Torment: Reckless Desires (Dark Wolves Book 1) (8 page)

“Then stay the hell away from her,” he commanded. “You’re the one who denied her. Remember that.”

“I’m doing what I have to do to keep her safe.”

“You could have done that without marking her. No wolf will take her as a mate now. No Erritrol will look at her.
You
did that. You made sure of it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Delana’s soft voice came from somewhere behind Wesken.

“Delana, please, let me escort you back to the center. I think the feast is about to begin.” Even though Wesken spoke to Delana, the hardness in his eyes was all for him. Wesken released him with one last grunt.
Stay away from her
.

Khet wanted to tear into his pack brother for daring to speak to his mate in such a sweet tone. She deserved every bit of sweetness the world had to offer, but Wesken was unmated. And the man wanted to take her away from him. He barely contained the furious howls struggling for release.

“No, thank you. I appreciate the concern, but Khet and I need to talk. Don’t we, Muhurua?”

Khet’s gaze snapped to hers. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? Would it be better if I called Wesken by that name then? Or one of the other males?” She didn’t look at the other man, neither did he, but the gasp coming from the pack’s second was enough to have him clenching his jaw tight.

When Wesken stepped aside, she stood there with her arms crossed, and her lips turned down in a frown that didn’t belong on that beautiful face.
He’d
put that frown there.
He’d
hurt her. Not Wesken, and certainly not that weak male probably still waiting for her in the village center. The pack’s second gave him one last hard look before turning and walking away.

“I have to go,” he said more to himself than to her. If he didn’t, he’d keep hurting her. He couldn’t control the beast anymore. Each time he saw her, it came that much closer to breaking free. His fury turned to ice in his veins. Just looking at her made his chest constrict and his lungs burn for air.

She shook her head but stood her ground. “Why? Why do you have to go? I’ve made no demands of you. It’s obvious you don’t want me. I won’t force myself on you. I’ll even stand by and let you choose another mate if that’s what will make you happy,” she whispered so softly he barely heard.

“Make me happy? You think another woman could make me happy? The beast inside me has chosen. It was in control when I bit you. If I could take it back, I would. Not so I could take another, but so
you
could be free of
me
. Not the other way around.” Khet swallowed around a fist-sized lump in his throat.
She
was fucking perfect. If he were
anyone
else, he would grab hold and never let her go.

“It wouldn’t matter. Even if you hadn’t bitten me, I’d still be yours. Even if you never touch me again, I will always be yours.” Delana’s eyes grew bright, and she blinked fast as she turned her head. “The feast is beginning. Since you’re so hell bent on leaving, then at least do me the honor of eating with me before you go.”

The resignation in her voice sent a stab of pain through his heart. He wanted to tell her he’d stay, take the tears she tried so hard to hide and make them vanish forever, but he wouldn’t lie to her. The sooner he was gone, the better. Come nightfall he’d be back in the Dark Lands, and the beast would win once and for all.

***

Delana walked back to the village center. She led Khet to a spot near Argram, knowing they would prefer having their men around Miga and Malec this first time attending a social gathering for the new pack. The feast was both a celebration of new beginnings and a welcome to Argram, their new Alpha. Every pack mate would attend. Each would pledge their loyalty to him, which meant each would be close to the toddler and its mother since they would be at his side.

Between the tight shoulders and the wrinkled brows, he looked like he was ready to explode into action at the least provocation. Joss had told her that Argram and his mate had taken residence in the old Alpha’s home, which was as it should be. As far as she could tell, not a single Komoro wolf had objected or complained. But if there were anyone who wanted to challenge him for the alpha position, this would be when they would do it. None would. But he wouldn’t know that.

The alpha glanced over to where Malec, his son, had stepped a few feet away from Miga to play with a few toys someone had brought for him. He looked at his mate and took a deep breath, only releasing it when she smiled at him.

Hushed voices chattered all around them, but she didn’t look at Khet. She didn’t speak with him. Until she could do so without making a fool of herself, she would keep looking around, waiting, just like the rest of them.

Joss walked up to her, his jaw tightening when he spotted Khet standing with her. He opened his mouth to say something, but she lifted her hand, silencing him. “Khet’s leaving after the ceremony and the feast. I’ve asked him to sit with me for one final meal.”

Her brother took a deep breath, then nodded. “Fine. Then let’s get this done quickly,” he said before going to where Argram stood, with his mate standing next to him.

“Argram, as outgoing acting Alpha, in front of my entire pack, I submit to you. I trust that you will lead us well and fairly.” With that, he tilted his head to the side, inviting the other man to bite him.

Not a sound rose from anyone around them as Argram performed the necessary task of biting Joss, removing him from his position. The rest of the pack would pledge, but no other bites were needed unless Argram felt the need to show dominance over anyone.

Delana stepped forward next. Khet’s low growl rumbled between them, but she ignored it. If he had issues, then he could deal with them once he was gone. As the strongest female, the Komoro women looked to her for direction since they’d had no true alpha after the last had perished. Seeing her agreement with Joss’s decision would go a long way in establishing trust with Argram.

“Argram, I accept your leadership and pledge my loyalty to you and our new pack.” Delana tilted her head to the side. She didn’t expect a bite, so when his hot breath brushed her neck, she stiffened. Sharp teeth pierced her skin just where Khet and given her his mating bite. Pain shot through her shoulder, and she couldn’t help but gasp.

In an instant, a vicious growl came from behind her. Khet stood there, his hands clenched. The wicked sound came again, but another met it. Argram pulled her to the side and stepped forward.

“You wish to challenge me?” Argram’s voice deepened as he came nose to nose with Khet.

For an excruciating moment, she thought Khet would say yes. That he would fight his Alpha because he had done what? Dared to bite her as was his right? Her heart pounded. A challenge to the Alpha ended in death—always.
Please, please don’t do this.

Khet glanced over at Miga, who clung to Malec, then over at her, and his gaze fell to the ground. He was silent for several seconds. “I wish no such thing, Argram. I submit to you, as always,” he said even though his voice had turned gravelly, and he had his fists clenched at his sides. He then tilted his head, accepting the bite.

When he came back, Khet wouldn’t look at her. He wouldn’t look at anyone. He just stared at the ground at his feet, his shoulders slumped.

The spark of anger that had been festering inside since Khet had left her smoldered and grew. Whatever his issues were, he was letting them get between them. He kept silent as one person after another came forward, pledging their loyalty to Argram. His pack brothers all did the same, renewing their pledges in front of the entire pack.

As Alpha, Argram and his family were served first. As soon as they were, Delana stepped forward. She heaped plenty of meat onto a plate along with some sweet biscuits one of the omegas had made and carried the plate to Khet.

“Here. Eat. Since you can’t stand the sight of me, you might as well get this done and over with so you can go.” Anger laced every one of her words, but she couldn’t keep it bottled inside.

When he finally looked at her, the pain in his eyes had her heart stuttering. She didn’t want him to go, but things couldn’t go on as they were. He took the plate from her. “Thank you.”

She sat on the ground next to him, careful not to touch any part of him, though deep inside, she wanted to shake him and demand answers.

He kept his gaze locked onto hers as he grabbed a piece of meat and brought it to her lips. She shook her head, and his jaw clenched, but she wouldn’t give in. If he wanted to run, then he had to do it on his own. She wasn’t helping him. Not this time.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Wesken with his plate of food coming to sit between his brother and Khet. Another male did the same, and another. What the hell did they think was going to happen?

“I am not like you. None of us are,” he told her as he shoved the piece of meat into his mouth. He chewed slowly and swallowed. “Eating the meat gives power to the beast inside me. It wants more. Always more. It craves it.”

Khet broke off another piece, tossing it into his mouth.

“I’m not afraid of you, or your wolf,” she told him. And she wasn’t. Oh, he’d hurt her plenty, but only by denying her her mate. Physically he’d been—perfect.

“You should be,” he snarled at her. “I’m not kind, Delana. I’m not the right man for you or for anyone else for that matter.”

He shook his head and shoved the half eaten plate of food to the side with a growl. “I’m not even a fucking wolf. None of us are.”

Argram growled at him again, but Khet didn’t stop. “That thing. In the forest? The one that almost killed you? That was me. I am that beast.”

“What are you talking about? You didn’t hurt me. I saw it. I saw you,” she denied. Memories of bright flashes of light crashed into her mind. It hadn’t been him. She’d seen the creature that hit her. But she couldn’t deny the memory of the men fighting back with the same kind of energy fire.

“I am not the one who sent that dark energy into you, but that doesn’t stop me from being what I am. I am the beast from the forest. I am Erritrol. Not wolf. I will hurt you over and over until there is nothing left of you, and then, I will spit you out. It is the beasts’ nature. There is no good inside of me,
Muhurua
,” he said with a sneer, “nothing worth saving.”

Her heart pounded as he stood and looked at her one last time. “If I could be what you needed me to be, I would. It’s just not possible.”

Delana’s heart clenched. She wanted to deny it, to argue that he could be what she needed. That he already was, but he was already walking away.

“Is this true?” Delana rounded on Wesken. She didn’t care if he was glowering at her or that she was bordering on insolence. She needed some damned answers, and someone was going to give them to her. What the hell had she gotten her pack into?

When he wouldn’t answer, she turned to Argram, but it was Miga who responded. “We are Erritrol, but not as you saw them. Not anymore. What we are today is what we were always meant to be. We are lupine, as you are. A different breed, yes, but lupine all the same. Centuries ago, our people had allowed the darkness of our land to fill their hearts. As punishment for their wickedness and depravity, our entire species was cursed by the Gods and Goddesses, and we became the creatures you saw in the forest. Not long before we came here, a woman by the name of Brienne risked not only her life but that of her people to break that curse. Because of her, we live again with warmth in our souls and love in our hearts. Khet hasn’t accepted that he was one of those saved. I don’t think he believes he should have been. Many of our people still live in darkness. It still rules their souls. Those who attacked us in the forest were among them.”

Delana turned to Argram again, and opened her mouth to speak, but a roaring howl cut through the village.
Khet.
Deep inside her wolf howled along with him, adding her sorrow. More than anything, she wanted to go after him, but she couldn’t. Not with the mistrust shining in the Komoro pack’s eyes at the news of a different species in the village. She had brought them there. She had to see this through to the end. “Prove it. We need to show the pack that you are in fact wolves and that they have nothing to fear.” The Erritrols had been in the village for a couple of days, and not once had any harm come to any of the Komoro pack. The Erritrols had taken up residence in the empty homes and had started contributing to the village, hunting with the hunters, and providing for the pack. Whether they were a different breed of shifter or not didn’t negate any of it, but the pack would have doubts. Only seeing another wolf would assuage that.

Argram stepped forward. “This is the one and only time I will be coerced into doing anything, and I only do this because I wish to do so. I do not want dissension in the pack.” Delana didn’t have time to say a word that he’d pulled his shirt off. She turned her head while he shucked his jeans.

“You can look now,” Miga said, her voice soft and wistful.

When Delana turned to look, a massive gray wolf, larger than any she had ever seen, stood next to Miga. She buried her hand in her mate’s scruff, and a soft smile played on her lips. “I haven’t seen him in his natural form in days. I’ve missed him,” she said.