Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Kent pressed his fingers into his temples as he stared at the door. He had just finished talking to Leo to confirm the travel plans. Alpha Jake had been more than obliging on the phone, agreeing to meet as soon as Kent could get out there. Leo had agreed that they could travel overnight, taking shifts on driving. Kent was desperate to minimize time away from his pack, worried about the possibility of attacks and Riley's illness. Finally he raised his hand, knocking. He could hear her shifting around and he waited, leaning against the door jamb and shoving his hands in his pockets. She opened the door, looking up at him. She was still wearing the black leggings and that soft purple sweater that seemed to make the green flecks in her hazel eyes stand out. Her hair was starting to come loose from the braid, small strands curling around her face. She smiled slightly at him and he felt a warmth spread through his chest. "Care to tell me more about the alpha over at New Dawn?" She rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to tell." He smirked. "That's a lie. Remember that whole mate bond thing we have going on? I can tell when you're lying." She raised her eyebrows. "You want to go there? Why don't we talk about what the rogues are after in this pack?" He felt the color drain out of his face as the smirk slipped. "I was hoping you wouldn't have picked up on that. "The mate bond works both ways, remember?" He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's complicated, Riley." "I have time." He stared at her for a moment, knowing she wasn't going to give up. "Come down to my office." She followed him, shutting the door behind her. Once they reached his office, Kent went straight to his liquor cabinet, pulling out the bourbon they had drunk on the night they met. He momentarily considered that it might not be the best idea for her to drink while ill, but shrugged it off. He was pretty sure they were both going to need a drink right now. "What do you think they're after?" she asked as he handed her a drink, taking a seat beside her on the sofa. He took a long swallow of his drink, appreciating the burn of it down his throat. "I can't tell you," he finally answered. She turned to face him fully, her eyebrows shooting up. "What?" "Not without talking to some other people first." He took another sip, looking across the room in order to avoid her piercing gaze. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. "Who?" "I can't tell you that either!" 1/4 Chapter 31 + Paints 7 "Kent, you can't be serious right now." She sat her glass on the table in front of her and reached out to grab his chin, forcing his gaze to hers. "It's complicated, Riley," he said, though it came out sounding like a plea. "Why?" she demanded. "What makes it so complicated?" He grabbed her hand, pulling it from his chin to clasp it between his own. His heart was pounding so hard he was sure she could hear it. "Because you work for the council. You would have to report it. We... broke some rules." "What kind of rules?" She pulled her hand from his, her eyes narrowing. "The kind you don't break." He felt suddenly weary. All these years, waiting for the consequences to catch him, and now they were finally here. "If it only affected me, I would tell you," he said after a pause. "I can handle whatever repercussions come my way. But it affects other people. Innocent people. And the consequences would be devastating for them." He watched Riley reach for her glass and take a sip. She stared across the room for a moment before turning back to him. "I understand you want to protect people. But I'm here to help. Your pack is in danger. How am I supposed to help plan a defense and get rid of these rogues if you won't even tell me why they're here?" "You're right," he said tightly, looking across the room. "I know you're right, but this isn't a decision I can make myself. Please just let me discuss things with the other people involved. If they're ok with my telling you, I will." "And if they don't want you to tell me?" He rubbed his face with both his hands, groaning softly. "I don't f*****g know, Ri. Just let me talk to them, please." "When will you talk to them?" "After I get back from New Dawn. I leave tonight after dinner. Leo and I are going to drive through the night. The alpha there was pretty open about wanting this alliance. He doesn't think it will take more than a day or two to get things written out and agreed to. He said he'll send warriors within the week of us forming our alliance. I have to go now though." "You can't talk to them before you go?" He grabbed his drink, taking a long gulp. "No," he said as he looked at her. "It will not be a quick discussion and it will be really stressful." She sighed. "You know, you were upset when I wasn't telling you things." "That's different," he said sharply, and you know it. What you were hiding only affected you. This affects others and I have a duty to protect the people in my pack." She frowned, looking away for a moment. "Fine," she said finally. "I just wish you knew I'm not trying to make more problems for you. I'm trying to help you keep your pack safe." 2/4 Chapter 31 He touched her arm, drawing her gaze back to him. "I know that," he said gently. "And I appreciate that." She took another sip of her drink, drumming her fingers on the side of her glass. * Points > "I also appreciate that you didn't argue with me about going to New Dawn," he said after a moment, looking into his own drink. "I thought for sure you would, but I don't want you traveling while you're sick." "I figured as much." She glanced at him. "But mostly I don't want to go back to New Dawn right now." "Why is that?" He raised an eyebrow. "What's the deal with that alpha?" "Jake is a good alpha. He's twenty five, very well liked and an excellent fighter." "And?" Kent prompted. She sighed. "He talks a lot. He runs his mouth about everything and brags about stupid s**t. The moment he realizes I'm working at your pack, he'll start his shit." Kent watched her face flush and he suddenly understood. "So you f****d him?" The question came out harsher than he meant, the disdain clear in his voice. She shrugged. "It's not like I was mated at the time." Kent stared at her for a moment, Pax roaring in his head. He downed the remainder of his drink and stood up quickly, trying to block Pax out. He crossed the room to pour himself another drink that he downed just as quickly. He felt his hand shaking with fury as he set the empty glass down on the cabinet. "Aren't there rules about council members getting involved with pack members while on assignment?" he finally asked, his voice coming out like a growl. "Yes," she scoffed, "which hasn't stopped you." Kent scowled. "That's different. We're mates." She sighed, taking another sip of her drink. "There are rules about it, but the council tends to turn a blind eye unless it affects your ability to do your work." "So you slept with him while you were there and that was it?" Kent didn't know why he asked. Perhaps he was secretly a masochist. "No." She wouldn't meet his gaze. "I went back for a visit about six months ago." "Why?" Again, masochistic. She rolled her eyes. "Why do you think, Kent?" He turned away from her to pour himself another drink, forcing slow breaths. He wasn't going to yell at her again. He had yelled at her enough over the last few days. He wasn't going to scream over things that had happened in the past. He walked over and topped off her drink, setting the bottle of bourbon on the table. He stood there, looking down at her for a moment. "I don't know how to react," he finally admitted. "I'm angry, but I know that it's foolish." She shrugged. "I haven't had a mate in nine years. You can't think I haven't been with a man since then. 3/4 < Chapter 31 +8 Points > Anything that has happened is purely physical, like scratching an itch. Surely, you've been with other women since Lily died." He took a sip, looking at his feet for a moment. "Iris," he said suddenly, causing Riley to look up at him. He scratched his chin. "An old friend from the academy. She lives in a nearby pack. Her mate died in a freak accident. We started... meeting up about a year after Lily died. The elders have always insisted that I be, um, discreet about physical relationships. They always insist that you keep it outside the pack to avoid complications, so..." He trailed off, unsure of why he was even telling her this. She reached out and squeezed his hand. "So you get it?" He nodded. "Yeah, I do. I'm overreacting about this. I know that." She smiled slightly. "It's kind of hot, though." He laughed, sitting back down beside her. "At least tell me he wasn't very good." "I mean, I could, but you can tell when I lie, right?" He laughed. "******g hell, Riley." He downed the remainder of his drink. "Goddess." Riley grabbed his wrist. "Slow down. You're supposed to drive tonight." "I'll make Leo take the first shift," he muttered, setting his empty glass on the table: "How about we get some dinner?" she suggested. "You need some food to balance out all the alcohol." "I can have some sent up." Riley opened her mouth and he knew she was going to argue, to suggest they go to the dining hall so he quickly placed a finger over her lips. "Please," he said softly, "I won't see you for at least two days. Can we just have dinner together? Just the two of us?" Her eyes softened. "Sure. But no more drinks." He smiled. "You worried about me?" "Maybe," she conceded. Comments Get Bonus (Ad) > E Vate 524 < Chapter 32