Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Michael said dismissively.
Anthony just looked at him for a moment, his gaze piercing, before he said, very quietly, “You will tell me what’s going on.”
Michael stiffened. Although Anthony hadn’t used his alpha Voice, the sheer command in his tone sent adrenaline surging through him, his instincts bristling for a fight.
Before he could think, he bared his teeth in a display of aggression.
Anthony’s eyes narrowed. “All right, what’s wrong with you? You’re normally a lot better than that at controlling your instincts. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do alpha posturing. Until now.”
Michael averted his gaze, mortification and fear making his stomach knot up. Anthony couldn’t find out. He had to stop behaving suspiciously. He had to stop avoiding him. He had to come up with a believable lie.
“This isn’t the best place for this conversation,” he said, stalling for time.
Anthony glanced around and nodded. “Let’s go, then. We can find a room to talk.” He turned and made his way through the crowded ballroom, confident that Michael would follow him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Michael did, trying to think of a lie Anthony might believe, but his mind came up blank. He was still empty-handed when he followed him into a vacant room down the corridor.
“Look,” Anthony said, breaking the silence, “is this about what happened on Belith?”
Michael’s heart seemed to jump into his throat.
“What do you mean?” he managed.
“I know how aggravating being around another alpha in rut is,” Anthony said. “Jon and I nearly killed each other during the full moon a few times, and he’s my best friend.”
Michael’s stomach clenched. It wasn’t that he’d ever thought that just because Anthony was his best friend Michael was Anthony’s. Of course he hadn’t thought that. He knew Anthony and his brother-in-law, Jonathan, had served together for a decade. They even looked like brothers, almost like twins. Of course their friendship was deeper than whatever the two of them had.
“I’m not a Torryn alpha like the two of you,” Michael said stiffly. “And I wasn’t in rut. It was fine.”
Anthony’s blue eyes bored into him. “It isn’t fine if you’re avoiding me.” He frowned. “Did something happen while I was sedated?”
Fuck. Think.
Michael looked around the room. “It was just a bit awkward, man,” he said with a chuckle. “Your rut was unnaturally intense. I think... I think your rut pheromones might have messed with me, making me uncomfortable around you.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, I’d never been around a rutting Torryn alpha before. You know we Vos alphas have much milder ruts, we barely even notice them.”
He could feel Anthony’s heavy gaze on his face.
“Why aren’t you looking me in the eye?” he said. “Are you that uncomfortable around me now?”
Michael forced himself to meet his gaze. He smiled ruefully. “I guess so. I’m sorry, I can’t seem to help it.”
Anthony’s frown was deeper now. “I’ve been around a Vos alpha during the war, and he didn’t react like you after smelling my pre-rut pheromones.”
Michael shrugged. “I doubt he was around you at the peak of your rut.”
“He wasn’t,” Anthony conceded, and Michael relaxed a little.
Silence stretched between them.
“You’re holding your breath,” Anthony stated suddenly.
Michael grimaced. “Yeah.” There was no point denying it. “As I said, your scent makes me feel weird.”
“Weird how?” Anthony said, taking a step closer.
Michael stiffened, his heart hammering as Anthony’s scent filled his lungs. He clenched his jaw against the urge to bare his teeth, even as another instinct pushed him to tilt his throat, to appease the alpha his body still remembered submitting to—however unwillingly.
“Too aggressive,” Michael ground out. “I guess some wires got crossed after I was forced to be around you during your rut.”
Anthony studied him for a moment. “All right,” he said, starting to unbutton his suit jacket.
“What are you doing?” Michael said, his eyes going wide.
Anthony smiled crookedly. “What do you think? Looks like you need to let off some of that aggression. Let’s spar. Come on, take your jacket off.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Michael said, licking his dry lips. “Anyone might enter the room.”
“We can lock the door,” Anthony said, shrugging out of his jacket and starting to unbutton his white shirt.
Michael swallowed. “I’m not sparring with you,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not an idiot, Ant.”
“I promise I’ll go easy on you,” Anthony said with a slight smirk. “Don’t be scared.”
“Fuck you,” Michael said with an eye roll, but he locked the door and reached for the buttons of his jacket. Maybe it was a good idea. Submitting to another alpha physically had likely just confused his biology. Beating Anthony up would help him restore his equilibrium.
Throwing his shirt and jacket on the sofa, he turned back to Anthony and nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw him bare chested.
Over the past few weeks, Michael had worked hard to forget that he knew exactly what his best friend looked like beneath his clothes—how broad those shoulders were, how that chest had felt pressed against his back when—