Page 35

Alexei

T hey chose one of the fancier, quieter bars in town for the meeting with Wolfe.

Alexei wasn’t quite sure why Jay was so convinced his psychopathic intended wouldn’t start a fight with humans around—it wasn’t like Wolfe had been the picture of restraint so far—but Jay had told him assuredly that Wolfe was practical, avoidant of “scenes,” and incredibly wary of being outed for what they were by the human population.

So a quiet yet populated bar. One with leather-clad booths, dim lighting, and cocktail prices more suited for a big city than an outdoorsy tourist town.

One where Alexei could smell the overwhelming scent of human blood, pulsing away beneath each patron’s skin.

It was his first time out in public since turning, and there had been brief concern from the others he wouldn’t be able to focus.

And yes, his “beastie” was on high alert, but its focus was—as Alexei’s had been from the very first moment in the café—zeroed in on Jay.

On his scent (which, now that Alexei had turned, he could tell had a strange metallic edge under the peppermint); on his mood (an intoxicating blend of nerves, anger, and residual lust); on trying to figure out the quickest viable way to be touching him again (skin on skin, cock to cock, filling him up and making him keen).

Its mantra at all times was to touch Jay, taste Jay, claim Jay, love Jay.

It made Alexei almost wonder if that obsessive pull to Jay from the very beginning had always been his beastie, lying dormant, waiting only to be awoken.

The human blood in this bar, in contrast, was only the most minor distraction. Alexei had fed on blood bags just an hour before; he wasn’t hungry.

But he was realizing that counting on Wolfe not to resort to violence might have only been half the equation. What would this new beast in Alexei not do, when it came to Jay? What did it care for witnesses, innocent bystanders, destruction of property?

Behave , he chastised preemptively. It rumbled its pained disapproval in return.

Wolfe was already waiting for them, an open bottle of wine on the table, when Jay and Alexei walked in, Soren and Gabe right behind them. Jay had told the others to stay behind (“we don’t want it to feel like an ambush”).

“Alexei,” Wolfe purred once they reached the table, the ghost of a smile on his lips. “You’re looking quite well.”

Jay frowned, halting their little group’s forward momentum with one hand, a surprisingly imperious gesture. “Before we sit,” he said primly. “Wolfgang, what you did was very rude.”

Wolfe swirled his glass of red wine without lifting it from the table, in that way old-money people sometimes did. “Some might say I did you a favor, Johann.”

Jay folded his arms across his chest. “Some might, but I don’t.” He raised his chin. “I request a formal apology.”

There was a brief stare-down between the two, Alexei’s beast ready to do violence at the smallest sign Jay wasn’t appeased, and then Wolfe tipped his own chin in conciliation. “I apologize, Johann. For taking something from you I cannot return.”

“Thank you,” Jay answered solemnly.

And just like that, Alexei felt some of the uncharacteristic anger that had been simmering in his mate, palpable through their bond, recede.

And that seemed to be it, for Jay. He took a seat next to Wolfe, reaching for the drink menu with enthusiasm, as if they were at the bar solely for cocktails rather than a strategy meeting.

“I’ve never had a daiquiri,” he said brightly. “Do you think they’d make me one here?”

“Not that kind of place, Jaybird,” Soren answered, taking his own seat and pulling Gabe down next to him. “Maybe try a White Russian.” A wink to Alexei with that little comment. “I think that would suit your tastes.”

Alexei took his own seat next to Jay, unable to keep himself from sitting close enough for their arms to brush. Drinks were duly ordered, and a strange, calm silence blanketed the table after the waiter left.

Alexei observed his companions: Wolfe and Jay both looked placidly peaceful, Soren mildly touched in the head, and Gabe supremely uncomfortable.

Alexei had no idea what his own face was currently showing; he had decades of experience keeping it unreadable, but having this new creature inside him changed the game a bit.

It kept wanting to pop out at inopportune times—mostly whenever they caught a whiff of Jay’s peppermint scent and the mindless thing demanded they be joined to their mate immediately, in whatever way possible.

Because if Alexei thought he’d been obsessed with Jay before…

well, goddamn. The intensity was…alarming.

Or at least, it should have been. Perhaps when he had more time to process it all, it would be.

As it was, all he’d been able to muster was immense relief Jay didn’t have another mate out there after all, threatening to tear them apart the moment that mate came into the picture.

Jay felt so much all the time, his emotions zipping around like fish in a pond.

Most of it was positive, which Alexei found a bit shocking, considering Jay’s relatively traumatic past. But aside from the anger at Wolfe and the undercurrent of worry over Alexei’s new state, it was mostly little bolts of delight and pleasure at the strangest things: a cat’s paw prints in the snow, his landlord out on the porch in his robe, the White Russian he now held in his hands.

Alexei was getting a firsthand look into that alien mind, and it was only making him love Jay more, making him want to tuck his perfect mate into his pocket and never let him out again.

Maybe he should see a vampire therapist, when all this was over and done with.

It was Wolfe who broke the silence, apparently unconcerned with the potential power play of letting one’s opponent speak first. “So was the point of this meeting simple chastisement, or are we planning out your return? I could book us three tickets as soon as you like.”

Jay set down his already half-empty drink and folded his hands. “I want to discuss what it would take for you to let me stay.”

“I’m afraid that’s not poss—” Wolfe’s words cut off with a start, his impeccable posture stiffening even further.

He turned in his seat, a wary cast to his gaze, and watched a new party entering the bar.

A party of three, one of whom—a tall, blond, sturdy-looking guy somewhere in his thirties—caught a glimpse of them and waved at their table.

“King!” the blond human shouted boisterously. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Gabe gave him a grimace and a half-hearted wave back, and the man didn’t come any closer, only briefly smirking at Soren, glancing curiously at Alexei, and shooting a wink at Jay (which, holy fuck, Alexei’s new beast didn’t like one bit).

Wolfe had sunk back into the shadows at the corner of their table, escaping the human’s notice altogether.

After a moment, as the new trio was directed to a table at the other end of the room, he picked up his wine glass, swirling the ruby liquid there in a much less graceful fashion than before. “Who was that man?”

Soren arched an inquisitive brow but answered the question. “Dr. Monroe. He’s not one of us; you don’t have to worry about him.”

Wolfe took a small swallow of his wine, set his glass down, and tapped one index finger against the table.

It was another long moment before he spoke again.

Maybe he was as paranoid about humans as Jay had suggested.

Finally, he cleared his throat genteelly.

“What would be the terms of your staying, Johann?”

If anyone else was shocked by the sudden change from stubborn opposition to careful consideration, they didn’t show it in their faces.

“I’d give you half,” Jay said, ignoring Soren’s immediate protest. “Without the marriage component, of course. You can take it back to the den or keep it all for yourself. I don’t care anymore.”

Wolfe pursed his lips, thoughtful. “The den wouldn’t trust me alone, not without your reputation backing me. That was the point of the whole arrangement.”

Jay shrugged, sneaking another sip of his cocktail. “Well, they’d just have to, if they wanted that money to benefit them.”

Wolfe considered that, swirling his glass once more.

Alexei was tempted to take the damn thing and throw it off the table, but he supposed that would be considered rude.

“It’s still too much money they’d be losing.

They’d come for you; I’m sure of it. They’ve probably already sent someone.

That whole lack of trust in me, you see. ”

“Well, that’s easy,” Soren interjected, a broad grin on his face. “We’d kill anyone who tried to take Jay without his consent. The last person who tried to kidnap one of our family is now a pile of ash in the forest.”

Alexei felt a strong surge of surprised joy coming from Jay at that word family and Jay’s implied inclusion in it. Alexei turned to study his face, but Jay was still staring placidly at Wolfe.

Wolfe took a moment to think that over, his gaze wandering the room, catching briefly at the table where the blond doctor now sat with his friends. “I have a different proposal.”

“Nothing where Jay leaves,” Soren insisted.

Alexei could feel another surge of pleasure run through Jay at Soren’s defense. As if he hadn’t known before just how important he was to these friends he’d found a home with until that home was threatened.

“It will be tiresome for you all to fight off individual attacks from the den. One of you could get hurt, possibly killed. I could…run interference, in a way. Pass along the message that you’ve formed your own den, Johann.

One with capable protectors. I could even give you my allegiance.

Then it’s no longer a matter of one runaway companion but a war between two dens.

A much more daunting matter for them to consider. ”

Gabe cleared his throat. “Why can’t Jay just tell them that?”

Wolfe shrugged one shoulder. “I doubt they’d believe him, for one. Not without corroboration.”

“For half the money?” Jay asked, cocking his head.

“Half the money.” Wolfe took a considering sip of his wine. “And I want the doctor.”

Soren’s grin grew even wider, but his pale eyes turned to ice. “I guess it’ll be two piles of ash in the forest.”

Wolfe waved a dismissive hand at him. “Not your doctor. I want the other one. Monroe.”

“Well, um… He’s not ours to give,” Jay pointed out, his brow furrowing in confusion.

At the same time, Gabe scoffed. “Him? Why would you want him ?”

Soren placed a placating hand on his mate’s arm. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Highness. You know I didn’t actually sleep with him.”

Gabe snorted, but he looked slightly mollified. “You like jealousy on me, brat,” he mumbled. “It makes you preen.”

Jay cleared his throat, catching both Soren’s and Gabe’s eyes and tilting his head not so subtly at Wolfe, who was looking quite pained at the interaction. The duo fell silent, but Alexei couldn’t help but notice that Soren was preening, just the slightest.

“We won’t be that kind of den,” Jay told Wolfe firmly. “We can’t just give you a human from the town.”

Wolfe’s brow furrowed the tiniest bit in annoyance before he smoothed out his expression quickly. “Fine. Half the money.”

“Why?” Alexei asked, speaking up for the first time. “Why change sides like this?”

Wolfe met his eyes, and Alexei hated the little frisson of fear that ran through him at remembering the pain of turning, his worry that he wouldn’t wake up again.

“I want the stability and protection of a den,” Wolfe said, his lips twitching as if he could sense Alexei’s fear.

He probably could, the creep. “I want funds to live comfortably. I don’t particularly need to have loyalty to that den in particular.

It was convenient at the time. It isn’t any longer. ”

Alexei couldn’t shake the suspicion there was more to the story, but Jay giggled. “This is why they don’t trust you, you know.”

“Yes, well…” Wolfe splayed his hands as if to say, What can you do?

“And that’s it?” Soren asked, clearly as skeptical as Alexei felt. “Half the money for your…what exactly? Aid? Protection?”

Wolfe let out a dry laugh. “What do you mean, that’s it? You act as if it’s a paltry sum.” He pushed his glass back and rose from the table. “It obviously means I’ll need to stay in Hyde Park for a while longer. I have some real estate to peruse, if you don’t mind.”

And then he walked out. As if the matter had been decided, despite the fact that Jay had never technically agreed.

Alexei turned to Jay, who didn’t seem at all surprised by the sudden departure but who nonetheless had an uneasy look on his face. “That was strange,” he mused.

“That he gave in so easily?” Alexei asked.

“That he asked for Dr. Monroe as one of his conditions. The companion aspect of the den was never one that appealed to him.” Jay frowned. “It was part of why I always liked him.”

“You did say he was a psychopath,” Soren pointed out.

Jay nodded, but Alexei could still feel tendrils of nervousness coming from him.