MALIK
The silence lingered for too long. Elizabeth finally looked away when I made no move.
“Elizabeth.”
She returned to her coffee and took a sip. “It’s fine if you don’t want to.” She rubbed a hand over her neck and murmured, “I’ll just wait for Waylen. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind doing it.”
A growl tore out of my throat. I twirled Elizabeth’s stool but didn’t get a chance to snap because she kissed me. She tasted of milk, sugar, and waffles. Her hands roamed my body, gently squeezing my cock through my shorts. I pushed her hand inside for actual contact, and she pumped me in fast, short strokes.
Otis pushed for control. He had grown crazier since meeting her, feral, hornier. I broke the kiss and snatched her wrists, holding her hands behind her. She looked at me with questions heavy in her eyes. If she continued touching me, I would make good on
When I arrived on my floor, someone was seated in front of my door. My footsteps alerted them of my presence, and the person’s head raised. I stepped back. Waylen’s head tipped back like he was trying to understand the person in front of him. He stood, wiping the invisible lint on his jacket. There was no way to tell how long he had been here. When he smiled, that became the least of my worry. Remembering the attack made my insides knot with anger. I thought I was over it after seeing him at his office yesterday, but I thought wrong. I was still pissed. He was blocking my path, but I didn’t want to speak to him. So, I moved to the left, away from him, but he followed. “Beth,” he whispered. “I just need to get inside,” I told him—or the door. It was locked. I wasn’t with my key, not like I had the new one. That day, he locked the door, and I shut it from inside. Stepping aside, Waylen patted his pockets to retrieve a key. I co
Lynn almost knocked me off my feet with her hug. She stepped back like she was the bigger sister to inspect my physical state. Her eyes were swollen, and the tip of her nose was red. Alarm bells went off in my head as I pulled her in for a tighter hug. “It’s not as bad as it looks. But I’m fine,” Lynn murmured into my chest. Waylen said it wasn’t that bad, but her face and reaction revealed otherwise. I broke the hug first, my smile jittery as I wiped the under of her eyes. I was her big sis, and big sisters didn’t cry in front of their baby sisters, but tears clung to my eyelashes. If anything happened to her or our mom… An arm snuck around my waist, stopping the thought in its track. The familiar scent of Malik’s cologne tickled my nostrils. The urge to turn around and hug him tight while he comforted me was intense. But Lynn was here. And as far as she knew, Waylen was myoneandonlyboyfriend. “Who are you?”
WAYLENI made sure Beth was out of earshot before shoving the bastard in front of me. He staggered but quickly regained his footing. His confidence annoyed me. Only a few days in Beth’s life and he had ruined the perfect dynamics I struggled so hard to build. “You had to come after my mate. Is that how it is now?” I spat out. Malik adjusted his jacket. Dude didn’t understand the meaning of casual outing. What was it about him that made Beth smile so much? Made her act so in love? “She’s mine as well,” he replied. Wrong answer. I smoothed the front of my shirt. Today was another day for me to be grateful for those history classes Father forced on me. “Not unless I say so, and I’m not one to share.” Our eyes held, but Malik remained composed. He had nothing more to say to me. Quickly scanning the lot for any uninvited guests, I poked his shoulder. “I know what the council did to my father.” “He broke the rules.” “And here you ar
WAYLEN I grabbed her wrists before her hands connected to my chest in a second punch. My lips captured hers in a bruising, demanding kiss. “My emotions got the best of me, baby,” I admitted. Having an animalistic side meant behaving like a fucking fool sometimes. A moron. Beth’s eyes softened, but she didn’t return to touching me. I craved her touch, her essence. “Malik is delusional to think he can fuck you. Ignore him. I’m sure he has a guest room. You’ll stay there, Beth.” “Ezra, I’m attracted to Malik. I can’t help it.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear any more of this nonsense, but she palmed my cheeks. It was impossible to resist her when she had me in this hold. Fuck the mate bond. “I know what you are, Ezra. I know why you love me so much. I know why your eyes change colors. I know why my body and heart react like it does to you, even when I’m pissed and want to hate you. I know why you’re so possessive and intent on protecting me an
Malik hasn’t said a word since I entered his car. I tried not to show my discomfort as the silence grew. Waylen had left with Lynn. Telling her about the change of plans had been tough. I still wasn’t convinced by their explanation of us staying apart, but I wasn’t about to jeopardize my family’s safety because of my uncertainties.The car glided down the quiet streets. Malik lived in a massive estate I never got to inspect the first time. There were other houses around, but the place was so isolated from the rest of the city. I didn’t know places like this existed in Indiana.What did I even know at this point?I rested my head against the window, eyes fluttering as I battled sleep. As the car reduced speed, I sat up. Compared to other houses surrounding the white duplex, Malik’s house looked small. It could be because he lived alone. Plus, there were enough rooms there.Unlike when we left, Malik did
MALIKBreakfast was almost ready when Elizabeth entered the kitchen. I struggled to keep calm as I recalled last night’s events. She was asleep when I snuck out of her room early this morning. I had to admit I could only sleep with her in the room. I flipped the pancakes, my body reacting to her presence. Elizabeth was dressed. She wore a pencil dress and block heels, adding an inch or two to her height. Yet, her head only came up to my shoulder. I said nothing as she skipped to the sink for a glass of water. Since she was here, I dished the pancake into two plates and placed hers on the same spot we ate dinner. She hadn’t said a word to me yet, only stared out the window with the glass in her hand. I chose to break the quiet. “Good morning, Elizabeth.” Her eyes flitted in my direction for a second. “Sleep well?” No response except for the loud sip from her cup. I massaged the back of my head and offered her a thin smile. This was not good.
MALIKA knock on the door alerted me of my mate’s presence before she entered my home office. Elizabeth smiled, and my lips automatically copied the gesture. I reclined on the wall, drinking her in as she bridged the gap. She was still in the dress from this morning but minus the shoes, and the sight did silly things to me. I was trying to be careful. The full moon was almost here. My mood swings were growing worse. I mustn’t do anything silly to tip the balance. But my wolf didn’t care about the rules. If Otis got a chance to have Elizabeth naked underneath him with his cock buried in her pussy, he would take it. Not like I wouldn’t appreciate that, but it wasn’t the right time. He was far too emotionally and sexually starved to listen to my bullshit about waiting for Waylen’s acceptance, so I had to hold on tighter to the control gradually slipping from my palms. “Hey,” Elizabeth said. Elizabeth hadn’t wiped her makeup of only lipgloss,
MALIK“Is that it?” Governor Kane asked. He skipped to the last page of the file I dropped on his table when I entered and flung it across the wall. The staple pin holding the sheets together was the only reason they didn’t scatter on the floor. I clenched my fists at the small of my back as he stood, his fingers denting the leather of his desk. “You took a month to prepare that preposterous crap! Arrant nonsense.”A lock of blond hair fell to his forehead, and he slapped it back in place. He pinned me with an icy, disappointing stare. His chest heaved, and he tugged his tie loose.“Otis, Otis, what’s going on?”“I prepared the report—”“Uh uh. No. That was not a report.” He pushed back his chair and made his way to the connected bar. After pouring himself a glass of scotch, he returned to his desk and sat. Minutes passed as he sipped his drink and nodded to him