One Insatiable(50)

“Salty,” he says. I reach out and he hands it to me. A small nibble and the sting of fish fills my mouth, teasing my inner cat.

“I love it!” Handing it back, I take my own piece, covering it with the spread. “Tell me when you started boxing.”

He leans back in the booth, exhaling. “In middle school I started getting into fights. I don’t know why I was always at war with everybody. My mom was a gentle lady.”

“Shifter?”

“No — that came from my dad’s side. She taught me to keep it a secret, and she tried to teach me about our ways. The legends.” I watch as he toys with the triangle of bread on his plate. “I didn’t like being different. I didn’t want to know about the man who ditched us. I guess I listened to her more than I realized.”

My chest aches at the thought of him growing up that way, alone without an alpha. “I became an alpha, even though I didn’t know what it meant,” he says, addressing my feelings. “Both of my parents were tall, and by the time I was in high school, I was a head above everyone else.”

“So you started boxing?”

“My dad was a boxer. It came naturally to me. My nickname was mostly a joke.”

“Stitch?”

“Yeah. As you can see, I’m somewhat oversized.”

Salads gone, our entrees are placed in front of us. The warm, green pancakes are in front of me with an assortment of soft cheeses, asparagus, and wild mushrooms. Koa’s duck is in a deep brown gravy with rice and fennel.

He catches me eyeing his plate and laughs. “Here.” He puts a thick slice of duck on mine, and I quickly eat it. The bird is meaty and rich.

“Mmm,” I groan.

“You’re a cat. You need protein. Not whatever that is.” He waves his fork at my plate.

“I just wanted to try it.” Taking a bite, the combination of nutty pancakes, soft cheese, and savory mushrooms forms an interesting flavor. “It’s not bad, actually.”

“Hmm, I’ll stick with the duck.”

Settling in, I cut another bite of my food. “So were you famous? I’m sure you had to be.”

He nods. “We were getting there, but I’d only been at it a year when… That night.”

Trying to steer the conversation away from our dark times, I point to the ink on his forearm. “What does this mean?” I put my fork down and slide my finger over a black, pointed network of swirls. It’s like an anchor combined with a scythe.

“Polynesian symbol for strength.” He turns his arm up, and I see the black panther on the inside. It’s a gorgeous design with sharp claws and teeth.

“I love it.” With the tip of my finger, I follow the line from the panther’s head down the swoosh of his back along his tail.

Koa watches me in a way that warms my insides. “I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all of you. No marks?”

Shaking my head, I look down at my palm. “I have the pack mark on the back of my neck. It’s covered by my hair.” I touch my neck, right in the center at the base of my hairline where a small network of three circles is hidden.

“I’d like to see it.”

A naughty smile curls my lips. “Why don’t we go to your place, and I’ll show you everything?”

He signals the waiter, who brings the check. Several minutes later, we’re out on the sidewalk, headed for his apartment. I’m curled into his side, holding his arm, but I can’t help looking up at the moon. The faintest crescent of white is still visible in the sky, and a wave of fear tightens my chest. This time tomorrow, it will all be over.

In an instant I’m in Koa’s strong arms. “Stop.” He holds me by the shoulders, giving me a gentle shake. “I can’t feel that in you. We’re not giving up.”

My eyes heat, and I fight against the tears burning in them. I haven’t cried since that first night in the mansion when Dylan told me my fate. I’ve fought tears ever since. I’m not weak. I’m not giving in. And yet…

“It’s not just us, Koa,” I say, defeat thick in my voice. “If it were just us, I would be reckless. I would say yes, let’s run away and keep running. Run until he’s tired of chasing us. But it’s not us. I can’t sacrifice Dylan and Penny for my happiness, and what if the other part is right? What if he terrorizes the town?”

“He’s not going to do that.” His grip on my arms loosens, and he’s rubbing my shoulders with his warm hands. “Something like that would attract too much attention. This isn’t the nineteenth century.”

We start to walk. I’m holding his arm, resting my head on his enormous bicep, and I feel his frustration in my chest. Koa is a fighter. Nothing infuriates him more than helplessness.

“You’re right, but he could still make my family pay. I can’t let that happen.”

We’re at the corner, where the sidewalk ends, and he turns to face me, his green eyes serious. No smile is on his face, and the force of his emotion stills my heart.

“I’m going to fight him, Mercy.” His green eyes glow with intensity. “If we can’t find another way around this, I won’t let him take you without a fight.”

“NO!” I lose my battle with the tears. They’re spilling onto my cheeks now. “You can’t! We’re strong, but we’re no match for him. He’ll kill you.”