25. Chapter Twenty-Five

The comb flipped between idle fingers, the well-worn eggshell exterior chipped with time and use. Familiar, the weight was a comforting token in her hand. She exhaled silently, finding reassurance in examining the smooth ridges and the prongs that were broken and thinned. Spiderwebbed cracks split what little paint remained, and no matter how many times she had it restored, it eventually returned to its ratty appearance.

Cortana's lips tightened in a white line. So many things had taken place since she'd been gifted this comb. She'd become immortal, seen the ages come and go, and the woman she'd once been had transformed into someone honed in fire, like the finest steel.

Of course, she'd also taken the life of the one who'd given it to her.

When they'd returned to the den this morning, Cortana had sped off to her quarters without looking back. There, she'd paced around the room like a caged animal, her mind reeling with every repercussion that'd Riaz's mating instinct would have.

The ramifications would muddy her life and her position in her House. The pack wouldn't be able to survive in New York, so she'd be the one expected to throw away everything that made her who she was and leave her people. Over and over, she'd been told that if a bond was denied, both parties would suffer. The possibility made a visceral ache hollow out her chest, her heart thumping a painful tune.

What if he couldn't let her go when she wanted to leave? What if she didn't want to leave?

These questions and a thousand more had made her mind fuzzy with the possibilities. He'd been honest with her last night, and she'd thrown it back in his face with a load of spite and skepticism. To make matters worse, what she'd said had clearly insulted him in more ways than one.

Though the sun was tolling the bell for sleep, her focus had shifted, needing to apologize to Riaz for her abysmal behavior.

She found him, sleeping in the center of a wolfy sea in the great hall. Snores reverberated, cuteness abounded, and the big mahogany wolf in the center slept soundly. It made sense. Riaz never wanted to sleep alone—why, she still hadn't discovered—so he'd taken to the hall where he knew the others would keep him company in their fur forms.

Her heart leapt with the realization that he hadn't returned to Renata.

Soundlessly, she'd retreated to her quarters and called her sire. Cortana was late in updating Drake with the recent developments, given the chaos of the past couple of days. Only two rings sounded before he picked up.

Something calmed in her heart when she spoke with him, the deep baritone reassuring her. After the business update, their conversation had drifted to other topics, namely her asking for a favor from his wife. As a fire Elemental, she was singularly able to attend to Riaz's wildfire problem.

Toni had been ecstatic. Drake, less so.

While they spoke, Drake had clearly sensed something was amiss, but he didn't push when she'd stonewalled him. Now wasn't the time to cry and complain to her sire about infuriating, deliciously sexy werewolves who made her feel alive and frustrated her beyond her limits. Or about how the arrogant, big-headed, sinfully delectable man—fates, he was delicious—had perplexed her to the point that she felt useless. Yes, blubbering like a baby was hardly professional. Hanging up, she had surrendered to the dead sleep of her people.

The following night, Cortana still hid in her quarters several hours past sunset. It was partially due to the painstaking care she was taking to finish the charges for the manufacturing facility. Most of it was because she simply didn't want to face Riaz.

For two hours, she perfected the slim devices that'd function like an explosive. Given their range and target, no one would suspect foul play, and the fallout would be ruled a gas leak. Satisfied with their creation, she huffed a sigh.

No getting around it; she couldn't stay cooped up in here all night. Besides, she needed to inform the alpha that an Elemental was going to be his latest guest and she'd be here whenever Riaz gave the thumbs up.

Oh, joy.

Strapping on her stilettos, Cortana strode into the great hall, a bit perplexed to find a pile of wolves still lazily stretching by the hearth. She loved the way fluffy tails and big paws went every which way. There were even sightings of toe beans.

She shook her head with a smile still plastered on her mouth, gazing around the room to see if she could find one of the betas or, heaven forbid, the alpha himself.

Her … mate.

She frowned in surprise at the giddy excitement that stirred inside. Why did her heart leap, when the concept previously conjured up only feelings of entrapment and fear?

The last time she'd partaken in a relationship of this magnitude, it hadn't ended well. Only one of them had gotten out alive.

Shuddering internally, Cortana took off toward the offices where the irksome alpha might be hiding. She was all of three steps into the hallway before Gadriel stuck his mop of red hair out of his door.

"What'd you do to my alpha?"

His tone was so light and playful that it almost disguised the shiver of upset that ran beneath. Cortana balked, halting in the hallway like an errant child who'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

What had she done to Riaz? Ticking off the mental checklist, she tapped a finger to her chin: teased him, criticized his organization skills, lied about his effect on her and wanting him.

"Nothing."

Narrowing eyes suspiciously, Gadriel's lighthearted nature gave way to barely concealed irritation. "Sure. Well, he's in Ava's office."

She padded down toward the other woman's domain, sticking her head through the door to glance about the room. Ava was working quietly at her computer, peering at Cortana with a befuddled expression but saying nothing.

Seconds later, she spotted Riaz.

At the base of Ava's contemporary desk, Cortana spotted his massive mahogany body curled up, eyes closed, tail over nose, looking positively adorable.

Immediately, she strode to the giant fluff ball, diving her hands into the warmth of his velvet coat. Each stroke tickled her palms, the fur curling around her fingers while she smiled in earnest. The wolf remained motionless, leading her to believe Riaz knew it was her and was studiously ignoring her.

"Come on, Fido." Cortana's hand stilled in his coat. "I need to talk to you."

One triangular ear flicked her way, the only sign he was indeed listening. Resisting the urge to talk about what she'd come for, she instead reached out to lovingly stroke his velvety ear.

As soon as she made contact, she melted. She'd never felt anything so soft, and it was all she could do not to whimper at the feeling. Riaz, of course, tilted his head away, trying to pull his ear from her grasp, but she held on with a mischievous smirk.

The ear was hers now.

"If you don't listen, I'll steal your nose next."

Riaz gave her the wolf equivalent of a stink eye. He bared one side of his lips, revealed a long row of razor-sharp white fangs. Scoffing, Cortana thumbed a line down his ear once more. "Shift back, Riaz."

Nothing.

A lofty sigh escaped Riaz's beast as he stood up and stretched, turned, and then settled back into the same curled position at the foot of Ava's desk, except this time, he was facing away from Cortana. Grumbling, she proceeded to poke his furry rump to encourage a response.

No movement.

Disheartened, Cortana shoved at the wolf's rear, unapologetically using her vampiric strength to prompt him to action. Riaz weighed a ton, his body in both forms stacked with solid muscle. She barely managed to move him an inch.

Still nothing.

Climbing to her feet, she refocused on Ava. "Does Riaz pull this petulant child act very often?"

The beta's face transformed from blank to scheming in seconds. "Yes. He's quite good at it, as you can tell."

"Most assuredly." Cortana gave her best thoughtful expression. "Should I plan for a vet visit, perhaps? You know, to make sure he doesn't have fleas?"

"Solid logic. I can give you their number."

Underneath the desk, the wolf huffed a telling sigh, and Cortana beamed. At least something might prod the alpha into action, and this idea was as good as any.

"Perfect. Did I need to pick up some kibble on the way home, or do you keep it in stock for when Riaz refuses to shift?"

"We typically just throw him some leftover table scraps." Shrugging, Ava looked under the open-concept desk to gauge her alpha's reaction. "No chocolate, of course."

A noise of discontentment escaped the animal, but Cortana continued, unperturbed. "Well, you know what they say about alphas."

"What?"

"That they're drama queens, bent on ensuring their entire pack feels the weight of their discontent."

Cortana glanced down at him, surprised to see his orange eyes now leering at her. Though she'd doubted animals could make facial expressions, Riaz's fury was entirely apparent. Like any self-respecting immortal, she continued unabashed.

"Isn't that what you were doing last night, Riaz? Pulling all those poor wolfies from their cozy beds to sleep on the hard floor with you?"

Teeth bared, the wolf leapt to his feet, shifted instantaneously so that the man leered down at her with a stare that didn't completely camouflage his irritation.

"I did no such thing. They came willingly."

"Oh look, it's Riaz." Cortana feigned surprise. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to. Thought I'd have to get a dog whistle or bribe you back with some dog treats."

"What do you want, Cortana?" The blank tone would fool no one.

"To tell you I've invited Toni to your den." She could feel herself losing steam when she failed to get a rise out of him. "She's ready to come whenever you give your okay."

Riaz's expression transformed from bland to bewilderment in the span of seconds. "Why?"