17- The Alpha’s Shadow
POV Lunara Grimwald:
I had no idea what the bastard's plans for me were, but I was sure he would promise to keep me alive if it meant having his claws on me again.
On the other hand, if that happened, I would kill myself. That way, I would free myself from Alessio and get my revenge on Edric.
"Are all the packs in this forest?" I asked, very disinterested.
She smiled, noticing my true intention.
"Yes, all of them. And there's a leader for each one." She set her coffee cup down on the table. "There's the Valmorin pack, which belongs to Alpha Aldren. The Averwyn pack, which belongs to Alpha Viktor. The Tharengard pack, which belongs to Alpha Sullivan. And the Cyndrael pack, of Alpha Konrad."
I bit my lips.
I felt the heat intensify again in my chest. And I wondered how long the heat would take to finally leave me in peace. Lyris said she would get the herbs for me, but I wouldn't take them; I would face this period. I would save the herbs for my escape; they would be an important ally. Without the heat, it would be harder for them to find me. And running away from not one, but two alphas, things tended to get much worse for me.
"And... um... which pack do the heat herbs belong to?" I asked, giving in to my curiosity.
She laughed and shook her head, clicking her tongue.
"You seem far too interested for someone who claims not to care." His voice reverberated through the room. I jumped from the chair, turning toward the sound. Edric was leaning against the door, watching me with a raised eyebrow and his arms crossed. "Don't you find that strange, little wolf?"
"I don't give a damn about your opinion," I hissed.
Did he find me more worthy at the moment, since he was looking at me for the first time since we had woken up? Asshole!
He laughed, pushing his body away from the door and walking toward me. I averted my eyes to the table, ignoring the damn somersaults in my stomach. He threw a package in front of me.
"Here are the herbs you seem so interested in. The heat suppressant. Take it now, before your problem becomes my problem again."
I took a deep breath and swallowed a large gulp of coffee, ignoring him for a moment. I tilted my head slightly to the side and stared at him, smiling with derision.
"Since it bothers you so much, send some of your males to fuck me. That way, the problem will be solved without you having to get involved," I murmured, sliding the words off my tongue with intense satisfaction.
He growled, lifting his lips and showing his fangs.
"Don't irritate me, little wolf," he whispered, leaning over me, planting one hand on the table and the other on the back of my chair. "You don't know how... terrible I can be when I'm irritated."
"Even more terrible?" I asked, blinking slowly.
Lyris choked on her coffee, setting the cup in front of her lips to hide a mocking smile.
"Much worse," he agreed, his eyes shining with irritation.
I pushed the chair back, moving him away, and stood up, picking up the little package of herbal pills. I wouldn't take them, but I would keep them as if they were my most precious possession. In a month, my heat would return, and I hoped to be far away from him when it happened.
I didn't really know what I should do. Go back to the room and lock myself in, studying a way to escape, or try to wander around, if Edric would even allow it.
"Shall we take a walk?" asked Lyris.
I held back a sigh of relief, pleased by the invitation. It would be much easier, and my intentions less obvious, if it were like this.
"I would love to."
Edric said nothing as I walked around the table, moving away from him. I left the little package of herbal pills on the corner so I could pick it up when I returned from the walk. His gaze burned on me, firm and thorough.
As soon as we stepped onto the porch, a female cut in front of me. I took an instinctive step back, scrunching my face into a grimace of disapproval.
She was tall and thin. Her hair, a cascade of dark curls, fell disorderly over her shoulders, framing her pretty face. Her lips were full, her eyebrows defined, and she had a strong nose with a thin layer of freckles sprinkled around it, marking her white skin. She wore a black tank top that molded to her round, medium-sized breasts, jeans, and sneakers.
"Thalira," Lyris greeted, sounding bored.
Thalira analyzed me, staring at me from head to toe, with her lips pursed in a snarl. Disgust and scorn shone in her brown eyes.
"So, this is the mated she-wolf..." she commented, laughing disdainfully.
"Apparently, news travels fast around here," Lyris mocked.
My chest tightened, and I soon felt Edric's presence behind me. He passed by my side, careful not to touch me, and stopped facing the intrusive she-wolf.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, lowering his head to look at her.
"I came to see if what they were saying was true." She took a step to the side, staring at me again. "I thought you had more... refined taste in females." She made a pout with her mouth. "I didn't know you were interested in mutts who wander around in the middle of the forest."
He laughed. The bastard simply laughed.
"I'm a charitable soul," he replied, turning to me, standing beside her, and sliding an arm over her shoulders.
Every cell in my body reacted to the scene. My hair stood on end, and I felt my wolf on the verge of transforming. My nails began to ache as they lengthened from my fingers.
I took a deep breath. Once, twice, three times. We were still newly mated, and I would act like this for a while. I didn't care about him, nor about that damned she-wolf. As far as I was concerned, they could explode.
"Please, Edric!" Lyris scolded, shaking her head.
Thalira took a step forward, smiling at me.
"You are a pathetic little thing." She guffawed. "Good thing you found our charitable alpha."