Chapter 2
The Shrewd Wolves (H&HP Series #3)
Here is chapter 2 and it is dedicated to @Dreamy_Girl_ :)
Enjoy!
For those who couldnât see a picture of Quillon in the last chapter, here is another one>>>> :P
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â I wasn't in love with her. And
she didn't love me. For me the
question of love was
irrelevant. What I sought was
the sense of being tossed about
by some raging, savage force,
in the midst of which lay
something absolutely crucial. I
had no idea what that was.
But I wanted to thrust my
hand right inside her body
and touch it, whatever it was.â
Haruki Murakami, South of the
Border, West of the Sun
QUILLON P.O.V
âShe must be a cousin sisterâ I said calmly but Mike shook his head.
âThe pups didnât say it like that. They said she was named after her mother, the former Luna.â I shook my head in confusion. I barely know anything about the former Luna of Emperor Pack, however I knew that the current one was the daughter of Alpha Frank Norwood of Regal Pack. It is because of his mate, that Duncan has good ties with Grier and Regal Pack, whose Alphaâs are her cousinâs.
âDuncan has a sister?â Nevin asked in disbelief. âWhy arenât we aware of this?â
âHe said he is not sureâ I pointed out.
âDuncanâs sister?â Quinn said and then frowned, âNaâ¦. she doesnât look like Duncanâ he said and I gave him a blank look. âI mean, they are not similar to look at all.â
âAnd when have you met Duncan Rhoades?â I asked cocking an eyebrow and Quinn had the grace to blush.
âI just presumedâ he said grinning and I rolled my eyes. âWhatever, did you see Clay? He didnât pay me yetâ with that said Quinn was gone.
âBut where did this sister come from all of a sudden?â Nevin asked still startled by that information. âI thought Duncan was an only child.â
âI doubt itâs true. Maybe Alpha Duncan just treats her like a sisterâ Mike prompted.
âI donât care if she is his sister or not. I just want her to apologize to Quinnâ I stated with a growl. âWhat she did was wrong.â Someone needs to teach that girl her place. She cannot disrespect an Alpha Blood like that.
And what if she is, like Mike said, an Alpha blood too? My wolf mused but I chose to ignore him.
âFind her and bring her hereâ I commanded.
âOr even better letâs narrate the incident to Duncan and ask him to make the girl apologizeâ Harvey said and we all turned to look at him.
âDuncan will never agree to thatâ Nevin piped in.
âHe has to. A girl from his pack disrespected an Alpha bloodâ I snarled. âI thought the pack was in a silent agreement of minding their own business, but this is no way to treat an Alpha heir. Sending him like a giftâ¦. If they want a fight then fight is what they will getâ I said through gritted teeth.
âThen I think, now is a better timeâ Harvey remarked and I looked at him questioningly. âDuncan and his family are having a picnic near the lake.â
I smirked when I heard that. âHis little boy is there?â I asked.
âAnd his mateâ Harvey confirmed. Â Letâs see how Duncan will react if I threaten to send his son inside a trunk.
Thirty minutes later, I parked my car near the road and headed towards the lake with Nevin and Harvery.
When I reached there, I heard chuckling sounds of a child, who without doubt was the Alpha heir of Emperor Pack. And there they were, father and son, playing ball at the shallow end of the lake. The Luna, was sitting at the bank of the lake and reading a book. They were indeed having a picnic.
âMama, lookâ the little boy called his mother, in excitement. âI caught the ballâ he said flaying his hands in the air.
âI saw it babyâ the Luna said with a grin. However, her grin faded and I knew she caught our scent. She slowly raised her lashes and soon chocolate brown irises collided with my dark ones. Her face gave nothing away and it was surprising to watch it. She was neither shocked nor scared to see me standing on the opposite bank of the lake.
âReady Lorcan?â Duncan asked his son who nodded enthusiastically. However, Duncan didnât throw the ball because by then he too sensed my presence. A loud growl, escaped from Duncanâs chest and soon his eyes turned black.
Placing my hands inside my pocket, I took a step forward. âGet dressed. We need to have a talk about respecting other pack membersâ I said to Duncan Rhoades.
âLorcanâ the Luna called, holding her hand out for her son to take. However Lorcan was staring at me with curious little grey eyes, which were just like his fatherâs.
Duncan carried his son towards the bank, where the Luna immediately held his hand and covered him from my view, but the curious little boy still peeped from behind his motherâs back. âKeep quiet babyâ she whispered softly.
Duncan stood beside his mate and looked at me questioningly, âYou better have a good reason to bring out that topic Sandersâ Duncan warned me.
âOh yes, I do. A she-wolf from your pack, sent me a gift yesterdayâ I said with a growl and Duncan merely cocked an eyebrow. He didnât know. He didnât know what his pack members had done. Now I would feel bad if I threaten to send his son like that.
âWell, if she foolish enough to do that by having a girly crush on you then I think I should tell her that there are better choices aroundâ he said with a smirk. He was baiting me but I would never, ever take such silly bait.
I had learnt even before I was a teenager that woman found my looks appealing. I had had women going through extraordinary lengths to draw my attention. I was not insecure and I didnât lack in self-esteem.
âThe gift was from your sister, Rhoadesâ I said with a smirk and Duncan growled savagely. He didnât deny that he had a sister, instead his expression turned into one of anger when I said that. So Darya is indeed his sister.
âWhat was her name?â I asked pretending to have forgotten it.
âDaryaâ Nevin supplied with a grin.
At the mention of that name, there was a change in Lunaâs expression. Until now, she seemed uninterested in our little chat and was soothing her son, but once Nevin said the name, she looked at me and her brown eyes turned gold.
âExactly, what gift did she send you?â the Luna demanded, raising one perfect brow. âI am sure if it had been roses, you wouldnât have bothered so muchâ she said and the smirk from my face got wiped off.
She was smart! She was bloody fucking smart! I admitted grudgingly.
When there was no reply from me, she sighed dramatically, âLet me guess, she hit someone from your pack?â
âMy brotherâ I said through gritted teeth and the Luna raised her brows.
âQuinton?â Duncan asked amused and I narrowed my eyes. âSo he was the boy Darya was talking about last nightâ Duncan said to his mate in a barely audible voice.
âQâ I heard Quinn calling and I saw him rushing towards me. âWhat are you doing? Thereâs no need for all thisâ he said shaking his head.
âThere is. I will not tolerate that kind of disrespect of my pack members, from the Emperorâs or any other wolves for that matterâ I ground out furiously. âCall Darya and ask her to come here immediatelyâ I snarled glaring at Duncan.
As soon as I finished talking, a she-wolf came out from beneath the surface of the water. Slowly, seductively and sexily, she rose up.
Everyone from my pack looked at the she-wolf who was almost close to the middle of the lake. I have been standing here for nearly ten minutes and she had been under the surface for that long?
The she-wolf, who was clad only in a pink bikini, had her back to me. Her elbow length golden hair was wet. The water dripping from the ends of hair, gently rolled down on the sleek, creamy skin of her fabulous body.
I wanted to trail my tongue there and⦠I immediately stiffened.
Lust! That was lust and it was coming from me.
I shouldnât be lusting after an enemy. Without doubt, this she-wolf belonged to Emperor Pack.
However my wolf argued and I frowned. It was the first time, he was behaving like this. Whatâs gotten into him?
I couldnât take my eyes off her. I watched as she slowly made her way towards the other side of the lake. I watched how her fingers were mildly running over the surface of the water. Her hips swayed slightly when she walked. She had an astonishing figure and I had this urge to see her face. Her body below her hips was concealed under the surface of water, but I knew she had fine legs.
This she-wolf was hot! Really hot! Â That is why my wolf was behaving like this.
âDarooâ Lorcan, said happily, but before the little boy could run towards the she-wolf, the Luna held his arms and stopped him. Daroo? It has to be a nickname.
I watched as the she-wolf stopped mid-way and extending her arms, caught the neon pink towel that the Luna threw for her. Spreading the towel, she threw it over her shoulder and loosely draped it around her, like a wrap. My wolf purred when he saw the drops of water on her shoulders and I wanted to place my mouth and suck it.
No!
My wolf closed his eyes, on his own accord and inhaled deeply. I did the same and soon exquisite flowery scents hit me that had my wolf howling happily.
No!
Yes. My wolf argued. I want her.
No fucking way. He cannot lust after an enemy.
âTake your eyes off her Sandersâ Duncan roared bringing me out of my thoughts. With great difficulty, I tore my gaze away from the she-wolf and focused it on Duncan. âOr you will be picking them from the groundâ he added glaring at me.
It was then I noticed the fighters of Emperor Pack standing behind Duncan and his mate.
Our number increased too when Ram, Clay and Isaac joined us. They were all standing behind me.
The thought of those fighters watching the she-wolf, when she was only wearing her bikini, made my wolf furious, however I pushed him back with all my might. I didnât want his tantrums now. Besides, she had herself covered with the fluffy towel, I reasoned.
âI am not interested in herâ Lie. A big fat lie. âI want the girl who hit my brother to come here and apologize to him.â
âQ, it doesnât real-â Quinn stopped talking when he saw my glare.
Quinn could have died through suffocation in there and that thought made my wolf furious. âI want you to call your foolish sister who had the nerve to send my brother to me in a trunkâ I snarled at Duncan.
When I was finished, there was a loud growl and I was shocked to see it coming from the she-wolf.
She was clutching the towel, near her chest, with one hand and had formed a fist with the other hand. However after the growl, she unfolded her fingers, and soon her sharp claws were out.
I noticed that she was neither short nor very tall either. She stood on the bank bare feet and my eyes scanned her long legs.
As my eyes trailed upwards, I noticed a platinum bracelet that she was wearing. It had several charms, however I couldnât exactly figure out what those charms were. It certainly wasnât alphabets.
âDaryaâ the Luna called the she-wolf in a mild voice and I stiffened.
This she-wolf is Darya?
The Luna silently shook her head and immediately Darya took her claws back. âTake Lorcan with youâ she said after some time, passing her son, who soon held Daryaâs hand in a tight grip.
Before walking away, Darya slowly turned her head and looked at me through her shoulders as if in warning. I merely cocked an eyebrow at her behavior.
As she walked away, I frowned and my wolf growled unhappily. He was disappointed to see her going away. I also didnât miss the way; the Emperor wolves lowered their heads or looked away, when Darya passed in front of them. It was a gesture of respect for privacy given by the males to she-wolves when they are not fully clothed.
I frowned and looked at Duncan, who was scowling at me. âMy sister is not going to apologizeâ he announced. âIf she says she is not at fault, then sheis not at faultâ He announced and I rumbled.
âShe deliberately punched my brother when he was minding his own businessâ I said and beside me I heard Quinn gulp.
âHe trespassedâ Duncan announced with a shrug.
âAnd she punched him for that?â
âBe glad she just punched him. I would have thrown him into a prisonâ Duncan said casually and I took a threatening step forward, while everyone in my pack growled and Quinn gulped again.
âItâs your sisterâs fault. She came-â
âDid you ever once ask your brother, why I punched him?â a soft, lovely female voice, which I am sure was Daryaâs, incised. She still wasnât on my view but I could sense her coming towards the bank. At the sound of her voice, my wolf stood up and wagged his tail. âOr did you straightaway come here?â
Darya stepped ahead from behind a guard and finally, I got a proper look at her.
She is beautiful and she is mine. My wolf said triumphantly.
Yes, she was beautiful. She had a heart shape face, pink lips and steel grey eyes. She looked like a Barbie doll but the only difference was that Barbie dolls usually have blue eyes.
I sucked in a breath, because I was attracted to her just by her sheer beauty. My heart thumped in my chest while my wolf wagged his tail, like an excited puppy.
No. No. No. No. I cannot be attracted to my enemyâs sister.
But she is mine, my wolf growled and it was then I realized that he had said something like that even before.
Mine?
My mate, he barked and I felt the ground beneath my feet collapse.
When my eyes locked on Daryaâs grey ones, I grasped that she was staring at me intently too. I saw her beautiful face and noticed the exact moment she realized I was her mate and the exact moment she blinked and looked away.
âOh fuckâ we both said at the same time and once again looked at each other. I was glad she was fully clothed now. She was wearing some loose t-shirt and jeans shorts.
Her grey eyes clashed against mine and as her eyes ran over me, not only did she gulp but she also turned pink.
Oh! So she was attracted to me. I didnât know how to react to that but my wolf was triumphant.
At that moment, I sensed lust from all my pack fighters except Nevin, who was already mated to Bee. I looked at them, through my shoulders, in warning and they all looked down. Darya is mine!
Shit! What am I doing? I cannot let my pack members know I was mated to an enemy.
âSo, she is your mate?â
âShut upâ I said to Nevin.
There goes about not letting my pack members know.
Gritting my teeth, I muttered a curse, while Darya pursed her lips and clenched her fists. She looked ready to punch someone again and in this case, without doubt, it was her wolf because I wanted to do the same to mine.
âDaryaâ Duncan called her and she turned to face him. Oh yes! They were related. You could tell Duncan, Darya and even that little boy, Lorcan were related. They all had the same golden blonde hair, the same steel grey eyes and the same creamy colored skin.
Why had I never heard of her before?
âLeaveâ Duncan said and I could do nothing to stop my wolf from growling at him. Duncan frowned at me but the Luna just narrowed her eyes. I looked away from Luna because I knew she would figure it out soon.
Taking a deep breath, I regarded Darya. I didnât know what to do with this mate-shit. For the first time in my life I was clueless. I stared at her and tried figuring her out. Trying to find out everything she was feeling but it was a little difficult because my wolf was distracted.
âNot until I clear something with himâ she said to her brother. The girl is feisty!
Darya stared at me for a long moment before drifting her eyes towards Quinn. As soon as she saw Quinn, she glared at him.
I turned to look at Quinn, who was blushing and staring at his feet. My wolf growled when he saw that. Why is Quinton blushing?
âWhat lies did you darling kid brother feed you with?â Darya asked me and I merely cocked an eyebrow. I guess we are in silent agreement to pretend like we arenât mates.
Good! Thatâs really good. I just wanted that. However, my wolf wasnât ready to settle with that.
Growling and glaring at Darya, I replied, âHe didnât lie.â
âI⦠I didâ Quinn stuttered and I turned my head to look at him.
âYou what?â I questioned in anger. However Quinn wasnât looking at me. He was busy staring at the ground. âIâll deal with you laterâ I growled in my head and then looked at Darya who was smirking at me. She also had that dimple on her cheek which was another Rhoades family trait.
âYour darling kid brother, spanked me in the butt and had the nerve to wink and flirt with meâ she said and soon a thunderous growl irrupted from my chest, which caused the fighters around me to take a step back.
My wolf wanted to kill Quinn. How dare he?
âYou did what?â I asked Quinn in a malicious voice, because my wolf was at forefront. Quinn seemed shocked to see my reaction because he blinked and took a step back. âYou spanked herâ¦.â I couldnât even complete that sentence. âHave you got no manners?â I thundered and Quinn lowered his head remorsefully.
âI mistook her for my dateâ he slurred.
âOh that makes this so much betterâ I snapped sarcastically.
âI am sorryâ Quinn mumbled guiltily. He was behaving just like a teenager, thinking with his hormones first and not his brain.
âShut upâ I snapped and looked at Darya who was now looking at me with pursed lips. Her expression gave nothing away and neither did mine.
âSo, now that we had that small talk of respecting other pack membersâ¦â Duncan began and I gnashed my teeth, when I saw the amusement in his eyes. âI suppose we can go back to minding our own businessâ Duncan suggested and I couldnât agree more.
Grudgingly, I gave a nod and then stared at Darya who was looking at me.
âLetâs goâ I said to my pack members and turned to leave.
âWaitâ the Luna called and when I looked at her, I found her frowning at me. âAre you not going to make your brother apologize to your mate?â she asked cocking an eyebrow.
There were loud gasps from everyone while Darya screamed, âSelâ with a frustrated expression.
âWhat?â the Luna said in a startled tone, glancing at Darya. âWas it supposed to be some kind of secret?â she asked looking between me and Darya. âWell, itâs not anymoreâ she said casually and then turned to look at Duncan, who looked like he swallowed a lime.
Beside me, I realized Quinn was staring at me with his mouth dropped open. âShe is your mate?â he asked after few minutes and I refused to answer him.
âDuncanâ the Luna called and Duncan glared at me.
He growled loudly and then turned to look at Darya, âDarya, go homeâ he said to her and then pointed his index at me, âAnd you⦠you stay away from my sister.â
I didnât want him to tell me that. However my wolf wasnât in agreement with him because he wanted to tear Duncan apart.
My gaze fell on Darya who had her eyes closed. She looked like she was controlling herself. When she opened her eyes, she looked at me once, her eyes displaying an emotion of happy and sadness and anger at the same time.
While I was trying to understand what she was feeling, she walked away.
My wolf didnât like it when she turned to leave. He wanted me to fight but I held him back. No way am I going to fight for her. She doesnât need me and neither do I. At that thought, my wolf whimpered but I clenched my fists and stopped him from controlling my emotions.
I watched her until she vanished from my view. Four guys followed after her and I frowned.
So she did have guards. And not one but four!
Doesnât she even know basic defense? Why does she need so many guards? I actually didnât like it. My mom never kept a guard with her. She was a trained fighter and she also made training for all she-wolves from our pack compulsory.
So, naturally I presumed all she-wolves are trained and so I expected my mate to be a trained one too. I didnât want some stupid girl waiting for her knight in shining armor to rescue her. If not much, I at least wanted my mate to know basic defense. Sure she punched Quinn, but I donât think she is a great fighter because Mike said that she had guards with her 24x7.
How did I end up with a delicate grey eyed Barbie doll?
I like her, my wolf said defensively and I gritted my teeth. I am not going to think about that Blondie.
I donât need a mate and from the looks of it, she doesnât need one either.
My wolf protested and whimpered which caused me to frown.
What if he will not be able to take it? What if he has this stupid need to always be with her? I had seen what an emotional wreck Nevin had been when Beeâs Alpha kept her away from him. He had been one step away from sinking into depression. I donât want to go through all that.
But then I realized that once Nevin mated with Bee he was fine again!
So if I complete this mating-shit with Darya, then we both will be fine and can go our own separate way?
Thatâs just great!
There will not be any rejection or heartbreak or tears. We will just not acknowledge each other as mates after that⦠or even before that, for that matter. For the sake of our wolves, we needed to complete the mating process. The thought made my wolf delighted and if I have to be honest, even me.
From the moment, I saw Darya; I wanted her and without doubt she wanted me sexually too. I smirked as I recalled the way she was looking at me. She was attracted to me and without doubt, she hated herself for it.
However while I had plans of walking away after the mating process, my wolf was all about being together for a lifetime and that thought made me shudder.
Growling, I pushed him back.
I looked at Luna who was staring at me in disbelief. When I scowled at her, she glared at me and turned to leave with her mate, who too was glaring at me. Growling once, I walked away with others following me.
âMom will be over the moon but dad⦠Dad is not going to be happy when he learns thisâ Quinn murmured beside me in a low voice.
I knew it but I also knew that âthisâ will not be a problem.
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So⦠Quillon is an Asshole or a sweetheart?
Next update on 20th
Please, please give me your feedback. Also, donât forget to vote!
Love,
Shruthi.