“In the grey area?”
I suddenly wonder just how grey he goes.
What rules does he bend?
In what aspects of his life?
He gives a barely perceptible nod.
“Yes.”
There’s a purr to his voice that unnerves me.
I don’t know why or how he thinks he suddenly got the upper hand, but we flipped from me goading him to him provoking me.
He’s issuing a challenge, and his eyes glint with the knowledge that I’m going to accept.
No, I’m not.
That’s insane.
Why would I?
I glance at Madi, and she gives me an encouraging flick of her brows.
Like she wants me to negotiate this deal with him.
And as much of an outsider as I feel with Madi and her new life, the idea of having this entry point appeals to me.
We’d have shared experience again.
Common ground.
“One hundred thousand for two murals.”
I throw out because that’s the number that would make me feel okay about giving in.
I don’t lust for money, but things are definitely shoe-string tight.
The reason it’s taken me five years to get my degree is because I work almost full time in addition to school.
The Sentience job allowed me some breathing room, but that money feels dirty.
Plus, Madi’s still footing the bill for her half of our apartment, and while I love having her former bedroom as a painting studio, I don’t like accepting her charity.
“She’s worth it,” Madi pipes in.
“I don’t need two murals,” Billy counters.
“One grey” -I sweep my hand to indicate the wall behind the couch- “and one color.”
I point to the larger wall directly across from it.
“That’s my only offer.
Take it or leave it.”
Billy considers me.
“I approve the design before you begin.”
Wow.
He’s accepting my bid?
Surprising.
I thought he’d hardball me.
I dismiss his stipulation.
“No deal.”
“Concept,” he immediately counters.
Fireflies dance inside my entire body.
I’m lit up by our negotiation-both physically turned on and mentally thrilled.
I consider his counter-offer.
There’s a lot of grey area with an approved concept.
“Okay,” I agree.
He grows more smug.
I’m not sure why he seems to think he has me where he wants me.
I’m charging a fortune, and I plan to make his life miserable with this venture.
“You pay all expenses,” I throw in as an afterthought.
“Done.”
A frisson of excitement pulses through me, even as some wary part wants to throw on the brakes.
But I have nothing to fear.
If it doesn’t work, I can always walk away.
Billy likes to push people around and bend them to his will with power, status, and money.
I’m immune to all of it.
I can’t be pushed around when I don’t care about any of those things.
I’d rather have my dignity than his money.
William White III will soon find that I’m not afraid of the Big Bad Bully.
Billy
What in the hell am I doing?
I must be out of my mind.
I hate having people in my place.
It messes with my control over my environment.
Even my housekeeper and chef annoy the hell out of me-and they’re shifters in the Blackthroat pack.
Respectful and trustworthy to the bone.
Why would I subject myself to having a human in my apartment?
A mural must take weeks to paint.
Maybe more.
And she wants to paint two.
Two murals.
One in color.
Ugh.
It will be ghastly.
But whatever, I can have someone paint over it in a day.
The point is, I’m going to have Aubrey Cook in my apartment for months.
I.
Will.
Go.
Mad.
Except, smug satisfaction emanates from my wolf at the idea of having her here.
I have no doubt he manufactured this outcome.
He wants to fuck the little human.
It’s a strange impulse for a pure-blooded wolf from an alpha line.
I can’t be going down the road Brick did-wanting to claim a human.
Not even one who smells as enticing as this one.
Fuck no.
Humans are weak.
Inconsequential.
I had that drilled into my head since before I could walk.
Back when I was a runt who my father hid away from the pack out of shame.
I’ve spent my entire life scraping and scratching to get to the top.
First, to prove I was worthy of the White name, which I now fucking reject.
Then to prove I was worthy to be Brick’s second in command.
I was born small and stayed small as a pup.
My transition came late-I didn’t shift or hit my growth spurt until I was fifteen-long after my dad had abandoned me at boarding school.
Long before then, I learned to fight ferociously, besting kids twice my size.
I learned cut-throat strategy.
And when I finally hit my transition and shifted for the first time, I willed my way to rapidly grow to this size.
So I can screw this ridiculous human who smells like nutmeg and honey, but after that, I need to cast her aside.
My story doesn’t end with a human in my life.
Full stop.
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