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The door I’d come through whipped open, and sharp tingles crackled over my neck tattoo as if someone had slammed an electrical wire on it. A figure strode into the room, his movements as fluid and graceful as a dangerous jungle cat. When that multicolored stare landed on me, the alpha’s power trying to imprison me shattered like brittle glass.
Fane Maverick—in the flesh—slinked into the ravens’ underground gym like he had every right to be in the middle of Corvin Manor.
ChapterTwenty
The head alpha’spower no longer affected me as Fane’s presence infiltrated the room, tearing everything else away. Seeing him for the first time for real had my nerve endings going haywire. My feet moved toward him, but he shook his head.
“I’m coming to you.”His deep, rough voice in my head had my boots screeching to a halt.
The urge to run to him, which was so stupid, suffocated me. I’d seen him plenty over the last few weeks. But not like this. Not for real.“You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
My eyes burned, and I choked back a lump rising in my throat. Fane Maverick hadn’t left me alone after all. When the ravens turned on me, he came even when he said he wouldn’t.
Axel and a few others advanced on Fane, but he let out a bone-shaking growl that would make most grown men wet themselves, and they stopped in their tracks. His pupils elongated into diamond slits that matched mine.
“Don’t approach him.” Barric’s voice poured out calmly even though the tension in the room had grown tenfold since the demon shifter appeared.
Fane never broke eye contact with me until reaching my side where his hand skimmed mine, and then he stood in front of me like a shield to face Barric.
I took a shuddering breath, my lungs filling with Fane’s intoxicating fire and spice scent.
His spectral form felt so real but being in his presence again made it all pale in comparison. Tension that I had no idea my body held onto loosened, and I couldn’t fight the urge to step closer. Sensing me, Fane angled so that his side brushed against me.
“Fane Maverick.” Barric crossed his arms, his shoulders straining against the blue shirt, but his stance moved to a more casual one. “Now that I’ve added up a few of the puzzle pieces, I can safely assume you’re the one who bit Tatum.”
He nodded. “I’m responsible for her.”
Barric rubbed the thick beard covering his jaw as he analyzed the demon shifter. “Why in the world would you let her return to the ravens under false pretenses? Someone, including her, could have gotten hurt. Are you not concerned for her safety?”
A low rumble vibrated Fane’s chest. “She hasn’t shifted yet, and she wasn’t ready to leave this life behind without saying goodbye. I remained close in case she needed me.” He cracked his neck, the vicious pops resonating through the gym like gunshots. “Make no mistake, Barric. I wouldn’t have let a single fucking person harm her.”
A humorless smile twitched the head alpha’s lips. “I suppose that’s true since you waltzed right into Corvin Manor without an ounce of fear or permission to get to her.”
“I have nothing to fear here, and I don’t need anyone’s permission.”
Holy shit. This guy really had balls of steel.
“Excuse me, but youdoneed permission to enter our headquarters.” Captain Coltrane planted her hands on her hips, every feature in her already severe face transforming to granite.
Fane gave her the once-over and then turned to me. “Are you okay?”
Was I okay?
Hell no.
“Yeah,”I said into his mind as my attention swiveled to Hawk who scrutinized the demon shifter with a sour expression.
“Let’s go.” Fane ticked his head toward the door.
Coltrane loudly cleared her throat. “Tatum needs to remain with the head alpha at Silver Ridge. She clearly isn’t a typical shifter, and she needs to be monitored.”
“The captain is correct.” Barric took his phone out of his pocket, his large fingers that could easily fit around my neck tapping at the screen. “You don’t have a pack, Fane, and she needs one.”
Fane’s grip cinched around my wrist, and he pulled me to him until the entire left side of his body pressed against mine as heat pulsated from him. “She doesn’t need a pack. She has me. We’re alone.”
I chanced a peek at Hawk, but his gaze was cast on his sneakers now. Did he think that Fane and I were together? Did he think that I lied to him about everything?
