Page 102 of A Taste of Torment
I look up to a burly man with a thick beard and harsh expression. The wolf shifter alpha.King of all the alphas, as he likes to call himself. His silver eyes cast severe judgement on me as we stand here unmoving. Awkward.
“Jarron,” he finally says in way of greeting. “Who is your friend?”
“This is Candice, my girlfriend,” he introduces me, as he has with every other supernatural we’ve spoke to. And unlike every other, the alpha does not try to hide his disapproval.
The alpha quirks an arrogant brow. “Indeed? I find that surprising.”
“And why is that?” Jarron asks, his voice dripping with barely disguised anger.
“She is the weakest being in this room,” he says matter-of-factly. “Possibly in this school. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it were an almost pathetic choice of a partner for a future ruler.”
Jarron bares his elongated canines, his fingers turning sharp against my waist, but before more can be said, the King of the Under World slips between the two. He places a firm hand on Jarron’s chest and then turns to the alpha.
“My son’s choice in mate is none of your business,” he says smoothly, but with a distinct bite to his tone. “If you’d like to pass judgement, so be it. Let’s hear it all out right now.” He waves his hand, as if inviting the alpha to make a physical move.
The alpha glares in my direction.
“Call me or my chosen pathetic,” Jarron growls, “one more time and I will tear you apart where you stand.”
The alpha smiles. “Oh, you certainly misunderstood,” he says sweetly. “I would never—”
“I’m certain he did,” Emil says, chest puffing out. “Because if that’s what you said,we will have a serious problem here, and it will not be the human girl looking pathetic tonight.”
I gasp. The alpha grimaces, his eyes turn down. An act of submission.
He turns and marches away.
Emil turns a surprisingly soft expression to me. “Are you all right?” He gives my arm a reassuring squeeze.
I nod, although the anxiety in my gut is nearly overwhelming and my knees are wobbling.
“He’s a dick,” I mutter.
Emil and Jarron both chuckle, their shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. “He’s never been our family’s biggest fan. He thinks we should stay in our own world. He’d like any reason to turn others against us.”
Jarron curls a lip. “If he’s planning to use Candice as proof of our weakness, he is a complete fool.”
“He was likely only trying to get under your skin. Perhaps instigate a reaction so he can claim you are unable to control yourself.”
“It nearly worked,” Jarron admits.
“You know better.”
Jarron grunts but then nods.
“Where were you running off to?” his father asks.
“Just looking for a few moments alone.” Jarron’s voice dips again, this time with that husky edge.
My cheeks burn red.
Amusement shines in Emil’s eyes. “Don’t be long. And don’t you dare run off before the meals are finished.”
Jarron sighs. “Yes, Father.”
We finally escape the crowd and find respite in the corner of the room. Eyes still scrutinize us, but at least I can breathe and I’m not expected to speak.
As we reach the wall, Jarron tugs at my hips so that I’m facing him, and he pushes me back against the wall gently.
