Thanks, Z-man, he said, giving the guy a wan smile.
No problem. Here. Pushing to his feet, he offered Kalen a hand up.
He took it and stood awkwardly, not making eye contact with anyone as he waited for Nick to deliver his judgment. It came swiftly.
I get what happened here, the commander said in a low, stern tone. Its no secret that you two, in addition to your own problems, have had issues with each other from day one. But Im not a fucking kindergarten teacher and this isnt a playground for you two to beat the shit out of each other while you work out those issues. Is that clear?
Kalen winced. Yes, sir.
Yeah, Aric drawled, earning him a hard stare from Nick. He cleared his throat. I mean, yes, sir.
Find some common ground and do it on your own time. Ive got a Pack to run. I dont have time for this bullshit and neither does anyone else. If this happens again, youre both suspended. Indefinitely.
What! Aric shouted. It wasnt my fault! He
And now you know why, Nick enunciated. He was fast losing his trademark patience. You know how to read your teammates signals better than that, Aric. I know you do. You should have stopped and read his body language, and if you had, youd have known something was wrong. Then you would have let him go like he asked and diffused the situation with a bit of compassion. Youre a better Pack mate and brother than this.
Aric glanced to Rowan, found her lips tight with disapproval. His high cheekbones colored and he hung his head in shame. Youre right, Nicky. Im sorry.
Its not me you owe the apology.
He didnt want to speak to Kalen at all. Anyone could see that. It hurt more than Kalen wanted to admit. But the man closed the distance and nodded.
Im sorry, Sorcerer. I fucked up.
Kalen.
What? Arics brow furrowed in confusion.
Youre always calling me Goth-boy, kitty, pretty boy, whatever. My name is Kalen , he said quietly.
Right. Aric laughed without real humor. Sure, Kalen , whatever.
Nick shook his head. All right, everyone, shows over. Lets call it a day.
Kalen had never heard a better suggestion. As the group broke up, some of the guys clapped him on the back or gave him an encouraging word or two in a show of support. But none, he noted, actually stopped to really talk to him. To reach out.
Nobody ever had before. Why should now be any different?
Even Mac had left without speaking to him further. No reason she shouldve stayed after the way hed spoken to her. Aric had been right and Kalen had been too angry to listen.
Now he was alone in the empty corridor, longing for companionship. Hed give almost anything for the joy of the easy friendships these guys shared. Not to mention a beautiful mate like Jax and Aric had found. It seemed those dreams were to remain forever out of his reach.
Dont you have anything to say about that? he asked Malik bitterly.
The bastard didnt respond, though. At that moment, he wouldve given anything for companionship, even the slimy Unseelies, because then he wouldnt be so alone.
Which was, no doubt, exactly what Malik had planned.
And that was the most frightening thought of all.
Three
The night was too hot, the room stifling. Hed lowered the thermostat in his quarters, but it hadnt helped. The cotton sheets clung to his overheated skin, sticky and miserable.
For hours hed fought for oblivion, but it remained elusive. He was restless.
So alone.
Cant sleep?
Youre quite the detective, he said sarcastically to the damned Unseelie. What do you care? And dont the Fae sleep, either?
A deep sigh sounded from somewhere outside, in the shadows. I care more than you know, and I rarely require sleep. Come to me, boy. I want to show you something.
A chill slithered across Kalens skin, despite the uncomfortable heat. The Unseelie sounded almost . . . friendly. Was this a new approach to try to worm his way into Kalens confidence? No, thanks. Theres not anything youve got that I want to see.
Youll feel differently once you see it.
Feeling sure about that, huh?
What Im certain of is that youre alone. That youre tired, so tired of walking through your existence with no one by your side who understands you.
And you think you do? Kalen asked tightly.
Yes. I know you better than you realize.
What the hell does that mean?
Ill show you. Come.
Go to hell.
A darkly amused chuckle floated in the air. Thats not exactly an effective threat. While youre straining your mind for a more original insult, get out of bed and join me. You have nothing to lose. Deep inside, you know Im right.
The words filled him with despair. It didnt matter that he recognized the tactic the Unseelie was usingfind the point of weakness in the prey and strike. Kalens point of weakness also happened to be the truth.
Hed been alone and adrift since his grandmother died, not long after the day shed given him the pendant. Ever since, hed struggled to rise above the hatred, indifference, and ridicule thrown at him daily. It was hard to say which one hurt most.
With Kalens grandmother no longer an obstacle, his fathers abuse had worsened by leaps and bounds. Especially toward Kalens mother. On that last, terrible night, Dave Black had started beating her for some small infraction, and the sight of her cowering under his blows, crying out, made something snap in Kalens soul. Hed shifted into his panther form for the very first time and leaped onto his father, fully intending to rip out his throat. Only his mothers screams for him to stop spared the bastard his fate.