Page 37

CHAPTER 37

Soren

What a fucking nut job.

Leo was missing more than a few marbles but somehow I was the bad guy here.

The reality of our situation made me want to laugh but there was nothing fucking funny about any of this.

I lost control with Frankie earlier and did things with her I could never take back. Not that I wanted to take them back, but that wasn’t really the problem.

I’d crossed a line.

She was supposed to be a job and I’d crossed a fucking line I shouldn’t have crossed before figuring out what I was going to do about all this. That wasn’t fair to her and I hated myself for being so weak that I couldn’t hold back.

There had to be something else going on because it didn’t make any sense why I’d act like a brand-new alpha who had no control over their instincts.

Maybe it was her pheromones. I wasn’t sure, but even if it was that, it didn’t excuse my behavior.

And this fucking psycho had crawled out of whatever hole he was living in just so he could push me into making a decision, because apparently, it was obvious to everyone but her that I was seriously struggling.

The choice I should make was apparent, but the problem was, I didn’t trust him. How could I when I couldn’t verify who he was?

“Call her,” I demanded. “Or Francisco. I don’t care which one. Just prove who you are and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

A dangerous promise to make, but it was clear, even to me, that I couldn’t go through with this job.

I was freaking out earlier because I had no one to help me figure out how I should handle all this and then lo and behold, this guy shows up.

Leo wasn’t exactly the person I would have picked to help me with this, but I didn’t have anyone else.

He didn’t move from his crouch though, keeping his head slightly lower than mine. It was oddly respectful considering how fucking strong he was. Leo could probably get me to do whatever he wanted, but he’s never once tried to prove it.

I found that…interesting.

His physical strength and mine were just about equal but this asshole had two red eyes instead of one. I haven’t been able to really sense much from his pheromones other than he had some insane control.

The way he acted had nothing to do with his designation or his pheromones affecting his reason and judgement.

He was just crazy.

After everything he’s told me, I could see why.

Yeah, he could be lying, but the way he talked about her was too fervent and fanatical for me to think he was pretending to be obsessed with her.

I just didn’t understand why he was here, giving me a chance to redeem myself when he knew there was something going on between me and Frankie.

“How about I call both?” Leo reached back and pulled his phone out of his pocket, showing me a contact labeled ‘Pop’ before he hit the call button and put it on speaker.

“What do you need?” a deep voice demanded. “Why are you calling so late?”

“Are you worried, Pop?” Leo grinned at me and wiggled his phone around like he was trying to rub this in my face somehow.

“I’m worried you’ve gone and done something regrettable,” the man admitted. “Why are you calling, Leo? Do you need a lawyer or bail money?”

“Me?” Leo pretended to be outraged. “I’m offended you think I’d get caught.”

“Then what is it. Tell me .” The alpha command nearly shattered the speakers on the phone but Leo just smirked.

“Remind me. Why did you bring me into the pack?”

A deep sigh followed by silence. “Did she say something to upset you again? Is that why you’re bothering me about this?”

“No, no. I just had a bad dream. Remind me? Please?”

Leo was just as good of an actor as Frankie. It was kind of disturbing. Did they all learn how to do this?

“I represented you when they tried to charge you with murder,” the alpha on the other end of the line reminded him. “I managed to convince them it was self-defense.”

“What happened before that?”

“I came to visit you in the hospital with Frankie. She told me later she wanted you to join our pack which is why I adopted you after you won your case. Why are you really asking, Leo?”

“I just wanted to be reminded,” Leo murmured, his gaze never once leaving mine. “Thanks, Pop. I’ll call you with an update tomorrow.”

The alpha in front of me hung up the phone on Francisco Lopez like it was nothing. Then he selected a familiar looking number. The phone rang and rang, making me tense.

“She refuses to pick up my calls,” Leo explained with a little shrug. He hung up and dialed her again. “It might take a few tries before she finally answers.”

Three attempts later and she finally answered. “Ugh, what do you want? Why won’t you stop calling?”

Yup, that was her alright.

“I missed you,” Leo told her, his voice instantly softening. “And there’s this superfan here that doesn’t believe I know the Frankie James. Could you state your name and the clue that helped you solve your last case for the masses?”

What a silver-tongued liar.

“You’re an idiot.” I thought she’d hang up on him but she didn’t. Frankie just sighed and did exactly as he asked.

“Is that satisfactory, Leonidas?”

Wow. He really didn’t like that name. His lip curled up in a silent snarl and everything, but he didn’t let out a single sound that might alert her to his irritation.

“More than satisfactory. Thank you, Francesca. Have sweet dreams.”

Frankie hung up before Leo could say anything else and we stared at each other, both of us waiting to see what the other would do.

His smile dropped and he watched me with predatory patience. It was remarkable just how still and silent he could be when he wanted to and it made me wonder all over again what exactly this ‘alpha training’ was.

Regardless, I couldn’t deny his claims anymore.

Leonidas Koen Lopez.

He was close enough to the alpha of the Lopez pack to call him ‘Pop’ without getting reprimanded and despite all his claims, Frankie definitely cared about him or she wouldn’t have answered.

I wasn’t going to pretend to understand their relationship. It was weird and complicated and pissed me the fuck off.

Not that I had any right to feel this way. I just did.

Still. Leo was exactly who he claimed to be. He was just a very off-putting weirdo who liked to play around with death like he had nine lives.

“What do you want to know?” I yanked my wrists apart and snapped the zip ties. My shoulders were starting to hurt or I wouldn’t have even bothered.

I was fucking exhausted.

All of this was straining my patience and I had no idea what to do about my raging pheromones, but I could answer questions. I was good at that.

“Who do you work for?” Leo didn’t move from his bizarre crouch. It was weird, but definitely not the weirdest thing he’s done.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I was hired through a third party. All I know is they’re someone in the Lopez pack.”

“Are you capable of finding out who it is?”

I massaged my bad shoulder and considered it. “Maybe. Given the right circumstances. I would need access to the Lopez compound before I could even try though.”

Leo slipped his phone back in his pocket and watched me, still refusing to blink.

The weirdest thing about him was how indifferent he was to my very existence. He clearly had some kind of claim on Frankie, but he wasn’t trying to use it to get me to back off. If anything, it seemed like he was trying to bring me closer.

I could smell the tiniest whiff of her lavender citrus on him, barely noticeable to the average person. It wasn’t strong enough to indicate a bond, but it meant something.

Leo narrowed his eyes at me. It was the one thing he did that gave me some idea of what he was thinking.

This guy was trying to decide if I was more useful alive than dead.

Again.

“How did you get her to say your name?”

“I couldn’t tell you,” I admitted as I reached back to yank off my shirt and used it to wipe any remaining blood off my face. “I don’t even know why she decided to act like I existed again.”

Leo sighed and looked away, the tension between us easing ever so slightly. “I called the pack doctor to take a look at her ankle and check her pheromone levels, but even if it’s badly sprained she’ll go into work tomorrow.”

I paused and studied this alpha who seemed to have more control than anyone I’ve ever met before, even me.

Why did he bother telling me that? What exactly was he trying to accomplish?

All I knew was I served his purpose but I had no idea what that purpose was.

“I’m telling you this so you don’t try to take her to the hospital,” Leo explained.

I found it extremely disconcerting that he could read me so well.

The other alpha finally stood and crossed the room slowly, his posture telling me he didn’t want a fight but the sharp look in his eyes told me he was always ready for one. He handed me his phone and I stared at it, not sure what he wanted me to do with it.

Leo lost his patience when I didn’t take it and shoved it in my face. “Put your number in here. I need to be able to contact you.”

I took it and typed in my number, wondering what exactly I was getting myself into.

Not once have I told him what I planned to do, but Leo acted like he already knew. He was treating me like an ally of some sort. To him, this was already decided.

It was the most unassuming form of manipulation and dominance I’ve ever experienced and it really pissed me off.

The problem was, I couldn’t argue with him because we both knew I wouldn’t be able to get the job done.

Leo read me like a book and used that knowledge to put me right where he wanted me.

I handed him the phone back and sighed, forcing all the anger and irritation to drain away. “All I ask is that you don’t treat me like a subordinate. I’m not your tool to be used and then cast aside.”

“No, you’re going to be her tool.” Leo texted me a rat emoji and then gave me his signature grin. “Oh, and just out of curiosity, how do you feel about becoming an omega?”

I stared at him, wondering if I’d hit him a little too hard.

“If it was possible,” Leo tried to clarify. “Would you want to become an omega?”

Was this some kind of trick question?

“I’ve never thought about it,” I admitted. “What about you?”

“I would if she wanted me to, but she doesn’t. I already asked.” Leo gracefully bent down and picked up his hoodie as he headed for the front door.

“Is that even possible?” I was more intrigued by this topic of conversation than I wanted to admit.

Leo grinned back at me and reached for the doorknob. “Maybe one day.”

This guy wasn’t small by any means but his sharp features were elegant and his shoulder to waist ratio was insane. Even I had to admit it looked very grabbable.

“You’d make a pretty omega,” I told him.

Surprisingly, Leo’s grin vanished but he didn’t look or smell angry. “You think so?”

Leaning forward, I used my shirt to wipe the rest of the blood and sweat from my chin and neck. I took my time appraising him and I had to admit, he looked very breedable despite his strength and size.

I didn’t know what it was about him exactly, but I just felt like he’d end up being a very desirable omega and Frankie would definitely fall all over herself trying to make him happy.

Just thinking about how much she’d like an omega like him boiled my blood, but I kept it locked down and gave him a nod. “You have the face for it.”

This time when he smiled, it actually felt genuine. “Thanks, cupcake. I needed to hear that.”

Weirdly enough, I believed him.

Leo left and I didn’t know what to think.

Hell, I didn’t know what to feel either.

All I knew was that I needed to figure out what the fuck was going on.

First and foremost I needed to make sure my body wasn’t doing something weird.

I went into the bathroom and checked my calendar on my phone as I went. My rut wasn’t due for another three weeks but I knew emotional and environmental changes could affect it.

Pulling out my med kit, I grabbed a sterile lancet and shoved it in the pheromone meter. I pressed it against my neck and tapped the release button. The needle jabbed into the scent glands under my skin and I studied myself in the mirror as I waited for the test results.

I couldn’t pretend like I wasn’t jealous when just the thought of that asshole figuring out a way to become an omega made me want to smash everything I owned.

Pretending as if I didn’t feel anything inappropriate for Frankie was also impossible. I wouldn’t be trying to figure out how to abandon my mission for the first time in my life if I wasn’t all messed up in the head about her.

But I just didn’t understand why . Why her? She was gorgeous and smart and kind of crazy, but she wasn’t all that different from anyone else.

The meter beeped and I checked my numbers, grimacing when I saw just how high they were.

I guess it didn’t matter that she was an alpha.

Frankie had my numbers sky high and I was already starting my rut if that and the sudden spikes of anger and desire weren’t enough of an indication.

Another alpha had me starting my rut three weeks early and I’d nearly fucked her today after losing my mind from her scent.

I tossed the meter back in the bag and ran my hands over my face.

What the fuck was I supposed to do now?