Page 21 of Dark Wolf Soul
“And you’re going to somehow use me to do that?”
“We already did do that,” he corrects. “We took you.”
“That’s the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard. I’m nothing to that guy, clearly, considering I’ve never met him.”
“Never meeting him is precisely what tells me you are not nothing.”
“What does that even mean?”
He shakes his head. “You’ll see. Whether you want to or not, you’ll see.”
10
GREY
Franco’s a son of a bitch. I’ve always known it, but after meeting Lexi, I’m not sure I can continue giving him credit for the good shit he’s done for this town. Not if it meant giving her the life she’s had. The look in her eyes when I told her who she was, that she wasn’t actually alone on this planet like she thought, and then watching her realize her people didn’t want her… I might as well have kicked a puppy.
Her offer to join forces surprised me, but the thing I can’t stop thinking about is how much I wanted to take her up on it. I acted like the idea was stupid but honestly? It’s what I would have done if I’d been in her shoes. Ally with the bastards holding you prisoner. It’s literally a survival technique I learned in my training during my time away. And she did it out of instinct. Or maybe heartfelt desire, I don’t know.
Either way, it doesn’t matter.
My father won’t allow it.
I have to remember this isn’t my war. I’m only the one firing the first shot.
When my part is done, I’ll vanish again, this time for a lot longer than a few years. This is not an empire I want for myself, not with Franco at the helm and damn sure not with my father running it either. Worry for Indigo Hills tugs at me, for its people who didn’t ask for this fight but will be caught in the crossfire nonetheless. I’ve spent years training to keep innocents out of danger, which is the irony of it all since I just put one right smack the hell in it. But I’ve made my peace with being the asshole. What’s proving a hell of a lot harder is wanting to finish what I started with Lexi on that couch.
The minute I think of it, my body responds, muscles tightening, dick hardening. My wolf stirs, and the feeling of raw need ripping through me nearly brings me to my knees. This is more than attraction or lust. This is primal. I’ve never felt it before, and I have no idea how to stop it other than to give in—but that’s not an option.
Instead, I stalk into my bathroom to turn on the shower—ice cold—and strip, stepping into the steady stream with a hiss between my teeth.
My muscles tense and coil at the onslaught of cold water streaming over my body. Then everything goes limp—which is exactly the fucking point.
I wash quickly and towel off before padding out and into the walk-in closet that attaches to both the bathroom and bedroom. The penthouse is kind of ridiculous and not somewhere I ever spent a lot of time before. Maybe a few times when I wanted to impress girls, but it was never home for me. It’s cold and empty—which is a constant reminder of my father’s nature and the exact reason I never came here much before now. But between the secure elevator entrance and the guards and cameras we have stationed around the perimeter, the place is a damn fortress. At least, locked in this pristine tower, Lexi’s safe from anyone else who’d try to make a move for her.
My phone vibrates and I frown at the unknown number but answer it anyway.
“Yeah.”
“Grey,” says a soft female voice that I recognize instantly.
“Mom. What—Where are you?”
“Your father said you made it back.”
My brows lift. “You’re talking to him again? You said last time was it—”
She sighs. “My whole life is here, darling.”
Something about the way she says it. “You’re back, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” There’s defeat in that single word but also determination. “You know how it is.”
I resist the urge to punch something. “Yeah. Guess I do.”
“You’re safe? You’re not hurt?”
Her worry tugs an almost-smile from me as I picture Lexi actually inflicting any damage on me. “I’m not hurt,” I assure her.
