Chapter 0032

Alexander

I turned back to face her.

She was staring at me with those wide blue eyes.

Her bottom lip trembled slightly as she awaited my response.

I didn't want her to leave.

But what if she truly was one of those creatures?

What kind of danger would I be inviting?

"Are you... going to kill me?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

"No." The answer came instantly.

It didn't matter what she might be.

She clutched the towel wrapped around her body.

It was hitched up around her thighs, offering barely any coverage.

"Put these on." I handed her the sweatshirt and joggers from the cupboard.

I would have preferred her wearing less, but keeping her covered made things easier.

'That won't stop you!' Titan mocked.

I turned away to let her dress. "Why do you assume I want you gone?"

"I'm part of the contract." This time she didn't stutter.

She seemed to find it easier to speak when I wasn't looking directly at her.

"You were," I agreed, keeping my back turned. "But I have no intention of killing an innocent woman."

'Don't you dare!' Titan growled.

"If you wish to leave, you may. I'll ensure you're settled and provide everything you need."

'You fucking idiot!' Titan yelled.

He wasn't concerned at all that Athena might not be a true Wolf.

'I have to give her a choice,' I snapped at him. 'Let her make her own decisions.'

"Where would I go?" Athena asked softly.

"Anywhere you want." I sighed.

It sounded like she'd already made up her mind. "There are neutral zones where no packs hold control."

'Stop telling her the good parts!' Titan paced in frustration.

As much as I didn't want her to leave, I felt obligated to present all options. 'Tell her she'll be unprotected! That there are more monsters like Dominic! Tell her to stay!'

I heard her footsteps pad across the carpet.

She settled into the chair.

I turned to look at her.

The soft blue sweatshirt made her eyes appear even more vibrant.

"Can I think about it?" she asked quietly.

"Of course."

She brushed through her hair.

I caught a new scent mixed with her unusual fragrance.

Lavender.

The more I considered it, the more I realized her strange scent wasn't as potent as before.

'Matebond!' Titan chuckled. 'Finally you believe it!'

Sometimes I truly wished Titan and I were separate beings.

Just so I could punch him.

'Hey!' he complained. 'I'm not the one pretending. Just claim her already.'

"I need to go check on something," I muttered, feeling like a foolish schoolboy. "If you need me, someone can link me. Don't worry, I won't leave the pack grounds."

She nodded silently while Titan continued calling me an idiot.

'Whatever, we have a beast to interrogate!' I told him as I hurried from the bedroom and down the stairs.

Before I even descended into the dungeon, I could hear Sebastian demanding answers.

He wasn't getting far.

The creature wasn't responding.

"What the fuck are you?!" Sebastian shouted just as I appeared.

The man was in human form.

Sebastian or someone had given him basic clothing.

He huddled in the corner.

Without the blood and smeared mud, I could see he wasn't much more than a boy.

Perhaps eighteen at most.

"What's your name?" I asked, keeping my tone even.

"He won't answer," Sebastian muttered. "I've been trying all night. He refuses to speak."

I turned to study the young man in the corner.

They had chained his legs down, allowing him almost no movement.

"Are you injured?" I asked.

The boy still refused to look at me.

"Does Dominic know we have you?"

He remained silent.

"Do you know Athena?"

His eyes flashed toward me.

They were blue, exactly like Athena's. "Is she alright?"

"You're locked in a dungeon and your concern is whether Athena is alright?"

"Please tell me you got her away? That you got her out of that house?"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at me.

"Who are you?" I asked, giving no information about Athena. "And what are you?"

"She doesn't know me, or at least I don't think she does. My name is Caleb. I'm her true brother, and I'm what's called a Lycan, the same as Athena."