Page 21

21

E zra

The whiskey in my glass is a special batch, made in the capital city with proprietary ingredients and a secret process that only three craftsmen in the world know about. And yet, right now, it tastes like any other whiskey to me.

Because I can’t stop thinking about Faye.

My mind tracks back to that first night here, when Cayson complained about me always getting the good rooms—and it's true. My father may not be the most powerful alpha, but he commands respect. People know how he cares for his pack, and how he always puts their needs first. Which is why I’m often privy to the best rooms.

And this one is no exception. It’s near the top of the castle and has a large window. I have a clear view of the countryside from here. I sit in the window seat, back against the cool stone, one leg swinging down. My fingers curl around the whiskey glass, and I will the coolness to bring me back to my senses.

I don’t need a mate. I don’t want a mate. I did not come to The Selection intending to take an omega—I only wanted to fulfil my duties and return home as fast as possible.

But that was before Faye.

Prior to the dinner tonight, I hadn’t thought much about what life would look like if I actually took Faye as my omega, at least I didn’t consciously think I had, and yet the picture of our life together came to me immediately. A life that includes Cayson, Maverick, and Xander, all three men whom I like. Now, a life with her seems like the most natural, simple scenario. Like my life before her has just been practice, preparation for the moment she finally arrives.

My life before flashes through in a series of memories, and the pain comes, like always, when I think of Katie. But now, it’s muted, like I’m feeling it through a wall, rather than being hit in the face with it. The first day without Katie comes back to my mind, the first full day of my life that I had to live with the knowledge that she was gone, and now, with it, is an even more terrifying thought—that something might happen to Faye.

I push it away. I’d never allow it. There’s no world in which I would allow her to be harmed again, by Kurt or anyone else.

No, our life together would be something special. Faye would always be safe, with four protective men to watch over her, and we would have the gentleness and love we need in our life, all thanks to our little omega. No doubt we’d have many kids together, and she’d be a wonderful mother. Somehow, I can even picture the four of us assholes as good fathers and husbands.

“What a crazy idea,” I say, chuckling to myself.

Me, with a wife, kids, and males to complete my family. No longer remaining apart from the world, mourning the death of someone I can continue to appreciate without putting my life on hold for.

Yes, this is what I want. I want Faye, and the life we’ll all have together.

“And I don’t even feel guilty about it.” I smile, shaking my head.

And… I don’t. This just feels right. It’s not just the correct decision, it’s the only decision I could possibly make from the moment I met Faye.

When my next sip of whiskey comes back dry, I realize the glass is empty, and think that I should probably get to bed for the night. I set the glass next to the sink and start for the bathroom, but there’s a knock on the door.

At first, I think it might be Cayson, here with a bottle of liquor, like usual, ready to toast to Maverick’s little stunt or to talk about what to do with that bastard Kurt. Not that, again, the council would listen to a feral’s word over an alpha’s about the events of tonight. No doubt when Cayson begrudgingly accepts that, he’d move back to Maverick peeing on Kurt’s clothes. He’d been peeved when he discovered I wasn’t exactly jumping and cheering about what Maverick had done. Sure, it was amusing, but I’m not sure it was a good move. Poking Kurt had obviously only managed to piss him off more and put Faye even more in danger.

But when I get close to my door, I realize that the scent isn’t Cayson’s.

What in the hell is he doing here? Something must be wrong.

I open the door to find Lance, the ultima, waiting on the other side. “Good evening,” I say, bowing my head as a sign of respect.

He’s still in formal clothes, even this late at night. His blond hair is neatly styled. Power flows from him in a way that’s always uncomfortable to be around.

He clears his throat and returns the greeting, his face grave. “Hello, Ezra, may I come in?”

“Of course.”

I let him in immediately, glad that I keep my room tidy. It’s constantly ready for surprise visitors. I picture Cayson’s room and its ever-constant state of disarray, despite the housekeeper’s best efforts. If Lance visited him in the middle of the night, he would be in for a big surprise.

“Thank you for receiving me,” Lance says, the circles under his eyes just a little darker than usual. “I apologize for the late night visit, but I’m afraid it’s urgent.”

“No problem,” I say, nodding and gesturing for him to sit at my table. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Your father has instilled some good manners in you,” he says, laughing a bit as we take our seats across from each other, “but no, I don’t plan to be here for long.”

Interesting. I wonder what he could want. My thoughts instantly go to Faye, but I don’t think she’s hurt or in trouble. If she was, he’d be in here with a different kind of energy. Besides, the guards have remained by her door, their loyalty deepened by the money Cayson and I are supplying them.

So, what is this about?

“Alright,” I say, touching my fingers together under the table and trying to calm my beating heart.

This can’t be about Faye. My mind starts to go through the possible reasons he could be here. If something had happened back with my pack, surely Lance would not be so casual about everything.

“Ezra,” Lance says, clearing his throat. “I should not be divulging this information to you, but I trust that you’re capable of being discreet. Discreet meaning that it stays between you, your mate, and the men you’ve been bonded to.”

“Of course.”

He hesitates for only a moment. “We’ve been doing an investigation of the girl’s murder,” Lance says, his voice dropping so low that I have to lean forward to hear what he’s saying. “I promised that we would, and we are taking the situation very seriously. Some of the evidence we’ve gathered—it points to Kurt’s involvement.”

Of course, I believed Faye when she said she recognized that death. That she saw the echo of her brother’s murder in the scene we came across. But here, now, hearing this from Lance himself, is a different experience entirely. I want to ask about the evidence, figure out what they’ve learned, but my instincts remind me not to push with an ultima.

Even as an alpha, I defer to him, and his subtle power pushes through the room, influencing me. I wonder if this is how Faye feels when she’s around an alpha.

“There’s not enough evidence to make an official accusation,” Lance says, “but it is certainly moving in that direction.”

“I see,” I say, managing to keep my voice steady. “What can I do to help?”

“Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot we can do at this junction,” Lance says, steepling his hands together on the table. “I’m outvoted in this matter, at every turn. The council is just hesitant to take action against a man as powerful as Kurt. Angering his father would not be beneficial to anyone, and we must be absolutely certain that he committed the crime before publicly tarnishing his name.”

Right—because Kurt’s good name is far more important than the lives of fellow shifters. “You know, Kurt has been far more violent with Faye than we’ve let on, knowing that her word won’t mean anything against his in front of the council.”

We both look at each other, remembering our conversation just a short time ago about Kurt in the greenhouse. Lance had been upset, but not surprised, promising to bring it up with the council. I can tell he did, and that it led to nothing from the look on his face.

“I can believe that, unfortunately. But like I said, I was outvoted on how to handle him. Kurt’s father is the kind of man who would stage an all-out-war with the other packs, should he feel his good name is being tarnished. The council is trying to avoid that at all costs,” Lance continues, almost as though he can sense that there’s more I could say. “I’m not a fan of Kurt’s general conduct, and I thought this was enough to warrant removing him from The Selection. But the other council members didn’t agree. I’m not sharing this information for you to take action—in fact, doing anything to interfere with the council’s investigation would be foolish. I’m simply telling you because this development might spur Kurt to take action.”

“You think he might go after Faye more aggressively,” I say, thinking of all the times he has managed to do just that—putting his hands on her, bursting into her room, fucking attacking her in the greenhouse. Tonight, Xander had filled us in on everything he’d done. My blood starts to heat, and I have to re-focus on Lance to keep my emotions in check.

“Nobody can be sure what a man like Kurt might do,” Lance says diplomatically. “But I could not, in good conscience, risk this happening to another omega.”

“I see,” I say, clearing my throat, the image of Faye dead in the woods like Serra, the unfortunate omega, making bile rise in my throat. If this isn’t proof that a bond is forming between us, I don’t know what is. Thinking of Faye's death is like thinking of my own. “Thank you for telling me.”

“I trust you will not dishonor me by sharing this information with others outside of Faye and your men.”

“Your trust is well placed.”

Lance stands, and I show him to the door, my mind racing the entire time. What am I supposed to do with this information? The brutish, violent part of my mind insists that I just eliminate the threat—kill Kurt so he can’t hurt anyone else, and especially so he can’t hurt Faye.

But the more intelligent, composed part of my mind insists that there has to be a better alternative. And I’ll need to talk to the other alphas and Faye to come up with a plan.