Wolf's Fall (Alpha Pack #6)(20)

Tarron’s voice grew hushed. “You wouldn’t blame me if you knew how truly sad and alone she’s been these past few years. I just wanted to help.”

“Understandable,” he replied evenly. “But she doesn’t need his help—in any way.”

“Try that attitude on her and you’ll get not an inch further than I ever do. Trust me on that. If she digs her heels in, you’re done.”

Dammit, the man made too much sense.

“Come on. I’ll introduce you to more of the guests.”

That was the very last thing Nick wanted to do—socialize while Calla was alone with the fanged Casanova. But he gritted his teeth and endured while Tarron made more introductions, and he answered curious questions about what his team of shifters did to protect citizens. That, at least, was a subject he could warm to, and that part wasn’t so bad.

“Nick, this is Ivan Cardenas, from Barcelona, Spain,” Tarron said in introduction. “Ivan is an old acquaintance we haven’t seen around here in some time. He’ll be joining the discussion in the dining hall later with the other leaders.”

“Hello,” Nick said, shaking his hand. “I’m sure that will be a fascinating talk, won’t it?”

Cardenas chuckled. “I’m sure it will. It’s good to meet you.”

“You, too.”

Nick was grateful when the Fates intervened and Tarron was pulled into a debate on whether blood banks were sufficient to feed their population, or covens should be allowed to feed on death row inmates or some shit. Nick excused himself and nobody noticed when he found a corner, held up a far wall, and finished his beer.

Except for one man. “Haven’t seen you around,” a voice said idly.

Nick eyed the dark stranger standing in the shadows. Reaching out with his PreCog senses, he found the walls surrounding this man to be nearly impenetrable. That bothered him more than he cared to admit. “Can’t say I’ve seen you, either. You know Calla or her brother personally?”

“Not really. You could say I’m gate-crashing.” His smile was feral. “Friend of a friend. You know how it is.”

Something about the man put him on edge. “I’m Nick Westfall, com—”

“Commander of the Alpha Pack. Yeah, word gets around. Nice gig if you can get it.”

What the f*ck was that supposed to mean? “Sometimes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Most times, things aren’t.”

Nick got a good look at the guy to be sure it wasn’t anyone he’d ever met. Tats on both arms peeking from underneath his long-sleeved black shirt, with scrollwork, dragons, and other symbols etched in black. Expert work on the artist’s part. The man had wavy dark hair, just to his shoulders. He was slender, but with some muscles he appeared tough as well. His dark eyes were glacier cold. Like a man who didn’t get f*cked with often, or he would make you pay. Strangely, he was eating a square of cheese from the buffet table as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

He seemed familiar, but Nick definitely would’ve remembered him.

“I didn’t catch your name,” Nick said.

“I didn’t say.” He polished off the cheese, eyeing Nick. “But it’s Jinn.”

“Jinn . . . ?” he prompted.

“Just Jinn. No last name.”

Inside him, Nick’s wolf shifted and rumbled in warning. Just Jinn. The name from his vision, he realized with a start. Possibly the man who would abduct Noah. “And how is that?”

Moving closer, he got a whiff of Jinn’s scent and found he wasn’t a shifter, or a vampire. He wasn’t Fae, human, or anything from this world at all, it seemed.

The man—creature—laughed, showing off straight white teeth with very large incisors. “Did you know that in Arabian mythology, the Jinn are the third creation of God, after angels and humans? It’s said that we’re made of smoke and fire, can take human form, and travel between dimensions. And we can be either good or evil, as the mood strikes us.”

“Is that so?” Nick tensed, ready for battle if need be.

Jinn shrugged, grinning. “Some call us genies. But you can’t believe everything you read, right? I simply consider myself more your garden-variety Sorcerer.”

He wished Kalen, or even Sariel, were here to check this guy out and give their own opinions. Being Sorcerers, and Fae, they had a much better radar for magical beings than anyone else.

“Interesting,” he said with a half smile. “Never met a genie before. If I rub the top of your head, will you grant me three wishes?”

Jinn blinked at him for a second and then laughed out loud, causing a few vampires to turn and stare. Nick noticed that the humor still didn’t seem to reach the Sorcerer’s eyes.

“Points to you, wolf. You’re not the first one to make that joke about me. But you are the first one to ever say it to my face.”

“How did you know I’m a wolf?” he asked casually.

“Someone must’ve told me.”

“Who did you say you came here with?”

“A friend. Nobody you’d know.” He pushed away from the wall. “It was nice talking to you, Nick. See you around.”

“Sure.” Brows furrowed, he watched the Sorcerer start to make his way through the crowd. Before Jinn got too far, though, he stopped and turned, looking back at Nick.