But despite our fight, I needed to find out, because if Jakub knew . . .

Well, who was to say he wouldn’t come hunting for me or Tessa a second time?

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Chapter 3

“Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, Ms. Davenport. We do appreciate it. I’ll walk you to the front.” The commander waved toward the hall.

Right, I was being dismissed. I followed her out of her office, the hunter right behind me and Carlos behind him. When we got to the waiting area, the commander dipped her head. “Have a good afternoon. Thank you again.”

“Same to you, but wait—” I made a move to touch her arm, but with vampire speed she rounded on me.

“Yes?”

“Will you keep me informed about what you find?”

Her lips pursed. “That is highly irregular. The SF does not share information with civilians.”

I rolled my eyes. “Even civilians who bring you the information that opens up an investigation?”

Her expression turned glacial. “If we uncover something that directly affects you, we will inform you. Otherwise, no, Ms. Davenport, I will not be sharing our intel.”

I sighed, not entirely surprised by the commander’s response, but it felt weird to be actively hunting for my sister one minute and then sitting on the sidelines the next.

“I suggest you return to your daily life and do your best to forget this nasty experience,” she added. “The SF will get to the bottom of this. You can rest assured.”

I almost replied, if you say so, but managed to bite my tongue. Not trusting myself to contain further snarky comebacks, I simply nodded.

I expected the commander to retreat to her office, or some other area where they conducted super-secret and uber-important magical meetings, but instead she sidestepped to the Fire Wolf.

“Mr. King, in case you ever change your mind.” She held out a card. Even from the two yards of distance between us, I could see that it held her contact details.

The Fire Wolf’s hands stayed at his sides. “I already know how to reach you.”

The commander arched an eyebrow. I could tell that she was about to launch into another speech about why he should accept whatever they were offering him when Carlos drifted to my side.

“Please tell me you’re not really involved with that guy,” he said under his breath.

My eyebrows rose. Carlos stared down at me, his expression pleading.

“And if I was?”

A flash of anger flickered across his face before it disappeared. “That guy is bad news, Tala. I’m worried about you.”

“How do you know he’s bad news?”

“We’ve all heard of him. The SF has been trying to recruit him for years. I have no idea why. The guy has a questionable reputation. That’s not the kind of person we need in our organization.”

I crossed my arms. “Is that what she was talking about when we first got here? When he said something about not being here for that?”

“Yeah, she and a few other commanders have tried to get him to work for us, even though in my opinion they never should have started.”

“So you’re too good for him?”

“No, it’s not that.” He raked a hand through his hair as Commander Klebus kept talking behind us, but then he angled his body so that I couldn’t see the hunter or commander and was forced to focus entirely on him. “It’s not just his questionable practices when it comes to his occupation. It’s also how he conducts himself. The man’s part demon. That right there says you need to watch yourself.”

I laughed, unable to help it. “The SF has plenty of half-demons on staff.”

“But half-demons that are also womanizers? He’s known for being one. Did you know that?”

“Why would that matter?” I tried to keep my tone light and disinterested, but a quiver ran through my belly. “I’m not with him.”

“I hope it stays that way, for your sake,” he added quickly. His dark eyes filled with concern. “Look, I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but I’d stay away from him, Tala. I would hate to see you caught up in something in which you’re only going to get hurt. From the little I’ve seen, I can tell that he’s already done something to unnerve you.” He took a step closer. “Did he hurt you?”

Anger laced his tone, and while I appreciated that he cared, I wasn’t a child. “First off, I’m a big girl who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions even if you’re worried. And second off, I don’t think it’s that simple. Did you not see his reaction to me?” I lowered my voice more, practically hissing, “He thinks I’m his mate. Until he gets over that, I have a feeling he’s going to keep pursuing me.”

Carlos’s nostrils flared, and his gaze drifted over his shoulder to where the commander had cornered the hunter. Given the energy pulsing toward us, I didn’t know how much longer the Fire Wolf would stay there. I was surprised he’d allowed himself to be cornered at all, but then wondered if the commander was upping her ante. Maybe she was now offering him a deal he couldn’t refuse.

Swinging his attention back to me, Carlos took a shallow breath. “I don’t know what the hell that was back at your place when he stepped through his portal, but he’s not a normal werewolf. I don’t know how he can feel you’re his mate. The guy doesn’t even have a pack, yet he’s never turned rogue, so that tells you something. You know that all werewolves who avoid other wolves eventually turn rogue, so whatever he feels for you, it can’t be the normal mate instinct. It’s probably something more fucked up, so be careful. I don’t want to see you get wrapped up in something that leaves you . . .”

My lips parted at his implication. That leaves you hurt. That was what Carlos had almost said.

Carlos knew how hurt I’d been when he’d left me three years ago, but I’d gotten over it. I was still over it, even if he was interested in rekindling our relationship. But something else he’d said made me pause. Can’t be a normal mate instinct.

While I knew Carlos wanted the Fire Wolf gone ’cause he was interested in pursuing me again, I also knew that Carlos wasn’t the manipulative type. He was truly worried for my safety and well-being, even if he did want to hookup again.

So I mulled over his comment instead of replying. Can’t be a normal mate instinct.

Carlos squeezed my hand, then leaned down to whisper softly in my ear, “I hope to see you again soon,” before he pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

Heavy footsteps suddenly came from behind me, and in my next blink, the hunter was at my side, scowling at my ex. Carlos took a step back, releasing my hand as his throat bobbed in a swallow, but then defiance shined in his eyes. “You have no claim to her.”

“Back off, pup. She’s not interested in you.” The Fire Wolf took a menacing step closer to my ex.

Carlos shot me a glance as if to say, See? This is what I’m talking about.

However, I knew that if Carlos was more dominant and had decided I was his mate, then he’d be acting the same way, so I wasn’t really digging his self-righteousness either. Werewolves were notorious for being possessive and territorial around their females, and since the hunter had decided I was his female, well, his behavior was par for the course.

The hunter gave my ex another warning glare before saying to me, “Are you ready to go?” His words were deep yet filled with a coolness that bordered on icy even though he’d addressed me, but then he bared his teeth at Carlos.

Ah, so my ex had stepped too close to me again. I rolled my eyes. Even if the Fire Wolf wasn’t a normal werewolf, he was certainly territorial as hell and that trait was one hundred percent wolf-driven even if Carlos claimed otherwise.