Page 50 of Alpha Hunt
“It’s nothing,” I say, putting my hand over hers and gently stilling her cautious exploration. It doesn’t hurt…at least not physically.
“Looks like more than nothing to me. Something…somebodyhurt you. And badly, to have left a scar like this.”
“Everyone has scars,” I say softly, my free hand drifting to the marks on her back, the ones left by the wolves who attacked her. I stroke them, feeling the raised edges beneath my fingertips. The deep grooves left by savage claws. “Just like these, from the rogues who came into your pack. The ones who took your family.”
I don’t know why I say it. Maybe to switch the attention from me. But if I’d intended to keep the mood light, I should have picked something else to talk about.
She frowns slightly, her lines forming on her forehead. “That’s exactly what happened.” Her gaze sharpens, burning into me. “How do you know about that?”
I shrug, my eyes never leaving hers. “I just do.” The truth is, I’ve seen it in her thoughts, the flashes of memories that flit through her mind so often, but I can’t bring myself to mention that now. It’s a part of myself I’m not ready to share, not yet.
She presses further, her tone insistent. “Did Jagger tell you?”
“No,” I assure her, shaking my head. “He didn’t.”
Casey studies me for a long moment as if trying to unravel the mystery behind my words. I hold her gaze steadily, willing her to understand that there are some things I’m not ready to reveal.
“Come on…was it Tarkin? Gage?” She nibbles her bottom lip as she considers this. “Those guys are freaking impossible. I swear they gossip like old women some days.”
I chuckle. “It wasn’t them.”
“Then how? I know I didn’t tell you.” Her frown deepens, the pressure of her chin on my chest lightening as her head lifts a little more.
“Magic,” I say, getting a bit closer to the truth than I’d planned.
She gives a low laugh. “I almost believe you. It’s so weird how you do that. Sometimes, it’s like you’re looking into my head.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to reveal. “I do,” I say, my voice low.
“Do what?” Her head tilts, confusion etched on her face.
“Get into your head,” I clarify, my heart pounding in my chest. Is this the right time to raise this? I can’t be sure. Though it has to come out at some point. Maybe sooner is better than later.
“I don’t understand.” She shakes her head, her eyes searching mine for answers.
I swallow hard, the words catching in my throat because I’m afraid of how she’ll react. “I’m psychic.”
“You’re what?” Her eyes widen in shock, her mouth falling open.
“I read minds.” The admission hangs heavy in the air between us.
“You’re fucking kidding me.” She lets out a disbelieving laugh, but there’s no humor in it. Casey’s eyes narrow as she studies me, suspicion building. “If this is a joke, Edirn, it’s not funny.”
I shake my head, my hand instinctively going to my throat again as the painful memories resurface. “Been able to do it since I was a boy.”
“But there’s no such thing, surely!” she objects. Disbelief is beating the war in her mind. “People can’t read minds. It’s impossible. A myth.”
“You believe in wolves, don’t you? Shifters? What we are?”
“Of course I do. That goes without saying.” She sounds offended. As if I’m questioning her existence.
“Then why not mindreaders?”
“Because…because…” She looks uncertain, then forges on, “What am I thinking now?”
I pause for a second, searching through the layers of her thoughts. “You’re trying to hide the fact that this makes you afraid. You’re doing it by thinking of something that happened on your patrol yesterday because you’re hoping it’ll blur your real thoughts.” I stop as images come to me. “You’re thinking about the kids from the patrol. They left a mess. There was a party.” My nostrils flare. “Cigarettes and beer cans.”
“Oh, my fucking God!” She’s gone completely stiff against me. “This is…” She trails off, shaking her head. I can sense the resistance in her mind, the walls slamming up to shut me out. “No! It’s wrong. Can you do it any time you like?” Her voice rises, tinged with anger and fear.