Alaric
I wanted to kiss him.
So much.
The way he was looking at me ... I had been completely caught in his emerald gaze, unable to move, to blink, to breathe. I was at his mercy and my wolf had been whining and howling, wagging his tail, his tongue lolling to the side. He loved being this close to his mate.
And so did I.
Radley was cute. So cute. Even more so up close. His smaller height and lean frame made me want to pick him up in my arms, hold him close and run with him. All the way to my bedroom back at the mansion.
And then I would make love to him for the rest of the day ... and all night, too.
A throb in my groin stopped me in my tracks, and I leaned against the wall in the hallway, right outside the door to the living room, clutching my chest as my heart picked up a happy beat, thumping hard in my chest.
I wiped a hand across my forehead, finding it damp and hot.
Fuck.
This one wolf had me wrapped around his paw and he didn't even know it. The way he acted just now in the kitchen ... it was almost as if he didn't know what to do with his feelings. I could see it ... right there ... in his eyes. He felt the mate bond. Just as I did. He felt the sparks as our hands touched, could feel the heat coming off of me, just as I had with him.
He knew.
So, if he felt the mate bond then ... that meant he had a wolf, right?
Maybe Dad was wrong, after all.
But then, why did he look confused when I mentioned the link breaking when Tala died? If he had a wolf, then he would have felt that ... wouldn't he?
I needed to talk to someone about this. All the books I had studied, the history of werewolves I had read about ... I hadn't come across anything like this.
Would Dad know? Or should I speak with one of the elders?
I glanced at the living room door. Claudia was one of the elders, lived quite close to the houses set aside for ageing wolves. She was a werewolf, although I had never seen her shift, but I was sure that was because she was getting older. It was more difficult for a wolf to shift at an older age - there was a higher risk of something going wrong, or breaking and not fixing properly. But that didn't mean the older wolves were useless. Quite the opposite, really. Although they didn't really shift into their wolves, their experience and knowledge of werewolf history made them invaluable members of any pack.
Claudia was one such wolf. And she lived with Radley. She would know if he had a wolf.
I should ask her.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed off the wall and stepped towards the living room door, stopping as I overheard my father speaking with Claudia.
"We're preparing Tala's pyre," Dad said. "The whole pack will be there. I'd like both you and Radley there, too, as you and Radley are part of this pack, whether you like it or not."
The door stood slightly ajar, and from where I was standing, I could see my father sitting on the sofa, leaning forward slightly.
I heard Claudia huff. I couldn't see her, but looking at where my dad's gaze was fixed, I was sure she was still sitting in the armchair by the fire.
"What would I tell Radley?" she asked.
Dad sighed and ran a hand down his face. "How about telling Radley the truth, Claudia? About where he lives? Who he lives with? Isn't it about time?"
Claudia clicked her tongue, but my father pressed on. "He needs to know, Claudia. He's been living a very sheltered life. It's time he learned about us, about what we are, about what we do. Don't you agree?" Although my father's voice was soft, there was a hint of an authoritative tone.
Claudia sighed and I watched my father rub a hand over his mouth.
"I'm not sure how he would take it, Conri." Claudia's voice shook slightly. "He thinks ... well, I never told him what I am. What we all are here. He's never shown any signs of having a wolf himself. And I'm glad."
"But, Claudia ..."
"No, Conri." I heard her shift in her seat. "For years, I worried about him. About what would happen if his wolf started to emerge ... about what it would mean for him. For the whole pack." She sniffed. "You have no idea how relieved I was when his wolf never showed up."
I swallowed, hearing a rushing sound in my ears. What were they talking about?
So, Radley ... didn't have a wolf after all?
But, he didn't smell like a human. Was he human?
Were all those without a wolf human?
For years, I had always been told to keep away from Radley, to try not to include him too much. I was never given a reason why. Just that ... he was to be kept on the outside. Every pack member was told the same.
Don't make Radley angry. Just smile at him and walk away.
But ... why?
Why would it be such a relief that he didn't have a wolf?
Listening to my father and Claudia talk ... it didn't make any sense. Didn't explain anything at all. He felt the mate bond. I knew he did.
So, what was Radley?
"Claudia," Dad started, his voice deep. "I know what you've been through, bringing him up all on your own. You've done a great job. He's a pleasant young man. And he could be an asset to this pack. Help us to become stronger."
"Why would he help you?" Claudia's voice was sharp. "You've never included him in pack life. You've always pushed him to the side. Never included him."
I watched as Dad hung his head. "I know. It's my fault he's been ... an outsider. It's all my fault. And I'm sorry."
"It's not me you should be apologising to."
I held my breath as the room went quiet. I could hear movement in the kitchen as Radley carried on making some tea, completely unaware of the conversation happening about him in the living room.
What was going on?
Radley seemed completely unaware of so much ... did Claudia have anything to do with that? Or my father? Were they keeping Radley in the dark about our life?
Why?
Especially when he lived here ... in the pack. Whether he had a wolf or not, he had a right to know where he lived.
Didn't he?
"Will you think about what I've said?" Dad asked, bringing my attention back to the living room. "I think Radley would fit in well with pack life. Wolf or not, he lives here. And he deserves to know the truth about what he lives with." I smiled a little as my dad had agreed with what I had just thought.
I truly was his son.
Claudia grunted. "And then what?"
I saw Dad frown as he leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"What happens when Radley learns about us? Becomes part of pack life? Then what will happen to him?"
"Nothing will happen to him," Dad assured her, his voice soft, a small smile playing on his lips. "The pack will protect him. Just like they protect him now. And every other member of this pack."
"Like they protected Tala?" Claudia snapped.
My dad's face fell, his lips turning down at the mention of Tala's name.
"I let Tala down," Dad murmured, his voice shaking.
"Do you know what happened to her?" Claudia asked, her voice softening a little.
I saw my father shake his head, then run both hands through his dark hair. "We have scouts searching the lands, more warriors guarding the borders, and I will be enforcing a curfew." He blew out a breath. "Just till we catch whoever caused ..."
His voice trailed off as he hung his head once more. My vision blurred slightly as the sting of Tala's death pricked at my heart again.
The living room went quiet. My dad rested his head in his hands and I could hear the flames of the open fire licking up the side of the chimney. Cups clinked together, the sound coming from the kitchen.
I pressed back against the wall, leaning my head against it, wrapping my arms around my waist. I had ... no idea what was going on. Everything suddenly seemed so ... secretive.
My dad had said he had something to tell me concerning Radley, but he hadn't said anything. Not yet. I wanted to bring it up, but didn't want to seem too eager. Dad still didn't know Radley was my mate. And I wasn't sure which of the two conversations to have with him first.
Fuck.
Running a hand down my face, I heard the sounds of the kitchen get louder, telling me that Radley was about to walk through the door at any moment.
I walked towards the kitchen, ready to hold open the door, when I heard my dad's voice once more.
"Tell me something, Claudia," he said. "Did you feel the snap? When Tala died?"
I couldn't see the living room from where I was standing near the kitchen, but I heard Claudia huff.
"Don't be ridiculous, Conri," she snapped. "I don't have time for silly things like that."
I frowned. All members of the pack felt it when a pack member died, even the elders. If Claudia hadn't felt the snap, that meant she wasn't a member of this pack.
Wait ... what?
Claudia wasn't a member of this pack?
Was Radley?