Wolf Bait (Perry and Jonas)

James told us some pretty fucked up stories about them growing up. How when they were young, he was treated delicately and he wasn't allowed to play with Jonas because Jonas needed to train. He said there were times Jonas did things and James. would watch his father beat the hell out of him while their mom made James watch so that when he was of age and started training he wouldn't make the

same mistakes.

Things got much worse as they grew up. He said he was angry because Jonas's training always meant more than his no matter how hard he pushed or how he was completely obedient More so than Jonas ever had been. And in the end, only Jonas's efforts and accomplishments meant anything to his parents.

I see it in the way Jonas doesn't think he has any insecurities. The way he carries himself and thinks his way out of situations without having to fight. Once his parents got what they wanted, Jonas was given the liberty to do what he pleased so as long as it was within their plans for him. It was a false freedom to see how he would use the skills he was given.

James wasn't given such liberties. His father had a firm foot on his neck until he snapped. James, a boy who only wanted to be treated equally to his brother, was given the same power I was when I killed for the first time, and it's the only way he knows how to win. To the death.

I need someone like that for us. I know the King is going to get all possessive and overly protective once the initial shock of what I look like now wears off. Mackenzie despite her protests, is going to be the lady of Cliffside. Once Royce finds out what's going on, if he doesn't reject her, he's probably not going to want to let her out of his sight.

It has to be him.

The problem lies with my insanely "not" insecure second-chance mate. He's not going to be happy when I bring it up and I don't want to ruin our reunion. The trip to Nova was quiet for the most part. Neither of us was willing to admit how much we actually missed one another. Both of us getting reacquainted with our scents and presence.

It's been a while since I've stepped foot in Nova. I feel like my changes are enough to conceal who I am to the naked eye II have to do is steer clear of the Alpha King who will know it's me the moment he sees me. I don't know how, but I'm a hule( scared of him finding out.

The King bought a huge plot of land just outside the north side of Nova. The village that Alpha Scofield's wife was born in The very same village he tore apart to get to his wife. After being rejected, the Alpha and Luna of Nova fell in love in the midst of a war they ended but was never theirs. In the end, her father tried to take her away and he slaughtered anyone that got in his way to get to her.

The land has since then, been used as a Thunderdome arena by the juveniles of Nova. One of the rules of Nova that is strictly enforced by the alphas is their no-fighting law. If wolves want to tear one another apart, they have to do it outside of the pack borderlines and that's where Viper's Lane comes in. Well, it did. It belongs to us now.

"You don't seem surprised," the King says when we get into the village. The old houses were torn down. New foundations and homes are going up.

"Why would I be? It's a good choice. It gets us closer to the council,"

Mackenzie's reports are a little unsettling. In her time watching him, she's killed four potential threats. Two wolves and two vampires. She's also reported the names of the women who have tried to flirt with him. The names of those who have offered him deals. The names of those who have threatened him openly. And of course, the names of the assholes who sent the four suspects who tried to get to not only the King but Andromeda as well.

"I've been to your loft," he says as we arrive in front of a massive house that's further along than the others. There's amusement in his tone.

"I told you it was nuts," I laugh.

"I walked through the entire loft. All four floors,"

"I hope you found what you were looking for," I smirk.

"How did you keep all of that hidden from your mate and his sister?"

"Wrong question," I look up at him. His eyes zero in on me.

"Why did you keep it from them?"

9

73%

"Call it a hunch. Maybe it was the paranoia my father drilled into me. I was always a pawn and maybe I learned to love faster than I learned to trust,"

"You trusted me,"

"You're the first person I trusted without having an emotional attachment. You never showed me anything other than the truth. I was your slave and even when it destroyed you to force me to submit, you stayed true to your word. I trust you completely," "Is that the truth?" he asks, but I know he has his answer by the way he's smiling back at me. The cocky fuck just wants me to say it out loud.

"That is the truth, my King," I confirm.

"How do you want to proceed then?" he asks. "What will our dynamic be in front of the other Kings?"

"You're not going to like what I have to say, Jonas,"

"I rarely ever do, Pernicious," he sits back to look out the darkly tinted windshield.

"I want to be your shadow,"

"No,"

"There is no other way. If you tell them who I am. Even if you don't tell them it's me. I will be targeted because I am your mate. If they discover my true identity, you will be targeted because you are mine,"

He reaches for the center console to open the door and I place my hand over his.

"I can't ask you do to that,"

"You're not. You said we were in this together. This is how we do things, Jo,"

"Perry, if something happens to-" I cup his face making him look at me. His eyes are pitch black again. "I can't lose you. What part of that don't you comprehend, Little Wolf?"

"We've both lost enough for us to know what would happen to us if one of us dies, Jonas. We're not like any of the other matings in the hierarchy. They know what we did to get you to where you are. We have the people on our side, but that doesn't mean we have the Kings' approval. "A war is going to start soon. You've seen everything in my loft, right? We are more than prepared to survive the changes that will come with that. We're on enemy territory and I want us to be on the same page. By all means,"

We stare at one another for a while. Long enough for me to see that he's actually considering my offer. I need him to be on board with this because it's not just our fate wè have to decide anymore. It's everyone's and I've failed more than once already. I can't help him if he's not willing to do what is required in the position we're in.

"By all means. What do you need?" he caves.

"This is the part you're not going to like, Jo," I squeeze his hand.

"The other part wasn't it?" he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before urging me to continue. "What is it?"

"I need your idiot brother on the Local Lunatic taskforce,"

As soon as the words leave my lips, his hold on my hand loosens and he rips his hand out of mine.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"What?" he growls.

0

"He's an asset, Jonas. You're father turned him into a weapon and I want to use him for our benefit the way it was intended,"

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he hits the button, and his door is released.

"Jonas," I call after him. I get out of the car and try to stop him. When he spins around his hand lands on my throat. I stepped right into that.

"I am going to make myself very clear, Little Wolf. And it is in your best interest to pay attention. If you so much as bring my brother's name up again, I will send you back to Cliffside and you will never see me again,"

"Jonas," Silas calls from behind him. He pulls me closer, his eyes intently on my own.

"Did you hear me, Pernicious?" he growls tightening his grip.

Goosebumps break out all over my skin. The scent of his rage is intoxicating and with my newly found love of all the shit I used to hate thanks to the blue wolfsbane, the promise of his violence is all very appealing. It's not fear he's instilling. It's a lot more than that and I find myself smiling. My chest rumbles in a way it's never before. It takes him a moment to catch on to what's happening. I believe his kind call this a mate's call.

"I heard you, my King," I relax against him. "I'm just not sure it's you who's paying attention,"