Chapter 132 - The wolf has a girlfriend

HADRIAN

Lucas finally pries his hands from his eyes as we walk out of the alley and he nearly stumbles over an uneven cobblestone. He carefully looks around and I watch him with a questioning scowl.

He breathes out a relieved breath when he spots me. I shake my head at his dramatic antics. My patience is wearing thin.

Lucas came to us because he lost the rings. Emma is walking towards the houses and I watch her disappear in the distance. The ceremony is in a couple of hours. We have no time for games. I’m already annoyed that I’m not currently following Emma and finishing what we started.

“When did you see them last time?” I focus back on the task at hand. Hopefully, it distracts me from the ache in my balls.

Lucas scratches the back of his head. “I don’t know.”

I grind my teeth at the unhelpful information. “Well, what *do* you know?”

He taps his chin as he thinks about it. “We got them from the silversmith.”

The urge to roll my eyes becomes strong again. “Obviously.”

“Then we got coffee at the diner and I remember…” Lucas rambles on everything he has done since we’ve gotten the rings more than a week ago.

*“We also got those sausage rolls.”* Nero contributes in excitement.

I rub my temples when Nero starts to engage in Lucas’ rambling with an enthusiasm that I wasn’t prepared for. They’re giving me a headache.

“What was the last thing you remember?” I disrupt their rambling and for a moment they’re quiet.

The lines on his face get deeper as he concentrates. “I'm pretty sure I still had them yesterday. Before we went to the tattoo parlor or maybe it was at the silversmith, I had to get them adjusted—.”

“You check the silversmith, I’ll go check the parlor,” I say.

Lucas whines and his shoulders drop. “Can we not switch? You know that I get the creeps in that place.”

“You want *me* to go to the silversmith?” The idea gives me a chill, but I won’t admit that.

For a second he’s actually debating it, but eventually sighs. “Fine.” He grumbles.

Finding two silver rings wouldn’t normally be so hard. The scent of silver is pungent enough to leave a detectable trail. Except for the fact that a lot of people wear them, even if they lost their loved ones. Then there’s all the daggers that many carry and the constant cloud coming from the silversmith. The scent blows through the town with every gust of wind.

As I walk to shop I notice that the street is empty. Most shops are closed since everyone is attending the wedding. I go straight to the parlor and the sign signifies that the shop is closed.

At first glance, the shop seems empty, but through the window, I can see a light coming from the back of the shop. I knock on the window and the glass rattles under my knuckles. After a few seconds, I hear slow steps coming my way.

The woman who drew the eagle on Lucas appears at the door. Her red-painted lips pull in a smile when she recognizes me.

She’s quick to unlock the door. “Look who came back to my den.” There’s a malicious purr to her voice. It makes me believe that she isn’t surprised and might even have been expecting me.

She perches an arm on the doorway and one on her waist. She uses her body to block the entrance. “Did you change your mind?”

“I’m searching for a pair of silver rings.” There’s a trail of silver coming from her. It seems too small to be a weapon, but who knows? It could be an arrow.

She lifts the hand from her waist and inspects her nails. “You don’t mean the rings for the wedding, right?”

“Yes.” My eyes are drawn to her thumb and ring finger each wearing a silver band.

“These?” She spins her hand to give me a better view and they shine in the light. They’re definitely the ones.

“Give them to me,” I order and the command lowers my voice. It crackles even in the low volume.

The woman chuckles. “Your commands don’t work on me.” Her eyes glint with knowing. “I will give them when there’s a mutual transaction.”

“What do you want?”

“I want my needle on your skin.” There is no hesitation and her mouth pulls in a sadistic grin. She already knew what she wanted.

“No.”

“Fine, have a good day.” She moves out of the doorway and closes the door.

I catch the door before it closes and step into the doorway. “Think of something else.”

She has to look up when she doesn’t step back. “Are you afraid that I might find out?”

“There’s nothing to find out.” The rumbling growl is hard to withhold. I do it nonetheless even if it's pointless. She already knows.

She watches me for a moment and there’s no fear in her eyes. If anything I would say there’s curiosity. “Others might believe that, but I see through that hairy fur of yours.”

I narrow my eyes on her. She’s not a werewolf or even half of one. There’s nothing supernatural about her. “You can’t.”

“I decorate bodies for a living, handsome.” Her eyes roam over my frame. She’s too close for my comfort. Her eyes linger on my chest and neck. “I can distinguish a human body from an animal.”

I narrow my eyes and push the door further open. I step into the shop and I start to unbutton my button-down shirt. “Just make it quick.”

“It will hurt more.” She says but there is eagerness in her eyes and how she bites her lip.

I shake my head. “Just do it.”

She hums. “I love a man with a bark.”

—————————

The needle pierces my skin over and over. The machine keeps buzzing beside me. Every muscle in my body is tense and has been for hours. “Can’t you hurry up?”

“I’m almost done,” April says. She told me her name again since I didn’t remember. It seems just a little too joyful if you ask me.

“The wedding is about to start.”

“It would be easier if you just relaxed.” There’s perspiration on her skin and her brows are furrowed in concentration. She works with precision and she has lost her teasing the moment she picked up the needle. She figured out quickly that this wouldn't be easy with my rapid healing. Her hand is on my arm as she pulls at my skin. She’s so close that I can feel her body warmth emanating from her.

“I can’t,” I say through gritted teeth.

April huffs and removes the needle from my shoulder. She sits up and directs her scowl to me. “I’m not going to attack you if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not,” I grumble. The only amount of silver around her is the two rings. They’re not going to be enough to kill me. But it’s not the pain that’s bothering me, it’s her proximity.

“Then why are you so tense?” April asks and her eyes burn on my skin. “Seriously, every hair on your body has been standing straight for the past two hours.”

“It’s your touch,” I confess.

“Are humans that repulsive to you?” She asks with a challenge. She dares me to confirm.

I actually chuckle. “No.” Being repulsed by humans couldn’t be further from the truth.

Her jaw drops for a moment. “So it’s me. You’re hurting my feelings.”

I shake my head. “I already have a mate.”

“A mate, huh.” She leans her elbow on her knee and rests her head on her hand. “How does that work?”

I’m hesitant to tell her more. She already knows who I am, but is it wise to tell her more? “My body knows that you're not her.”

April laughs and pouts her lips. “How sweet. The wolf has a girlfriend.” There’s ease behind her sinister edge, but there’s no contempt for once.

“She’s human,” I say as I throw caution to the wind. I’ve had to withhold so much. It feels good to speak truthfully for once.

“That explains why you’re here.” April goes back to work on my shoulder. I tense the moment she touches my skin.

“Can I ask you something?” She asks with her focus on the draw of the needle.

I hum in agreement and watch her put the finishing touches on her work.

“Do you think that killing the Alpha King is going to end this war?”

“It has to,” I say.

April nods as she ponders. “It does follow the expectations of history.” She draws the needle up and down to create shadows on the image.

“What do you mean?”

April wipes my shoulder. “Didn’t your father kill your grandfather as well?”

“You know your history,” I grumble. Not many know that much about us.

“All done.” She says and lifts a mirror for me to see.

The image takes me by surprise. I didn’t pick anything for her to draw. I didn't expect her to draw a black wolf. The image is devoid of color except for the amber eyes. The fur is detailed and actually reminds me of Nero. There’s movement as if the wind blows through his fur.

*“I like it.”* Nero says.

The tattoo starts at the top of my shoulder and ends halfway through my upper arm. It covers some of my many scars. I take a minute to admire the details. I’m actually impressed by her talent. The little wounds heal and only leave behind the black ink.

“I agree.”

April sets a little box on the table and places the two rings inside. I move to get my shirt and another voice comes through in my mind.

*“Help me!”* Graciella screams and the bloodcurdling cry for help has me clutching my head.