Thorn’s jaw tightens. “Because after ten seasons without a mate, they think there is something wrong with me.”
“Is there?” Roman asks bluntly.
“No.” Thorn meets my eyes, voice low and sharp as a blade. “Patience always pays off.”
“Was it worth it?” Roman presses and for once, I’m grateful for his childhood ignorance.
Because Thorn’s gaze burns into mine, unyielding as he answers, “Yes.”
Later, as the hall empties, I seize my chance to talk to Thorn alone. My fingers snag his bare, muscular arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know?—”
“I’m not,” his reply is instant.
“I…it’s just that?—”
“I get it.” He leans close, his breath brushing my ear again, his voice a growl only I can hear. “I’ll see you at the trials.”
My bones turn to molten soup as he pulls away. His scent, combined with his words, leaves me trembling.
I should be relieved. I should feel whole. But instead, I’m filled with nothing but more questions.
Does he mean what I think he means? Or is he here for something else entirely?
My thoughts are running rampant inside my head as I head for my room. Digesting the entire conversation I had with Thorn. He’s here and he survived a Challenge for Alpha, but is he flirting with me? I still can’t be sure if he’s here as an Alpha to the rest of his pack or as an available mate.
“Ember?”
I’m so lost in thought, I didn’t even notice a small crowd of females in white robes outside in the hall. “Yes?”
“We wanted to congratulate you on surviving Thorn’s attentions last year,” Lucia states coyly.
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
She leans in conspiratorially. “I mean, we all know he has his eyes on you, but he’s an unworthy Alpha. We all recognized it. We’re just glad you saw it too.”
“Yeah, we just mean, you deserve way better than him,” her friend standing beside her with long blonde hair agrees.
“I’m sorry, what was your name?”
“Oh, it’s Rue,” the blonde returns.
I shake my head. “Rue, didn’t he survive the Challenge against him?”
“He did, and he killed all of our mates. Killed ten in total.” The third sneers, her glossy black hair is a head above the others.
“Oh.” It’s all starting to make sense now. These are all the females of the mates he killed.
“You definitely dodged a bullet there.” Rue’s lips are smiling, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. There’s nothing I hate more than fake bitches.
“I’m confused, isn’t that the point of the Challenge, though…and if Thorn beat all your mates, doesn’t that prove that heisworthy of being Alpha?”
“It was rigged,” Lucia defends.
“Yeah, he totally cheated,” Rue agrees.
My eyes narrow. “How does one cheat against ten wolves that are out for blood?”
“Oh, well…” they stammer trying to come up with an excuse.