Page 59 of Malcolm

He was trying to be the man she needed, but how much longer could he keep the leash on the monster inside of him? The yawning hole inside was quickly growing wider; the madness most male werewolves felt if they waited too long for the claim mate stirred inside him. He needed to convince her to stay with him, no matter what.

He didn’t care about the others.

Robert wanted him to be the pack Alpha. He would do his duty, but he would drop everything if Eliza insisted on leaving.

The door cracked open; he stiffened. Glancing at the entrance, he lowered his arm and stood straight.

“I wasn’t sure I’d find you here,” Robert said as he entered the office. “Kirkle has asked if he could be loaned a few men to help in the burying his son.”

“Yes,” Malcolm said quickly; he wouldn’t begrudge the man a burial. “Did his son have children or a mate?”

Robert shook his head. “No, the pickings for mates have gotten slimmer and slimmer over the years. A few women have left these lands for the human world to build lives outside of the pack.”

“Is that so?” Malcolm said as he turned to face him. “I thought they weren’t allowed to leave before their first run. When did the law change?”

Robert gathered his hands together. “After you killed Damon, many female wolves felt the males had too much control over their lives. And they sought change; for some, that meant raising their children in the human world. They return for the Ice Moon, Ceilidh, and Blood Moon, but some refuse to return even for them. They fear being trapped here.”

“When they come for the Ceilidh, I will speak with them. This is their home. We will not trap them here. If they wish to visit, they may whenever their lives allow for it.”

Robert acknowledged his command with a little dip of his chin. “It will be done, and for the Ceilidh, you will need to select the men who will accompany you, and you’ll have to bring along your mate.”

“What,” Malcolm asked startled.

Robert pursed his lips, “When Ceilidh happens, all pack Alphas bring their mates to show trust. It’s common; you will see it once we reach the border.”

“No, I won’t bring her,” Malcolm interrupted.

Robert sighed. “You can’t keep hiding her; it is obvious to us all she is your mate. You might not have marked her yet, but the other McLaren can smell you on her. It will be noticed if you don’t bring her.”

“She doesn’t have anything to do with our peoples politics,” Malcolm argued.

“Then you have no intention of claiming her,” Robert challenged. “If you plan to claim her, even if it’s down the road. It would be a gross mistake for you not to bring her with you. The others will know if you do not, especially if you refuse to be served during Ceilidh.”

Malcolm wanted to yell at Robert to leave, he didn’t want to bring Eliza anywhere past the border of his own land. He needed to keep her hidden away and safe. Though he was sure there wasn’t anyone who could recognize her, he didn’t wish to risk it. Plus, with Cladagh's atmosphere, he didn’t want to force her into anything.

“You cannot protect her forever.” His uncle's voice was heavy with something that forced him to look at him. The wealth of sadness in his uncle's eyes hit him. “You can try everything. And still, a day will come when you fail to protect her.”

Malcolm felt his anger chill; his uncle was thinking of his past. “Uncle?—”

Robert waved him off. “No, I don’t need your coddling.”

Malcolm nodded. “Fine. I will ask her if she wishes to come, but that is all I will do. I cannot force her to come if she doesn’t want to.”

“That’s all I ask you to do,” his uncle said before exiting the office.

Malcolm, left alone with his thoughts, needed to decide soon what he would do with her. No, he needed to determine when he would tell her the truth about their connection.

Eliza

Eliza walked around inside of the compound wall. Needing some air, after stewing in her cabin. Luckily, the night wasn’t freezing. Pulling on a jacket, she headed out as soon as she could. Everything felt so twisted.

She allowed herself to think about her lone battle to get revenge and her somewhat sloppy handling of the situation. Her attempts at manipulation were shoddy at best. With a sigh she kicked another stone out of her way, her shoes crunching along the gravel as she walked. The noise becomeomg its own sort of music.

“You—”

She whipped around, a long black line of light in her hands pointed at the throat of the person behind her.

She glared at the stranger standing behind her. His eyes were iron-colored, and he grasped the edge of her weapon.

---