by Fel Fern
“Do I ever do things half-assed?” London asked, mildly insulted.
“No. Never.”
“Let’s go back in. I don’t think it’s good leaving those two women alone,” London mused.
“Aubrey likes her, which seems fucked up to me given Charity nearly killed her. Not forgetting the fact Charity wanted to kill Jace and his cubs, and Jace happens to be my good friend, too,” Ferus pointed out.
London sighed, gripping his arm. “Her actions are inexcusable, but she didn’t have a choice.”
“I know. I’m just reminding you of the facts, but you have my support even if I don’t like Charity,” Ferus said, opening the door to the interrogation room.
Noting the uneasy silence in the room and how shaken Charity looked, London frowned, rounding up on Aubrey. “What did you say to her?”
“The truth.” Aubrey stood. “Should I tell the housekeeper to prepare a guest room?”
London warily looked at her. “Why would you assume that?”
She snorted. “Well you certainly aren’t going to keep Charity in a stinking dungeon.”
London snarled, but she looked unimpressed. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“Am I?” She crossed her arms, glancing at Ferus, who shrugged.
“Charity will be staying with me. In my quarters, where I can personally keep a close watch on her,” London corrected.
“The hell I will,” Charity protested, nearly jumping out of her seat.
“Do you prefer the dungeons, then? At least with me there are plenty of opportunities for you to plot your escape,” London said mildly, fishing out the keys to unlock her cuffs.
“Sounds like you want me to escape,” Charity said pointedly, looking unsettled when London lifted her wrists and frowned at the marks left behind by the shackles.
“You’re welcome to try to escape, but I doubt you’ll run,” London said, keeping his gaze trained on her.
“Is that a challenge, London?” Charity demanded.
“No. Not a challenge. I’m simply stating the truth.” He kissed the inside of her wrist, feeling her pulse leap at the contact. London’s skin prickled, his wolf rubbed against Charity’s lioness with a strange yet wonderful sense of familiarity. Charity let out a shaky breath.
He continued. “You have no place to go and nowhere to run.”
“You bastard,” Charity whispered.
London fingered her wrist, beginning to suspect he’d soon grow addicted to touching her. Was this what it was like, finally finding his mate? If so, why didn’t he try finding Charity sooner?
“I’m simply stating the reality of your situation. I’m not a bad choice, Charity.”
London evenly met her gaze, letting her see he bared the entire contents of his soul without reserve to her. She bit her lip, looking paler than ever.
“I won’t ever lie to you or deceive you. Can you say the same thing about your family, the family who couldn’t wait to sacrifice you?”
Charity said nothing. London knew it would take a lot more to convince her he was sincere, but he had patience. At least he’d taken the first step.
“Aubrey, please let Max know Charity is no longer a prisoner, but my guest. Anyone who so much as touches her without my permission will deal with me,” London said plainly.
He let go of Charity’s wrist and offered her his hand. She glared at his hand, then at him with obvious distrust. When he didn’t budge, she sighed and closed her hand over his. Her small hand, London mused, felt warm against his own.
“Sure thing, boss.” Aubrey hovered by the door, glancing at Ferus.
“You don’t have to worry, little crow. Ferus and I have settled matters,” London told her.
“Yeah? I hope you’re not all talk, London,” she said, finally slipping out of the door.
“Charity, have you met Ferus? He’ll be supervising your safety,” London said, introducing the pair.
“You mean he’s my gaoler,” Charity said sarcastically.
“I’m not too keen about watching you either,” Ferus said, baring his teeth.
“Glad we agree on not liking each other,” Charity replied, crossing her arms. London sighed. He really had his work cut out for him.
Chapter Three
“How did the meeting go?” Ferus asked when London finally returned to his quarters.
“It’s not surprising Connor’s opposed to the idea. I doubt he’ll easily forgive Charity for trying to kill his mate even if she didn’t have a choice, and who knows what Max is thinking.” London sounded exhausted, undoing his tie. “How’s Charity?”
“Well, thank you for asking. Still rotting here,” Charity said tartly from the window ledge. “I hate it when you talk about me as if I’m not here, or I’m some sort of pet.”
Ferus noticed the ledge seemed to be her favorite position. It had been nearly a week since London moved her to his quarters, and while Ferus finally believed Charity wouldn’t slit his alpha’s throat in the middle of the night, his patience was at an end.
The tension between London and Charity became unbearable as days passed. Neither wanted to budge from their opposite corners. London, Ferus guessed, despite his bravado, was still afraid of crossing the final line, and Charity simply distrusted his intentions.
A few days ago, Ferus would be overjoyed by the situation. He’d even take advantage of London’s weakness and push Charity out of the picture, but the strong-willed and mouthy lioness was growing on him despite his misgivings. Ferus attributed the strange attraction to the absurd amount of time they spent together.
He’d usually accompany her around the grounds, and with good reason. Most of the Scavos wolves still distrusted the presence of a Vivaldi assassin walking around, and given Charity couldn’t shift, she wouldn’t be able to defend herself if some of the wolves did decide to attack her.
“Would it intrigue you to know that most of the wolves believe I’ve made you my pet?” London asked.
Charity snapped the book she had been reading shut. “Excuse me? Your pet?”
“Indeed. They call you my domesticated little kitten, I believe,” London said, stepping out of his shoes. He then began undressing, which understandably disarmed both Charity and Ferus.
Seeing hints of hard, muscled and golden flesh unveiled, Ferus licked his lips, feeling his wolf wake despite knowing London wasn’t doing this for his benefit.
“What are you doing?” Charity asked a little too sharply.
“Deceptions and rumors can only go so far. Don’t you think it’s about time we stop playing cat and mouse, Charity?” London asked mildly, now only wearing his trousers.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Ferus murmured, trying to ignore the jealously rearing its ugly head inside him.
“Like hell you will,” Charity said, dislodging herself from the ledge. Ferus noticed she kept a good distance away from London. “I don’t know what sick game you’re playing, London, but I don’t want any part of it.”
“Sick game?” The first real hint of anger seeped into London’s voice. “Woman, do you think placing me in this hot mess and risking my position is a game to me?”
Charity froze, anger ebbing away to apprehension when London made purposeful steps toward her. Ferus had to grudgingly admit her courage in standing up against one of House Scavos’s alphas was admirable. Charity had proven, time and time again, she had steel despite being deceivingly fragile.
Charity found her tongue. “I just don’t get it, London. Don’t you think I can’t sense the tension between Ferus and you? I don’t like being led on or being taken for a fool, when you clearly have formed some bonds with Ferus.”
Ferus blinked, his turn to be surprised. He looked to Charity.
They both didn’t expect the lofty smile on London’s face. “If you’re jealous of Ferus, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
“What? I’m not jealous,” Charity replied, heated anger in her sapphire eyes. “You wolves can screw yourse
lves for all I care. Just leave me out of this.”
“Don’t be absurd, Charity.” London reached out to touch her arm, but she batted it away and began backing away from him.
“Charity, let London explain,” Ferus said, voice strained.
Where did Charity think she could go? For that matter, Ferus couldn’t comprehend what possessed London to act so irrationally. He could assume the meeting with Conner and Max went more horribly than London let on. For him to act this desperate and reckless certainly contrasted with the calm and confident alpha he knew.
Charity’s back hit the window ledge. She bit her lip, and something inside Ferus shifted then. She looked so vulnerable, like a trapped animal. Perhaps spending time with her and getting to know her made Ferus sentimental, but he didn’t like the way London handled matters.
Couldn’t his alpha see how much she was suffering? How confused and lost she felt? Ferus certainly wouldn’t keep his head if he were in her shoes.
“For fuck’s sake, London. Back off. She needs some space,” Ferus said, voice rising, but London didn’t listen.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” Charity whispered, her rising fear unexpectedly calling to Ferus’s protective instincts. Ferus didn’t think Charity could genuinely be this terrified. Without thinking, he grabbed London’s shoulder.
“I said, leave her some breathing space,” Ferus said. The skin on his neck prickled when London snarled at him.
“I am your alpha. Don’t you dare tell me what I can or cannot do.” London sneered.
“Screw this. This is entirely too fucked up for my taste,” Charity whispered.
London whipped his head to her. “You have nowhere else to run to except to me. So stop fighting the inevitable.”
“You can’t keep using that excuse on me forever,” Charity said, defiant look back in her eyes.
“What are you going to do, Charity? All the exits are blocked, and all paths remain uncertain. Is my touch so repulsive you have to adamantly pull away?” London asked, voice tired.
Charity vehemently shook her head. “No. Not repulsive. Dangerous.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re going to break me, London, but that’s the least of my worries.”
“Why so?” London asked, voice still and calm.
“Because I’m going to break you, too.”
Ferus followed Charity’s gaze as her eyes darted to the window. Fucking hell. The woman wasn’t that crazy, was she? Charity proved him wrong yet again. Yanking the windows open, she didn’t hesitate. With one last look at London, then finally at Ferus, she took a step, then another, and then simply leaped.
“Charity!” London screamed.
“Christ.” Ferus left London’s side to peer out the window, his heart thudding painfully against his chest. London’s quarters were on the third floor. A normal shifter wouldn’t die from such a fall, but Charity didn’t have the healing abilities a normal shifter possessed.
He remembered the conversation they had a few days ago.
“When cornered, a prisoner can be forced to do desperate things,” she had said.
“Do you still consider yourself a prisoner, Charity?” he threw back.
“Pretty trappings and furniture don’t make a cell less of a cell. Besides, I’m not just talking about physical cages.”
Her fear made a whole lot of sense now. Swallowing, Ferus forced himself to expect the worst, to see tangled limbs, bones jutting out of odd places, and more horrible still, Charity’s expression. What expression would she wear on her face? Relief? Fear? Regret?
Ferus saw none of those things. A groan of pain emerged from Charity, who remained sprawled over a bunch of bushes. Somewhere nearby, a caw sounded. A crow swiftly flew down to her. Aubrey shifted quickly, beginning to check on her. A surge of relief filled Ferus. Fuck. Did Charity give him a scare. Didn’t she have one frightened bone in her body?
Relief became short-lived when Aubrey finally looked up, and the glare she directed at Ferus lacked any trace of friendliness.
“Don’t misunderstand,” Ferus yelled at her, but the familiar stubborn line of his best friend’s jaw told him she’d already made up her mind. “Stay right there. London and I are coming down.”
Ferus turned to London, whose face turned chalky white. “She’s alive. Not sure about her injuries, but Aubrey’s with her.”
Color flooded back to London’s face. “That impulsive little kitten. Wait until I get my damn hands on her.”
Ferus unthinkingly grabbed London’s arm. No angry snarls this time, but a dangerous look that said “try me again and we’ll see how far you go.” “Please. You know I don’t like begging, but go easy on Charity.”
“You certainty like begging behind closed doors,” London reminded him. Ferus flushed, about to turn away, but London took his fingers away from his arm and began sucking on them.
Ferus stared, feeling like a spider caught in a trap. London knew he had all the power. The power to hurt him and to deny him, but Ferus would bear it all. It might make Ferus needy and pathetic, but he’d accepted his needs and wants long ago. He wasn’t going to change.
Like Charity, Ferus had nowhere else to go. London became his new home and new life when his old life rejected him. Unlike Charity though, Ferus knew he stayed by London’s side because of personal choice. Charity had choices, too. She just didn’t know them yet.
London’s expression unexpectedly softened. “This must have been really hard for you, Ferus. I also know I’m asking a lot, but I want you to know I still meant what I said. I’m not giving up on either of you.”
Ferus cracked a smile. He even dared to lean in close to kiss London on the side of his stubborn jaw. “It’s not a lot. Charity can grow on a man.”
London looked a little surprised. “She does, does she? Well, we should go see how she’s doing.”
Chapter Four
The way a black and glum expression settled on Charity’s face when the doctor announced she had to stay in bed until her broken leg healed, Ferus would think she’d just been told the apocalypse was coming.
“Come on, it’s not so bad,” Ferus said lightly, once London steered the doctor outside his room to speak.
“Being London’s ‘special guest’ is bad enough. Being confined to his bed is ten times worse,” Charity threw back, picking up the book she’d been reading before the whole incident, from the nearby bedside table.
“Well, you should’ve thought of that before going all suicidal and jumping out the window,” Ferus returned.
Charity’s cheeks endearingly colored to pink.
“Looks like you two have stuff to air out,” Aubrey muttered, sounding uncomfortable. She placed a hand on Ferus’s shoulder, tiptoeing to whisper against his ear. “Take it easy on her. She’s been through enough.”
“I know that,” Ferus retorted. “What’d you take me for, a fucking beast?”
Aubrey drew back, brows drawn together. She looked from Charity’s unhappy figure on the bed and back to him, and then the frown on her face disappeared. Ferus suddenly wished he didn’t sound so defensive and give himself away. He knew that look. Fuck. His best friend always had that look whenever she just pieced together a complicated puzzle.
“I see. I’m sorry for making the wrong assumptions,” she said sincerely.
“What the fuck do you see?” Ferus demanded.
“Would you two loud lovers take your furious gossiping outside? I’m reading a book here,” Charity snapped, clearly sounding annoyed.
Ferus rounded up on her. “Aubrey isn’t my lover, she’s my best friend. Fuck, woman. First, you assume London and I are getting it on, and then you automatically assume I’m fucking everyone I see?”
Charity snapped the book she was pretending to read shut. “Why not? House Scavos doesn’t seem to be in short supply of being…” Charity fumbled for a polite word. “Free spirited. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t London and you lovers?”
“That’s it. I’m out
of here,” Aubrey mumbled, quietly slipping out the door.
Ferus caught sight of London grabbing her hand, intending to exchange some words with her, before the door closed. Good. Enough time for him to clear things up.
“Look here, Charity.” Ferus sat at the edge of her bed, controlling his temper. “Sure, London and I have screwed around, but that doesn’t make me anything. You said so yourself, didn’t you? Even House Vivaldi knows he doesn’t take mates, just fuck buddies.”
Ferus hadn’t realized how bitter he sounded until Charity reached out for him. Her expression softened. “I’m sorry. Unloading my anger on you is immature and undeserving. Hell. You’re the only one in this place who’s been remotely nice to me.”
Her touch, the way she rubbed circles with her thumb on his hand, became distracting. “If you think I’m capable of being swayed and manipulated—”
Charity dropped his hand. She glowered at him, the look of disgust on her face evident. “You think I’m trying to deceive you? Give me some credit, Ferus. I was just complimenting you on the fact you seemed to be the only honest person in this hellhole. At least you’re honest about your dislike.”
The sight of her, pissed and stubborn, made his cock strangely twitch inside his jeans.
“I don’t dislike you, Charity.” The words came out of his mouth without knowing why. His wolf twitched inside him, tail thumping, amber eyes locked on the tawny lioness sleeping inside Charity. Even though Charity couldn’t shift, Ferus could see her beast now, watching his wolf intently with curious regard.
“Who’s lying now?” Charity asked sarcastically. “Look, Ferus—”
She halted when Ferus covered her palm with his own hand. He blinked several times, trying to control his breathing. The unconceivable thought bloomed in his mind. London wants and loves this woman. If I wanted her, too, would it make things a lot easier?
But Charity had dragged out the painful truth in the open. She’d only known him for several days, yet she’d unearthed the fact he wasn’t the type of person to lie, to use deception as a weapon.
