Cruel Alpha, Season One (Wolves of New Eden #1)

16. Detour

16

Detour

Annalise

Tonight’s seems like as good a night as any to start The Complete Fairytale Collection of Joseph Terrell. So, despite the late hour, I’m on my way to the library to retrieve my favorite gift from Caspian. Let’s just say that my interaction with him during my birthday dinner several hours ago still hasn’t been forgotten. And now, I’m feeling a bit… restless. Too restless to lie in bed and have any chance of falling asleep without help.

As my steps echo in the corridor, I note that a book is a poor substitute for the comfort of a man, but it will certainly take my mind off how my body seems hell bent on betraying me. It’s becoming apparent that whenever my mind isn’t focused, its new default setting is to think of him .

I turn the corner and a small gasp leaves me when I see dim light spilling out from Caspian’s office. I should’ve thought twice about coming this way, but I honestly assumed he’d long been asleep. Maybe he, too, is restless.

I take a step back, thinking I’ve been quiet enough to escape unnoticed, but when a voice calls out through the darkness, it’s clear I’ve been made.

“Don’t be afraid, birthday girl. I don’t bite.”

It takes a moment to recognize who’s speaking, then it comes to me.

Dimitri.

I sigh, rolling my eyes toward the ceiling for not having been quieter. Or smarter, taking the long way around for the simple reason that I can’t seem to walk anywhere near Caspian’s study without getting caught sneaking past.

My steps carry me toward the doorway, and I’m dressed more appropriately than the last time I visited this room. I changed out of the outfit I wore to tonight’s dinner, into a pair of stretch pants and an oversized sweater.

“I’m not afraid of anyone ,” I say, making my presence known when I step into the study.

Smirking, Dimitri looks up from behind Caspian’s desk, lowering whatever paperwork he’d just been completing before I walked in.

“Famous last words.”

I don’t respond. He’s arrogant and unkind, and quite frankly, I try to limit interaction with him.

“Isn’t it a little late for you to be out of your room, wandering?”

My fist tightens at my side. “Is there a curfew I haven’t been made aware of?”

He smiles, but there’s nothing friendly about it. “I see someone’s getting comfortable.”

The comment stings a bit because there’s an air of mocking to it. As if he finds it comical that I’m starting to settle in here.

“Rumor is, you had quite the eventful night tonight. Something about you having your aunt and uncle escorted off the premises?”

I don’t bother responding. He clearly already has the details.

“It’s a shame, really,” he sighs. “There used to be a time when family was a thing to be valued. Not just walked out the front door because someone said something that hurt your feelings.”

My wolf is suddenly alert as frustration sets in.

“My aunt insulted me.”

He nods slowly, considering my words. “She… insulted you .”

“Yes, and considering all they’ve put me through in recent months, I think I’ve earned the?—”

“I’m sorry… with all they’ve put you through? Are you still moaning and complaining about my brother taking you in?”

“Taking me in? I was forcibly removed from my home, Dimitri.”

“Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. Look around, Annalise! You’ve got everything you could ever want, everything you could ever need, and then some. I wouldn’t exactly call life here in the estate a prison sentence.”

“I don’t have to listen to this,” I scoff, settled on the idea of leaving, but Dimitri has other plans.

He rocks back in his seat. “Before you go… aren’t you the least bit curious as to where our beloved alpha might be?”

I don’t miss his mocking tone, but I choose to ignore it. “I didn’t come here looking for him. In fact, I wasn’t coming here at all. I’m just grabbing a book from the library to take with me to bed.”

He nods slowly, narrowing his eyes as he studies me. “Good. Because my brother’s not on the property. He’s been gone at least an hour now, and I don’t suspect he’ll be back for quite some time.”

The unsolicited information confuses me, but I don’t let that show on my face. The less Dimitri knows he gets to me, the less he knows he gets inside my head, the better.

“Well, aren’t you going to ask where he’s gone?” he taunts, arching a brow when he smirks again.

“No. Where your brother goes, what he does with his spare time, is none of my business.”

Dimitri’s deep laugh booms, echoing uncomfortably in the vast space. “Ah, come on. Admit that it’s killing you. Admit that your mind is racing, wondering what he could be up to so late, wondering where he’s spending the few remaining hours of your special day.”

My jaw clenches, but I give him nothing.

He leans forward, resting both elbows on the desk as he stares. “You know what? It’s just as well that you’re not curious. After all, it’d be highly inappropriate to mention such a place in the presence of a lady.”

And that does it. I’ve had about as much of this asshole as I can stand, and he roars another of those infuriating laughs when I turn on my heels and head toward the door.

“The Wet Bar,” he yells out, and I don’t think he’s at all surprised when I stop cold in my tracks.

The Wet Bar is a little-known gentleman’s club, a well-kept secret among the elite. Those who frequent the spot pay a hefty membership fee for a reason. Because the club’s owner, and the staff, are notoriously discreet.

All so the upper crust of Clan Centauri society can do their dirt, and then look their friends and family in the eyes afterward, confident that their secrets are tightly locked down.

My blood is boiling, and thank the gods Dimitri can’t see my face, because I’m certain it’s blazing red by this point. Just at the thought of Caspian being seen in a place like that. It’s not only his name and reputation on the line. It’s mine as well.

My mind flashes back to his grand declaration at the Starlight and Silk Soiree. He made it a point to uplift me in the eyes of our people, lying through his teeth when he claimed to value me. An act this vile doesn’t exactly support that statement. If I were valued, he wouldn’t have even considered going anywhere near The Wet Bar. Because he’d understand how that might compromise the foundation of respect he’s attempted to lay for me among our people.

I’m not sure how, but my feet are moving again. Despite being so deeply wounded that I’d swear the sting in my eyes could very well mean there are tears on the way.

“Leaving so soon?” Dimitri calls out, but I don’t stop this time.

He isn’t laughing now, but I’m not fooled. He’s not a fan of Caspian selecting me, which means my pain is sheer entertainment for him. A fact made clear when he speaks again, taunting me further.

“You’re free to go, but… that place isn’t easy to find,” he says. “So, if you’re planning to drop in and pay my brother a visit, you’ll need this.”

I continue walking, but only make it a few steps before morbid curiosity stalls me again. I stand there for several moments, staring at the doorway I should have already passed through, but I can’t. Instead, I turn to face Dimitri, staring at the small piece of paper in his hand as I make my way toward the desk.

He smiles when I snatch the note from between his fingertips. This is no act of kindness on his part, but he has provided me with what I need tonight.

Something I couldn’t have acquired on my own, something I wouldn’t be able to silence my frustration without, even if I may soon regret it.

An address.