Chapter 107

Nathan POV

Interstate Highway

"---Did you score with Wright's baby mama? Is that where you got all your insight on pregnant women?"

The words echoed in my head and the steering wheel cracked under the pressure of my grip. I forced myself to relax, breathed in and out, tried to regain my control which I seemed incapable of holding onto these days.

A part of me wanted to find a dark cave to crawl inside and sleep off the rest of my life in shame.

The prouder part of me, the wolf inside me, refused to lay down and die. Lyon was stronger than me, always had been, always would be. I didn't mind having a strong wolf though because it made me feel confident rather than belittled.

I knew I was stronger because of my wolf, not weaker because he outpaced me the way the sedan had outpaced the car from Moonglow Pack.

"If you say anything like that about Rachel again, I swear I will kill you."

Threatening to kill a member of the Alpha Council's personal staff -an Alpha Inspector no less- was punishable by death.

A man who had something to lose would have been worried about having blurted out a threat like that, but I didn't have anything left now Rachel was fully involved with Tyler Wright.

"How?"

Looking over at the hulking figure in the passenger seat, I studied Art Windsor as best as I could while still driving apace of the traffic on the interstate.

Windsor was better looking than even the best-looking Alphas I knew. He could have been a fitness model if he weren't so intimidating in size as to make a person want to step away from him. There was just something about his size in combination with his looks which made a person need to keep their distance.

From the way he was pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed tight, body slumped against the passenger side door, Windsor looked as if he was at the limits of what he could handle for the day.

"What do you mean 'how'?"

Windsor answered me without opening his eyes, "How would you kill me? Go on. Regale me with your master plan to relieve me of my life."

"It was just an expression."

"No. No, it wasn't," Windsor muttered before blowing out a breath as if too annoyed to hold even air in any longer, "You know I can hear you, right? I can hear everything your body is doing over there: breathing, heart beating, stomach gurgling, intestines twisting, all of it. I can hear it. You want to kill me? Fine. How would you do it?"

"Why would you want to know? You want to put together a plan to protect yourself just in case I lose control again and actually try to kill you?"

Windsor had a moment where he was clearly trying to do the best he could to hold his cool. I was grateful he had more patience than me because I didn't have any delusions I could hold him off in a fight. He rested his head fully against the cool glass of the passenger window only to turn his head, only his head, to face me, studying me with eyes barely cracked open into slits.

"I want to know because talking about murder is more interesting than sitting in silence with you. Contrary to popular belief? I'm not the strong silent type."

The word 'murder' sent an electric shock through my system. I jerked the wheel slightly, the beast of a car screeched a little before I pulled it back into line.

It felt a lot different saying I'd kill him than actually thinking about how I would kill him.

"I don't know. I don't think I could kill you. Not unless you were attaching me and I was in fear for my life. I could defend myself. I don't think I could kill you though."

"Even if I insulted your perfect Madonna?"

I shook my head 'no' because I realized on a deeper level than I'd let myself reach to think through before---I wasn't a killer. Murder wasn't in me, in my heart, in my beast, not even in my Lycan who was a mixture of man and monster.

"No. I really don't think I could kill you even if I were a Lycan in a wild rage."

Windsor snorted, turned his face away and closed his eyes again. As his face settled into an expression of fatigue, I found I didn't want to drive in silence any longer either.

"What do you think about me? I'm pathetic? Crazy? Is that why you want me to tell you about planning to murder you? So you can tell the Alpha Council I'm rabid and need to be put down?"

I was talking off the top of my head. Paranoia had never been a problem for me. I knew I was doing a good job faking it though because Windsor's face might have remained relaxed, but his shoulders had stiffened, drawn back, tightened the muscles in his throat and chest and down his arms to where his hands formed loose fists on his thighs.

"Stop thinking about my thighs, Lewis."

I laughed. I couldn't help it.

Windsor smiled slightly, relaxing in his seat again, "That's right, Lewis. You know I'm both handsome and charming. You're secretly disappointed we're going to part ways as soon as we get back into town. Speaking of town, what are your plans once we get back?"

I didn't have any plans once we returned to the city where the territory was familiar and not filled with unknown enemies.

I knew I should have a plan because of Rachel. Because of Moonglow Pack. Because of my parents.

Because of my mate.

Grimacing, I admitted, "I don't have any plans. I know I'll go home to my parents. They're going to be insane with worry. I hate doing that to them. They're good people. No matter what you think about me? My parents are good wolves."

"I know that, Lewis. There's no question about either of your parents or any member of your pack as far as I'm aware. That doesn't mean there's not something out there---just it's not bad enough to call me into the ring."

Adam switched from the center lane to the fast lane; I followed him, merging the sedan over smoothly. I could tell he was in a hurry to get home. I wondered if he had anyone waiting on him. I didn't know anything about him beyond he was Tyler Wright's beta, had been good to Rachel, and seemed to be a decent wolf.

In another life, he would have been a great Alpha.

"How bad do things have to be to get you called into play?"

"Bad."

Windsor shut down on a level I was hesitant to mess with and I focused on driving.

What would I do when we reached the city?

Lindy Campbell smelled like my fated mate. My wolf wanted her with an intensity we'd previously reserved for Rachel and Rachel alone. It had taken everything in my personal willpower arsenal to keep from going at her without stopping when I first got a sniff of her scent.

She came from a good family. She was beautiful. She was pure.

I didn't have to ask my parents to know they'd approve of her.

In all honesty, I knew Lindy could have been a blind, deaf, mute pauper and my parents would have fallen on their knees in thanks to the Moon Goddess for her because she was my fated mate.

Their belief a fated mate solved all problems was the only reason I hadn't forced my way back into Rachel's life earlier. I would have returned to the city to claim her as mine in a heartbeat if my parents had not impressed upon me the pricelessness of a fated mate.

When I heard Rachel had rejected her Alpha mate, I wanted nothing more than to get back to her side. I wanted her to see I was still there for her. Nothing had changed for me in the three years we'd been apart.

As far as I was concerned?

Life had stopped at the end of Senior year when the love of my life had stumbled into the arms of her fated mate, leaving me and my love behind to sit and wait for a miracle which would never come.

"You know Lindy? She's pure. Heart and soul. You could do a lot worse, Lewis."

It was my turn to snort at Windsor.

"Are you seriously giving me romantic advice right now?"

"Sure. Why not?"

I could think of a thousand reasons why it was ridiculous for Art Windsor to give romantic advice to absolutely anyone much less me. I chose to shake my head at him instead. There was nothing to be done for Windsor. He was a handful; I didn't envy the Alpha Council having to take responsibility for him.

"No reason, Windsor. Get some sleep. We've still got road to go."