Page 18 of Savage Desire (The Savage Six #2)

18

ASHER

P olaris Beauchamp.

Silver.

She’s a firecracker, and that’s an understatement.

I half expected to walk up to her room and find her gone, but it seems I caught her on the cusp of leaving instead.

Interesting.

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket and I’m certain it’s further messages from my uncle or his men, but right now there are more pressing matters on campus that need to be addressed.

The aftermath of Declan’s actions for one, the reaction from Silver for two, and this damn diary for three.

Tonight took a deeper turn than anticipated. It seems there is more we need to handle than we initially thought. Lincoln will be ecstatic.

“My diary does what now?” Polaris blinks at me, her eyes wide as she spirals over the information I just threw at her. I sense it a moment before it happens, when she starts shaking her head, tightening her arms around herself as she takes a step back. “That’s not possible.”

Denial.

The quicker I nip this in the bud, the better.

“I can show you.”

She scowls, lips twisting in confusion. “Show me?”

“We can add it to the to-do list,” I reply with a shrug before I turn for the door. I feel her eyes on me, hear her heart pounding from here, but it’s only when I reach for the door handle that she moves a step in my direction.

“You’re making me dizzy,” she mutters as I pull her door open before turning to face her with a pointed look on my face.

“That makes two of us. Now, let’s go,” I grumble, heading out into the hall with her diary and pen in my grasp.

I can’t stay in there any longer. Not with her bed just… there.

Her innocence is alluring, but her fire is intoxicating.

She feels openly, unafraid to show the world what she cares about, and I’ve never found myself standing in someone’s presence like that. Watching my brothers worry over her, in one way or another, was the perfect excuse for me to continue burying my head in my family's business, but that changed.

Today, I think. Or it’s been building over time and I’ve refused to acknowledge it.

“Wait for me,” she calls out, the click of her bedroom door shutting behind her echoing through the small space, but I don’t slow my pace as I take the stairs two at a time, trying to discreetly rearrange my dick the best I can before we reach the first floor.

I don’t come to a stop until we’re outside, the sand soft beneath my boots. She appears at my side a moment later, swooping her hair back off her face as she glowers at me.

“Thanks for waiting,” she huffs, and I bite back the amused grin threatening to take over my face.

Firecracker.

I wave for her to follow after me, not acknowledging her clear irritation. We walk side by side in silence as we head along the witch’s path, but it’s when we turn left at the fork instead of turning right toward the main academy building that she speaks up.

“I’m aware we have some things to discuss, but I’m starving. I need to eat before I deal with any of this,” she states, stopping dead in her tracks.

I turn, walking backward instead of grinding to a halt. “We can eat at the wolf dorms.” Her lips part as her eyebrows gather, and I can sense her disapproval instantly. “It will just be us. Well, me, you, Minnie, Lincoln, Tatum, Wylder, and a shit ton of pizza. Which is going to get cold if we don’t hurry up.”

Her scowl grows deeper as I turn around, facing where I’m heading, and a few seconds later when she realizes I’m serious, she shuffles to my side.

“Will I get my diary back?” she asks with a sigh, and I shake my head.

“Did you miss the part where I said they’re reading what you write?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she retorts, rolling her eyes as if what I’m saying is impossible. Is she forgetting the world she walked into?

“And when you see it? What then?” I ask, peering at her, and my steps instinctively slow as I take her in. She nibbles on her bottle lip, worry morphing her features as she stares at the ground.

A primal part of me wants to pin her to the ground and make her understand, make her listen, make her see that I’m trying to help her, but I don’t think she’s going to appreciate that approach. Not that my wolf cares. He’d rather fuck some sense into her, especially when she pouts those damn lips instead of giving me an answer.

Fuck .

No wonder the guys have been going feral for her. Now that I’m paying attention, really paying attention, I can’t help but wonder what the fuck I’ve been doing instead.

The wolves’ dorm nears, the familiar silver glistening under the shine of the moon. Polaris’s steps grow softer, more weary as we take the wood-chip-covered path off the main walkway. The exterior of our home has a lot more foliage in comparison to the witches’. Maybe it’s for our wolves, I’m not sure, but it makes me relax a little more.

I don’t waste any time opening the door, waving for her to step inside. She makes it two steps before she stops, gaping at the interior. I was waiting for that.

“Slightly different than the witches’ building, huh?” I state, and she nods. It was my first thought when I stepped into her dorm. It’s basic in there, no character or heritage on display, but I’m sure it’s hidden away somewhere. Since they’re all different covens under one roof, I assume their priority isn’t focused on sharing, while here, we’re one. One pack, filled with pride, loyalty, and a penchant for silvery things.

I watch her throat bob as she gulps, turning to take in the space again, and I try to see it through her eyes. The ceilings are high, silver-thread tapestry hanging from the walls, with dark mahogany furniture spread around the room.

Unlike her dorm building, where you walk into one big open space, ours breaks off into different areas. The lounge is to the right, the staircase dead ahead, leading both upstairs and downstairs, while the corridor to the left leads to the kitchen/dining room, and the alpha’s office at the far back.

That’s where I lead her, my hand nestling on the small of her back. Again. It’s addicting. I can feel her heat through her sweater.

Damn.

I don’t bother knocking as I swing the door to the alpha’s office open to find everyone gathered already. Pizza boxes are spread across every surface; the desk, the coffee table to the right, the arm of the sofa, and Wylder’s lap.

“Hey,” Minnie hollers first, rising to her feet as she dusts off her hands. She cuts the distance between us, but it’s Polaris she’s after. She wraps her in her arms and I sense Polaris calm at her touch.

Lincoln glares from his seat behind his desk, but Tatum and Wylder watch with a hint of desire and awe in their eyes at the two girls’ interaction. Minnie doesn’t let anyone close, especially not someone who isn’t a wolf, but it seems the undertone I get from Polaris unravels into friendship despite her quadrant.

The two of them get comfortable on the sofa, Minnie feeding her just like she did at the wolves’ table in the dining hall the other day. Lincoln’s irritated glare turns my way, but quickly falls to the journal in my hand. He tilts his head, confused, but I give him a brisk no under my breath as I take my seat on the armchair across from him.

He may be the alpha, our leader, and rightfully so, but if we dive into the issues we’ve got in the wrong order, we’ll end up going completely off plan, and that’s the last thing we need right now.

Instead of jumping into all of this shit, I follow Polaris in grabbing some food. If I don’t, these fuckers will eat it all without a care, and it seems staving off tasting Polaris has left me hungry.

Conversation floats around me, mainly between Wylder, Tatum, Minnie, and Polaris, but I don’t really take it in. I’m too busy struggling to not reach for my cell phone, which is still going off, while also willing my dick to actually settle down. It’s only when Lincoln begins tapping his pen on his desk that I’m aware his irritation is heightening, and I better get to it.

Clearing my throat, I spin the armchair so I can see everyone in the room. “What’s being done with Declan?” I ask, and Lincoln scoffs.

“If you think I’m discussing anything wolf related with her here, then?—”

“Oh, I can leave,” she snaps, immediately jumping to her feet. “Just give me my things and I’ll be out of your hair,” she adds, curling her fingers toward me, indicating she wants me to hand over her journal, but I’m shaking my head before she even finishes speaking.

“Sit down, Silver.” She purses her lips, eyes narrowing on me, but to my surprise she drops back down with a huff. Only when I’m certain she’s not going to hightail it out of here do I turn my gaze to my alpha. “If we expect her to discuss the witchy shit then we discuss the wolf crap too. Balance, Lincoln. Don’t let your ego get in the way of this.”

His jaw ticks, his eyes sparkling, but he leans back in his seat with a sigh. “Fine. We’re not honoring his loss. He played with fire, burning his connection with his pack. I’m sure the rest of the pack members are going to ensure they don’t follow the same path as him.”

“And do we think it may have had some connection to… The Crow?” Tatum asks, his words trailing off at the end as if the name is a curse on his tongue.

Lincoln’s irritation grows thicker, but I nod. “I think, but there’s no certainty.”

“The Crow?” Polaris murmurs, eyeing each of us nervously, and I offer her a tight smile, one I’m certain will fall flat.

“He’s a… difficult man that has a large presence within the supernatural world. If he gets you in his grasp, you must conform or die.” She gulps, her face paling slightly. “But you’re not going to find yourself in his line of sight, so there’s no need to worry about knowing all the details,” I add, hoping it will suffice, and she nods, twisting her hands together in her lap, the nerves clearly not dissipating despite her acknowledgment.

“Is there any way of finding out the connection?” Minnie asks, eyeing me, and I shrug.

“I’ll put some feelers out, but I don’t want to draw any attention to us,” I answer truthfully, keeping track of Polaris in my periphery. It’s clear she knows little of what we’re talking of, but she doesn’t dig deeper despite the inquisitive shimmer in her eyes.

“On to the witchy stuff then,” Lincoln states, turning his attention to the lone witch among wolves, and I’d say everyone follows his line of sight, but she already had most of everyone’s attention already.

“Witchy stuff?” Polaris repeats, pressing her lips together nervously, and I nod, but it’s Tatum who speaks.

“You didn’t look okay out there today, when Declan and Blaze were…” His words trail off and her cheeks heat as she glances down at her lap. “What was that?” he adds, and her gaze snaps back to his.

“What do you mean?”

Wylder clears his throat, scrubbing his hand through his cropped hair as he eyes her with a soft gaze. “I think what he means is, we know what that was, but do you?”

She shakes her head nervously, and everyone’s stare turns to me. I was the one experiencing her up close, so I guess that’s fair.

“I’m going to assume you’re a center, Polaris.” My words cause her to still as her heartbeat spikes, but her lips remain clamped shut. “I’m also aware that we don’t know if you are part of a coven or not,” I add, but she remains stoic.

Minnie leans in, planting her hand on her thigh in hopes of comforting her. “You’re not on the firing line, Polaris. We’re trying to help, I swear. But for us to do that, you’ve got to let us.”

Polaris turns to Minnie, eyes settled on hers for what feels like an eternity before she sighs. “I’m told I’m a center and I don’t have a coven, not after The Renegades…” Her words trail off, and I’m certain there’s a story there, but it doesn't seem like she wants to delve deeper into it.

“Being a center is special, Polaris. That’s amazing,” Minnie murmurs, running her hand down her friend's arm, who smiles back softly.

“I don’t really know what it means for me. I just know I have no interest in being in a coven, and my magic professor is going to lean more into teaching me mind magic next class.” She clamps her lips shut as if she’s said too much, but that’s perfect.

My gaze flashes to Lincoln, but he’s staring intently at the witch before us. I can’t decide if the look in his eyes is one that screams of his desire for her, or the anger and irritation he’s been consumed with since he can’t seem to get a handle on the things she makes him feel.

Fun.

“A center needs a coven, Polaris,” Tatum murmurs, his words cutting through my thoughts, and I snap my stare to the girl in question, desperate to read the expression on her face.

Confusion.

“No, I don’t want one. They… it’s just a no.”

“It can’t be a no. A center is fueled by their coven. It helps them ground their mind magic,” Lincoln states, his tone not as harsh as I expected. Polaris blinks at him, clearly unaware of what he’s talking about. “Does your magic professor tell you anything important or are they leaving you to drown?” he continues, his tone shorter, but it’s not aimed at her, it’s aimed for her.

“Apparently so,” Polaris admits, her shoulders slumping.

Minnie offers her brother a glare before inching closer to her friend, but I speak before she gets a chance.

“What I saw today, Polaris. I don’t really know how to describe it. You were delirious and overwhelmed.” She nods along as though those two words align with what she felt in the moment. “Seeing you like that reminded me of someone else I saw once, struggling with the same thing. It’s because their mind magic was in overdrive and they had nothing to ground them. No coven,” I reiterate, making sure she understands what I’m saying.

Her face falls into her hands. “What happened to the person?” she asks after a moment, her question catching me off guard.

Fuck.

“She died. She had nothing, no one, to tether her to the Earth,” Lincoln blurts, saving anyone else from revealing the harsh truth, and I watch as Polaris sinks farther into the seat for a whole two seconds before she’s on her feet.

“This is a lot to digest. I need to go. Can I have my things?” She steps toward me, hand outstretched as her eyes crinkle at the sides, and I shake my head slowly.

“No can do, Silver. This is the third and final topic on the agenda. If you’re done talking about your magic, we can move on to it if you like,” I offer, and she glares at me, huffing in irritation before she throws her hands up in surrender.

“Whatever. Get on with it so I can get the hell out of here,” she grumbles, the firmness to her tone reigniting the heat in my dick.

Lifting her journal in the air, I turn to my family. “Who wants to come on a little mission to prove to Polaris that every word she’s written in this damn thing has been recorded?”

Minnie rises to her feet, gaping at the journal in my hand, but the mischief in her eyes is a familiar one. “Oh, hell yeah. Count me in.”

“Me too,” both Wylder and Tatum say in tandem, and all eyes turn to Lincoln.

He stares at Polaris for a moment, his nostrils flaring slightly as his jaw ticks. “Do we get to read the recording?” he asks, a coy smile curling the corner of his mouth.

Polaris scoffs. “If what you’re saying is true, he can stay the fuck here,” she blurts, and I snicker as I rise to my feet.

“The witch has spoken,” I state, giving our leader a pointed look, and he flips me off.

“Don’t make me banish all your asses. I’m in.”