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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] Hi, Declan. It s Travis. Sorry to bother you. Travis? He frowned. What could the veterinarian possibly need? Is Rainy okay? Uh, yeah. That s not who I m calling about. He could hear the concern and trepidation in the human s voice. Take a deep breath, and tell me what s got ye so worked up, Travis, he commanded evenly. Travis sighed, and he could imagine the man rubbing his forehead. He d seen him do it often enough when tired or concerned. In the background he heard a feminine voice murmur something. Travis said, I don t mean to question your judgment, Alpha, but& Declan knew it was serious for the man to be so formal. Are you sure it s okay for Lark to be up and around? What? Of course he shouldn t be up and around. Well, he s at the zoo. He s what? Declan practically roared into the phone. What the fuck is he doing there? Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shane s jaw drop and 83 Charlie Richards Carson rose from the couch he lounged on, ready to back his alpha if needed. Taking a deep breath, he felt pain in his fisted hand. Declan looked down and saw that his claws were out and digging into his palm. Damn, when was the last time he d lost control of his shift? Sheathing his claws, he realized Travis had started talking. It s the pack field trip. He s been planning it with Caroline and Synthia for weeks. I figured he d find a replacement chaperone because of the attack, but then I saw him here with the kids. Forcing his voice to come out reasonably calm, he said, Keep an eye on him. I m on me way. Disconnecting the call, his gaze swept over Shane and Carson. I ve got to go. As he turned away, Shane grabbed his arm. Alpha, I don t understand. Why have ye appointed yourself guardian of Lark? He s not one of us. Declan let out a sigh, knowing it was time to share the truth with his beta. He turned and looked the wolf in the eye. Aye, he is. He s me mate, Shane. The man sucked in a breath, dropped Declan s arm, and backed up a step. Yer mate? But& He shook his head. The alpha can t mate with another man. It s just not done. Fuck! His beta had just voiced the concern he knew he d hear from more than one member of 84 Alpha s Prerogative his pack. Declan let out a breath and frowned at Shane. What? Ye think this choice is alpha s prerogative? We don t choose our mates, Shane. Ye know that. His frustration mounting, he glared. Besides, Lark is sweet, thoughtful, and kind. He s the best damn thing that s ever happened to me. When he stopped speaking, he realized the truth of his words. He couldn t lose Lark, no matter what. But ye ve never liked men before, and he s been around us for nearly four months. Shouldn t ye have realized it sooner? Carson chuckled. Fuck, Shane. What hole have you had your head in? Declan s bi. Always has been. If the Fates have willed his mate to be male, than who are we to question it? Declan couldn t stop his jaw from dropping while Shane s face flushed. Carson s deep laughter filled the room. What? You didn t think I knew? Like knows like, Alpha. He clapped him on the shoulder. Go round up your mate, Declan. I got your back. Relief flooded him, knowing his enforcer supported him. Declan smiled grimly. Thanks, Carson. He flicked his gaze to Shane and lifted a brow in question. The man grimaced, but nodded. Ye ve never steered us wrong, Alpha. Ye won t get any challenge from me. 85 Charlie Richards Declan gave a curt nod, but saw the question in his eyes, so he lifted his chin in acknowledgement. Shane hesitated before answering, Have ye claimed him yet? Declan shook his head. Not yet, but I will. He strode from the house. Thirty minutes later, he was at the zoo. Damn, he hated this place. He knew the necessity of it, so humans could learn about the animals around them. And he knew they helped with breeding programs to help replenish endangered species, but all the cages it just made his skin crawl. He got out of the car and strode toward the gates. After paying the fee, he entered. He could just make out the faint traces of Lark s scent, but it was too old and too many other people had been through the area for him to decide on a direction. Declan! He turned toward the caller. A short, blonde woman strode toward him, carrying a snake. Lisa, he said, forcing a smile as he recognized Cliff s human mate. When she reached him, she went to give him a hug and he held up a hand. Uh, whoa. I don t mind snakes, but I m not going to hug one. Have ye seen Lark? Lisa rolled her eyes. Yeah, that s why I m hanging at the gate waiting for you. Come on. Relief swept through him, and he followed quickly after her. A couple moments later, he 86 Alpha s Prerogative rounded the elephant pen and spotted Lark amidst a crowd of cubs. Declan strode purposefully toward him, his gaze fixed on his mate. Perhaps realizing someone watched him, or maybe sensing his presence, Lark turned to look at him. He watched his mate s eyes widen in surprise. Lark took an involuntary step backward. Seeing the move, Declan forced his frustration aside, softening his expression. He knew Lark would never learn to trust him if he couldn t prove he d never harm the man, even in anger. Declan smiled. Lark, he said. Fancy meeting ye here, he purred. Declan, Lark gasped. What are you doing here? He took in Lark s too-pale face, the tight lines around his mate s mouth that spoke of his pain, and leaned close. The question is, Lark, what the hell are you doing here? Do we have to do this here? Lark whispered. Declan looked at the kids glancing curiously at them before moving on to look at the animals around them. Come sit down before ye fall down, Lark. Ye shouldn t be on yer feet like this, he murmured, leading him to a bench. Once Lark was seated, Declan dropped next to him. His mate didn t look at him, so he cupped his cheek and raised Lark s face to his. What is so fucking 87 Charlie Richards important that ye had to be here? Lark s blue eyes searched his face for several long seconds before he whispered, Sara. Declan blinked. His confusion must have been evident, for Lark continued. I told her father I d pick her up for the zoo trip. I knew it was the only way she d be allowed to go. Sara. Declan racked his brain, but came up blank. Lark realized his loss, because he looked pointedly at a small girl standing alone. She glanced uncertainly between the group of kids as they moved along the pathway with Caroline and Synthia, who were giving them covert looks, to the elephant in front of her, to Lark. Then Declan remembered the cute little girl sitting on Lark s lap at the BBQ last weekend. Sara Castro, Randall s daughter. Lark nodded. She wouldn t have been able to come otherwise. Declan leaned forward and rested his forehead against Lark s. Why didn t ye just tell me? he whispered, but he already knew the answer. Lark didn t trust him yet. He smiled slightly. I m grateful that ye think of others in the pack before yerself, Lark. You re not mad? Lark murmured. A bit frustrated, aye, but I could never stay 88 Alpha s Prerogative mad at ye, pretty man. Besides, yer devotion to the pack is a wonderful quality. One I appreciate and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |