61. Neutral territory

Twenty minutes later the car slowed to a crawl. Then stopped completely. The lack of movement assured that they had reached their destination. His driver's words confirmed it.

"We're here sire."

Putting aside the container of food he'd gotten from the cafe this morning, he reached for the door. A moment later he alighted from the back of the vehicle, never bothering for it to be opened. His eyes glanced up at the place he'd been brought to, resembling that of the skyscrapers in New York. A ritz and glamor the rest of the small northern mountain town simply lacked.

Hotel Carlisle.

This was yet another one of the human businesses he'd erected in the mortal world the last decade. Unlike the rest of them, SHayde had come to see the wisdom of having a stake in the outside world. For it was these businesses that enabled him the wealth to provide for his growing number of people.

Though the resurrection of Hotel Carlisle was more for neutral ground than the escalating income. There were times when either the Alpha's needed his attention, concerning issues in their courts. And no mind all of them came from the same world none trusted going to another territory for these matters. Then there were other times when the Black Guard wished to convene with him on matters. So it came in handy when there was a place SHayde could meet them, that was neutral on both sides.

Like today for instance.

If it hadn't been for the hotel then none of them would've had a place to enact these business meetings. None of them would dare trust to visit his territory, and he definitely wouldn't have trusted them.

Stepping through the revolving doors of the hotel Shayde made his way towards the elevators. Though it was the golden elevator that gained his attention, that only he had access to. Every person in attendance instantly tracked the movement of the newcomers, though it was the ring leader all watched. To bear witness to the beauty and enormity of the man, that not even the wealth of tattoos could diminish. Every female present for his arrival immediately lusted after the man, while the men were envious.

He chuckled.

Their immediate interest wasn't lost on him, fully aware of precisely how he affected them. As he'd been doing from the moment he hit his sixteenth birthday and his looks became prominent. The humans always found their bodies wetting as if preparing for him, eager to be fucked. Of course, few ever had the pleasure. Even less now that Danika had come onto the scene. Caspar had lost all interest in the opposite sex when she came onto the scene, only his mate was good enough for him.

Sorry ladies, this wolf's off-limits.

With that thought on the forefront of his mind, Shayde stepped onto the elevator as the doors opened. The moment he did he was flaked on both sides by his guards, prepared to rip any enemy to shreds. Not that he really needed their protection, Shayde was more than capable of handling his own. He simply tended to stick to the background, giving his personal security the chance to do their jobs. It surely had to irritate them that their boss took care of the tasks meant for them, making them expendable. Unnecessary.

Not today boys, he thought.

For the first time in months, Shayde was actually going to give his security the chance to ensure his survival. Both instantly relaxed as he stepped to the back, clearly showing his decision in that moment. Though it wasn't done for them. No, Shayde really didn't give a shit what these men thought about his continued interference to the job. His mind was simply too preoccupied at the time being, to be bothered with staying alert of his surroundings.

Opening up his mind allowing all the barriers to fall from around him, he reached out to the ether. He tried to find the one essence he truly cared about, the one person who'd touched his heart of stone. Danika. The connection between mates was a powerful bond, that none of his interference could diminish. True mates were able to sense each other from a distance if only to check on them during their absence. Exactly what he'd been doing for hours. Shayde reached out to that essence now, to see how she'd fared in the time he was gone from home.

A smile struggled to surface as he finally made the connection, but refused to allow it to. The connection of their minds assured him there was absolutely nothing for him to worry about. Danika was fine. A mental picture popped into his head, of Danika lying on her side, still fast asleep in bed. The girl was so not a morning person. These last days together Shayde couldn't miss her avoidance of the morning, sleeping right through it. And if he dared to open the curtains she had a meltdown, determined to languish in her dreams.

No, definitely not a morning person.

She was better suited for nighttime.

She loved the darkness.

Basked in the glow of the moon.

Mates prefect, Caspar added.

He couldn't refute the animal's statements. Yes. If it wasn't for the damnable curse, then Danika would've been absolutely perfect for him. The kind of woman he'd always envisioned for his mate, that was wild, reckless, exciting and alluring. If it wasn't for the damned witch and the curse, Shayde would've loved finding out what life with her would've been like. Then again if it hadn't been for the witch he wouldn't have become so driven to have a child, forcing him into accepting the bond.

(Sigh.)

Walking off the elevator when the doors finally came open, Shayde moved towards the far end of the hall. He failed to acknowledge those walking around, all watching the presence of the new men. Shayde was fairly confident all of them were wondering about the newest arrivals, the men who exuded such darkness and power. You don't want to know, he sent them.

When the cluster of men finally reached the conference room on the top floor, Shayde halted them from moving a step further. He stared down the warriors a wealth of meaning in his eyes. "I want the four of you to remain our here, to keep watch."

All four nodded.

Pleased when none of them thought to voice their complaints, Shayde opened the door and stepped inside. Justin was right behind him every step of the way, determined to deal with the matter at hand. Upon his entrance into the conference room, three equally handsome men in expensive tailored suits turned towards him. Alpha James, Alpha Jarek and Alpha Benton. The alphas who'd claimed to need a meeting with him, to talk of the problems that'd arisen in their territory.

"Alpha king," the three greeted.