Chapter 18: The Beast Lurking

VOLK

Lyall had allowed her to stay. And judging by his current mood, he had some interest in her. And, although I didn't want to admit it or know why, it bothered me, even against my will.

Seeing the petite brown-haired, brown-eyed female near other males made me furiously angry inside. I just wanted to take her away from all of them.

For some reason, I wanted to protect her, just as I did the night I met her and then when my uncle sentenced her to the worst of fates.

Both times, I was driven by my instincts and also by the dark animal within me. I couldn't control it. It was almost like something unconscious.

From the first time I laid my eyes on her, as she danced in that bar, I knew there was something dangerous about her. Like a voice calling me, taunting me, and whispering for me to surrender to my darkest and most primitive instincts.

The scent she exuded made the wild animal inside me yearn to take control, to dominate her and do all the dark things it desired.

It had also been the trail of her scent that led me to follow her that night. As much as I tried to avoid it, I couldn't resist.

I followed her, guided by my instincts, without even knowing why, maybe just longing to watch her a little more.

At least that's what I thought before I discovered she was in danger. And perhaps if I hadn't followed my instincts, the worst would have happened.

Thinking about it was enough to enrage me. Thinking about what those two males might have done... I should have killed them when I had the chance.

Yet, she was willing to fight. I could feel courage in her, despite the fear in her scent and her seeming a bit more fragile than the females of our species.

I no longer had any doubts about her bravery. Not only to defend herself but also for having confronted me and for being here now.

Her father would be disappointed.

The words she had spoken before leaving still echoed in my mind. Words that were enough to provoke the animal inside me, which I had been trying to contain for a long time, until the right time to act.

But at that moment, I wanted to show her who I really am and why she should never dare to insult me again.

She almost made me lose control, something that was becoming common. First, it was in that alley, right after I saved her, then when I helped her escape, and then last night, when I discovered she was here. She was making me act impulsively and, moreover, she continued to blame me, despite me having saved her.

For some reason, she seemed not to like me. Maybe she hated me because of the agreement made between our parents, for having been raised thinking she would be forced to marry me. Maybe she didn't know that I also had no choice.

I didn't understand her, but I knew she represented a danger and that I needed to stay away from her.

Opening the door of the small office, Lyall entered, leaving it open for me. Despite trying to hide it, I knew he was annoyed to see me so close to her.

But she didn't belong to him, nor to any of them. Because if something had happened the night before, I would know just by her scent. There was no scent on her, and if it were up to me, there never would be. Not theirs.

I should have taken her with me, but I hesitated because I needed them. And just for that, I needed to control myself. Control the animal inside me, which told me to take her away from here, even if I had to face all of them.

I walked through the door, closing it behind me.

Ivaylo was sitting in a corner, and Kallias near the window, leaning against a bookshelf. From what little I knew him, I wondered how he allowed her to stay.

"So, anything new about your investigation?" Lyall asked, sitting at one end of the wooden desk and crossing his arms in front of his body.

He was waiting for proof that my uncle was involved in my father's death, to finally decide to join me.

The legitimacy of my blood was not enough for him. However, he knew that the chances of overthrowing my uncle would be greater if they joined me.

"Deimos hasn't returned yet," I informed.

Deimos, my best friend, was searching for a possible witness to my father's poisoning; he should have returned the previous night, but he hadn't, and this was starting to worry me.

"Then I guess we have nothing to discuss."

"You said time is a precious resource, but you can't see that your hesitation is only delaying us."

"What do you expect? That we trust you because of your uncontested right to the throne?" He scoffed.

"Everyone here is aware of my uncle's actions and knows that with each passing day, we are only giving him more time to continue committing atrocities."

"You know that even if we work together, this will take some time."

Yes, I knew, knew that developing the plan and putting it into action would take a good time, and thinking about it was driving me crazy because I couldn't stand waiting anymore.

Waiting was all I had done since the day my father was killed. Waiting until I was old enough to challenge my uncle, waiting while I pretend to be a useless, following all his damn orders and watching as he commits atrocities.

I could barely think about it without feeling my blood boil. Having to act continuously as a useless and cowardly person over the years, now made me feel ashamed of myself. My father must feel the same.

"It's a pity I can't deal with this directly with your father." I provoked, losing patience.

Lyall's father was the Alpha of a pack to the north. It seems the two had a disagreement, and that's why he was so far from home.

"Volk..." Kallias warned, shaking his head.

I was really in need of a good fight.

"Come back when your friend shows up," Lyall said.

To my displeasure, he was too patient for a wolf.

"Or we can discuss the plan," I suggested.

There was still a lot to discuss. We needed to start working on the containment plan and discuss how we could seek help from my father's old political allies.

They could provide us with resources, influence, and support in a fight against my uncle.

"It wouldn't help since not everyone is present."

"Then call them."

"I still have to go over the whole plan with our new member."

Of course. The female.

"And that brings us to her. I still can't believe they let her stay."

"She has a motivation, like all of us. But you know that well."

He was trying to insinuate it was my fault?

"I would never have allowed him to harm her. All I did was try to keep her away and safe. But you are doing exactly the opposite."

"Don't worry about her. She has already proven she can take care of herself."

He didn't know what he was talking about. She wouldn't be able to defend herself against my uncle, and he seemed unwilling to give up on her, quite the contrary, at this moment, he was concentrating all his efforts to find her.

But Lyall didn't seem to care about that, he seemed more concerned with his own interests in her.

"Do I have to believe that's the only reason you want to keep her here?" I asked sarcastically.

"She knew all the risks when she decided to stay." He said, trying to contain a smile of satisfaction.

He was managing to provoke me.

"And she's still here even after what happened yesterday. She's brave." Ivaylo added, sitting in the corner, looking proud.

What was he talking about? What had happened?

"What happened yesterday?" I asked.

"That's none of your business." Lyall retorted.

"No, but if they touch a hair on her head, it will be." I threatened, unable to control myself.

"I think we only need the consent of one person, and that person isn't you." He said, making the anger burn inside me. "You rejected her Volk, need I remind you that you have no rights over her?"

I clenched my fists, trying to contain the animal inside me. I shouldn't care, she's just a stranger.

But I couldn't control the damn animal inside me, which for some reason wanted to keep her for itself.

Damn. I didn't need this, not now, there was already too much to deal with, I didn't need distractions, or having to worry about losing control, because of a female. I needed to stay away and focus my efforts on what really mattered.

"I'll come back when I have news from Deimos," I said, before heading towards the door.