“No, ma’am.”
Warner sighed. “Maybe it’s best you find another werewolf to work with Slade.” He frowned at Cricket. “Someone outside your team.”
Cricket rocked back a step. Finally, the shrink recognized her importance to Lycan Intelligence. Or, rather, her defiance.
Slade sat on a chair. His claws retracted, and he sighed. The regretful prince minus his inner beast had returned. “I should not have bitten his earlobe off.”
Dr. Warner nodded to Rylee, and she unlocked his door. “Join us Prince Slade.”
Cricket gaped. What the hell? How can they trust he won’t go Hollywood werewolf monster again?
Slade grabbed a plush white robe and donned it over his naked body before entering. Outside the chamber and close up, he appeared even bigger, more menacing. Powerful enough to snap their necks. Not that Rylee lacked superior fighting skills, but Slade had youth and years of experience as his pack’s top warrior in his favor. As for so-called alpha, Dr. Warner, he’d gotten soft and not in the right places.
Rylee never flinched as she approached and sniffed Slade, while he did the same. They finally stopped and locked gazes. She spoke first. “I wish to express my condolences on the horrible massacre of your pack.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I was robbed of rightful revenge.”
“Enforcer Dominic Wolfe and my team had no choice but to move in quickly. Especially since they had Mia, the enforcer’s mate.”
Dr. Warner, holding the dart gun, stepped closer. “Prince, it’s normal to feel…”
Slade flashed a hateful glance at him. “Shut up!” His fangs emerged, and his claws snapped out. “I ought to lock you up.”
&nb
sp; “Be reasonable…”
Before Warner shot him with the tranquilizer, Slade grabbed the doctor and threw him into the chamber. Warner hit the wall with a loud thud. He whimpered and cowered in the corner, no doubt fearing his patient would rip his throat out if he moved.
I won’t say I told you so. Cricket’s hackles rose, her fangs extended and she growled, but waited for Rylee’s orders.
Rylee stepped closer to him. “Stand down, Prince Slade.” Her claws extended.
With manic strength, Slade grabbed Rylee by the shoulders and shoved her into the chamber with Warner, then slammed the door shut.
Cricket dove for the dart gun and shot him in the arm. In a flash, he lunged at her, and she landed on her back with a thud, the wind knocked out of her lungs. Oof. Stunned as if knocked down by a charging rhino, she dropped the weapon. Out of her reach. Mad Prince Slade held her down. Each of his massive hands shackled her wrists.
Fuck. Cricket twisted and kicked, but the hulky man trapped her as if a granite statue had fallen on her. She growled. Not smart. She should whimper like a cub, but not at the cost of her pride.
Rylee banged against the glass. “Harm her and you’re dead.”
Slade held Cricket down and studied her. “How did you survive the change when many alphas do not?”
Prince Slade’s green eyes penetrated her. His strong alpha mind compelled her to obey and answer.
Cricket fought against his alpha mind control. How dare he intimidate her? Still, physically and politically the alpha maintained all-encompassing superiority. She gulped. “To be honest, I was too stubborn to die.”
“Even now, as I hold you down, you do not surrender to death?”
“No.” She closed her eyes, awaiting his lethal bite.
Slade released her, and moved away. He sat on the chair and pressed his hand over his forehead. “Let them out. I’ll try to cooperate, while my wolf is calm.”
Cricket leapt up and opened the door.
Rylee and Dr. Warner cautiously stepped out.
Cricket looked back at the prince. He covered his large hands over his face as if despondent. His sadness touched her heart. “Sir, do you mind stepping back into the chamber?”