Chapter 22
After King Conan and the council met with Rylee privately, the king treated all guests to a huge banquet. Lev barely touched his steak dinner. How could he after almost killing his mate? He nursed his vodka as the others caught up with pack news. His mood must have radiated like a grim mushroom cloud because no one talked to him. More than likely, he’d bite off anyone’s head if they mentioned his love life. When Rylee first heard of Rachel’s collapse, she agreed with Howard. Lev had poisoned her with his mutant bite and best he never see her again. Dr. Darius Mark texted him a couple hours ago. Rachel appeared on the mend with all her vitals back to normal and resting. Naturally, Rachel too would never want to see him again. No matter, my Goldilocks, I’ll kill the pack that threatens you. He envisioned ripping her abductors to shreds.
Lev’s skin prickled as fur threatened to emerge. The room temperature rose. How could they not notice the heat? Lev glanced at Rylee who sat to the left of the king. She gaped at him, and mouthed, “What the fuck”? The others stared at him as well.
Rylee excused herself and walked over to Lev. “Let’s talk.”
All conversations ceased as if the entire gathering held their breath, waiting for him to blow up. “Yes, ma’am.” Lev stood and followed her into a private LIA office she kept in the castle.
Rylee closed the doors. “How many vodkas have you had?”
“Only two. Why?”
“Because your eyes are glowing and your skin is a shade redder. Like you are about to have a meltdown.”
“I’m not drunk or radioactive, just frustrated.”
“Understood.” Rylee poured him a glass of water from a pitcher. She pointed to a seat and he sat. “I’m sorry all this shit is going down.”
“Rogue werewolf shit or me almost killing Rachel shit?”
Rylee snorted. “All of the above.”
Lev drained the glass, then took the pitcher and drained it as well, cooling him to his normal body temperature. If he even had a normal body temperature. “Much better.”
“I can’t fault you for claiming her, but we all agree it’s for her own good you leave her. You are like a son to me. I hope leaving her won’t destroy you.”
“I will survive.” He stared at the wall. “I survived radiation, the death of my pack and my father’s murder.”
“Please reconsider staying with Team Greywolf. We have an excellent station in Greenland or you can continue doing field work for us in Eastern Europe.”
“Why? Because I’m a valuable asset or because you fear I’m dangerous?”
“To be honest, both.”
Better to monitor me. Lev snickered. “Don’t worry. I won’t meltdown. I only promise to clean up this rogue pack threatening Rachel and other Stallo women.”
“I’m no scientist, but who knows, maybe Dr. Becker and Selene can find a cure to whatever you do to Rachel.”
“No. I will not allow my mate to be a guinea pig.”
Rylee poured a glass of brandy. “Spoken like a superior alpha who puts the needs of his mate above his own.”
“I would die rather than lose my beloved.” His eyes stung. When his family and father had died, he howled and mourned, but never shed a tear. Until now. For the mate he could never have. Letting her go was his noble duty.
Rylee tilted her head. “To be honest, it might have been the lingering poison in your system from the unknown lycan’s bite. The one you said smelled rotten.”
If the unusual poison
caused her illness, there may be hope he could still be with her. Yet, the toxin had left his system long before he bit Rachel on their last night together. “The werewolf that bit me had the scent of a cadaver.”
Rylee nodded. “Darius thinks the toxin might be lethal to normal werewolves. Who knows what it would do to a human?”
Lev shook his head. “Darius found no trace of it in my system.” The truth is I’m a mutant freak. I hurt Rachel.
“Let’s focus on protecting her. I met with the council and discussed what I know about the rogue pack’s objectives to kidnap Stallo women for their twisted purpose of breeding hybrids. They gave me the green light to do whatever it takes to seek and execute.”
“Did you tell them I poisoned Rachel?”