Accidentally Wolf (30 page)

I nodded as I stuffed my face. I grabbed my coffee and headed into the living room as well, sitting down in my overstuffed chair. Tristan, Vlad, and
Chief Chad
Monroe walked in a moment later. All wearing grim expressions. Shit. That was never good.

“
Glad your face has healed,
”
I mumbled as my cheeks heated up with embarrassment.
“
Chief, I
’
m—
”

“
No,
”
he said calmly as he held up his hand.
“
I deserved it and much more for the shit I pulled. I just want you to know I didn
’
t mean any of it, Sera. You hopefully know I trust and respect you.
”

I nodded, thinking I had but I still needed to know one thing.
“
Then why did you say all that shit?
”

“
Because I had a suspicion of something the way Engle was acting toward you
,
and I wanted to test out a theory. Plus, I wanted to put the asshole in his place.
”
He shook his head as he sighed. That still didn
’
t make sense to me.

“
Is everyone okay?
”
I asked quietly before taking another bite
of my eggs
.

“
Yeah, shaken up and confused but no one got seriously injured,
”
he answered as he and Vlad sat down on the couch.
“
Sera, do you understand why Engle is so intent on you becoming his mate?
”

“
He
’
s an asshole?
”
I thought that was obvious.

“
He is at that
,
”
Vlad chuckled in his thick accent. I smiled at him. I liked having him as a buddy. Most thought my bluntness was annoying
,
but he seemed to find it refreshing.
“
May I test Chad
’
s theory in another way?
”

“
Are you all going to freak out and try to jump me if you do?
”
I asked as I set down my mug and empty plate
on the table
.

“
No,
”
he answered, his eyes twinkling.
“
Though I would think it would be fun to see you in the throes of passion, I
’
m not in
to force.
”

“
Okay, then test away.
”
I wanted answers
,
too
. Vlad moved off the couch and knelt in front of me. He held out his hand and I placed mine in his, willing to give him a little leeway before asking what was going on. He
’
d proven to be on our side and that went a long way with me.

I gasped when I felt power creep up my arm. His aura or power seemed to flow over mine like a cat rubbing against my legs, wanting his presence known. Just as fast as it appeared it was gone, leaving me breathless.

“
That
’
s it?
”
I asked when I recovered from the rush. He nodded and sat back on his feet, giving me a curious look.
“
What?
”

“
When you
’
re around Alpha Engle, do you ever have the need to bare your throat to him?
”

“
No, why?
”
I asked incredulously. Why the fuck would I show someone my neck?

“
Interesting,
”
he mumbled as he graciously rose to his feet
and looked at me curiously before opening his mouth to speak again
.
“
When he got angry Saturday night
,
did you feel his power?
”

“
Yeah, it was no different than the other wolves there. He didn
’
t seem strong enough to be Alpha,
”
I answered after a few moments of thought.
“
That
’
s why he annoys me so much. The man is a poser.
”

“
No, Seraphine, he is not
,
”
Vlad
sighed
before taking his seat again
and leaning against the armrest of the couch
. Monroe swore under his breath and I focused on him.

“
What is going on? Why does that information upset you?
”

“
Because if I
’
d just asked you that I wouldn
’
t have set you and everyone else off today,
”
he answered, remorse apparent in his eyes and tone.
“
Engle is
not only
one of the most powerful werewolves I
’
ve ever met, Sera
, but shifter as well
. The fact that you register him as a normal wolf—
”

“
Means your power is so much stronger you don
’
t even see him as a threat.
”
Tristan finished for my boss, his eyes wide.
“
I
’
d never felt an aura powerful enough where I felt the ripples from using that power like I did when you walked in here.
”

“
Why do you look scared, Tristan?
”
I asked, shaking as I thought I knew the answer.

“
Because you
’
re a new shifter and you
’
re powerful enough that you make your Alpha seem like a fraud,
”
he
whispered
. His face filled with concern again as if realizing our lives would never be easy. Shit.
“
You
’
re an Alpha, Sera.
”

“
And that
’
s why he wants to make me Alpha Bitch,
”
I grumbled, finally filling in that last piece of the original puzzle.
“
He thinks if he
’
s got me under control, I won
’
t challenge him.
”
I took a sip of my coffee, trying to process this new information.

“
Correct,
”
Vlad agreed with a nod.
“
Mates cannot challenge each other. Though you could never mate him for real with Tristan in the picture. Mating an Alpha means you give up your right and loyalty to all else. You can
’
t do that and be sovereign of someone.
”

“
You guys a
nd your rules make my head hurt.
”
I notic
ed
Tristan was still standing. I patted the armrest of my chair for him to join me and his eyes lit up with joy. It was almost unnerving as if he was a kid chosen to sit at the
front
of the class. But then again, maybe he was happy I was acknowledging he was important to me in front of others. I
’
d go with that for now because I couldn
’
t complicate anything else right then just because I felt something that was maybe there.

I had a long enough list of shit going on to handle.

“
Okay, so that explains what Engle wants,
”
I surmise
d
, trying to fit all the pieces together. I glanced at Monroe.
“
And I get why you did your test thing though I
’
m still not happy about it. But what the hell happened to everyone at the office
?
”

“
Your power was strong enough that it forced the shifters to change shapes,
”
Monroe explained, shaking his head.
“
They smelled Alpha and their animals came out in hopes of showing off how strong they were to you. Trying to show they were worthy of your power.
”

“
Fine, but there were women and a gay man looking as if they wanted me naked. What was that about? Fuck, they were throwing themselves at doors and windows to try and get at me.
”

“
I
’
ve only seen a flare of power have that effect once before,
”
Vlad hedged, looking as if he was deciding how much to share.
“
I know Chad was able to handle your power because he
’
s a master vampire and has no animal that would respond to you like the shifters d
id
.” He paused and I could almost see the idea forming in his head. “
There are some people in town who came to see me. I was going to call you anyways now that I have the situation defused.
”

“
Can we deal with this before adding more to my plate?
”

“
This is relevant,
”
Vlad a
ssured me
.
“
You remember Bernard Dorcas?
”

“
Kinda hard to forget the man that attacked me and made me a wolf
,
”
I snapped angrily.

“
Yes, well his family is here from Greece. They wanted revenge for you
r
slaying of their family member
s,
”
h
e explained
,
and I couldn
’
t hold back my look of surprise.
“
Being Master of Chicago and
that
Bernard had been one of my personal wolves, they came to me. When I explained what had happened, having already sent Tristan after you and sp
o
k
en
with Chad to get all the facts
,
they backed down.
”

“
Did you tell them what I did to Tristan?
”
I asked, fear racing along my spine.

“
No, only that you were able to defeat Tristan and he didn
’
t harm you,
”
he answered with a smile.
“
I didn
’
t want them to think you might be weak and try to do anything behind my back as if you were unimportant and I
’
d never know.
”

“
Thanks, I guess.
”
I was never going to get used to all the weird turn of events in my life.

“
No thanks
are
ever needed. It is my fault that Bernard did what he did. If I had been paying closer attention to my people
,
I would have known what was going on in my own backyard. Him being my lover seems to have distracted me.
”

Now I was
really
freaked out. When I
’
d found out Bernard was his wolf, I didn
’
t think Vlad had meant his as in
his
someone special.
“
You never told me I killed someone that close to you, Vlad. Whether I was in the right or not, I am sorry for your loss.
”
And please don
’
t kill me,
I wanted to add but thought it might sound weak. I glanced at Monroe
,
who looked
just
as shocked. Okay, so this was news to him
,
too
. I
’
d killed the Chicago
Master
’
s boyfriend.

Greeeeat.

“
In a way I am glad you did,
”
he admitted with a sigh, suddenly looking tired as he leaned back against the cushions of my couch.
“
Bernard seemed to have this power over me. He could do no wrong in my eyes and I ignored signs that should have told me his loyalty wasn
’
t with me. Something was always off about him.
”
He stared deeply into my eyes.
“
Something I feel in your power. I think you might get answers you need if you meet with his family.
”