Chapter 175: Grace
“You know, I think you’re keeping secrets, my love. I think I might just have to punish you for it.” My face heated as I remembered the words that Rhys had whispered in my ear just before we had walked out the door to this meeting that I didn’t really want to be in. In fact, all I wanted to do was strip Rhys down and take him right here, right now. But that wasn’t an option. Alpha Raymond of the Golden pack was sitting on the other side of the desk, watching us intently. Rhys had staked his claim over me by placing me on his lap, even though there was a perfectly good chair right next to him, and it was not helping me regulate my body temperature.
“As I was saying, we are facing rogue attacks daily now. We do not know why they are targeting our pack or if it is happening to other packs at this time too. We were wondering if you could help us as we are at a loss and one of the smaller packs under your rule.”
I looked at the man curiously. There was something about him that seemed off. He was a bit older than Rhys, but not by much. There was something familiar about him that made my skin prickle a bit. It was like he was trying to sound humble, but it just came out cocky. And not for the first time, did I wish that Rhys and I could share thoughts the way he could with others. I wanted to know if he was reading things the same way I was.
“What exactly are you asking of us?” Rhys asked as Raymond’s eyes raked my body, and not for the first time.
“Warriors, strategies, help in finding answers to why us, is it because we are smaller or is it something... more.”
The lightbulb went off in my head. This man wasn’t here to get help. I wasn’t even sure he was actually the Alpha of the Golden pack. He just wanted information. To weaken the Royal pack by taking our numbers away for a fake problem.
I casually reached for a pen and paper on Rhys’ desk.
“I’m just going to write down what you’re asking for,” I told him. “I think it’s best if we keep meeting notes, don’t you? We wouldn’t want anything to get mixed up, would you?.” I asked sweetly.
“Why yes, Luna Queen, that is very kind of you.” He answered looking at me like I was the 7th wonder of the world.
I smiled and began writing, but it wasn’t his list. Being mute for years taught me to communicate in different ways. My voice was my control. But that didn’t mean I lost those skills when I started talking again. This note was for Rhys, and Rhys alone. I just hoped he understood what I was doing without giving it away.
DON’T TRUST HIM.
“Now, what have you tried to do about your rogue problem?” I questioned, curious if he had done anything at all.
“Luna Queen, I don’t mean to be rude, but this conversation is probably best to be had just me and the Alpha King. It’s about things that you wouldn’t understand.”
I raised my brows at his audacity, but didn’t comment, gesturing for him to continue his conversation with my mate.
“Answer my mate’s questions,” Rhys said coolly, glancing down at the paper I had slid slightly closer to us.
“Well, I came here to ask for help.” Alpha Raymond answered completely appalled that Rhys would ask that.
“While your pack was actively under attack?” Rhys probed.
“We don’t have the resources to handle it! What would you have had me do?”
“I would have had you fight for your pack, set up a guard for the perimeter, make sure your people are safe and then ask for help. Or requesting help from a closer pack.” Rhys responded with the same cool tone.
I wasn’t sure what irritated him more, the guy’s clear lack of strategy or if it was the way he kept looking at me. I wished I had stayed in my sweater and leggings, I would have felt less exposed than I did now, and my dress wasn’t even revealing.
“Well, my neighbor packs aren’t interested in helping me.” The guy said in frustration.
“Why not?” I asked.
He shot me a glare, but answered my question instead of insulting me again, “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” I answered confidently, standing up and leaning over the desk. I knew exactly what I was doing. I was teasing Rhys and taunting Raymond. “You know exactly why. You just don’t want us to know your answer. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you at one point made a deal with Red Blood pack, and either backed out or are lying about why you are really here.”
“Are you going let her talk to me like that?” Raymond demanded, looking around me to Rhys.
“You should answer her questions.” Rhys responded coldly, also now standing, his hand resting on my hip.
“I have nothing to hide!” Raymond tried. “You need to keep your mate in check!”
“And you need to be honest about what you’re doing here.” Rhys shot back.
“You are ruining everything!” Raymond shouted at me, reaching into his jacket, and pulling out a knife.
Rhys immediately shoved me behind him, but for the first time in a situation like this, I wasn’t afraid. At least not as I afraid as I’ve been in the past... Those trainings were helpful. But Rhys took control of the situation as Raymond shoved the knife toward him. It was clear that he was an inexperienced fighter, and if he truly was the Alpha of the Golden pack, I understood why he might need help defending it.
The knife skimmed Rhys’ arm, slicing through his sleeve, blood immediately pooling out of it, but Rhys didn’t waver. He had the upper hand, and he twisted Raymond’s hand until the knife dropped to the ground. I knew Rhys could have won this fight with his eyes closed, but he was taking his time, torturing Raymond for what he tried. I also knew that several people would be losing their job because weapons should not have been allowed in this room. The ability to shift was bad enough, and what if it had been a gun and not a knife?
I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I almost didn’t notice the head on the floor that rolled toward me... And it took all I had not to scream.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
