Chapter 84: AT THE DOOR

Kali's POV

My wolf howled at how pink they were, and just when I thought he couldn't get any closer, he leaned in so close that his breath fanned my cheeks.

“You think the proposal is my only problem?” His voice was so husky it sent shivers down my spine. “I have a hard time keeping myself away from you and…..”

Fate must have hated me because in that moment, three sharp knocks on the door, was all it took to pull us out of the trance we seemed to be both in.

Shit.

I startled, but Diego didn't seem to be the least bothered, until he figured out who was at the door. How could he? He was the Alpha and he literally owned the place anyway. I was the outsider here and there was every effort to make me look worse that I already was. That was actually the way that new wolves were treated anyway. When they were brought into a new pack, everyone tried to make their life a living hell.

“Diego?” My blood ran cold at the voice that reached our ears. “open up. I need to speak with you.”

Leo was on the other side of the door.

Over the years, I'd heard people describe a number of things as the worst thing that cukd happen to them. It ranged from death, to losing a loved one, getting an illness amongst a whole list of other things. While their fears were understandable, I couldn't say I actually related, and even in a million years, I didn't see myself being in their shoes. But of all things that could be the worst thing for me, I never thought it would be silence.

It swirled all around me, and I didn't miss how it pressed down against my chest like a fucking freight train that had no other wish than to choke me to death. For the next couple of seconds, I couldn't hear a thing.

Not the sound of my own pulse hammering in my ears, not even the fact that Diego was still close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off him,  but that heavy, suffocating silence said that he was thinking. And Diego thinking didn't sound like such a good thing for me.

My eyes found his face, and I hated how unreadable his expression was. He wasn't staring at me now, more like above my head, and it made me realize just how much I paled in comparison to the height difference between us. He was much much taller than me, and for some strange reason, it made my stomach churn.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, my fingers twitching uselessly at my sides. I wanted to say something, anything to diffuse the whole situation, but the knock on the door came again.

“Diego?” Leo’s voice carried through the wood, calm but clipped. As he spoke, he banged his fist against the door some more, and I couldn't help but feel like he wouldn't stop till he came in. “Open up. We need to talk.”

Diego didn’t move right away. His eyes stayed locked on mine for a beat too long before he finally straightened, dragging a hand through his hair like Leo’s voice was just background noise.

“What do you want, Leo?” Diego’s tone was controlled, and smooth. There wasn't so much as a hint of invitation, no hint of letting him in, and it calmed my nerves a little. “I'm busy.”

“It’s important,” Leo replied. “Better said face to face.”

My heart dropped at Leo's response. Leo was Diego's beta, and even though I didn't know smack shit about the guy, he rubbed off on me as the kind of person that was persistent, perhaps even more than Diego. Yes, Diego was insisting on not grabbing him entry, but for how long could he keep it up for?

And if Diego's resilience eventually wore thin, what was Diego going to think about me?

“Then say it through the door,” Diego’s voice pulled me back to the present. His voice countered without missing a beat, and perhaps if the tables were turned, I would have given a little giggle. “I don't think that's an issue.”

My brows furrowed. Wasn't he going to open it?

“Diego.” Leo’s voice hardened, the authority creeping in. “This isn’t something to discuss in passing.”

“I’m not in the mood for visitors.” Diego’s reply was pure steel. “So unless the pack is on fire, spit it out.”

Silence settled around us after that, and even though I couldn't see the man,I wouldn't put it past Leo to run his hands through his hair in frustration. After what seemed like forever though , Leo sighed, his words turning deliberate.

“The proposal.” He let out slowly. “That’s what the council called you for, wasn’t it?”

“What do you care?” Of all responses, that wasn't what I thought Diego would go with. “Don't you have other important things to attend to?”

“This is important.” Leo hissed. “You’ve been dodging the conversation for too long.They won’t wait much longer.”

My breath caught, and it didn't help that Diego didn’t answer right away. He just let the silence stretch until even I felt like squirming.

“I’m aware of their impatience,” he said finally. “But….”

“Awareness isn’t action,” Leo pressed. “You need to decide. Now.”

. “It will be handled.” Diego’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking briefly to me before returning to the door. “Just trust me.”

“That’s not good enough,” Leo shot back. “You can’t keep stalling. We both know what’s at stake here.”

Diego didn’t reply, and for a moment I thought Leo might actually break the door down. The knocks came again, and this time, I stared at Diego .

His eyes met mine, and I hated how I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Did he want to let him in? If yes, what was that going to mean for me? And if no, what effect would it have on him. Like some sort of miracle,there was the sound of retreating footsteps, sharp and final, followed by silence again.

It took me a couple of seconds to finally realize, that It was just the two of us now, and I decided to take my chances

“You know…” I took a breath, forcing my voice steady. “ I could be the solution. To all of it.”

“I’m serious, Diego,” I said, stepping closer, as his eyes cut to me, unreadable.  “You wouldn’t have to deal with their threats or their deadlines if you just..”

“No.” The word was firm, and clipped, like a slap across the cheek.

“You didn’t even hear me out….” I started again, but I didn't even get any more words out.

“I heard you the first time, Kali.” His tone sharpened, but it wasn’t anger exactly. More like control. “You still have two days to convince me, but until then, drop it.”

Two days.

The way he said it made my stomach twist,  not just because of the challenge in his voice, but because I knew, deep down, that two days with Diego could be just as dangerous as two days with the council breathing down his neck.

Damn, I was cooked.