Silver Claws

40. Be Greedy

Dag smiled down at Akela in a way that by passing second was making my blood pressure rise. It had been a while since I felt the wolf part of me rise up so violently, in fact it had been when Honos was still visiting the pack. The hairs on my arms rose and the air around me started to warp as if bowing to me. Not that the asshole standing on MY van noticed, though I knew that my small contention did.

He looked exactly as she remembered, his hair was pulled back by a cord and his eyes had the same feral ferocity that Akela had. He was wiry, strong but not large. A body built for speed. I knew all of this because I was darting in and out of her thoughts, anything to get her attention off of him.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised. I never thought you were the type to keep pets." He looked at us, unimpressed. His eyes stayed just a moment longer on me before returning to my mate.

Reed mumbled behind me. "I know he doesn't mean us."

"Dag. You look well." Akela said, her voice clear and cold. She was too stiff for her body to match the nature of her words, even though she had no knife in her hand. I couldn't help but notice the regality she was displaying, the tilt of her head, like a queen to a subject.

"I'm well enough." He leaped down from the van on the driver's side, walking towards the trees. He kept his side facing us, not completely turning his back. Akela walked towards him, we started to follow her but she waved her hand for us to stop. 

Stay there. Trust me please.

I stopped walking after her, but let out a rumble in disapproval. 

He turned his head to Akela with a dark smile. "You look very well. Though I can't say I'm at all a fan of your choice in company." His smile widened a fraction, looking no longer friendly. It was a show of teeth, one I had seen a thousand times on a different face.

"You are here for a purpose." Her silent steps were slow, matching her quarry like a reflection.

"For you." He turned to her fully, "Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

"Perhaps as long as I've been avoiding you."

"Ha." His face relaxed into a smirk again. His eyes swept past her to meet me. The air around me warped further, threatening. "You really have changed. Do I have the dogs to thank for that?"

Akela hissed and got between us, though neither of us had moved yet. My nails had already grown past a natural length, blackened tips ready to tear.

I could only imagine how bad the expression on her face was, but whatever it was it made Dag take a small step backwards, though his face never changed.

He sighed. "I didn't want to upset you. I really came because I need to speak with you...privately." He glanced upwards at the group with disgust.

"Fine."

Dag started to walk into the trees, and Akela began to follow. Cara was whispering to Trevor in a panic, and it wasn't hard to guess why, she was the only one who didn't already know the Shifters were real. I rushed up to my mate and grabbed her arm, my feet touching the old roadway like rolls of thunder that I couldn't even control. She stopped and stared at my hand, I loosened my grip but didn't let go. She looked up at me, her face absolutely blank. 

"I don't trust him."

"No." She said, "We should not." sounding strangely disappointed. She put her hand on mine and pulled it upwards so she was nearly embracing my forearm. 

"I understand how you feel. I do. And you are free to listen if you wish, but I need to speak with him. Alone." I could feel the breathe of each word rushing over my skin, sending chill bumps down my arm. My own breathing seemed to shudder from from my lungs; I had to fight the urge to moan as she carressed my hand with her's.