11

Ozzy POV

I stand in front of the council and Viv waiting for her to tell me her deep secret. Why is she crying? The council and I both wait patiently for her to spill it.

"Tell him what you are, or I will do it for you!" JOr screams at Viv.

"There is no reason to talk to her in that manner, Jor. I am sure this is all a misunderstanding," I say to Jor.

"I... I... I cannot do this," Viv cries out. As I watch the tears fall down her face, it tears my heart out of my chest.

Viv walks over to me slowly; she puts her arms around my neck and hugs me so tight. My body is electrified, feeling her so close to me. She kisses my cheek.

"I am sorry, Ozzy. I am in love with you, please know that you are the one for me, but we cannot be together," she whispers in my ear. Viv lets go of me, walks past the council and to the elevator without saying another word.

I stand there in front of the council members in shock. I watch her as the elevator door opens, and she steps onto it, leaving my life. She is upset and crying. I should go to her; no matter what it is, we can work it out.

The elevator door closes. I cannot let her go. I start to leave, but Jor grabs my arm. "Let the witch go, Alpha," Jor says to me.

"What?" I question his words.

"I said let the witch go. You know it is forbidden," Jor says to me.

"Viv is not a witch. She is just an amazing woman that I am in love with. Did Gia tell you she is a witch?" I question Jor.

Jor and the other council members look perplexed. "This did not come from Gia. Well, not exactly. She did tell us about the hot bartender in your life, but no, Alpha, this information did not come from her. Can you not see it? Does she have you under a spell?" Jor begins to scold me.

I step back from them. "I have to talk to her. I am in love with her," I protest.

"Are you prepared to relinquish your duties as the Alpha King for a piece of witch ass?" Jor asks me.

"Do not talk about her like that," I say to Jor. I push past the council and go to the elevator. I hit the button to go down. I have to catch her. I have to tell her I am in love with her and I want to be with her.

The council surrounds me. "Do not do it, Alpha; let her go. She probably has you under her spell," Jor insists.

"No, I love her," I protest.

"Alpha, what about your pack? Your wolves? The ones that depend on you, what about them? Are you going to throw away everything for a piece of ass? You can meet a nice wolf and be happy. Let the little bartender go," Jor says.

"I need her to tell me herself, and then I will make a choice about her. I will always put my pack first, Jor. You know that," I say to the council.

The elevator door opens, and I get onto it. The door closes as the council watches. They are pissed, but they will have to get over it. I need Viv to tell me herself what she is and why she did not tell me. How can I keep seeing her? Is there a way to have her in my life?

I get off of the elevator. I run toward the front of the hotel, through the lobby, almost falling and running into people. I need to see her. I see a taxi pulling up out front, and I see her getting into the taxi.

"VIV, WAIT!" I scream. She looks back at me. I rush to her.

"Where are you going?" I ask her.

"Home, I am sorry, Ozzy. I should have told you," she says.

"So it is true?" I ask her.

"Yes, I am a witch. You know the council forbids wolves and witches from being in a relationship. I did not know it would go this far. I did not know I would fall in love with you," Viv says.

I pull her to me and kiss her. "I am so in love with you, Viv. There has to be a way for us to see each other," I protest.

Viv gets into the taxi. I reach into my pocket and take out my wallet. "Go get us a room across town, somewhere they will not suspect I would go. I need to see you. We need to talk about this, but not here. I need time to get rid of the council. Just text me where I can come to see you tonight," I say to her, handing her money for a room.

Viv takes the money into her hand. " I do not want to cause any problems for you, Ozzy," she says softly.

"The only problem I have is not being able to be with you. I need you in my life. I meant what I said about you being with me and leaving here to be with me. I love you, and I will figure out a way for us to be together," I say to her.

I close the door to the taxi as I watch Viv leave. My heart hurts. I blame Gia and Nicholas for this. I blame the council for meddling in my love life. Forbidding love is ridiculous, and there has to be a way around this rule.

I go back into the hotel and walk across the lobby to the elevator. The council is getting off as I hit the button. "No witch, hmmm. It seems you made the right choice, Alpha," Jor says.

"Why is it that I cannot see her, anyway?" I ask Jor.

"Because Ozzy, it is the rules," Jor says.

"Well, Jor, this is a rule that needs to change," I snap at him.

I get onto the elevator pissed off. I will see her. I do not care what the council says. I have to have her in my life. I get off the elevator and go straight to the bar. I pour myself a glass of whiskey, no ice.

I wait patiently for Viv to text me. Maybe she has decided she does not want the trouble of being with me— my phone buzzes.

* Old Town Inn on North Square Room 211 *

I text her back. * see you soon, my love *

I call my driver. I cannot trust him to know where I am actually going. I cannot tell anyone. "I need you to take me across town to see someone," I say to my driver.

"Who?" he asks.

"An escort I booked for the night. I do not want the council to know, so keep this quiet," I say.

"What about Viv?" he asks.

"Old news," I say. I hang up my phone. I do not need anyone to know I am seeing her, not even the people I think I can trust.