Farica tucked her long chestnut-brown hair behind her ear and touched her hand to her pink cheek, laughing delicately. The sound reverberated around the darkened room, her peacefulness rising into the air and settling over them like fairy dust. Multiple heads across the table turned towards the soft melody. And damn, if some of the vampires’ expressions didn’t loosen up a fraction. It was amazing what his sister could do. “Maybe you’re right, Alek. But I think some of those vampires should see what touch could do and most of them wouldn’t look like—”
“We’re on our way,” Justice broke in, his strong wolf linking them all together and speaking to them from wherever he was.
Alek and the rest of his siblings stood, along with the remaining shifters around the table—his brother’s enforcers and officers. Justice entered with Wick by his side. They stood around the same height, making an impressive couple. Alek felt Wolf react to Wick’s incomparable beast. The Siberian tiger that lived inside Wick had been granted to him by the Mother to guard her children. Therefore, the powerful cat never presented a threat to Wolf. His animal’s reaction to it was more reverence than anything else.
From the moment Wick had first introduced himself to their pack, he’d been one hundred percent true. He hadn’t changed one thing about himself, except that he was happier and he smiled a lot more than the average vampire. Wick had on his classic, tailored black suit while his brother wore his customary jeans, hiking boots and a plaid flannel shirt. Stark opposites, and yet fated to live together in perfect harmony. It’d only been a few months since their pairing, but they appeared to be getting it right. Their love, their bonding was so intense it couldn’t be second-guessed.
He really hoped he and Belleron would have that as well. He wanted to believe wholeheartedly it would all work out like in some goddamn fairytale, but there was just so much that still needed to be revealed to his mate, and they’d only just scratched the surface last night. What if Bell hated what he had to tell him? What if he met the beast? What if Bell would rather starve to death than be mated to him forever? Alek balled up his fists at his sides.
I don’t like these feelings. Stop it, Wolf snarled. Our mate approaches.
Alek jerked his head to the right a second before Belleron came through the rear doors at the far end of the hall. Alek was mildly surprised he hadn’t arrived beside his king. The first thing Bell did was turn in Alek’s direction and acknowledge him before he did anyone else, and it satisfied the alpha in him. If only he had a link to his mate’s mind, he’d let him know how sexy he thought he looked.
Alek then registered the fragrance Wolf sent to him. Oh my gods. Bell smelled freshly showered, clean, his natural fragrance as potent as ever. The sweet smell of orange and the boldness of earth flooded his nostrils, making him fight to control his breathing. The slight tilt in the corner of Bell’s satiny peach lips—as if he knew where Alek’s mind had roamed—had him hardening rapidly. Shit. Wolf, shield. He was sure everyone in there didn’t want to be bombarded by his heady arousal.
The king and Justice sat in the two chairs at the head of the table and the rest of them followed suit. Justice reached over and gave Alek a fist bump. “You’re looking good, brother.” Justice beamed.
He didn’t know what the hell his brother saw, but Alek must have been putting up a pretty good façade, because he felt like shit on the inside.
“Thanks,” Alek mumbled, still watching Bell as he surveyed the three large vans that’d brought the guards there. He seemed upset.
Bell flashed towards the row of vampires and came to a sharp halt in front of the first soldier, his thick black hair falling beautifully back into place. He eyed them carefully as he gradually moved down the line observing them all, a slight pinch forming in the center of his forehead. No one hurried or questioned Belleron, but hell, even Alek was wondering what he was doing and what the problem was.
He’s not happy, Wolf informed him.
I wonder why? Alek wished he could feel his mate. He wanted to run over, grab Bell and pull him onto his lap and kiss that frown away. Again, that was something that would selfishly satisfy him, and make his mate appear weak, so he stayed put, despite the clawing down deep in his soul.
Keep him back, Wolf.
I’m on it. But be warned, Alek, tension is radiating off the Lord Protector.
Bell addressed his clan. “I trust you all are well. I’m not happy about you having to be here at this godforsaken hour, but your highness has called an emergency. We are not trying to be disrespectful, but King Bentley fears time is of the essence. I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies.” Bell nodded towards the army, then came and joined the rest of them at the table, directly across from Alek and on the other side of the king. He turned to his Lord Protector, who returned an appreciative gesture.