Cole's Redemption (Alpha Pack #5)(36)

“No. But it’s worth thinking about—don’t you agree?”

“Yeah. And I’m sorry it happened to you.” He wasn’t talking just about himself before. She was sure of it, but didn’t press.

“I’ll see them again one day.” Blue rose, brushing the grass off his pants with his wings. “I’m going to see if there’s any breakfast left. Join me?”

“I’d like that.”

Taking his extended hand, she let him lead her back inside.

And she pondered his words for a long while.

Zan was sitting with Jax at the breakfast table when Blue walked in with his mate. The pair was having a conversation, and though his wolf wasn’t happy to see her accompanying another male, he immediately knew Blue was no threat. His wolf stood down.

Seeing Zan and Jax, they walked over and took seats, Selene next to Zan. He liked the way she scooted close, pressing her side into his.

“You all right now?” he asked in a low voice.

“I think so.” She stared at the plate of pancakes in front of her. “I guess I made a fool of myself, huh?”

“No. You had a point to make with your father. You wanted him to know you’re no pushover.”

“And instead he handed me my ass.”

He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “And then some.”

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”

“Eat something, baby. I know you must be hungry.” She was staring at him strangely. “What?”

“You called me baby. I sort of like that,” she murmured.

“Good. Then I’ll be sure to call you that often.” With a wink, he tore into his pancakes, gratified when she did the same.

They were talking with Jax and Blue, finishing their breakfast, when Nick came into the dining room. Selene went tense beside him, stiffening even more when the commander strode to their table.

“I need an extra pair of hands,” he said without preamble. “Most of the others are still working out.”

“What’s up?” Jax asked, crunching on his last piece of bacon.

“I need to go down to Block T and question that rogue vamp from the ranch again, see if he’ll budge this time.”

“You know he’s not going to give up shit,” Zan said with a grimace. “Those bastards are as stubborn as they are stupid.”

“Be that as it may, I have to give it one more try. If there’s any chance he’ll slip and tell us something, I need to learn what he knows.”

“I don’t like it, boss,” Jax said with a frown. “He nearly got you last time, and that was with several of us in the cell.”

“What?” Selene’s gaze bounced between Jax and her father. “What do you mean?”

“The vamp nearly killed him. That was right after we captured him and brought him here, before you came. Don’t worry. We’ll be more careful.”

Zan tossed down his napkin, surreptitiously watching his mate from the corner of his eye. She was worried for her father. Well, wouldn’t you know? His mate wasn’t nearly as against Nick as she appeared.

“We’ll go,” Zan said, and Jax nodded. To Selene, Zan said, “I think you should stay here and keep Blue company.”

“No! I’m going with you, and that’s final.”

Leaving their plates, they walked with Nick to the elevator, then rode it down to the basement. As he’d predicted, the questions started.

“How do you terminate the creatures who stay down here?”

“In the most humane way possible, depending on what type of creature it is,” Nick answered, glancing at her. “In this vampire’s case, a quick stab to the heart will kill him. Beheading him will make sure he stays that way.”

“I’ve heard they can rise if you don’t take their head.” She appeared none too happy about that.

“True.”

The elevator doors opened to an industrial-type area, the starkest place in the entire building. Zan came down here very rarely, and in truth, hated doing so. There wasn’t much that was more depressing than interrogating creatures who were doomed to die—even if the creatures deserved it.

“What did this rogue do?” Selene asked, as though reading his thoughts.

“Murdered a young ranch hand. Drained him and savaged the body. It was a real mess.”

“God!”

They fell silent as Nick led them to the last cell. They stopped and studied the pitiful-looking vampire through the bars. His clothes were stained with dried blood and God knew what else. They were filthy, and the creature stank so bad, it was like a rabid skunk had sprayed the entire basement.

“Come to gawk at the poor prisoner,” it hissed, raising yellowed eyes to study them in return. Behind him, chains rattled, securing his wrists, though they couldn’t be seen.

Beside him, Selene sucked in a breath.

“There’s nothing poor about you. You simply made your choices,” Nick told it.

“Choice? What do you know about hunger? An aching belly that’s never filled?”

“More than you think. There’s never a reason to harm someone when you feed. Prince Tarron has a hard-and-fast rule about no killing of blood donors. If you had—”

“Fuck you, mangy wolf!”