing to do, and she got lost in the details of the home in her catatonic response. Especially since the home looked like hers, with architectural designs from decades prior, decorated with objects that didn't match, such as varying pieces of furniture, rugs that didn't belong, and two different styles of bookshelves—
The door finally opened, giving way to Jackson.
Rem's nostrils flared with each breath as she focused on him.
"So, I guess you can tell it didn't go well?" Jackson asked as he shut the wooden door, a slow creak echoing in the home. His voice was gentle, but his eyes burned with something much fiercer.
Think of Oliver.Her heart broke, as it was easy to forget that he was here. She couldn't believeshewas here, let alone her baby brother. "I'm so sorry," she said, staring at the floor. "I'm just scared. But, on a more positive note, I think hewasinterested... Please, can't we try it again? I'll let him do whatever. Seriously, I will do anything he asks of me—"
"Don't worry; you're not the only one in trouble. Gally will be reprimanded for failing to instruct you properly. Don't know what the hell she was thinking."
"In trouble?" Rem asked, trying to remain pleasant for Oliver's sake, while also feeling hopelessly desperate with these creatures. "As I said, I amsorry. We aren't allowed to do things like this back in Ashmire. It's frowned upon, and I felt so vulnerable," she rambled, looking back to the ground. "I know I shouldn't have moved when he touched me."
Jackson laughed, and she looked back up at him. He slowly licked his bottom lip before he said, "Since when do I care about your honor or how comfortable you are?"
She clenched her fists. Shehatedthis man and the way those green eyes glinted with power. "I can't help it that this is new to me. I can try again."
He shook his head, crossed his arms, and sat down on the backside of the gray couch, just like Ronan had. She already liked Ronan better. At least he backed off when she was clearly distraught.
"All it's going to take is one of the other Silvers to show more strength than whateveryouhave, and he will go for them," he said, rubbing his chin before adding, "I, unfortunately, must show you what it means to fail me, to teach you of our ways."
The green in his eyes morphed into a glowing amber, a transition all shifters experienced when their powers took over. He looked at her like a predator would while his fingers grew long claw-like nails, and it was the first time she truly felt like prey among them.
Prey. Punishment.
