KNIGHT
Chapter 14
“Excellent. You’re getting better, Alexia,” Scott said, furiously jotting notes. “Much more controlled. But we’re going to have to come up with a better name than Moon Girl, particularly since you don’t shift. It’ll never sell.”
“Stop thinking up superhero names for me,” she groused, “and help me get a handle on this wretched thing.”
“Spoiled sport. Okay, work to calm down now. Think icy thoughts.”
“Right. Ice cream. Snow cones. Elsa in her ice castle.”
Alexia stood facing Jake on the exercise mat in the gym, working to mentally pull back the volcanic heat pricking her eyes, imaging various cool, frozen pictures. It was all about the eyes, Scott discovered. That’s where her power seemed to originate, like the thermostat control of a heating unit.
Her eyes began to cool, and she worked to slow her breathing, her racing heart. At last she was back in full control again, and Scott flicked a pen light across her pupils, took her vitals, then gave her a thumb’s up and scribbled more notes.
“Next time, not the nose,” Jake said, shaking out his head, adjusting the cartilage with a morbid crunching sound. “Gotta keep the money-maker pretty for all the lucky ladies.” He twisted his neck and bounced on his bare feet, loosening up. “Okay, ready to go again. Do you want slightly peeved, or totally ticked off?”
Alexia turned to Scott who was directing this practice session. She was just the guinea pig, and Jake was the punching bag.
“That’s enough for now,” Scott said, tucking his clipboard under his arm. “Alexia, you shouldn’t push yourself too far, too soon. A few new steps each session will help you develop decent control.” He checked his watch. “And I really should get back to the lab. Are you going to stop by this afternoon?”
“Sorry, I promised Erik that I’d stop by his office. He wants to show me around. Tell Rachel I’ll come by tomorrow though. Thanks again for your help with this.”
Scott was already reviewing his notes, almost running into the door before exiting it. Jake sat down, patting the mat beside him. Alexia sat, leaning back on her elbows, her forehead now pulsing with a dull ache.
“You okay with all this?” he asked.
She tilted her head toward him with a crooked smile. “Not even a little.”
“You’re not used to being front and center, are you?”
“I’m not used to being noticed at all. This constant attention is driving me nuts.”
“That’s not all though. Come on, I can tell something’s been eating you up the past couple days. What’s wrong?”
Alexia turned away, not wanting him to see the humiliating truth. That she missed Neil being around her, missed talking to him, even his snarky comments, missed the way he made her feel safe and secure, his mind-blowing kisses and his caresses that enflamed every inch...
God, she was pathetic.
“Nothing that a full DNA exchange wouldn’t cure. Not to mention a real escape plan from this prison fortress.”
And one full night’s sleep, now that she was completely alone. Forget the constant night terrors. Her mind would never shut down now, flying every which way. All she did was toss and turn in bed.
If she could just convince Neil to spend one more night…
Immediately she stamped down the forbidden thought. Sleep or no sleep, she couldn’t manipulate the guy to do something so intimate between them again. It would be leading him on in the worst way, selfishness of the very extreme.
Besides, why would he even want to now? After she had frigidly shut him down that morning three days ago, they had barely spoken or seen each other.
From what Jake mentioned, Neil was completely focused on his investigation in finding their were-serial killer. Alexia spotted him in the distance a few times, and passed him once in the lobby of the hospital. That time he was formal and stoic, giving her a polite nod before brushing past her. She found it strangely disappointing. And hurtful.
She wondered if he even thought about her now.
God, she missed him.
It would just take some time. She wasn’t a lovesick teenager anymore. Adult relationships were complicated, and this one, whatever it had been, had run its course. Now her life could go back to normal, whatever that new normal looked like.
Jake clutched Alexia’s hand. “You know, if you were up for it, there’s another little place I’d like to show you. Very private. Could be fun.”
When he raised her fingers to his lips, Alexia quickly pulled out of his hold. She sensed he wanted more than platonic friendship, but she didn’t want to go down that road with him.
“Tell your dad about your breakup with Eva yet?”
Jake growled and shifted uncomfortably. “Not with all the issues going on.”
Which Alexia knew full well, the reason she brought it up. The subject usually helped shut him down from moving things forward.
“Look, it’s complicated,” he said at her hiked brow. “I need to keep it under wraps right now.”
“Original.”
“I do,” he said. “And I’ll say something when the time is right. In the meantime, there’s no reason I can’t live my life the way I want right now.”
“I guess I get that,” she said, tilting her head and smiling at him. “Me, too.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that,” he said in a quieter voice.
Jake wrapped one arm around her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her, but Alexia reflexively jerked back. He growled, tightening his grip, his blue eyes glowing hot as his teeth enlarged slightly.
“Let. Go. Now,” she enunciated every word hard and deadly.
Startled, Jake released his hold as his eyes returned to normal. “Sorry, I thought…”
“You thought wrong,” she said, jumping up before he tried anything else.
How did things get so sticky between them anyhow?
“Whoa, it’s Neil, isn’t it?” Jake accused, standing and towering above her.
Alexia flushed. “Don’t be stupid.”
He narrowed a stare. “I don’t think I am. You really do have a thing for him, admit it.”
“You’re crazy.”
She started to leave, but Jake shifted in front of her before she could take one step.
“Are you sleeping with him?”
She frowned up at him. “When? I’ve barely spoken to the guy. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Sorry, Alexia, I really hate to tell you this, but Neil’s sleeping with Eva. Has been for years, long before she and I were engaged. Now that we’re broken up, they’ll probably make it official between them.”
Alexia shot a wide look to him.
“So what? I don’t care,” she muttered, tears welling.
He exhaled heavily, his fingers tracing down her jaw. “Man, I’m really sorry you had to hear it from me, but maybe now you’ll be able to forget about the guy.”
She swallowed hard as his hand slipped around to massage and cup the nape of her neck. His clear blue eyes were so incredibly beautiful that it was like being locked into the hypnotic stare of a lethal cobra.
And his scent…God, she had never smelled anything so intoxicating that it made her unwillingly lean into him.
Jake smiled slightly, then slid his free hand to her lower back and drew her against him. Alexia was going to protest, push away, but suddenly every nerve-ending in her body vibrated with excited, blissful need. Her eyes closed as she felt him draw her against him tighter, felt his hot breath near her mouth.
Then Jake was yanked backwards, startling Alexia alert.
She opened her eyes to see him in a heap and groaning against the far back wall, then looked up to see Neil standing with his legs apart, his eyes a furious glowing silver.
“What the hell, Neil?”
“I’m saving you from being used for this dog’s afternoon entertainment,” he ground out.
Alexia shook the fog from her brain, scowling up at him. “He hadn’t done anything!”
“He was about to. I could smell him pouring on the alpha pheromones from outside.”
“Alpha pher..? You’re being ridiculous. Besides, he’s engaged.”
“Never stopped him before. Or last night. Or the others before that. Tell her, Jake.”
“Others?”
Jake sat up, rubbing the back of his head, wincing at her. “Sorry.”
“You freaking…I’ll get to you later.” She narrowed a stare back to Neil. “And you. Why did you go all caveman and throw him across the room? He hadn’t done anything yet. If he tried, I would have put him in the hospital myself.”
“But you wouldn’t have, not until it was too late,” he said. “Not when he was pumping out his scent as strong as he was just now. You would’ve given in, then regretted it later.”
Neil might have been right. Alexia realized that she had been caught up in some weird love haze that had her wishing Jake Bryant’s lips and hands were everywhere at once. He might have even tried to take her right there on the floor mat.
And she probably would have let him.
Damn hound dog.
“Okay, so thanks for your intervention, but I’m fine now. And Jake…well, I am so done with him.”
“Hey, what did I do?” Jake protested.
She fumed back at him. “Don’t even.” Then back to Neil. “Your services are no longer required, so you can go.”
“After you,” he said, holding his arm out towards the door.
“Jake, are you alright?” she asked.
He groaned and gave her the okay thumb to forefinger sign as his other hand rubbed the back of his head.
“And if you ever try that again, I will put you in the hospital.” She glared back at Neil and shook her head. “Definitely not a nice person.”
“Never said I was. And you’re welcome.”
“Wolf jerk.”
“That’s one.”
“And the last, because I’d better not see your face again at all today or I’ll put you in the hospital too.”
Alexia stormed away, not caring if he and Jake had another go at it. She was done with the lot of them, with all the crazy Pack members and their insane wolf culture.
When Neil exited the building and caught up to walk beside her towards the lodge, she halted and rounded on him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking you back to your room.”
“Thanks, but I can manage the short walk between here and there alone. So goodbye.” She stalked faster along the walkway, stopping again to face Neil who kept pace. “What part of alone do you not understand, Duran?”
“Just making sure you’re not followed by Jake. He was determined to nail you back there, and he’ll only take you rejecting him as a challenge he intends to win. And he usually does.”
Right, the High Alpha thing. Jake was definitely practicing the love juice cooperation technique he inherited from dear old dad.
He was good at it too.
“Not this time,” she said.
“Which I plan to make sure of by escorting you to your room.”
Alexia stood toe-to-toe with him, finally realizing he was going to be as stubborn about this as she was. “Fine.”
She turned on her heel and quickened her pace, blowing her bangs out of her face. Neil kept up with her as he if was walking in slow motion.
“We might get there before dark if we walked faster,” he remarked.
“Shut up. Nobody asked you to follow me.” Her heart was now hammering at the furious pace. For her. “How tall are you anyhow?”
“Six-five. Why?”
“Are all the wolves in this community giants?”
He coughed, covering a smile. “We’re all of normal height for the most part, yes. You’re just extremely…height challenged.”
She tried to kick his shin for the crack, but he jumped back faster. Dang wolf-reflexes.
They continued walking in silence, Neil jutting his chin in greeting to others they passed. Alexia noticed how worn he appeared, and a wave a deep concern washed over her.
“Is the investigation going badly?” she asked.
“Why do you say that?”
She shook her head. “Just things I’ve heard. Looks like it’s taking its toll on you now. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Neil exhaled heavily. “Stay here in town until I find these killers, so that I don’t have to worry about you too.”
“Killers? There’s more than one?”
“Maybe.” He rubbed his forehead hard. “Actually you can do me a favor and keep a close eye on Erik. They’re specifically targeting our gifted, and he’s our most valuable member.”
“I have been,” she said. “I’m worried about him too.”
“Things going well with you both then?”
She smiled, glad for their familiar, easy conversation again. She missed this. “Yeah, really good. I’m glad I came here now, glad for the chance to get to know him. He really is the best. I can see why my mother fell in love with him.”
“I’m happy you both finally connected, Alexia.”
The bridge between them tentatively mended, she rushed out all the things she had wanted to tell him the past few days—about her conversations with Erik, her research at the lab with Rachel and Scott, her discovery of fishing by the nearby river that she has grown to love. Neil listened patiently, looking very interested and pleased, although not offering much of his own days.
They were finally back at her room, and Alexia opened the door, turning to him with the awkwardness of a first date. “Well, thanks for walking me back.” He started to leave, and she touched his arm, stopping him. “I just wanted to say…”
“What?”
She frowned. “I’m sorry about the other day. After everything you’ve done for me, I treated you…I was mean, the worst. That wasn’t me.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I was angry with Deena Hudson and took it out on you. I’ve had a lot of time to think things over the past few days, and now I wish…”
His silver eyes fixed with hers, and her heart sped up. “What is it you wish for, Alexia?”
“I…that we can still be friends.”
“Friends.”
She nodded, unable to squeeze the confession of what she truly wanted between them. She wanted…more. A lot more.
But according to Jake, he was with the stunning Eva LeBlanc now. Had been for years in secret. Now they could make their relationship public, permanent. So she was happy for Neil. She was. Really.
“Friends would be good,” he said finally.
“Good. That’s good.”
“Good.”
She nodded, turned to her room.
“Alexia,” he called. She turned back, her heart racing again as she fixed a hopeful stare with his. “How are you sleeping? Still having nightmares?”
His question was deeply sympathetic, and Alexia wanted so much to tell him that she wasn’t sleeping well at all, that she was still having night terrors, that she wanted so much for him to be there to hold and comfort her as she lay in the dark. To always be there next to her.
Selfishness of the very extreme.
“I’m fine now,” she said.
“Oh. Good then.”
Neil waited another long beat, then finally lifted a hand to her and turned to leave. Alexia watched as he walked down the hall, everything within her wanting to call him back, drag him into her room, pick up where they left off before she so stupidly shut him down that morning.
Would he even want that now though? Now that he was with the perfect cover-model Eva.
Neil stood by the distant elevator and punched the call button. The door parted open. and he looked once more to her. Biting her bottom lip, Alexia lifted her hand to him, then turned and headed inside her room.
As he headed back to his cabin, Neil found himself smiling, his shoulders and back loosening the first time in days.
He was glad that the air between he and Alexia was finally cleared. That was good. She now seemed more like herself since he broke the news of her friend’s betrayal. He’d been worried that the incident, that everything that happened to the poor girl was going to emotionally shut her down. No one knew this better than he did.
He chuckled, recalling her comical face as she explained her first experience gutting a trout. He wished he could’ve been there. She was riot sometimes.
God, he missed talking to her, being with her. He wondered if she would be open to having dinner together later, then thought best not to push it so soon.
“Friends,” he grumbled.
He had to remember that, take it to heart that she wanted nothing more. But could he live with that?
Maybe. He would have to keep his head on straight, but if it meant having her in his life whatever way possible…
“Enforcer Duran?”
Neil halted and turned towards the young uniformed recruit jaunting up to him, snapping a salute. “Yes, Wolf?”
The young man handed him a sealed envelope. “Sir, I was instructed to deliver this to you by Councilor LeBlanc.”
It was pale yellow stationery.
“Martin LeBlanc?”
“Yes, sir.”
He doubted seriously that the man specifically wrote him a note on the pretty, scented paper, so Eva must have given it to him take it to the base building where she would assume he’d be. Only Neil had skipped rounds this afternoon, so the councilor must have handed it off for this minor recruit to deliver.
Frowning, Neil thanked him and waited until the recruit snapped off a salute and double-timed it away. Then he tore the envelope open and unfolded the letter, his gut gripping at Eva’s handwriting, her insistence on meeting in private tonight at his place, claiming it to be an emergency.
He wasn’t ignorant. He knew it was just another trick to restart their twisted relationship, particularly since her last attempt didn’t work. When Eva stood at his cabin door half-naked, he made the wise choice to turn tail and run.
Knowing she would only follow, he did the only thing to prevent further incident that night—he swallowed his pride and knocked on the Bryant door on the fifth floor of the lodge. He had his own keycard, of course, but ever since he moved out, just walking into the household without invitation seemed rude. And unwelcomed.
Rob was thrilled to see him. Catherine appeared her warm elegant self as usual, but he knew she didn’t share the H.A.’s sentiment. Either way, Neil knew it was the only place Eva wouldn’t dare confront him, not wanting to divulge their sordid affair.
Neil had slept in his old room and didn’t surface until late the next morning. Since then, he had done his best to avoid the seductive viper. And locked his front door. Someday the woman would get the hint that he was done, that he just didn’t want her anymore.
Apparently not now though.
Neil raked a hand through his hair, then crunched the note in his fist. He’d be wise again to ignore this. No doubt she was growing desperate. No telling what she was capable of.
No telling.
A few long seconds of considering, and Neil took out his cellphone, punching in Eva’s number. It didn’t even ring twice before she answered it.
“Neil! Oh, baby, I’m so glad you called! Oh God, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Did you get my note?”
“Yeah. And for the last time, if you think we’re—”
“I need to come by your place later. Four o’clock. That’s the earliest I can get away.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen again, Eva. My place is officially off limits to you for good. One more stunt like you pulled last time, and I’m telling your father and everyone else about us. Let’s just end this peacefully, okay?”
“Fine. You’re right, I shouldn’t have…The clearing by the lake then. Four o’clock. I have something you need to hear, and you don’t want to hear it from your brother.”
“My brother?” Neil frowned, shifted the phone to his other ear. “Eva, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“Not over the phone. I’ll tell you when we meet.”
“Tell me what?”
She gasped, lowered her voice. “Not now. I’ll see you at four.”
“Eva, wait!”
She clicked off before he could say anything else. He was about to call her back, then decided a better tactic was to confront that dog of a brother of his.
Neil shoved his cell back in his jeans pocket and stalked fast towards the gym. With any luck, Jake was still there nursing his wounds from when he tossed him across the room. Hopefully he wasn’t nursing them with the help of another female.
“Dammit, Jake, what mess have you gotten yourself into now?”
Alexia patiently smiled and nodded as Erik showed her his latest work projects after touring his office building at Montclair Software. There in his large corner office, she was proud to learn how important as well as talented he was in his high position.
He introduced Alexia to several of his key people, but it was Ian Townsend who she learned was his righthand man, particularly after constantly interrupting them with this or that emergency phone call or signature or decision.
Alexia liked Ian. He was smart and eager and helpful to Erik, a great asset to his entire organization.
Erik was talking about a new project he was orchestrating in Tacoma when Alexia found her thoughts continually drifting elsewhere.
“Alexia?”
She snapped out of her light trance and smiled at him. “I’m sorry, you said something about the Cattle Train Restaurants?”
He tilted his head. “I must be boring you, my dear. I do apologize. I forget these can be very tedious subjects for a vibrant young woman.”
“No, not at all. I’m very interested in your business, Erik.”
He gave her a withered look, then guided Alexia to sit next to him on the side couch. “What is really distracting you? You have not been your usual self for several days. Are you still very upset over Miss Hudson’s upcoming trial?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter really. I know now that she wasn’t really my friend. She was just using me to make a buck.”
“Forgive me, but I beg to differ. Perhaps it began that way, but I sensed very strong feelings of friendship with her. You know, she admired you greatly. I saw this as I examined her thoughts. I truly believe she regretted involving you in her illegal affairs.”
“No, she just played me like…Anyhow lesson learned. I’ll never trust anyone again.” She shot a stare up to him. “You’re excluded from this, of course.”
He laid a hand on her arm. “It is difficult to know when to trust someone fully, and when to be cautious. If you permit me, I would share a bit of wisdom in this area. I have seen more than my share of sunrises.”
“Of course.”
“Alexia, trust can be freely given once, but if it is lost, it must then be earned. It is my opinion that these precious second chances are to be given only to those who truly regret their past deeds and desire it. But if they do, then it is your responsibility to dole out mercy and grace as your heart instructs.”
“You think I should forgive Deena.”
“It is not for me to say. But I am certain you will come to the right conclusion in your own time. In the meantime, there may be others in your life deserving of your trust that you seem to be withholding.” He arched a brow. “Such as your enforcer?”
Alexia hiked a brow. “If you’re referring to Neil Duran, he’s not my anything. Just a friend.”
“I see. So you have never had gentle feelings for him then.”
“Of course not. Well, I mean he was nice to me at first, and I appreciated it. But no, not like you mean, no.”
A smiled twitched at his mouth. “It is good you do not care for him then.”
“Not in the least.”
“He can be very domineering.”
She snorted. “And stubborn and bull-headed and infuriating and the most frustrating…”
“I can easily see why you detest the man.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I detest him. I mean, yes, he can be all those things, but he can also be very sweet and selfless, although he’d never want anyone to know that. I think most of his overprotectiveness is because he’s really concerned…” Alexia blinked at the amused glint in Erik’s eyes. “Okay, so maybe I care for him a little. A thimble’s full, that’s all.”
Erik patted her hand. “My dear one, whether you and Neil Duran are meant for one another is not for me to say. But one thing I know, do not wall yourself away from any possible opportunity for love when it does arise, or this world will become a very lonely place. Of that, I speak from hard experience.”
Neil trudged through the forest behind his cabin and down the hillside towards the east side of the lake. He was going against his better judgement, meeting Eva alone. He was sure she was setting him up again. Still, after talking with Jake earlier, he needed to find out what she really was worked up about.
The woman was backlit by the lowering sun, rays bouncing off her jet black hair making her more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. And deadly.
She spun around and smiled brightly as he approached. She was about to rush up to him, then caught herself and held back. “You came.”
“I did. What’s this about, Eva? Jake said he doesn’t know anything—”
“I’m pregnant.”
Neil’s heart stopped as he fixed stares with hers. It seemed like an eternity before it restarted and he had the presence of mind to think calmly, rationally.
“You’re sure?”
“Of course, I am. I wouldn’t have asked you to come here if I wasn’t.”
He could think of several reasons she would want him to meet her there, but generously didn’t say them. “You have to tell him then, Eva. No more stalling.”
“It’s yours, not Jake’s. I haven’t even been with Jake for months. Not since you and I…”
He dragged a hand down his scratchy jaw. Normally he used protection. He wasn’t stupid.
Although there was that one time when things got out of hand. After he planned never to be with her again and told her so. She used every weapon in her personal arsenal to drag him back in again, and like a damn fool he fell for it. Again.
“I’m scared, Neil. So scared. You know what will happen when word gets out. When our fathers find out. Oh, God. Oh, God!”
She stepped up and gripped his forearm, trembling. He held back a few seconds, then gave in and slipped his arms around to hold her. “It’ll be okay, Eva. I promise. I’ll figure something out.”
She turned her face up to him, eyes welling. “Marry me, Neilson Duran. I love you. We love each other. We always have. Let’s just run away together and get married, and you and I and the baby can all be a family. Finally.”
Alexia stood on the walkway, staring up at the four-story brick building. A uniformed enforcer walked out the front entrance and looked to question if she was okay. She forced a cheerless smile and moved on down the street.
After considering Erik’s words, Alexia knew he was at least half right. She should probably find the strength to forgive Deena even if the girl didn’t deserve it. She should do it for herself, in order to let go of the anger eating away at her like malignant cancer cells. The real reason she was so agitated lately.
But not yet. She still didn’t have it inside her to do this just yet.
It wasn’t just Deena that was eating away at her though. She felt like a part of her was missing now.
It was time to listen to her birthfather, her inner wolf, both who seemed to know what truly made her whole. So she needed to tell him, tell Neil that she in fact wanted more than platonic friendship between them.
If he wanted it too. If not…well, she would settle for simple friendship. It would be enough. It would have to be.
Her pace increased, her feet walking faster and faster until she found herself on the forested paved road that led to Neil’s cabin. He might not be there, but she could leave a note.
No, that would be lame.
She would call him, ask him to dinner. Would that be lame and pathetic too?
Alexia halted, looked around the darkening forest. This was unknown territory she was treading now. Yes, she had been a pathetic loser with Ryan, but with Neil it was different. She didn’t want to back him into an uncomfortable corner. He was too chivalrous to outright decline her offer at more between them, would go along with her for a while out of kindness…
She frowned, scenting something strange in the air, something that triggered and vibrated a deep primal need to follow it. She broke off the trail and trekked through the woods, the scent growing stronger, pulling her down the hillside, further and further.
Alexia nearly stumbled and fell backwards when she peered through the lace of branches and trees, spotting the couple standing by the lake’s muddy, sandy shore. It was Neil!
And Eva.
Dark dread gripped her stomach seeing them together, at Neil holding her, at what this meant. Alexia leaned in closer, took another step forward, but still couldn’t make out what Eva said. The wind shifted, and she could finally hear their muffled conversation.
“Marry me, Neilson Duran. I love you. We love each other. We always have. Let’s just run away together and get married, and you and I and the baby can all be a family. Finally.”
Gasping, Alexia clamped a hand over her mouth. Even at this distance, Neil jerked his head towards the woods, then looked in a couple other directions, finally turning a softer stare back to Eva as his arms fell away from her.
“That won’t solve anything, Eva,” he said. “No matter what you decide, you have to tell your parents.”
“About our baby?” she remarked. “You know I can’t! They’ll just force me to marry Jake right now, or have an abortion to hide it from everyone. All they want is for me to be Prima someday. That’s all they’ve ever wanted. They don’t care what I want, what I need.”
“So what do you want, Eva?”
“I want you, Neil! That’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted. That’s what we both have always wanted. Now we can. We can just leave here, now, together.”
Alexia knew she should leave, that it was rude to eavesdrop on such a private conversation. But something within her boiled slow and hot. She could sense this female was trying to manipulate Neil, her Neil, into mate-bonding with her.
And he was mine!
The thought surfaced from the back of her brain, and instinctively she knew it was true. As true as the need to protect Neil from this scheming woman.
Because for some weird reason her senses had brightened one-hundred-fold, and Alexia could scent that Eva’s claim to be pregnant was false. The woman was lying to him, using him and his misguided sense of honor to marry her, even if it was out of guilt.
She needed to protect him! She needed to…
Alexia watched Eva cover her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking as she pretended to cry. Neil leaned over and patted the woman’s shoulder, then exhaled a heavy breath.
Oh God, he was going to do it! He was going to agree to marry the lying witch!
A slow burning fire consumed every part of Alexia, making her teeth grit. Her focus narrowed to Eva’s raised face, as she swiped away phony tears. Alexia furiously watched the woman’s manicured fingers take his, holding what didn’t belong to her.
Eva LeBlanc was going to hurt him, steal him!
Alexia could smell the putrid female pheromones she emitted full force. It made her so furious she almost barged into their sweet little repartee and clawed the she-witch to ugly, bloody pieces!
Neil cupped Eva’s tear-stained cheek with his other hand, and Alexia’s entire body enflamed. Fury boiled from every pore of her skin. It wasn’t her special ability that was coming over her either. She was well adept at controlling that now. This was something else, something much darker.
And very, very deadly.
Her lips curled over her teeth, a low warning growl rumbled from her chest and throat. Color began to drain from her now sharpening sight. Her hearing incredibly supercharged.
Awesome. Now she could really hear what they were saying.
“I love you, Neil Duran,” Eva whispered. “I always have. Now we can finally be together.”
“Eva, I need to—”
He silenced, straightened, his chin raising as his hand slid from her face. His expression darkened as he looked in different directions, then narrowed his stare towards the woods. Instinctively Alexia ducked further back and behind a large conifer tree, then dared to peek around it to watch them again.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Eva asked, sniffing back more tears. “Neil?”
God, she wanted to rip the princess’s perfect little tongue out.
The woman was such a manipulative, spoiled brat who knew exactly how to seduce a man to get what she wanted. Poor Neil-baby didn’t stand a chance against this lying, filthy she-beast.
Neil turned back to her and smiled, making Alexia’s blood roar.
How could he look at her like that?
That was my look from him, mine alone.
Mine!
“It’s nothing. Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said.
Eva grabbed his hand in both of hers to prevent him from leaving. He gave her fingers a light squeeze, then released them and headed towards the woods.
“You’re coming back, aren’t you?” she pleaded.
“Yeah, I’ll be just a minute,” he called behind him.
Man, she was very, very lucky just now. If Eva tried to seduce him anymore, and that’s exactly what she was doing, the she-witch knew well what she was doing, then I would have to happily rearrange her perfectly made-up face. The Joker would look like a beauty queen next to her.
Alexia took two silent, stealthy steps to the left behind the tree, then peered around it.
Perfect. She had a perfect vantage point now. Eva was in her direct line of sight. And with Neil gone it wouldn’t take but a few running strides to break through the woods and leap onto her and…
The quiet snap of a branch behind her made Alexia’s body reflexively whirl around. Her sharp eyes scanned the perimeter, but she detected no nearby intruder. Conflicted with leaving her perfectly exposed prey, she decided to protect herself first.
The light rustle of leaves to her right instinctively pushed Alexia deeper into the forest away from the possible threat. Silently she stalked from bush to boulder to tree, scanning every inch around, careful to listen for the sounds that she needed to move away from.
Just when she thought she was safe, there was another suspicious sound behind her. Alexia raised her nose to scent the air, her eyes widening at the pungent familiarity.
She spun around, braced for attack by this vicious predator. Because right now she had no doubt how angry he was. It reeked off him.
“What are you doing here, Alexia?” Neil stated with folded arms. “And do us both a favor and get a hold of yourself before I alpha-force you to.”
When Alexia snarled at him, he returned his own more powerful dual-toned growl with elongated canines, his eyes glowing a dark silver. It strangely forced a muted whine from her, and she lowered her head and shoulders. But it was his familiar scent that ultimately cooled the heat from her eyes and calmed her tensed body.
A minute later Alexia blinked hard and winced, suddenly back in control of herself again. “Uh…hi?”
“Better now?” he asked, his arms still folded across his chest.
Not really. Not when she now understood what she had unwittingly interrupted. It made her want to throw up.
What had come over her? Why did she feel the overpowering need to protect Neil against that woman he so obviously had wanted to be with? And obviously had been with on numerous occasions, enough to question his own parental status when she claimed to be pregnant.
Which she was not.
Alexia wanted so badly to tell him.
Still, it was none of her business. He wasn’t her boyfriend, wasn’t her mate, wasn’t her anything.
“Sorry. I really wasn’t spying.” At his arched brow, she amended, “Well, I didn’t run into you both on purpose. I was just…”
“What?”
Alexia checked around the darkening forest, then looked back up to him. “Hiking.”
“Convenient. Did you want something, Alexia?”
Yeah. I want to claw that witch’s lying heart out and take you to my own room where she can never get to you again.
Alexia squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds, trying to rein back the weird, possessive thoughts that kept popping into her head. What was wrong with her?
“Sorry I interrupted your…afternoon.”
Neil’s expression softened, fell. “No harm, no foul.” There was a very long, awkward pause before he finally asked, “What is it that you really want, Alexia?”
A painful rock settled in Alexia’s chest at his question. She knew exactly what she wanted now, but it was something that wasn’t fair to him. After all, when all this mess was cleared up, she would be heading back home to San Diego, while his life remained here. It wouldn’t be fair of her to start something that was bound to end, bound to hurt him.
And Eva wanted him, so much that she would go to such lengths to have him claim her.
Maybe it was all for the best then. She and Neil would be perfect together. Eventually they would make perfect, beautiful babies together, living together in his cabin by the lake, waking up to the morning sun sparkling over the rippling water backlit by the forested hills.
“Eva’s very pretty,” she said, her voice cracking. “And I know you have history together, and probably deep feelings for her.”
He frowned, waiting for her continue. But it was so hard. So painfully hard.
“What is it, Alexia? Just tell me.”
She remembered Erik’s words then, that sometimes you sacrifice your own desires to meet the needs of those you loved. Sometimes that’s all you can do.
“I hope you’ll both be very happy together,” Alexia said, a catch in her throat.
He frowned, arms unfolding. “Do you really?”
She nodded, pulling back her welling tears. “It makes perfect sense. You’re an alpha shifter, she’s an alpha shifter. You’re both…”
Inhumanly gorgeous.
Would make gorgeous shifting children together.
Together, forever right there in your wolf community.
“What?” he prodded, stepping closer.
Dang these traitorous tears. But she refused to cry in front of him, because of this. She didn’t have the right. He was never hers to keep. He was always Eva’s.
“I have to go,” she rasped.
Alexia turned to go, but Neil grabbed her hand faster. “Tell me, Alexia. Is there any reason I shouldn’t be with Eva right now? Why I shouldn’t mate-bond with her?”
Her eyes fixed with his. She could almost sense the hope in them, then realized it was only her own foolish need reflecting back. “Absolutely no reason. You two are perfect for each other. You’ve waited a long time to be together, and now you can.”
“Alexia, I—”
“Please, don’t. Just go to her. It’s not nice to keep her waiting. And you are a nice guy, Neil Duran, no matter what you think or what anyone says. You’re the very best. Always remember that.”
I love you.
“Alexia, wait!” he called after she yanked out of his hold.
But Alexia darted into the woods, running and tripping her way through the darkness, faster and faster, until sobbing she fell flat on her face in a pile of dried leaves. She raised herself up, swiping at the wet, salty grit smearing her face, then looked in the direction of where she left him standing.
She could go back, confess her true feelings, beg him…
Alexia turned towards the slowly illuminating town at the top of incline, then hiked back up.