Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

17. Good News and Bad News

It isn't until lunchtime the next day that we are able to ask anyone about the rogues.

Evan and I manage to enter the dining hall at the same time that Rick and Alicia are there. Despite the obvious tension between the two alphas, we sit across from them at the table and quietly begin eating the leftover rabbit and deer meat from last night's feast.

Stealing glances at them between bites, I attempt to decipher what's really going on between them based on their body language.

Rick is hunched over his meal, chewing his food slowly and thoroughly, while Alicia stares blankly at her untouched plate. She sits there, stiff as a board, her lips slightly parted.

Five minutes pass since we joined them at the table. Not a word has been uttered, and neither one of them has shifted their stance in the slightest.

Evan coughs, trying to break the ice that's formed around us. The simple action snaps Rick awake, while sending a quick shiver up my spine.

Seeing that she hasn't taken a single bite since they sat down, Rick nudges Alicia with his elbow. "Hey, eat something before you worry the subordinates."

I'm about to scowl at him from my seat across from Alicia, but clamp my eyes shut instead. He really does have a way with words.

When I open them, Evan's clearing his throat and shifting slightly in his seat. "So, what's the word from the captive, Alpha?"

Rick snorts as he pushes a bone to the edge of his plate with his fork. "Nada. Guy won't talk. Well, he won't say anything useful, anyway. Alpha Clyde is too soft. If he wants answers, he needs to show that mutt who's boss." He nudges Alicia again. "Eat."

Her eyes dart in his direction, yet her head is still poised in the same position over her meal. "I can't eat with you talking about torture," she snaps.

Getting up abruptly, she abandons her meal and storms out of the dining hall just as Keith is entering.

He looks from her to Rick as he makes his way to our table. "Geez, what did you say to get her panties in a bunch?"

Rick's knuckles turn white as he grips his fork. His jaw is clenched as he says through his teeth, "Nothing. She's just hormonal."

I can feel my blood rushing to my head and I clamp my teeth together.

Must. Not. Retaliate.

Evan stiffens next to me, while Keith ignores his attitude with a shrug. Taking Alicia's former seat, he picks up her fork and peers down at her untouched meal. "Well, at least she left me her lunch. Smells great. Better than the scraps you leave me."

Rick swipes the plate out from under Keith's nose and gets to his feet. "She needs to eat to maintain her strength."

With that, he tromps out of the dining hall after his mate.

Keith huffs with a shake of his head. "Those two."

He gets up to grab himself some food from the buffet table.

Evan exhales loudly, and rests his fork on his plate. "Well, so much for finding out the latest information on the rogue situation."

I relax a little as well, still trying to push Rick's attitude to the back of my mind. I take a few deep cleansing breaths as I try to forget ever seeing Rick just a few moments ago. Why is he such a jerk? "Epic fail."

"You can say that again."

Keith takes his seat again across from us, cuts into his venison with his knife, and shovels a big morsel into his mouth. "You were asking about the rogues?" he manages to say around the piece of meat.