Page 59 of Locke

No bloodshed. A clean steal under the Duke’s nose. It could work. But what about getting them there?

“We can travel on our own. We have our ways.” Shhkuk seemed to read my face.

It looks like I had no choice.

For the next hour, we discussed the details. My skin crawled like fire ants burning at the skin’s surface. It wasn’t to shift, but to get back to Emm. I had promised to be by her side tonight and start opening myself up to her. It had to be done—no more secrets.

Plus, my knot was going to explode if I kept it out of her body much longer.

The mission would have to go on without me, and I couldn’t stand that I wasn’t able to be with my club to support them. I feltlike a failure as a president. It was like my ruthless bastard of a father, who wouId send off his warriors to be slaughtered, while he stayed behind enemy lines and watched the bloodshed.

I had to think about the members here. They were weak—just as I was. I couldn’t leave them powerless as well. Hawke would be the only one mated, truly able to heal from wounds quickly, until I was fully mated with Emm. I needed her to complete the bond with me and soon.

And mating with my mate was no hardship. I knew how important a mate was. I dreamed of it when I was just a pup. The stories my mother told me about how your true mate was your one and only.

And when that dream was crushed, I never thought I would have a second chance. I was going to fucking cherish Emm.

Maybe in a fucked-up way, because Mordecai ruined the shit out of my wolf and me.

But she is her own kind of crazy.

After recording the last few notes from the meeting, Switched gathered his notebook and gently tucked it away in his bag. As he departed, he acknowledged me with a quick nod, prompting me to offer a comforting pat on his back.

“This will be successful. Even though the mated numbers are small, my clan will help in the retrieval,” Shhkuk said, gaining back my attention.

I hummed in agreement, rubbing the scruff on my chin.

“You are distracted, President. Is it because your mate is hiding in our forest?” I raised a brow and Shhkuk chuckled. “Sorry, your forest.”

I let out a huff of irritation. “It is ours. I bought it for all who wanted peace. I’m just—”

“Territorial,” Shhkuk interrupted. “I understand. She is a fine female, and Luna, for the new pack you will create once the bond is completed.”

I rubbed my hands over the large knife at my side. “And how do you know so much about her?” My agitation grew with Shhkuk. I wasn’t particularly fond of the fae. It didn’t matter what race of fae they were. All could be smooth talkers, filled with riddles and lies.

It wouldn’t be the first time I thought about slitting Shhkuk’s throat. Especially, given that he sent Nadia away from her clan as a baby, because she was born mostly human all those years ago. Even if it was for the betterment of his clan, I would leave no member behind in mine.

“The foliage talks to the summer and spring fae when we ask. They speak of her beauty, curiousness and wonder of the world around her. I do not believe she has been around nature much in her life.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t believe she has. She’s adapted nicely, however.”

Shhkuk’s head bobbed up and down in a quick nod of understanding. “Now that we know her true intentions, and she does not seek to harm any of us, we have the three intruders who intended to get into her trailer. Only two are in your dungeon. One of my clan members just recently received their magic and was… overzealous.”

I clenched my teeth, digging my claws into my skin, desperate to release my pent-up emotions. True to his nature, my wolf had remained mostly silent, as he usually does. He rarely opened his mouth, except to voice his dissatisfaction.

“They all hail from the southern region. Darker skin, a language I am not familiar with.”

“Spanish. Humans have different languages spread throughout the Earth.”

“I thought there were only two.” Shhkuk tilted his head.

The fae hid in Russia for many years, concealing their powers to avoid detection from Duke Idris. They interacted withRussians on a need-be basis. They learned their language, but only enough to get by.

Not wanting to explain everything to the fae, I brushed it off and we silently walked back to the bar. Despite the fae’s beautiful appearance, they possessed an evil streak and a torture technique that left me quite impressed. Their vines strangled the intruders just enough to subdue them and get the answers we all sought.

And I wanted to know who the fuck was after my mate.

Shhkuk and I found ourselves in the basement. There was no crowd this time. Everyone was preparing for their departure and the unmated had jobs to do. This was for me and my sick, twisted pleasure.