Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)(20)

She was told he had run away rather than face execution.

Yet Nick doesn’t seem like a criminal on the run. He’s built a life here.

She was ordered by Uncle Damien never to seek out her father. Warned that Nick would kill her on sight.

Instead he’s been . . . kind. His men respect him, even like him.

What was the truth? Who was lying and why?

“Have you heard anything I’ve said?” Zan asked, interrupting her musings.

“No. I’m sorry.” She gave him an apologetic look. “This is all a lot to take in.”

Reaching a door with a keypad, he stopped and turned to fully face her. “I know it is, but you’ll get used to it. Everyone here will be very welcoming if you’ll give them a chance. We’re like a big family.”

She started to retort that she had a family, thanks, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the kindness in his eyes, his sincerity. He’d gone out on a limb for her when he didn’t have to. He was trying. She could at least meet him halfway.

“I have no quarrel with you or your Pack. Just Nick.”

“That’s where your thinking is wrong. If you intend one of us harm, you’ll have to fight everyone. Not worth it—trust me.”

With that, he punched a code into the keypad and opened the door, gesturing for her to go first. Stepping inside, she took in his apartment. It was more spacious than she’d thought it would be, with masculine furnishings and tasteful landscapes on the walls.

There was a kitchen that was open to the living room and a hallway beyond, which she assumed led to the bedroom. The curtains were pulled back, letting in the sunshine and revealing the gorgeous forest not far away.

“Like the rest of this place, this isn’t what I expected,” she said.

He shrugged. “It’s home. Has been for six years.”

“That’s when you joined the Alpha Pack?” She faced him, curious in spite of herself. Having information was not a bad thing.

“Yes. I’ve been here since the Pack was formed and we opened the compound.” Leading her over to the sofa, he took a seat and gestured for her to do the same.

Taking a spot next to him, she asked carefully, “So my father helped to build this place?”

“Actually, no. Our first commander was a man named Terry Noble. You met Dr. Mallory—she was his mate. He and some of our other Pack members were killed in an ambush last year, and Nick took over.”

The sorrow on his face touched even her jaded heart. She hated her father, but she could relate to Zan because of what she’d been through herself. “I’m so sorry. Losing family is hard.”

He nodded. “Thank you. There was one bright spot in recent months—two of our team we thought to be dead were rescued from those lab facilities we were talking about. Micah and Phoenix were found in separate locations, leaving us at least some slim hope that the others are out there somewhere, alive.”

“Anything is possible, so don’t give up hope.”

“You’d do well to take your own advice.” The words were gentle, compassionate, not intended to hurt or belittle.

But they struck a nerve all the same. “You know nothing about me or my situation,” she snapped. “The only hope I have is to make my father pay for what he did, and beyond that I don’t care.”

Disappointment edged out his compassion. “I don’t believe that.”

“I don’t give a shit what you believe.”

“I doubt that’s true, either.” His eyes pierced to the core of her. “We’re mates, and I can already feel your inner pain. Your longing for love and acceptance.”

Too close to the bull’s-eye. Much too close.

She looked away from that knowing gaze. “Think what you want. It’s not like I’m going to hang around after I settle my business with my father.”

“You’d just leave without giving our mating a chance?”

That question surprised her, deflating some of her anger for the moment. “I don’t know what you expect me to say. Finding a mate wasn’t exactly in my plans when I arrived.”

He gave a laugh tinged with bitterness. “And you think it was in mine to discover that my fated Bondmate is a cold, bitter woman who’s more comfortable wearing blinders than facing the truth?”

His accusation sent a hot flush of shame surging through her, and she reacted defensively. “Well, since I don’t measure up, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to let me go so you can find someone else,” she said coolly. Inside, her wolf growled in displeasure at the idea, startling her. “Maybe we should just change the subject.”

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“I noticed that your voice is . . . different, and you’re always looking at the speaker. Are you hearing impaired?”

“Why? Is that another strike against me?”

Now who was being defensive?

“Not at all. I was just asking because I was curious to know more about you.”

He gave her a long look, then settled down, apparently deciding the question wasn’t meant to be rude or demeaning. “I was injured a few weeks ago during a battle with an Unseelie that came close to killing all of us. His name was Malik, and he was Kalen’s and Sariel’s father. You haven’t met Sariel yet.”