Black Moon (Alpha Pack #3)(25)

"Kalen!"

Someone gave him a gentle shake, and he realized that fingers were lightly gripping his arm. Blinking, he found himself staring into Mac's worried face. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Where did you go this time? I called your name twice."

Suddenly he saw that he was standing in the middle of the restaurant like a statue, a few feet from their table. Jesus, he must look like a crazy person to everyone there. He noted a handful of curious stares. Raising his voice a little, he gave a short laugh and said for the benefit of those nearby, "Did you? Must've zoned out. I was trying to remember if I left my cell phone in the bathroom." He made a show of patting his pockets. "I can't find-oh, wait. Here it is. Stupid, huh?"

Her expression told him she knew what he was doing, but she didn't pursue it with others in earshot. Taking his hand, she led him back to their table. "Do you want dessert?"

"Not unless you do. Whatever you want, honey."

"Nah, I'm good."

He needed out of there. The atmosphere was abruptly claustrophobic and he had to vamoose, now. Not away from Mackenzie, but out of the building. Waving over their waitress, he mustered polite calm and requested the bill. They waited in silence, eyeing each other until it came and he paid, temporarily avoiding the elephant in the room.

Outside, Mackenzie took his hand as they walked to the car. "Okay, tell me what happened in there. Why did you rush to the restroom?"

"Nosebleed."

"Malik?" Kalen nodded, and her blue eyes went steely. "He did that to shut you up, to stop you from telling me you went to see him last night, didn't he? That bastard! We're going to find a way to beat him, sweetie. You just hang on. Do you hear me?"

"Yeah." Christ, he hoped she was right.

And that was when he realized that the Unseelie wasn't in his head. That the awful dark thirst for blood and vengeance seemed to have lifted for the time being. "He's gone. I don't feel him anymore."

"For good?" At his look, her spark of enthusiasm vanished. "Of course not. That would be too easy."

"It's a ray of hope, anyway." However thin.

He was sure the reprieve now, and earlier in the car, had to do with the doc. He just had to figure out how, specifically. He mulled it over as his date pulled from the parking lot and onto the road, and for several minutes afterward. Until her sweet scent caught his attention as it had on the way to the restaurant.

Vanilla and roses. That was the tantalizing aroma making his senses tingle and his c**k fill. In addition, the scent seemed deeper than before, richer somehow. His panther awakened, stretching, purring in joy at the familiar scent. The beast welcomed it and yearned to get close to the amazing presence of its mate once again.

Mate?

Quickly he envisioned a wall of solid steel around him, desperately trying to seal his thoughts from Malik.

No. She couldn't be his mate. Could she? Why had that word popped into his head? How could he know for sure? He'd seen what had happened to Jax and Aric when they'd met their mates-they'd gotten sicker until it was either claim their mates or die. But that hadn't happened to Kalen. He felt completely fine-well, other than Malik's horrible influence.

Admittedly, as a Sorcerer he was different. So his panther might be wrong about the mate thing.

Inside, it growled in displeasure at the direction of his thoughts. Never had his other half been so vocal, so certain of what he wanted. His cat strained insistently, longing to shift, to rub his scent all over the woman, bite her, mark her for all to see. Kalen imagined doing just that, with his c**k buried deep inside her warm, wet sheath. For the first time, instead of having to summon his panther, Kalen had to concentrate to hold him back.

The beast roared and he channeled his energy into soothing it. Imagining a pool of clear blue surrounded by a tropical oasis, he poured a stream of calming light over his cat until it subsided, curling up again with a huff of annoyance. Still not satisfied in its wants, but tame once more.

"You sure you're all right?" she asked.

He'd been off in his head again, and she'd been studying him the whole time. What did she see when she looked at him? A mess not worth keeping? He shifted uncomfortably. "I am now."

"Is that the first time that's happened?" She gestured to his face in general.

He nodded. "Yeah. Seems like he's got a trick or three up his sleeve to keep me in line."

"Are you going to talk to Nick about this and about last night?" Mackenzie asked softly.

"I'm going to try. And hope he doesn't shoot me for real."

"That's not funny."

"Wasn't meant to be."

"Do you want me to go with you to see him?"

Not having to face the boss alone was tempting. But the urge to protect her from the ugly reality of his situation was stronger-though it might be far too late. "I appreciate the moral support, but I'd better talk to him alone."

"Okay. Just know the offer stands."

"Thanks. That's more than I deserve from you."

"Oh, I don't know about that." A soft, secretive smile curved her lips.

A spark of light beamed through the gloom. "So you're not going to make me beg for another chance? You never did answer me, you know."