Chapter 20

Sorin was far from the comfort of his mate, kneeling in a silence that was anything but comfortable. The air was heavy, filled with a stifling quiet as his alpha glared down at him.

He bared his neck even more, but didn’t say a word.

“So, you’re telling me you killed another wolf but didn’t bother to find out who it was? You could’ve come back and told me, but instead, you stayed in your ~little cabin~,” his alpha said, his voice low and even. It was far from kind, carrying a dangerous undertone.

Sorin nodded.

“What am I supposed to do if you’ve started a pack war over nothing?” his alpha growled. “I know you like the solitary life of a rogue wolf. I’ve given you your freedom. You come and go as you please. Now tell me everything,” he ordered, moving behind his desk to drop heavily into his chair.

Still kneeling, Sorin lifted his gaze to his alpha. “I fought a wolf on my way to my cabin. I didn’t win, and he got away. I was badly hurt and thought I’d spend a few days at my cabin to recover—”

“Is this the same wolf you killed?” his alpha demanded, his eyes hard.

Sorin shook his head slowly, trying to keep his life. Alpha Dancescu seemed angrier than usual, still fuming from some earlier event.

“So you fought a wolf, lost, and then later killed a different wolf and didn’t think to come back and tell anyone?” His alpha spoke slowly, barely managing to stay seated at his desk.

Sorin flinched at his harsh words. He was never in trouble like this. He was never here long enough to mess up like this.

“I had another situation to deal with, and we hit a blizzard and had to stay in until the snow cleared,” he answered simply.

Alpha Dancescu’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Another ~situation~?” he seethed, nearly foaming at the mouth. “Who is ~we~, Sorin?”

Sorin hesitated only for a moment. He wanted to protect Colette, and if he wasn’t sure she would be safe here, he might’ve stayed in the cabin with her. He knew that if he could get her into his pack, she’d be safe. They would’ve come after him if he never returned.

“I met my mate, sir,” he said steadily.

There was a long pause as his words sank into his alpha’s mind.

Sorin’s eyes scanned the room to see who else was in the alpha’s office. His son was leaning against the windowsill behind him, looking bored. He had cedar-brown hair and pale green eyes like his father.

A few other men were scattered around the room, ready in case things went south.

“You’re telling me…you, of all people, have found your mate? Not even my grandparents knew anyone who’d found their mate,” his alpha said accusingly.

Sorin nodded carefully. “I understand your doubts, sir, but I know in my soul that she is mine,” he swore, bowing his head in respect to his alpha.

His alpha’s lips curled back in a scowl. He gestured to one of the men to come to him and whispered something too low for Sorin to hear. After the man left, he turned his attention back to Sorin, looking a lot calmer now.

“I’ve sent Avram to fetch Ylenia now. Until she gets here…” His gaze hardened. “Where is this woman you think is your mate?” he asked.

Sorin ran his tongue over his teeth. “I brought her to my home before coming here to you, sir.”

His alpha cocked his head to the side. “You still, even in my compound, didn’t come straight to me, Sorin.” His eyes focused and intensified.

Sorin could feel a heavy weight pressing down on him, his alpha’s power filling the air. “I did,” he said confidently. His alpha might not like it, but there was some leniency when it came to mates, chosen or fated.

Alpha Dancescu’s eyes met with one of the other men in the room, and he jerked his chin toward the door. “Ionut is going to get her now.”

Sorin moved to stand, but felt his alpha’s power holding him down.

“~Sit~, Sorin,” he ordered. “You brought her here hoping I’d let her stay. I need to see her, of course,” he said, his voice filled with amusement.

Sorin tensed, waiting for what felt like forever.

Alpha Dancescu’s son, Stefan, moved forward to speak quietly to his father. After a few soft words, his alpha gave a curt nod and Stefan left the room. He probably asked to be excused. He wasn’t one to get involved in pack issues.

Sorin remained on the floor with his head hung low, his fists braced on his thighs. If he thought about Colette, he’d be tempted to go against his alpha’s orders and return to her side. She’d be scared when Ionut came for her. He wasn’t gentle either.

Sorin’s teeth clenched painfully. He imagined Ionut barging into his house and dragging her out, his lycan strength bruising Colette’s delicate skin.

Sorin was afraid that Colette would be caught off guard and indecent when he got there. He was afraid that Ionut’s lack of self-control would result in her getting hurt. Alpha Dancescu wouldn’t blame him, but Sorin wouldn’t be able to stop himself from killing the mutt.

He ground his teeth together, his body shaking as he forced himself to stay kneeling.

“Is there anything else you should be telling me, Sorin?” his alpha asked slowly, his eyes glinting with unknown emotions.

Sorin swallowed the hard lump in his throat. “Cole—my mate—she smells human, but I assure you that she’s not entirely.” He had to warn him. If not, the sight and scent of her might lead to violence.

Alpha Dancescu froze. “How do you know she’s not entirely human?” he demanded.

“There’s no way I could be mated to a full human, sir,” he explained, unsure.

“And you can’t prove she’s your mate,” he completed Sorin’s thought. “The only thing you can confirm is that she’s got a wolf inside her, Sorin. You must’ve known that.”

Sorin gave a nod of understanding.

“Right. But what you might not have anticipated is that I won’t let her live with you until we can verify her genetics,” he said, a grin spreading across his face as Sorin sucked in a surprised breath. “She’ll be cooped up in a small cage.” It was a clear jab at Sorin.