Page 61 of Black Willow Witch
Exiting her vehicle, she glanced around. There was no sign of Ripper or his truck. But as she began to clamber the wide white steps of the town hall, another werewolf caught up to her. Sadly.
The Alpha gave her a smarmy smile. ‘Emberlyn.’
‘Carver,’ she greeted flatly.
He clasped his hands. ‘Ready for the meeting?’
She paused on the top step near a tall column. ‘I am.’
‘You’re not having second thoughts about going through with this?’ He grimaced, a flash of compassion in his eyes. ‘I would, in your shoes. It’ll be hard to prove that Millicent was sane at the end. Or ever.’
‘Hmm.’
‘You know, you could always drop this here and now,’ he ever so innocently suggested. ‘I’m sure your family will agree to not—’
‘Save it, Carver. You don’t care how I feel, or how they feel, or how this affects anyone butyou. Don’t insult my intelligence by implying I should believe otherwise.’
His expression hardening, he moved closer. ‘You won’t win this, you—’ He stopped dead in his tracks, his nostrils flaring.
Ah, he’d picked up Ripper’s scent on her skin. ‘You were saying?’ she prodded.
A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘He chose not to listen to my warnings about you, then.’
‘You warned Ripper to steer clear of me?’
‘It would have been for his own good.’
She felt her lips quirk. ‘Don’t tell me a strong wolf like you is leery of a little witch like me. You sure you’re Alpha material?’
His eyes flashing, he walked toward—
‘Step back, Carver,’ a gravelly voice calmly ordered, a hint of menace there.
She looked to see Ripper coming at them from the side. Her system spluttered like a faulty engine, overwhelmed by all that raw, gritty masculinity. It drummed at her skin, waking and charging her nerve-endings.
He kept his dangerously intent gaze locked on the other werewolf as he reached her. ‘You’re standing too close to Emberlyn for my liking.’
Carver took a slow but very notable step away. ‘Getting involved with her . . . you have balls, Ripper, I’ll give you that.’ He walked off, his mouth flat.
Ripper’s gaze landed on her, the menace rapidly receding. His feral energy swept over her, tugging at her magick like a damn magnet. Tension rose, the air all but molten with memories of last night.
‘You look calm,’ he observed, ‘so I’m guessing he didn’t say or do anything that pissed you off.’
‘All he did was make himself look stupid – thinking I’d buy he cares if I’m worried that the meeting won’t go as I hope.’ She briefly relayed the conversation. ‘Oh, and he said he warned you about me.’
Ripper grunted, stepping into her. ‘He told me it was a mistake to ally myself with you. I disagreed. I disagree with most of the shit that comes out of his mouth.’
‘I think the majority of people outside his clan do.’
He parted his lips, his eyes flitting over her face, and she thought he’d bring up what happened last night. But, instead, he bit down on his lower lip.
She rolled back her shoulders. ‘Don’t know about you, but I’m all for getting this meeting over with.’ And getting some space from him so she could get a reprieve from the mess he made of her body.
‘I’m with you on that.’ He pushed open the door and tipped his chin, indicating for her to enter first, and then took up the rear.
In the foyer, Clarence grinned broadly. ‘Ah, there you both are.’
‘Morning, Clarence.’ She glanced around the empty space. ‘I’m guessing the others are already seated.’
