Tristan's Lyceum Wolves (23 page)

Intrigued, he’d found his attraction to her only grew deeper after talking with her at the shelter. Even though she was vulnerable, she still wanted to help him. Yes, she needed his protection. But she could have gone to the police and asked for protection. He was certain Tony would have given her sanctuary. And he returned the favor by sending her to Logan, as if they hadn’t shared intimate moments. He saw the hurt in her eyes, knew she’d been crying because of him, yet aside from apologizing, things felt unresolved. He felt empty, as if he hadn’t said what he needed to say. Treating the request for her attendance at the gala like a business transaction, he’d neglected to mention that he was taking Mira, something he normally wouldn’t give a second thought to doing. But his connection to Kalli pulled strongly at his heart.

On the way home, he decided he needed to try to fix the mess he’d made of things. Even though cancelling with Mira wasn’t an option, he’d be damned if he didn’t straighten things out with Kalli during the gala. After his conference call, he’d visited with Ryan, happy to see that he was taking advantage of the female attention he’d been receiving at Julie’s. Thankfully, he seemed a little better emotionally and was even asking about getting back to work. While he was there, he consulted with Julie about the best place to procure female attire for the gala. At some point during his spree, he considered that he must have gone mad, to be shopping for a woman. And perhaps he had. He wasn’t usually the type to shop for himself, let alone someone else. In an effort to make amends, he sought to do something special for Kalli; to make it up to her even if his words hadn’t soothed her hurt feelings. If he was truthful with himself, he’d just admit that he wanted every man in the room tonight to know she was his, that she was wearing something that he’d given her.

The cynical part of him, who had invited Mira out of anger, claimed the purchases were nothing more than business expenses. Kalli was a means to an end. A decoy. A lure. Whoever was targeting him was keeping tabs on his pack, so he’d give them something to think about. They had the pills, but they didn’t have the research. He wanted them to know that he knew what they knew and was coming for them. A public show of confidence, in the wake of the death of one of his wolves, spoke of his strong constitution and power in this city. His wolves were not sheep, awaiting slaughter. They were wolves, out in the open, strong with their pack and ready to strike for the kill.

While it was true that he did want her at the gala for all those reasons, the primary reason was that he was fascinated with her. Secrets out of the way, he craved her touch, her kiss. Tonight she’d be his in every sense of the imagination.

“Tristan, do be a dear, and pour me a Grey Goose. This traffic is horrendous tonight,” Mira commented, jolting him from his thoughts. They’d come to a screeching halt in the evening gridlock.

Tristan poured and then handed her the tumbler. This was going to be a helluva night, he thought. The only saving grace would be seeing Kalli in the incredible dress he’d procured.

“Thanks.” She slowly sipped the warm liquor, wondering how long she’d actually have to work. “So anything I need to know about tonight? Parker and Mainer will both be there. Both have passed clearances, so I’m going to work them tonight, try to get a feel for whether or not they’ll consider selling their waterfront properties.” She rubbed a hand on Tristan’s thigh, coming precariously close to his crotch.

Tristan gently grabbed her wrist and placed it back into her lap. “Not tonight, Mir,” he warned. “And yes, I’d appreciate it if you’d chat up the mayor as well to see if there are any big deals or new players in town. He likes you and seems to have loose lips when in your company. Gotta keep an eye on the competition.”

“No problem, but you owe me a dance,” she flirted.

“We’ll see,” he hedged.

She pursed her lips, and rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Tristan? What’s going on? This night should be fun. And by fun, I mean we eat, drink, dance and then leave here and dance some more, like naked in the bedroom. You, me, maybe Logan, although he’s got his hands full with the human.”

He glared at her.

“Oh sorry, excuse me, hybrid, whatever that means. Come on, even you have to admit that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…well, you get the picture,” she sniffed.

“She’s wolf. She just doesn’t know it yet,” he informed her.

“Yeah right, good luck with that.”

“I don’t need luck, chére. I’m Alpha, and she’s all mine,” he drawled.

Mira sat perfectly still, tensing every muscle in her body. “Are you fucking kidding me? Did you just say what I thought you said?”

“Watch your language, Mir. Geez,” he sighed. “I’m not going to repeat what I just said, because it won’t make a difference to you. You need to accept this, because eventually she will be part of Lyceum Wolves. I know you’re not crazy about it when I date other women, but jealously is so not becoming.”

Tristan expected that Mira would freak out when she found out he was going to bring Kalli into the pack. It wasn’t as if he planned to ask Kalli right away to join, because he didn’t want to scare her off. The more he considered the situation, the more he embraced the idea of keeping the lovely doctor in both his bed and his life. He wasn’t sure how it would work out or if they’d last, but without a doubt, she belonged in his pack, with him. Last night, he’d been so close to making love to her on his balcony. Even though he swore he needed the truth from her, he couldn’t be sure that if Logan hadn’t interrupted them that he wouldn’t have taken her anyway.

The electrifying connection between them was unyielding. And his wolf wanted her like he’d wanted no other. It scared Tristan, because deep down he knew the animal within would never be satisfied until he had her screaming his name, submitting to him in pleasure again and again. It conjured up all kinds of thoughts. Goddess almighty, he’d told Logan today that she’d make a good mother, and when he’d said that, he wasn’t just thinking of anyone’s kids. He was thinking of his own. He shook his head, laughing inwardly. Logan must have thought he’d lost his damn mind. He tried to stifle the longing, attempting to negate how deep his feelings ran.

Mira shifted in her seat, aware that he was thinking yet again of that stupid woman. Clearly he had a screw loose, she thought. “I cannot believe you’d even consider seriously letting that mongrel into our pack. After everything that’s happened? Ugh. You’re leading with your dick not your head,” she accused.

Tristan straightened in his seat, putting distance between himself and Mira. It was true they were friends, but there was a limit to how much nonsense he’d endure, even from her.

“Mira,” he growled loudly. “Knock it off. Kalli belongs with me. Do not antagonize her or me this evening. Am I clear? If you insult me again, there will be consequences.” He was done discussing his love life with her. If she didn’t get where he was coming from, then that was too bad, because frankly it didn’t matter. As Alpha, he would do what he wanted. She needed to move on and get over it.

Mira hadn’t been happy about Sydney either, but she’d survived it. But this was different; Kalli was wolf. The idea of another female wolf replacing her in his bed, let alone his heart, was driving her abhorrence. He knew it would come to a head, but tonight was not the time. She’d better curb her nasty tone, or she’d be punished. He wasn’t beyond admonishing her publicly just to prove the point.

“Look, here we are. Thank the Goddess we can get out of this car,” he breathed in relief.

To say Kalli had been disappointed when she found out that Tristan wasn’t accompanying her to the gala would have been an understatement. The fact that he was taking Mira with him only compounded the situation, curtailing any lofty dreams she’d held about pursuing their relationship any further. If someone had taken a fire hose and sprayed her down, her hopes couldn’t have gotten anymore dampened. The second Logan told her, she considered stomping back into her room, tearing off the dress and jumping into bed under the covers. But regardless of her previous lie, she was generally a woman of her word. She’d told him she’d go so she’d do it, even if she spat tacks the entire time.

As she and Logan advanced into the grand ballroom, the lull of conversation was accented by the orchestra playing Bolero. Arm in arm, they glided into the sea of attendees, joining the upper echelon of Philadelphia society. There were so many people, drinking, dancing and conversing, Kalli failed to see the purpose of their attendance. No one would even notice her.

Logan’s chest puffed out slightly, honored at having such a beautiful date. When she had come into the living room earlier in the night, he’d nearly fallen onto the floor. She looked gorgeous in her form-fitting, sleeveless satin gown. The deep red fabric hugged her entire body from her breasts to her calves; a sash tied into a bow accentuated her small waist before falling into a long train. Her upswept curly raven hair gracefully displayed the lovely diamond stud earrings he’d delivered for Tristan.

Kalli had been beaming, right up until the moment he’d explained that Tristan wasn’t coming with them. At the news he was going with Mira, her mood flattened. No tears marred her perfectly applied makeup, yet her tightly drawn lips and hurt eyes revealed her swirling emotions. Logan wished Tristan had just broken his date with Mira, given his extraordinary shopping spree during the afternoon. While she was showering, Tristan had slid into her room unnoticed, bringing her dress and shoes. He had given Logan the earrings, telling him to make sure she wore them, and then made him swear not to tell her. Logan had tried talking him into taking Kalli, but Tristan insisted that he and Mira had business to attend to during the gala.

After essentially calling him out as an ass, Tristan had torn out of his apartment. Logan had been on the receiving end of Mira’s tantrums, so he understood why Tristan didn’t want to break the date. Mira would have been fit to be tied if Tristan had dumped her at the last minute. Tristan also persevered with his main excuse for not taking Kalli, which was that he was unable to concentrate on business around her. While that may have been entirely true, Logan was finding it hard to concentrate as well. Tristan knew damn well that he needed to make things right with Kalli. A few puppy hugs were hardly enough to mend fences.

In Logan’s opinion, they needed to either talk or fuck. Whichever would do just fine as long as they’d get it over with so things could progress. Logan had silently congratulated himself when he’d heard she was part wolf. His visions made complete sense now. Still, Tristan needed to learn of his mate on his own timeline. As much as it killed him, Logan refused to interfere.

Logan glanced over to Kalli as they made their way through the crowd. The opulent ballroom was overwhelming and magnificent at the same time. He could tell that Kalli felt as if she was balanced upon a ball and could come crashing down any second.

“You’re okay,” Logan reassured her, patting her arm.

“Thanks. I just didn’t know what to expect. Do you all go to these things often?”

“Every now and then. Tristan donates a lot of money, and the parties serve a business purpose. Lots of current and prospective clients to talk to. That’s probably what he’s doing now.”

“Yeah, right. Business, I’m sure,” she commented sarcastically.

“He really is working, Kal. But I have a feeling he won’t quite be himself until he sees you. Come this way.” He steered her toward the bar where he ordered two glasses of champagne.

Securely leaning against the heavy mahogany counter, Kalli turned to people watch. Her breath caught at the sight of Alexandra coming straight toward her. She grabbed Logan’s arm, squeezing so tightly she’d thought she’d nearly drawn blood.
What was she doing here?
Tristan hadn’t warned her. Like a missile approaching a submarine, it was too difficult to maneuver out of the line of fire. Too late, she thought, steeling her nerves.

“Ah mouse, I see you’ve landed the beta. Well done, I’m sure,” she sneered.

Fear and hate washed over Kalli’s face; a bright red flush rose to her cheeks. Alexandra’s jibe was the last straw that broke the camel’s back, sending Kalli spiraling into an unavoidable outburst. Having still not taken the CLI, her wolf lunged. A low growl emanated from within her, one she didn’t even want to restrain. Her beast wanted out as the rage spilled forth at the vampire.

“Back. Off. Bitch,” Kalli spat at her loudly enough so her voice was audible to the surrounding guests. “That’s right, look around to see who’s looking. You’ll notice I don’t give a damn who sees or hears me, given that this is the first and probably last time I’m invited to one of these things. I’m telling you right now, stay away from me or that silver carving knife over there in the roast beef will be the last thing you see before I slice your throat.”

Alexandra gasped, astonished at Kalli’s eruption. Logan watched with curiosity, surprised at how effectively she’d put the socially conscious Alexandra in her place. Embarrassing her at a public function was nearly a fate worse than death to Alexandra, who loved more than anything to be a ‘who’s who’ in Philadelphia.