He scowled. “We’ll see.”
Was their conversation about to trigger the release of his raging wolf? She took a long inhale. “Doesn’t the air smell fresh?”
“Not as fresh as my territory.” He glared toward the forest and snorted. “The beta guards following us smell like wet dogs.”
“So… have you decided if you'll return to your territory or work for Rylee?”
“Not sure. I was trained to be my pack’s warrior, not its king. If I stay here, I’ll hire someone to take care of our holdings.”
Yet, should he not return and claim his territory?
Cricket hoped he didn’t join Team Greywolf. She had had enough of his bossy arrogant attitude. Worse, the thought of seeing him often and possibly with a she-wolf mate made her blood boil with jealousy. As if she had any right to claim him. Her place was simply as a subordinate to keep him calm unti
l he got back on his paws. “I’m sure when you feel better you won’t have problems meeting a suitable mate.” Resentment clouded her emotions. “Actually, I can help you in that department.”
Slade laughed. “Trust me; your help is not needed. I’m sure my inbox is loaded with requests from she-wolves in every corner of the globe.”
Figures. “Maybe you can hold a Miss Werewolf contest to see who gets the honors of being your mate.”
He smiled, his eyes twinkling in mischief. “You can be on the selection committee.”
Not! “Once you are well enough to date, I’ll have better things to do than setting up a Best in Show event.”
“Better than helping me?” A smug grin plastered his face.
“No offence, sir, but I really should help Team Greywolf investigate the missing werewolves cases.” She worked with several hot-looking lycans, so why did she care who he dated and mated with? To think she thought of seducing him to get kicked off caregiver duty. He would probably laugh his head off if she tried. Worse than the friend zone, she was probably in the little sister zone.
His humor disappeared. “It’s your duty.” His fangs emerged and thick white fur lined his throat.
What the…? She shivered. He definitely is not well. His condition reared its ugly head. “Yes, I’m honored to serve you, Prince Slade.”
He snarled. “No more talking.”
Fine by me.
Slade sat alone on a chair facing Dr. Warner. Cricket waited outside the door, but he didn’t like her even a foot away. Somehow, he had gotten it in his head she was part of his pack and needed his protection. Worse, my loving devotion. Not happening. Not now. Not ever. Had the illness confused his wolf into thinking she was more than a subordinate? Rage overtook him. He wanted to destroy. Kill. Fur sprung on his back, his claws extended, and his wolf ears perked. He tuned in on her breathing and focused. For now, she was his drug to lessen his episodes of morphopsychosis. Nothing more.
“Prince Slade, would you be more comfortable if Cricket joined us?”
He hated being dependent on the presence of the lovely feisty runt, and almost preferred finding a replacement, an obedient omega. “No. Not necessary.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come and stay at my clinic? Our omegas are more…shall we say…submissive to your needs.”
“Part of me thinks it would be a good idea…” But I can’t imagine leaving Cricket. “However, I don’t like being doped up and omegas fawning over me.”
“I apologize for the dose I shot you with in Europe, but, in your condition, I feared you would harm others or even yourself.”
His clawed finger tapped on the armchair. “Why did you allow your beta to inject me with the amnesia drug?”
“I didn’t.” He shook his head. “It was a mix-up. Henri used it by mistake.”
So that was his name. Slade didn’t remember biting him, until the next morning when his meal was brought and the server mentioned it. “Tell Henri, I apologize for biting his earlobe off. Or better yet, if he’s here…I can…”
“No. He quit working for me. Before joining our staff, he lived as a lone wolf, so I imagine he left to continue living alone.”
“I wasn’t aware omegas could just leave a pack.” His father almost disowned him for leaving their pack to pursue adventures. But, unlike his siblings, Slade felt suffocated by a pack that remained in one territory. The prospect of advanced warrior training in Europe had intrigued him. Away from the Yukon. A niggling fact that saved his life and sent him deep into morphogenesis. He hadn’t been there for his pack. Before he’d left, his father, King Frederick had called him a useless rogue of a son. I was.
“Under normal circumstances, that’s true, but he begged me to let him go. Out of regret for his unfortunate maiming, I allowed him to leave.”