“So it’s that way between you now?”
I didn’t sense any judgment, but I felt the need to explain myself anyway. “Um... well, it’s sort of hard to explain—”
“No, it’s not. The bitch was in heat. See? Done.”
“I’ve heard a heat can be intense, even deadly at times. I’m glad you came through it.”
Moira snorted. “Oh, she came, all right.”
“Moira,” I chastised, but she wasn’t wrong.
“And Kingston is missing?” Alek didn’t give her any attention, his focus on me. “That seems... out of character for a mated wolf.”
I bit down on my lip. “I don’t have a lot of personal experience, but that’s what I’ve been told too.”
“How long has he been gone?”
“About a day.”
“And he’s not answering his phone...” Alek scrubbed a hand down his beard, running his fingers through the golden strands as his eyes narrowed in thought. “Have you tried tracing it?”
Hope lit in my chest. I didn’t think that was possible. “No. I can do that?”
Ice-blue smoke swirled around his hand, my sparkly black phone case looking ridiculous in his large palm. He started tapping on the screen without a word.
“Uh, do you need my code?”
He looked up with a smirk. “Now you’re just being offensive.” His eyes brightened after a few more swipes on the screen. “Ah, there he is. Your wayward wolf is holed up in his room.”
“Hisroom?” Anger burned in my blood. He’d been in his room. Ignoring my texts. Making me crazy.
I bolted to my feet, snatching the phone from Alek’s hand before he could stop me.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Where do you think?”
He laughed and fell into step beside me.
“What are you doing, Alek?”
“I’m not going to miss this. I needed some entertainment.”
“Fine, come on then, but stay out of my way unless you want to get in the line of fire.”
He held up both hands in a poor imitation of innocence. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I know better after seeing my mother and aunt in action when their mates piss them off. You’ve got this.”
“Your mother argued with a berserker?”
“My motherisa berserker.”
Holy shit. I couldn’t picture the lovely woman with her sweet voice and angelic face from his library mom-date as an enraged she-hulk.Note to self, do not piss her off.
I didn’t respond; instead I continued across the campus. My goal? Kingston’s dorm. The man had some explaining to do.
Alek could have easily beat me up the stairs, but he measured his long strides to match mine. True to his word, he hung back as I pounded on the door.
“Kingston, you coward. Open up. I know you’re in there.”