She takes another step back, then another, until she's far enough away that even I can breathe easier. "I apologize, Lycan Beta. We will leave her fate to your discretion."
The Lycan Beta spins away from her, meeting my gaze briefly. "Follow."
I stumble after him, my bruised wrist throbbing as I cradle it against my chest. So many questions fill my head.
A chill runs down my spine, and I glance over my shoulder. Ellie stands frozen where we left her, her perfect features twisted into something ugly. The hatred in her eyes burns into me, raw and primal.
Chapter twenty-one
Caine: You're an Idiot
CAINE
Even without being manifested, I can feel my wolf staring holes into my head.
You're an idiot,Fenris observes for the twentieth time today.
Ignoring him, I nudge a plate closer to the empty seat across from me. The table is covered in a feast; plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, biscuits, scones…
This pack runs well enough, and it's objectively a loss to have murdered its Alpha last night. While Jack-Eye hasn't spoken tome about my sudden decision, I know it's going to be a headache when we get back to our territory. Once news reaches the other packs, protests will come to the throne. Other packs will even send envoys.
There's no way to sugarcoat an act of war, even for the Lycan King. If I want to keep the peace I've forced onto our people, I can't go around killing Alphas—but his treatment ofher…
Was it much better than yours?Fenris asks, with a bit of a snarl in his mental voice. He's still angry with me for acting as if I was going to choke the girl.
"I didn't hurt her. She's alive, isn't she?"
He sighs.How was she supposed to know you wouldn't hurt her?
Nagging isn't a usual part of our relationship, and his insistence on taking care of this human is frustrating. I'd spent all morning cleaning up our mess, and even kept her golden-haired lover alive to take over as Alpha. She should appreciate my restraint, considering the mess I created over her.
You're going to regret thinking like that.
Ignoring Fenris' warning, I drop into the chair, drumming my fingers against the table. Where is Jack-Eye with the girl? The food is nearly cold, and the girl hasn't eaten all day.
That's your fault. You forgot about her.
"Shut up." The words escape through clenched teeth. Besides, I didn't forget about her. I just forgot to feed her.
You're an idiot,my wolf opines again, sounding disgusted.
"Get out of my head." My knuckles whiten around the edge of the table. "I'm only feeding her because she needs to stay alive until we sort this mess out. She goes back to the humans after our investigation is complete."
Fenris snorts.And how do you plan to investigate when you slaughtered everyone who might have answers?
Pain shoots through my temples. I squeeze the bridge of my nose, a snarl building in my chest. "There are survivors." It isn't like I massacred the entire pack. Just a chunk of it. Enough to make an example and take the edge off the anger burning in my chest. "The girl will answer my questions."
Will she? Then why didn't you ask her some when you went to visit her?
Because the entire room smelled like her. Because as soon as I walked in, I was drawn to the bed, where everything was drenched in her obnoxious blueberry muffin scent. Because it was all I could do not to throw her onto it when she came out of the bathroom, wet and steamy—so I stole her pillow instead, taking it to my bed.
Fenris remains silent, but his smug presence is overbearing in my head. I want nothing more to punch that son of a bitch wolf in his muzzle the next time he manifests.
Footsteps echo down the hall. My head snaps up, nostrils flaring at her scent before she even enters. Jack-Eye opens the door, and there she is.
The human girl steps inside, her brown hair falling in waves around her shoulders. Dark circles ring her grass-green eyes, her skin pale from lack of food. Not that I care. This is purely Fenris's obsession making me notice these details.
I wonder what possessed me to think you were intelligent enough to become King.
