Cruz came to the door of the Clinic to get Bailey but wouldn't come in. "Ready?" he asked her, ignoring me. If there's one thing I hate, it's being intentionally avoided. But that was beside the point.Bailey nodded, smiling sweetly. "Let me just get my things." She disappeared into the back for a moment."You okay, Cruz?" I asked, noticing that he wouldn't even look at me.I was surprised. When I first met him, and he brought me to the Blood Moon Choosing ceremony, he had three girls when I left. I found it hard to believe that things could change that much between us and that drastically over just one kiss that night before I met Elias and Xander.He shrugged. "Okay."Just then, Bailey bounced from the back of the Clinic, her eyes bright. "Ready?"Cruz nodded, giving her his signature impish smile. "As ready as I'll ever be.""Have fun!" I chirped, my voice a bit too cheerful, even to my own ears. Bailey waved over her shoulder and then headed out. Then Cruz waved, too, smiling. At
"You're welcome to stay as our guest," Xander said to Rolph. "You can meet us for dinner, and Elias and I will accompany her." Xander gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "I know that Kalyssa is interested in learning more about her people.""Just understand," I added. "I'm not going to hear you out as a potential Mate. As I said, I'm happy here, and I'm not leaving.""Where shall I meet you and what time?" he asked, addressing only me."In the small conference room," Xander interjected. "We'll be there at six o'clock. It won't be a formal affair."One corner of Roth's lips curled into a smile, clearly amused. "I'll be there."After he left and was out of earshot, Xander turned to face me. "He'll take you over my dead body!" Xander yelled. "If he thinks he can just come in here and take you as his Mate, then he has another thing coming!""Xander, calm down!""I will not calm down!" he yelled. "Do you really want to go out with this guy?""What do you think?" I rolled my eyes, letting out a d
After we finished Round Two in the elevator, Xander and I headed to my place to shower and had Round 3. One thing about wolf-shifters, they have stamina."Are you sure you're not too tired to go tonight?" Xander asked, wrapping a white towel around his thin, muscular waist.I chuckled. "So, is that what this sexcapade was all about this afternoon? To tire me out so I wouldn't want to go tonight?"He shrugged, giving me a sexy smile as he pressed his lips to mine. "No. Not at all. You are just a hard woman to resist," he breathed against my lips and then gave me one last sweet kiss. "I'll see you in a minute.""Xander!" I smiled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Please, tell me you aren't going across the hallway in just a towel!"He shrugged, giving me a mischievous smile. "Why not? And if Rolph sees me coming out of your room like this, maybe he'll get the hint.""You're incorrigible."He chuckled. "I try." Then he darted out, leaving me to get ready. When and if we ever officially move
"I don't like leaving you alone." Xander sat on the edge of the bed in our shared bedroom, pulling on his boots. The night before, both Xander and Elias had insisted on staying with me until after Rolf left the Compound. "You won't be safe again until he's gone.""I'll be fine." I pulled on the shirt of my scrubs. "I refuse to live my life in fear. Besides, I've left Bailey alone in the Clinic too many times as it is." I sat on the edge of the bed and tied my white nurses' shoes, having brought over a change of clothes with me the night before."Well, I'll walk you down then." Xander quickly added, "And that is non-negotiable."I nodded, relenting. If I could carry on with my normal daily activities in peace, then I would be happy. As I had said, I refused to live my life in fear that someone would do something to me. Otherwise, I'd never get anything done. Even though I had a long way to go to mastery, I had enough magical skills now that I felt reasonably safe. "Well, just in case,
I was just about to teleport out when Rolph walked back in... followed by Rush Balista. "I should have known you were behind this.""Well, well! It's good to see you again, too." A broad smile spread across Balista's lips as he strolled toward me. "It's a pleasure to see you again."I scoffed, shaking my head. "I wish I could say the same. So, I see you tried another tactic?" I nodded toward Rolph. "Are you even an Arctic Wolf? I know for a fact you're not an Alpha."He smirked, taking a step toward me. "And what makes you say that?"I lowered my head and looked up, my eyes flaring. "Because Alphas are honorable. You have no honor!""I assure you," Rolph said, taking a step closer. "My honor is still intact.""Enough!" Balista yelled, a crack in his usual calm demeanor showing. He snarled as he moved his head to first one side, popping his neck."But we had a deal!" Rolph growled.Balista calmly stepped toward him, looking directly into his eyes. "Yes, we do. Pray that I don't alter it
"I have a Bloodstone ring here that you can have." Daphne headed to the wooden table on the wall and pulled open the drawer. She looked around for a bit and pulled out a long, slender box, closed the drawer, and brought it to the table."That's very nice of you to give it to her, but we'll pay you for the ring," Elias said.A smile lit Daphne's lips. "No, thank you. That won't be necessary. But I would suggest making Bloodstone rings for the whole pack. Anyone who wears one will be protected.""Sounds good," Xander replied. "Just let us know where to get them, and we'll take care of it."Daphne sighed. "Since we'll need so many rings, they'll have to be specially made. No one has that many Bloodstones handy, let alone already set in rings. But we can talk about that later. Right now, let's get this spelled and on her finger before her kidnapper comes back."Elias's head snapped up. "Can he do that?"She shrugged. "If he follows the residual magic that she left behind, then yes. He coul
"We're just so happy that you were able to teleport back to us," Elias whispered, holding me close, his hand on the back of my head. "I'm so sorry we weren't able to find you. They must have some kind of cloaking spell on the warehouse."Just then, the elevators opened on the fifth floor. "Are you sure it was a warehouse?" Xander asked, placing his hand on my back as they both led me out. It was as if they both had to touch me to make sure I was really there and safe. I nodded, letting them lead me to our shared suite. "Guys, just to let you know, I need to get some rest. If you like, I can go to my—""If you think for one minute that we're going to let you out of our sight after what happened, then think again," Elias said as Xander opened the door to our suite. "We don't have to do anything if you don't want to." "Thanks. I just want to relax." Then I had an idea. "Why don't we go to the pool? I think a swim would help me."A broad smile spread across Xander's lips. "Great idea.""
"I need to call Bailey and make sure she's okay." I slipped into a fluffy white robe and grabbed my cell phone. Then I remembered. "Wait. She's away with Cruz.""Don't worry. The Clinic will be fine for one day." Elias sat up in bed. "Besides, it's too late to go in now."I nodded. "Well, I'm going to go home and take a shower and relax. Come over later. I'll make us dinner tonight." I quickly gathered my clothes before they could object. "I'll watch you walk over." Xander slid out of bed stark naked, looking good enough to eat."Thanks." After waving goodbye to Elias, I headed toward the front door and gave Xander a quick kiss, but he pulled me close and deepened the kiss, his enthusiasm evident. "I have to go."One corner of his lips curled into a sexy smile as he opened the door and leaned against the door facing. "If you must.""If I don't leave now, I never will." I could say that I didn't know why I was lingering, but I knew.Xander shrugged. "Then don't. We can all move into th