To Love a Beast

Going, Wolf

In the end, Sin saw the pack doctor—much to Cedric's delight.

His face was as stony as ever, but she could feel him reveling in the triumph.

The pack doctor told her what she already knew; her wound was an easy fix, only requiring disinfectant and bandaging.

However, Cedric's injury was more extensive. The wounds were healing with the bullets still lodged in his chest and required... digging. When asked why he didn't seek immediate medical attention to extract the metal, the stony Lycan didn't deign to respond.

Sin rolled her eyes.

Once the visit to the pack doctor was concluded, the two of them were ushered into the Alpha's office, where Sin was now seated on a sofa, watching mayhem ensue.

After witnessing her brief display of power during the attack, the Alpha viewed Sinclaire as a potential asset in the war, but Cedric was against her participation.

Still recovering from the earlier blood loss, their squabble was only heightening her dizziness. The thought of interjecting with her own opinion crossed Sin's mind ages ago—since the discussion was about her—she was quick to reconsider, reminding herself how much she enjoyed her head in between her shoulders.

"You don't get to make that choice for her, Eirick," Cedric growled.

The beast rippled close to the surface, shining through in his feral gaze and tensed form. His posture reminded her of an animal with hackles raised.

Eirick, on the other hand, was the epitome of peace. Where Cedric looked ready to tear his Alpha limb by limb, Eirick seemed ready for afternoon tea.

"I am giving her a choice in the matter," Eirick said, never looking up from the mess of documents on his desk. The sound of rustling paper accompanied his words.

"You and I both know that's bullshit!"

"She has a choice in whether or not she wants to use her magic for the pack."

"You don't know what you're asking her for. She bleeds, more than she should when casting!" Cedric said, slamming a fist on the table.

In their last conversation, Cedric didn't pursue the topic. She assumed he believed her when she said bleeding the amount she bled was normal. Now, she realized how naive she was. Cedric was a creature of the Lore. Of course, he understood the basics of magic and how lacking she was as a proclaimed witch.

A growl sliced through the air drawing her away from her thoughts. The two Lycans were standing toe to toe, both of their body language read aggression.

What happened when she wasn't paying attention?

The usual calm in the Alpha's eyes was replaced by a flickering ire.

"Don't you dare, mention her again. And that's Alpha to you," Eirick rumbled. Lethal.

Her? Sin got the feeling they weren't talking about herself anymore.

Cedric didn't flinch.

"As my Alpha, you should understand me best, Alpha."

"The fact still stands. The choice is hers. You are dismissed, Delta."

Without another word, the Alpha was seated at his desk again, flipping through the stacks of paper situated on the table. He looked slighter from where Sin stood, overwhelmed, as though his surroundings were swallowing him.

Even after she and Cedric left the office, the smallness of the Alpha's shoulders still lingered in her mind.

**