Alek wanted to puff out his chest at hearing such a compliment about his mate, but instead of pride all he felt was dread. Bell couldn’t go, he just couldn’t. Anyone but him.
Alek I don’t know what the hell is going on but he doesn’t like this and he’s rushing forward. Take Bell and go.
What the hell, Wolf? Alek couldn’t do that. Did his animal really want him to scoop Bell up into a fireman’s hold and take off running with him? Shit! But he had to do something. Alek felt a sharp pain in his chest and shot to his feet.
“Good attitude, Alek.” Justice smiled at him. “I knew you’d be the first to volunteer.”
Oh, he wasn’t volunteering shit, he was searching for other solutions. Ones that didn’t involve his true mate. “Why have these tombs been targeted? What do you believe is the purpose of it?”
That was the best he could do.
“Well,” Another member of Bell’s team—one of his many officers—said, “Whomever this is leading the mutiny obviously wants the attention of the king. It’d take more than just him and a few other rogue vampires stirring up trouble to make it an issue for the Lords to get involved. They’d quickly be rounded up by the guards and dealt with by the leaders of the covens. But breaking into the tombs is treason, an extremely serious offense that should be dealt with by our highest leaders.”
“Understood.” His brother Mac nodded. “So on the home front we’ll start visiting the senior packs and putting them on alert.”
“Yes. This situation is deemed classified for now. Only top-ranking alphas and betas should be forewarned,” Justice said to his pack. Alek watched as his family all easily agreed.
“Wait!” Alek blurted. “Um. I can start sending word right away to the packs, but—”
“That won’t do,” Justice interrupted. Wolf snarled, but Alek held it in tightly. He couldn’t disrespect his alpha in front of everyone. “You will need to go with your brothers personally to deliver the information. We can’t risk any interception of classified information.”
Alek knew Justice was right about that. He still didn’t care. Swallowing down the nerves he felt swarming in his belly, he asked, “As first beta, I would like to request this mission be postponed twenty-four hours until—”
“Absolutely not, Aleksei. There’s a group of vampires ruthlessly killing my guards and raiding the tombs for gods know what reason. They wanted our attention and now they have it. I have to get this under control yesterday, not tomorrow. I hope you understand,” Wick said with finality in his tone.
Shit, shit, shit. Alek could hardly look in his mate’s direction, even though he could feel those intense eyes lasered on him. For a second he was almost glad he couldn’t feel Bell’s mood.
“Brother, do you have another proposal besides waiting?” Justice asked.
“Yes. Bell and I aren’t ready,” Alek blurted stupidly.
“May I speak to you outside?” Bell interjected calmly before Justice could respond.
Alek nodded briskly and followed Bell outside. All eyes were on their backs, and Alek could smell the distaste from the vampires and his family. The last thing he’d wanted to do was upset Bell’s team again. But, it appeared as if that was exactly what he’d done. Alek wanted to groan in misery. Why did Wolf make him act like this?
When they were outside in the brightness of the day, Bell pulled out a pair of sleek, silver-rimmed shades and eased them on. The moment the door sealed shut his mate was on him. His jaw tight and his fangs peeking from under his full top lip.
“Have you lost your damn mind, Aleksei? How dare you undermine me like that in front of not only my senior command but yours as well?” Bell was infuriated, and Alek knew he had every right to be. “What is this? Do you have that little respect for me and my position?”
Alek felt his animals battling inside him, Wolf desperately fending off hell in hopes of giving Alek more time to explain. He had to grit his teeth to combat the fever in him, the heat trying to escape. “We need to be united before we take on any enemies. That’s what I mean by not ready.”
“It’s not possible for us to be together at all times. You do recognize that, don’t you?” Bell glared. “My job is just as important as yours. Did I stand up and tell your family that you’re not prepared?”
“I’m sorry it came out that way, because that’s not what I meant. I just happen to know we’ll be strongest once we’re really together. I need to mate with you or else—”
“Damnit!” Bell spun around, his long, shiny black hair flying over one shoulder. “You don’t get it! You spoke about me like I wasn’t even in there, Aleksei. Are you telling me that you disrespected me like that because I haven’t had sex with you yet?”