Electric Storm(40)

Durant relaxed slightly. “What do you think will happen?”

“I think it will connect us.” Raven didn’t need any more connections to anyone. Connections generally got her into trouble. She looked at each man in the room and realized she was the only one protesting anymore.

“Have you tasted anyone else’s blood?”

“Not on purpose.” That froze Durant. She could tell he didn’t expect her answer. “I guess it all comes down to trust. I can’t trust you. This is the second time you’ve tried to break my shields. After you asked for my help, been welcomed in my home, you attacked me. Tell me, Durant, if the situation were reversed, would we even be here talking? Or would you’ve killed me right out?”

A new, more horrifying idea came to her. She slowly stepped away from the men. She felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. “Dominic, I have tiger DNA. If I accept blood from him, we’d be pack.”

Panic tightened her throat, and she looked at her friend for guidance. Did she have enough cat in her to be alpha? She was afraid that since her shields held against him that she did.

The expression on Dominic’s face didn’t change. “Yes.”





Chapter Twelve





EARLY MORNING: 3AM

“No. Hell, no.” She shook her head and backed away, a deep sense of betrayal slicing through her. They were supposed to be her friends, the only family she had left.

Rylan swiftly blocked her exit. “It needs to be done.” He gently brushed at her hair, always fascinated by the streaks and ragged silver-tipped ends. This time the gesture didn’t offer her any calm. “If you were alpha, he wouldn’t dare attack you.”

“Unless he challenges me.”

“A male can’t replace a female leader. If he oversteps his bounds, you have the right to kill him.” Rylan smiled, his fangs showing a little too much. “He can petition the council at the conclave to be released from your pack, and the council will cast judgment.”

She didn’t trust that smile, and her stomach somersaulted in her throat. “But?”

“The council has never reversed a female claim.”

“But he’s an alpha. Not only are you asking him to refute his ability to create his own pack, but also the possibly of finding his Consort.” Raven had to talk sense into them. She looked at the others for support, but they just met her gaze without a word of protest.

“I believe what they’re trying to tell you is once we’ve mated, I won’t care.” Durant crossed his arms. “As for creating my own pack, I won’t. It’s one of the concessions to owning my business within pack territory. Cassie doesn’t count as she is human.”

Raven blinked when his words registered, and she barely heard the rest of his explanation. “No one said anything about mating.” Panic tightened her chest, breathing became difficult. “Why aren’t you fighting them?”

“Are you saying you’re a fate worse than death?” Durant shrugged, his focus unwavering and intense, seeing something in her that solidified his decision. “There are few of my kind living. The chances of me finding a Consort are slim.” He shook his head. “And there’s something about you that my beast wants. I noticed it at the club, and when I arrived here.”

“Yeah, that’s why you tried to kill me.”

Rylan nodded, ignoring her as if everything made sense. “It’s why he came to you for help.”

The longer she stared at Durant, the more unsettled she grew. Something didn’t fit. “You want this.” The accusation erupted from her. Then she made the connection. He’d stopped protesting the instant her cat DNA was mentioned.

“I didn’t plan it, but I’ll accept it. It could be beneficial to us both.” Durant stepped toward her while Rylan held her in place.

“Raven, the girl will wake shortly. She’ll need to be fed. You have to decide. Either you take them or they die.” Thunder rumbled in the distance, and her heart slammed hard against her ribs. The storm would be upon her within the hour, and then there would be hell to pay. She had to decide now.

If she accepted them, it would be her job to protect them. It would be her job to find out who attacked Cassie. The idea of escaping the house sounded good to her, even if she had to face the storm and a killer.

She felt Rylan’s grip through her clothes, the slight shake in his fingers, the need in him. He ached. And she knew he’d never ask her for help. “Rylan–”

“You need to do this. This man can protect you when I’m not available.”

Raven jerked away from him. The bastards were building a pack around her, whether she liked it or not. “That system is archaic. I’m not in danger. I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself.”