Chapter Twenty-Four
“Okay.”
Heck, Sorin could have suggested the kitchen and Susan would have agreed. She restrained her desire and led the way back to the main corridor.
He hesitated by the sick, who lined the wall on chairs, taking some fresh air. “Let me settle those who wish to return to bed, and I’ll meet you in my room.”
The brush of his fingertips over her cheek scorched her skin. Unable to resist anymore, she took his hands in hers. His calloused skin was a symbol of all his hard work and dedication to his pack. Confident, caring and intelligent all described him. She could wrap those traits around her like a thick blanket. “Where exactly is your room?”
He pointed toward the main entrance. “There will be a set of stairs on your right by the gate. The door at the top leads into my rooms.”
Before parting, he scooped her into his arms, pressing their mouths together. Nothing to melt her underwear off but not chaste either—a soft press of exploring lips with no tongue. When he straightened, he glared at his pack as if daring them to say something.
She could have heard a flea squeak in the silence that fell over the den.
Sorin gave her a gentle push toward the gate. “Go rest. You’ll need it.” Then he winked.
Butterflies took wing in her stomach, and a grin spread across her face. This playful part of Sorin hadn’t surfaced before today. She liked it.
A few females exchanged knowing glances. Even though Sorin spoke softly, they must have heard him. Heat rushed over her cheeks and burned her ears.
Susan hurried her step to place some distance between her and the unwanted attention.
“Who’s tired?” she heard Sorin ask in a too-loud voice.
Was it taboo for their alpha to show interest in a non-shifter? She’d never considered asking. Why would she? She’d thought Sorin was way out of her league. Just as she was starting to feel comfortable something new cropped up to unsettle her ease.
She retreated from the hustle of the pack by the sick room and headed toward the wooden gate. It loomed over her head as she drew closer.
“Susan?”
She twisted and faced Lailanie, who sat on the step leading to Sorin’s apartment. The female patted the stone seat next to her. An inviting smile graced her beautiful face.
Susan eyed the spot and hesitated. Lailanie appeared slight, but she could shift into feral form and tear Susan’s throat without breaking a sweat. Kele had told her not to show fear—it was her worst enemy. Smoothing her dress behind her knees, Susan sat down.
“Sorin seems quite taken by you.”
Susan’s stomach took a nosedive. Lailanie wanted to be the pack’s female alpha. From what Susan had witnessed over the past few days, she’d be a really good one. “I’m just a fascination for him. It should pass in a few days.” Those words stung but she believed them.
“You think our alpha is frivolous with his affection?” Lailanie refused to meet her gaze. She stirred the sand between her feet with a stick, her shoulders bent with exhaustion.
“No, but I assume…” Susan cleared her throat. “We barely know each other.”
“I know him very well. He hasn’t had a lover since he took leadership from his father. He hasn’t even kissed a female publicly until today.” The shifter stabbed the ground with a sharp jab.
Susan jumped. “Oh.” She wanted Sorin’s kiss to mean more than physical attraction but didn’t want it to turn into a death sentence either. Shifter culture differed so much from human. Sorin’s mark protected her from challenges. Eventually, she’d have to stop hiding behind it and fight for what she wanted.
“He watches you when you’re not looking.” Lailanie finally met her gaze. “I smell his desire for you. This isn’t curiosity. He’ll fall in love with you if he hasn’t already.”
Torn between wanting to high five someone and jumping into a suit of armor to deflect any wayward claws, Susan settled for rubbing her sweaty palms on her dress. “Is that so bad?”
The female wrinkled her nose. “It’s terrible. How can you be an alpha female? Who would respect a weak creature? You’re smart but that’s not enough to lead a pack.”
Susan’s eyebrows shot up. “Who says I want to lead? I’m only interested in Sorin.” She met Lailanie’s stare and leaned forward, remembering what little Peder had taught her about shifter dominance games. The harder she fought, the tougher Lailanie would be until one of them surrendered. But she couldn’t back down. The shifter would always try to push her around, and Susan didn’t want to live this way. “I can’t stop the way I feel.”
A low growl was Lailanie’s response.
Susan’s pulse hammered. However, she’d faced soldiers carrying automatic weapons in her lab.
The female shifter snarled and snapped her teeth in Susan’s face. Lailanie made military intimidation look like a kindergarten showdown.
Except the shifter didn’t know something about Susan—she wouldn’t yield when she believed in something strong enough. Hell, she blew up her life’s research so it wouldn’t become a weapon. “Sorin’s mine. Get used to it.” Don’t blink. Keep staring. Shoulders back and chin up. She could do it. If she flinched Lailanie would jump her.
“What about an heir? He’ll need pups. I doubt our species can mix. Will you let him breed with other females or would you rather allow his ancient line to vanish?”
“I just met him. Why would I be thinking about kids?”
“You should.” Leaning forward, quick and sharp, Lailanie invaded Susan’s personal space, coming nose to nose. “Sorin isn’t just some male. He’s an alpha. These traits can’t be separated. If you mate him, you mate the pack. Think about that before lifting your skirt.” She stormed off toward the cave housing the sick.
Susan slumped against the stone steps, a new set of worries tying her guts in knots. Kids? A few minutes ago this was just a roll between the sheets. Nevertheless, Lailanie shed some light on Sorin’s situation. She searched the corridor for a glimpse of him but he wasn’t around.
Celibate since he’d become alpha? She glanced above her at the door to his apartment, chewing her lip. How long? Years? She’d be his first release in awhile. It became difficult to draw breath. Hot damn.
Maybe she could be his mistress? A snort of laughter escaped her. No way. She’d never been good at sharing. The idea of some female touching him set her teeth on edge. If she went to his room—if? When did this become if? She dropped her head in her hands.
What existed between her and Sorin was more than curiosity. Obviously, Sorin didn’t view sex as a sport. He wanted more.
Sorin belonged to her. She wanted it all—his heart, soul and body. Hell, she’d given up her likelihood to go home for a chance with him. What a mess. She’d somehow fallen for a werewolf in a matter of days.
If she stayed she’d end up in his bed, no doubt about it, and she would lose her heart to him forever. God, she’d actually considered being his mistress for a split second. A few more days under his spell, and she’d be doing his laundry too.
Spotting the sun just rising over the gate, she guessed it wasn’t even noon yet. If she hurried she might make it to the Temple before dark. From there she could follow the trail back to the Payami den. She could get Kele to release Peder with her return.
She wouldn’t hurt the Apisi by screwing up their expectations of Sorin. Not after all the work and effort she’d exerted to save them.
Without a second thought, she slipped out of the den through the gate before her doubts grew into fear and rooted her to those steps. She had to be brave.
Lailanie was right. Sorin deserved better than a human stray.
As soon as Sorin escorted one sick pack mate back to bed, the other sick out of bed decided to return. He carried a few and supported others, tucking each under the blankets. By then it was time to pass another dose of penicillin, so he stayed and helped. Nobody mentioned Susan or the kiss, which he took for reserved acceptance. Within the next few days, he was sure he would hear more frank opinions.
He left the cave with a fresh spring in his step, taking the stairs to his room two at a time. Susan should be well rested. He had plans that would require lots of energy.
Inside his apartment, nothing appeared touched. No sign of Susan anywhere, not even her scent. The blankets remained smooth over his pallet. He scratched his chin. Maybe she went to help with making more medicine?
He returned to the den’s main corridor and jogged toward the kitchen. His instincts tingled—something was wrong. He quickened his pace.
Searching the small knots of pack members, he didn’t spot her or catch even the faintest scent. Had she changed her mind? Had he pushed her too fast? His heart stung that she wouldn’t have confided in him.
He halted as soon as he entered the kitchen.
Lailanie stood by the table; her chin dipped to her chest upon his arrival.
His bubble of happiness popped. “Do you know where Susan is?”
She set a bottle of penicillin on a shelf, not making eye contact. “She was sitting on the steps leading to your rooms, last I saw her.”
“She’s not there anymore, and my rooms are empty. I can’t find her.” Pain in his throat made his voice sound strained.
“Maybe she’s bathing.”
“She already bathed today.” His heart drummed at an aching rate. “Lanie, did you hurt her?”
She lifted her chin; tears stained her cheeks. “Not the way you’re thinking.”
“What did you do?” The shout echoed out into the corridor.
Lailanie dropped to the ground on her belly in submission. “I-I explained some facts about the pack to her.” She sobbed. “Things neither of you are considering.”
“What?” He threw his hands out and paced the kitchen.
“An alpha can’t mate out of his race, Sorin.” She still kept her gaze to the ground, but her words struck out.
“Mate? I never even had a chance to know her before you chased her away.” He slammed his fist onto the table, rattling bottles and bowls. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know.” She sobbed between words. “She was sitting by the gate when I left. I didn’t touch her. I swear.”
“The gate…” She wouldn’t.
He hurried outside. The sun showed high over the canyon, past midday. His heartbeat drummed, and it called to his inner beast. Did she leave for his sake? There was only one place she would head toward, and she’d never make it to the Temple before dark.
Out in the wild, a delicate creature like Susan was prey. He raced toward the gate, his people scattering out of his way. How long had she been gone? What if he was too late?
He shifted through his clothes. Leather and wool tore, fluttering to the ground as he hauled off past the gate and into the forest to find his female.