Page 7 of Craved by the Werewolf (Mystic Ridge Monster Mates #2)

THORNE

I 'd been staring at the same security report for twenty minutes, reading the same paragraph over and over without comprehending a single word. The numbers on the page might as well have been written in another language for all the sense they made.

My concentration was shot. Had been since the moment I'd woken up to seventeen missed calls and a text from Kai that simply read: You need to see Glitter. Now.

I didn't want to look.

The internet had apparently decided that Vala and I were soulmates destined for matrimony, complete with fan-created wedding invitations and a betting pool on when I'd "officially claim" her. Someone had even photoshopped us into a movie poster titled "The Alpha and the Nightingale: A Love Story."

I'd thrown my phone across the room after that one.

"Thorne?" Raina appeared in my office doorway, tablet in hand and wearing an expression that meant she had news I probably didn't want to hear. "Conference room's ready. Everyone's here except?—"

"Vala," I finished, standing and straightening my shirt. Professional. I could do professional.

"And Malrik's already making the lights interesting," she added with a smirk. "Kai's taking bets on whether he shorts out the projector before or after you start the meeting."

My phone rang. Front desk.

"Alpha? Ms. Nightingale just arrived at the main gate."

The words sent an unwelcome jolt through my system. She was here. On my territory. The possessive satisfaction that thought brought should have been concerning, but I pushed it aside.

"Send Jax to escort her in," I said.

"You're nervous," Raina observed after I hung up.

"I'm focused."

"Uh-huh. That's why you've been pacing for the last ten minutes.

" She checked her tablet. "Liam's got all the permits ready, Lana brought enough Haven House documentation to start her own library, and Mika keeps making comments about 'watching the sparks fly.

' I think she means it literally and figuratively. "

Before I could respond with something appropriately Alpha-like and intimidating, the building's lights dimmed for just a moment. A controlled pulse that rippled through the electrical system like a greeting.

"Malrik's getting impatient," Raina noted. "You ready for this?"

Absolutely not. I shot her a look.

The walk to the conference room should have been straightforward.

Should have given me time to center myself, to slip back into the controlled persona I wore like armor.

Instead, I found myself thinking about sleepless nights and viral videos, about the way Vala's pulse had spiked when I'd leaned closer to the microphone.

I could hear voices as we approached the conference room—Lana's warm laughter, Kai's teasing commentary, Mika's pointed observations about "professional chemistry.

" Through the glass walls, I could see them all arranged around the table: Liam with his perfectly organized council documents, Lana surrounded by colorful Haven House files, Kai fiddling with backup cables for the AV equipment.

And Malrik, lounging in his chair like he owned the place, dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit that probably cost more than most people's cars.

The lights above him pulsed in a slow, steady rhythm—not erratic or destructive, but controlled.

Deliberate. A demonstration of power held perfectly in check.

"Showoff," I muttered.

"Always," Raina agreed. "But he's our showoff, and he's damn good at what he does."

The conversation died the moment I stepped into the room. Lana looked up with a warm smile, raising her coffee mug in greeting. "Thorne! Ready to plan the event of the year?"

"Prepared, as always," I replied, taking my usual seat at the head of the table.

"Speaking of event," Kai said, gesturing at his laptop screen, "the internet is still losing its collective mind over your radio promo. #NightAlpha is trending again this morning."

I felt my jaw tighten. "NightAlpha?"

"The ship name, you know...relationship." Mika supplied helpfully, looking far too entertained by my discomfort. "Combination of Nightingale and Alpha. Very romantic. The fans are eating it up."

Liam cleared his throat diplomatically. "Perhaps we should focus on the official matters first? The Council needs our final security protocols by?—"

He was interrupted by the conference room door opening. Vala stepped in, and the entire dynamic of the room shifted.

She was wearing dark jeans and a soft gray sweater, her hair slightly mussed like she'd been running her hands through it. There was a small coffee stain on her sleeve, and faint shadows under her eyes that spoke of a sleepless night. She should have looked tired, disheveled, ordinary.

Instead, she looked magnificent.

"Sorry I'm late," she said, her voice carrying that familiar smoky quality that had been haunting my thoughts. "Traffic was a nightmare, and my coffee maker decided to stage a rebellion."

"No problem," Lana said warmly. "We were just getting started. Coffee's on the side table if you need a refill."

"You're a lifesaver." Vala moved toward the coffee station, and I found myself tracking every step. When she passed behind my chair, I caught her scent—floral and something uniquely her that made my wolf stir restlessly.

Malrik's dark eyes followed her movement with obvious appreciation. "Ms. Nightingale. A pleasure to finally meet you in person."

The lights dimmed slightly—not a flicker, but a smooth, controlled shift that somehow managed to be both greeting and warning.

Vala paused in pouring her coffee, glancing up at the ceiling with interest rather than concern. "You must be Malrik. I've heard fascinating things about your... talents."

"All true, I assure you." His smile was charm incarnate. "Though I prefer to think of them as skills rather than mere talents."

To demonstrate, he gestured slightly, and the overhead lights brightened to perfect meeting illumination while the coffee maker hummed to life, producing a fresh pot without anyone touching it.

"Impressive," Vala said, and I didn't like how genuine her interest sounded. "Is that how you'll handle crowd control at House Party?"

"Among other methods." Malrik leaned back in his chair, the picture of confidence. "I find people respond well to subtle demonstrations of capability."

"Subtle," Kai snorted. "Right. Remember last year when you made every speaker in the venue play that Beethoven piece simultaneously?"

"It was effective," Malrik said mildly. "And educational. Not everyone appreciates classical music."

"It was terrifying," Lana laughed. "But it worked. I've never seen a crowd disperse so quickly."

Vala finally took her seat—directly across from me, close enough that I could see the flecks of amber in her eyes, close enough that when she leaned forward to review the papers Lana slid toward her, I caught another hint of her scent.

"So," she said, looking around the table, "what's our game plan for not letting this turn into complete madhouse?"

"Define 'complete,'" Mika said dryly. "Because if we're being realistic, some level of madness is inevitable when you put us all together in one place with live music and drink stands that serve everything from love potions to curses."

"We always manage," Liam said, consulting his notes. "The permits specify noise ordinances, occupancy limits, and incident response protocols. As long as we stay within those parameters?—"

"Nothing will go according to plan anyway," Raina finished, pulling up a map on her tablet. "That's why we have contingencies. And Malrik."

The demon's smile was sharp as his suit was elegant. "I do so enjoy being useful."

"Let's start with the basics," I said, trying to regain control of the meeting and ignore how Vala's attention seemed to ping-pong between everyone's contributions with genuine interest. "Security perimeters, staging areas, emergency exits..."

For the next hour, we managed to have a productive discussion.

Lana outlined Haven House's expectations and special accommodations needed for their younger attendees.

Liam covered council requirements with his usual thorough precision.

Raina and I went through security protocols while Kai handled technical logistics.

And through it all, I was hyperaware of Vala—the way she asked pointed questions that showed she'd done her homework, how she took notes in quick, efficient shorthand, the small smile that appeared when Lana talked about the kids who would benefit from the fundraiser.

But I was also aware of how Malrik's attention kept drifting to her, how his smiles became more genuine when directed her way.

"The real question," Vala said, reviewing the timeline Mika had prepared, "is how we handle the promotional events leading up to House Party. The radio promos, interviews, meet-and-greets, social media content..." She glanced up at me. "We're going to be spending a lot of time together."

The understatement of the century. "We'll make it work."

"Of course you will," Malrik said smoothly. "Though if you need any assistance with crowd management during the promotional events, I'd be happy to provide support. Particularly for the more... intimate venues."

The way he said "intimate" made the temperature in the room seem to drop and rise simultaneously.

"That's generous," Vala said, "but I think we can handle a few radio segments without intervention."

"Can you?" Malrik's dark eyes held hers. "Because if memory serves, your last radio piece together caused quite the... surge in public interest."

Kai coughed to cover a laugh. Mika didn't bother hiding her grin. Lana looked between us all with growing amusement.

I felt my control slip another notch. "I think we've covered the essential points for today."

"Actually," Raina said, consulting her notes with a perfectly straight face, "we still need to discuss the coordination between security and media. Making sure Vala and Thorne can do their hosting duties without compromising crowd control."

"That's the real challenge," Lana agreed. "Balancing the entertainment value with keeping everyone safe."

"I have complete faith in our Alpha's ability to multitask," Malrik said, his tone deceptively mild. "Though if either of you need any personal assistance during the actual event, just call my name."

The offer was directed at both of us, but his eyes lingered on Vala when he said it.

"We appreciate the backup," Vala said diplomatically, though I caught the slight tightness around her eyes. She was picking up on the undercurrents, even if she wasn't sure what to do about them.

Liam closed his folder with official finality. "I think we have everything we need for the council report. The rest is just execution."

"Famous last words," Kai muttered, coiling up the backup cables. "But hey, at least this year we're prepared."

"Well," Lana said, gathering her papers with obvious satisfaction, "I think this is going to be a very successful event. Haven House is lucky to have such dedicated support."

The meeting was winding down, people starting to pack up their materials and push back from the table. I watched Vala gather her things, noting how she avoided eye contact as she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

This was going to be interesting.