area who can help. I’m going to make a call, but in the meantime I’ll let Ryan know about this, so be waiting for a text or e-mail from him. Sit tight and give me half an hour.”
“Will do. Thanks.” Nikan slid his phone in his pocket after they disconnected.
Antoine, who had been silent, finally let out a small groan. “Your Alpha isn’t going to help us. Why would he help a vampire?” Anger laced each word.
“Because he cares about our pack,” Esperanze snapped, angry at her friend’s depressing attitude. “I’m sorry your friend is being held captive, but I just lost my sister and cousin. Before that half my pack was wiped out from poisoning so stop feeling sorry for yourself! You’re not doing Chandra or yourself any favors by acting this way. That’s pathetic and it’s time for you to man up.” She felt bad for her harsh words, but he needed to snap out of his pity party or they’d never accomplish anything. Right now it wasn’t about him. It was about an innocent woman being held captive.
Antoine stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes unblinking. The temperature in the room felt as if it dropped a few degrees with the icy stare he gave her. He stood suddenly, and behind her she felt Nikan move closer. His arm snaked around her waist as he pulled her close so that her back pressed against his chest.
“Excuse me for a moment.” Antoine’s voice was monotone as he strode toward the bathroom.
Instead of turning around she laid her head back against Nikan’s chest, drawing on his raw strength and warmth. “Was I too harsh?” she whispered even though it was likely Antoine could hear her over the water she heard from the bathroom.
Nikan shook his head, his chin moving over the top of her head. “No, someone needed to say it. It’s better that it came from you. Now we just wait for Connor’s call.”
Esperanze hated the thought of just waiting, but there wasn’t much of a choice. Unfortunately it would give her time to think about what she’d just heard. There was only one reason Connor would have asked if they were mated yet. Nikan had talked to their Alpha about her and it wasn’t something he’d do lightly.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about Nikan asking to take her as his mate. Part of her wished she could pretend this was sudden, but deep down the most primal part of her had acknowledged Nikan’s interest in her a while ago—and the fact that she reciprocated. As soon as he and the rest of Connor’s warriors had arrived at the ranch he’d been around her every single day without fail. She’d gotten to the point where she couldn’t imagine not seeing him each day. Her wolf wanted to dance every time he was near.
And after what they’d shared last night she knew she wanted more from him. Not just physically, though that was something she was looking forward to. No, she enjoyed his quiet company. If he didn’t have anything to say, he never tried to fill silences, and she appreciated that. Not that they had much silence between them. She’d learned practically everything about his past in the first week they started hanging out. He’d seemed almost surprised with himself when he’d opened up to her, but it hadn’t taken long for her to warm up to him either. It was almost like her wolf recognized him and trusted him. He had so much character too. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be helping out a vampire who meant nothing to him. Nikan might be doing this because of her, but he was also doing it because of the innocent human woman involved. Of that, she had no doubt.
Still, old fears and insecurities bubbled up inside Esperanze, bitter and angry. While Nikan was nothing like her father who had insisted on controlling everything about her mother’s life, he was still an alpha, a warrior, and he was stronger than she was. Shifter rules and human rules were different. In her world, the strongest governed, and if she allowed him into every facet of her life she’d
“Will do. Thanks.” Nikan slid his phone in his pocket after they disconnected.
Antoine, who had been silent, finally let out a small groan. “Your Alpha isn’t going to help us. Why would he help a vampire?” Anger laced each word.
“Because he cares about our pack,” Esperanze snapped, angry at her friend’s depressing attitude. “I’m sorry your friend is being held captive, but I just lost my sister and cousin. Before that half my pack was wiped out from poisoning so stop feeling sorry for yourself! You’re not doing Chandra or yourself any favors by acting this way. That’s pathetic and it’s time for you to man up.” She felt bad for her harsh words, but he needed to snap out of his pity party or they’d never accomplish anything. Right now it wasn’t about him. It was about an innocent woman being held captive.
Antoine stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes unblinking. The temperature in the room felt as if it dropped a few degrees with the icy stare he gave her. He stood suddenly, and behind her she felt Nikan move closer. His arm snaked around her waist as he pulled her close so that her back pressed against his chest.
“Excuse me for a moment.” Antoine’s voice was monotone as he strode toward the bathroom.
Instead of turning around she laid her head back against Nikan’s chest, drawing on his raw strength and warmth. “Was I too harsh?” she whispered even though it was likely Antoine could hear her over the water she heard from the bathroom.
Nikan shook his head, his chin moving over the top of her head. “No, someone needed to say it. It’s better that it came from you. Now we just wait for Connor’s call.”
Esperanze hated the thought of just waiting, but there wasn’t much of a choice. Unfortunately it would give her time to think about what she’d just heard. There was only one reason Connor would have asked if they were mated yet. Nikan had talked to their Alpha about her and it wasn’t something he’d do lightly.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about Nikan asking to take her as his mate. Part of her wished she could pretend this was sudden, but deep down the most primal part of her had acknowledged Nikan’s interest in her a while ago—and the fact that she reciprocated. As soon as he and the rest of Connor’s warriors had arrived at the ranch he’d been around her every single day without fail. She’d gotten to the point where she couldn’t imagine not seeing him each day. Her wolf wanted to dance every time he was near.
And after what they’d shared last night she knew she wanted more from him. Not just physically, though that was something she was looking forward to. No, she enjoyed his quiet company. If he didn’t have anything to say, he never tried to fill silences, and she appreciated that. Not that they had much silence between them. She’d learned practically everything about his past in the first week they started hanging out. He’d seemed almost surprised with himself when he’d opened up to her, but it hadn’t taken long for her to warm up to him either. It was almost like her wolf recognized him and trusted him. He had so much character too. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be helping out a vampire who meant nothing to him. Nikan might be doing this because of her, but he was also doing it because of the innocent human woman involved. Of that, she had no doubt.
Still, old fears and insecurities bubbled up inside Esperanze, bitter and angry. While Nikan was nothing like her father who had insisted on controlling everything about her mother’s life, he was still an alpha, a warrior, and he was stronger than she was. Shifter rules and human rules were different. In her world, the strongest governed, and if she allowed him into every facet of her life she’d
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