Telling me would just produce more memories to wipe.
My stomach turns over, suddenly queasy.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Take care of it, how?
You’ll take her to the vampire king to get her mind wiped?
Or is she your mate?”
Brick asks, still keeping his voice low.
“Do you plan to mark her?”
“Fuck.”
I hear the sound of Billy’s heavy footsteps, like he just got out of bed.
Was the fuck because it pained him to get up?
Or because he doesn’t know if I’m his mate?
I suddenly feel like I’m untethered on a space walk.
A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have cared about his answer.
A few weeks ago, I didn’t want any kind of relationship beyond sex with Billy.
Now, I just decided I want him forever.
But Billy had a rough childhood that involved heavy abuse from a shifter supremacist.
That would make it hard to accept a fated match with a human.
If, in fact, I am his mate.
God, this is complicated.
I press my hip against the sink counter for support, my knees suddenly weak.
I’m trembling although I couldn’t describe the emotion associated with it.
Not fear.
Not pain.
Just…vulnerability.
My whole world feels like it’s teetering on end.
Someone tried to kill me yesterday.
I found out wolf shifters exist, and the guy I’ve been screwing is a huge white beta.
Turns out my best friend didn’t abandon me for her fiance, she joined a wolf pack.
They know how to wipe memories for people who find out.
I may or may not be Billy White’s fated mate.
That’s the piece that makes me feel most unmoored.
I want Billy to pick me.
Not because I smell good to him but because he loves me.
“I don’t know,” Billy says finally.
My lips tremble, and I draw in a deep breath.
“But either way, I’ll handle it, Alpha.”
Billy
The night before Brick’s wedding, I return to Sentience.
I left Aubrey sleeping in my bed.
She’ll be safe in our pack building.
I hate to leave her after the rehearsal dinner, but I can’t sleep until I’ve made this right.
I need to find out if Sentience is behind the hit.
It was easy to reach out to the founder and CEO team and get an invite for a private meeting.
I invited a co-conspirator along to make things go smoothly.
The security guard greets me and lets us both into the Sentience building.
It’s after hours.
I timed it so that no one would be here but the leadership team and their security.
I pause in front of Aubrey’s mural.
I’d destroy this building with my bare hands if it weren’t for that beautiful piece of art.
Instead, I have better plans for it.
I just need to evict the current hosts, permanently.
I’m not perfect, but Aubrey’s rubbed off on me.
I do want to leave the world a better place.
“This way,” the guard says and leads us to the elevators.
Thaddeus, Vampire King of Manhattan, strolls beside me.
He’s my co-conspirator.
He decided to help out, just for shits and giggles-and a ten million dollar fee.
Once the guard swipes his card to allow us to go upstairs, Thaddeus faces the man and stares deep into his eyes.
The human goes still, a deer frozen in headlights.
“Hand me the keycard,” Thaddeus orders.
The man does so.
“Good boy,” Thaddeus purrs.
“Now listen, you’ve decided this job isn’t for you.
You’re going to quit and follow your dreams.
What is something you’ve always loved to do?”
“Surf,” the human answers.
“Excellent.”
Thaddeus instructs the human to pack up his life and head to San Clemente, California.
“Go.”
The human turns like a robot and heads out of the building.
I’ve never watched a vampire glamour a human, but it turns my stomach to watch.
It’s necessary, though.
“He’ll be happier,” Thaddeus says, as if he can sense my discomfort.
He shakes the keycard, a knowing smile on his face, and saunters off.
He’ll take care of the rest of the security team.
There will be no one left in the building but the people who called for the hit on Aubrey.
No one to hear them scream.
The elevator drops me off at the C-suite.
I exit, noting every detail about the room.
We’re in a large open space that showcases the amazing view of the city.
There are six guys here milling around-the founders and CEO team.
Two of them are at a foosball table, playing while their friends watch.
Three of them are drinking beer, and one is eating barbecue potato chips-I can smell it.
There are a few more scents layered in.
Someone is smoking weed, and one of the guys has sweated through his deodorant.
There’s also a bitter tang that tells me they’re sampling harder drugs like cocaine.
Finally, one of them notices me and strolls over.
He’s an Asian guy, almost as tall as me, and his eyes are a bit glassy.
He spreads his arms in welcome.
“William White, right?”
I raise my chin, but don’t bother greeting him.
My wolf and I are both ready for violence.
If this guy tries for a handshake, I’ll end up breaking his hand.
“Man, it’s so great to meet you.
We’ve all been looking forward to it, right, guys?”
The other guys cheer.
These are the men who tried to take Aubrey from me.
If I hadn’t been a wolf with razor sharp senses and heightened speed, the bullet would’ve found its mark, and she would’ve died in my arms.
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