Page 18 of The Alpha’s Heir

“I’ll send Katrina up and she’ll help you adjust the temperature in your room.” I left her just outside the door to the east wing guest quarters. It was far enough removed from the family to provide privacy, and the only room with round-the-clock surveillance cameras in the hall.

“Roman, please wait,” Meg said.

The sound of her voice tugged on something in my chest. She must’ve felt alone. Scared.

It wasn’t my problem.

Still, I turned at her command. “Is there something else you need?”

Her fingers brushed over her heart. “I know this must feel strange for you too, but I promise it will make sense soon. This is lucky. Truly, for both of us.”

My brow furrowed as I studied her. There was a tightness in her shoulders as she stood straight. Her pulse flickered fast against the smooth skin of her neck. She was prettier than any woman I’d ever met, and for some reason, she thought to soothe me instead of herself.

It was hard to believe there was a monster lurking just beneath the surface, but I wouldn’t let my guard down. Not when I had a job to do.

“If you say so,” I said. “I need to get back to my unit.”

“Oh, of course.” Her cheeks flushed red. “I’m sure we’ll get a chance to talk later.”

I nodded, following orders as I marched back down the stairs, and ignored the feeling in my gut telling me it was a very bad idea to leave her here alone.

6

Meg

As soon as the door to the bedroom closed behind me, my wolf started to panic.

This is a bad idea. Impulsive. Reckless.

I had to agree with her. Nothing about this place felt like home. We were in a strange territory. A whole house devoid of life. In Cerberus Pack, I couldn’t even breathe without smelling someone familiar nearby. Now the only scents were chemicals and cleaners and stale air.

I resisted the urge to throw open the door and chase Roman down so I could cling to the fading notes of his leathery, spicy scent.

That’s exactly what we should do.

I ignored my wolf.

Of all the scenarios I’d worked through in my life and in every plan I’d carefully laid out, not one of them prepared me for my mate being a human in the city of purist humans, who I was being forced to marry, even though he looked like he was repulsed by this situation.

My wolf growled her displeasure.

I was all for a good enemies-to-lovers, but I didn’t want to stab the guy. And he’d been a perfect gentleman, except for the very clear fact that he wanted nothing to do with me.

I wished I could talk to Dad about this. He’d been through the same thing with Mom when she was ignorant of their bond, but he’d won her over in the end. I needed advice. To talk to my family.

For the first time in my life, my head was silent of voices other than my own.

That wasn’t good. Without their worry and problems and issues to be solved, my thoughts would continue to get louder and they would spiral.

Let’s stay busy. I vote for chasing our mate.

Please be quiet for a minute.

I tried to force my brain to slow down.

Everything had been a blur of chaos since this morning. Morrigan had refused to answer any more of our questions, and Alec had a ton of them. The drive into the human city had been packed full of frustration. Then the goddess had disappeared before I could demand the truth after the meeting with the council. Saying goodbye to Alpha Kera and Aunt Coral and my sister had taken more willpower than I cared to admit.

I’d almost cried.