over the room.
“You’ve handled yourselves like fucking dogs in the public eye.” He turned on Nathan. “And you, do I need to appoint someone else to lead Crew thirty-eight?”
Nathan’s shoulders stiffened. He held his lips taut because of the pain of the Belt punishment. “No, Alpha.” He shuddered.
“Re-claim your Belt and get out of my sight immediately. All of you!”
Without hesitation, they filed out of the room in an unorderly fashion.
“Naomi!” Her name rang out from across the room. The call came from Tristan, who had taken his seat on the throne.
She turned to face her Alpha, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to spill.
“Send my regards to your father.” Although his lips, which were set in a grim line, and his face, which was expressionless, showed no signs of it, she clearly made out the teasing sparkle around his irises.
Bastard.
Naomi didn’t utter a word as she followed her crew out of the estate. It wouldn’t be long before Senior Valentine learned she’d turned down an offer that, true to Tristan’s word, only came once in a lifetime.
Chapter Six
There comes a time in a man’s life when he must accept defeat. He must do so shamelessly and with honor because a single defeat does not equal total failure. Every being has a purpose on this earth, and that purpose extends beyond life. There is no greater reward than knowing those you have mentored will pick up your torch and claim a victory.
Roman closed his journal and placed his fountain pen in its holder. He got up and lit the last candle sitting on the fireplace mantle. He rested his cane against the hearth and made his way to the other end of the cabin. A small table was there with a setting of tea for two. He picked up the small teapot and poured piping hot water over the dried leaves and potions. The steam floated toward his lips, and the warm herbal elixir greeted him. He experienced a rush of tranquility.
A swift wind picked up outside and gushed past the shutters of the open windows. As he expected, he had a guest. And he smelled her anger. Her treachery and deceit. As the oldest Seer in the village, Roman had the gift of foresight. He knew why she’d come tonight. He’d known for decades what would happen.
As her footsteps neared Roman, he sat calmly in the chair and tipped the teacup to his lips and drank the hot concoction.
The door to his cabin slammed open and the hinges nearly broke off the frame, but he didn’t flinch. This guest didn’t deserve the benefit of a pleasant greeting.
She had grown old. All of her youthful life had wasted away with time. Although Roman had been blind since the day he was born, he used touch, scent and energy above other things to make his assessments.
“Where is my daughter?” Faydra, Roman’s distant ex-lover, bellowed.
“Where are your manners?” he asked calmly, setting the cup on its saucer.
Some vases smashed to the floor, but Roman figured the hag had done this on purpose. “Where? Where is my daughter?”
“It’s been six years. Did you really think she would like to reunite with you in your drunken stupor?”
He smelled the whiskey surrounding her, even from where she stood in his doorway. She came inside and pushed his belongings to the floor as she passed them. “And you, Roman, you’re still a measly servant. Haven’t you grown tired of wasting your precious talents?”
“My talents haven’t been wasted.” Roman held the edges of the table for support. “I can’t say the same about yours since you never had talents at all.”
Faydra scoffed and inched closer. “You’re still as blind as a bat, but you haven’t aged as quickly as the rest of those Elders. Tell me where I can find her. I’ve searched throughout the village.”
“How did you get past the guards along the perimeters? You’re no longer Caedmon.”
“I’m not but my sister is. I can’t believe she chooses to live among dogs. She’s even mated to one.” She
“You’ve handled yourselves like fucking dogs in the public eye.” He turned on Nathan. “And you, do I need to appoint someone else to lead Crew thirty-eight?”
Nathan’s shoulders stiffened. He held his lips taut because of the pain of the Belt punishment. “No, Alpha.” He shuddered.
“Re-claim your Belt and get out of my sight immediately. All of you!”
Without hesitation, they filed out of the room in an unorderly fashion.
“Naomi!” Her name rang out from across the room. The call came from Tristan, who had taken his seat on the throne.
She turned to face her Alpha, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to spill.
“Send my regards to your father.” Although his lips, which were set in a grim line, and his face, which was expressionless, showed no signs of it, she clearly made out the teasing sparkle around his irises.
Bastard.
Naomi didn’t utter a word as she followed her crew out of the estate. It wouldn’t be long before Senior Valentine learned she’d turned down an offer that, true to Tristan’s word, only came once in a lifetime.
Chapter Six
There comes a time in a man’s life when he must accept defeat. He must do so shamelessly and with honor because a single defeat does not equal total failure. Every being has a purpose on this earth, and that purpose extends beyond life. There is no greater reward than knowing those you have mentored will pick up your torch and claim a victory.
Roman closed his journal and placed his fountain pen in its holder. He got up and lit the last candle sitting on the fireplace mantle. He rested his cane against the hearth and made his way to the other end of the cabin. A small table was there with a setting of tea for two. He picked up the small teapot and poured piping hot water over the dried leaves and potions. The steam floated toward his lips, and the warm herbal elixir greeted him. He experienced a rush of tranquility.
A swift wind picked up outside and gushed past the shutters of the open windows. As he expected, he had a guest. And he smelled her anger. Her treachery and deceit. As the oldest Seer in the village, Roman had the gift of foresight. He knew why she’d come tonight. He’d known for decades what would happen.
As her footsteps neared Roman, he sat calmly in the chair and tipped the teacup to his lips and drank the hot concoction.
The door to his cabin slammed open and the hinges nearly broke off the frame, but he didn’t flinch. This guest didn’t deserve the benefit of a pleasant greeting.
She had grown old. All of her youthful life had wasted away with time. Although Roman had been blind since the day he was born, he used touch, scent and energy above other things to make his assessments.
“Where is my daughter?” Faydra, Roman’s distant ex-lover, bellowed.
“Where are your manners?” he asked calmly, setting the cup on its saucer.
Some vases smashed to the floor, but Roman figured the hag had done this on purpose. “Where? Where is my daughter?”
“It’s been six years. Did you really think she would like to reunite with you in your drunken stupor?”
He smelled the whiskey surrounding her, even from where she stood in his doorway. She came inside and pushed his belongings to the floor as she passed them. “And you, Roman, you’re still a measly servant. Haven’t you grown tired of wasting your precious talents?”
“My talents haven’t been wasted.” Roman held the edges of the table for support. “I can’t say the same about yours since you never had talents at all.”
Faydra scoffed and inched closer. “You’re still as blind as a bat, but you haven’t aged as quickly as the rest of those Elders. Tell me where I can find her. I’ve searched throughout the village.”
“How did you get past the guards along the perimeters? You’re no longer Caedmon.”
“I’m not but my sister is. I can’t believe she chooses to live among dogs. She’s even mated to one.” She
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