Page 14 of The Blood Wolf

"I always thought old Markides’s daughter was too smart to be his. Clever girl to piece it all together," Claudius said, an approving note in his voice.

"She is that. She was trying to get to me the night of the party you forced me to go to. She doesn't want a war with the vampires, and I think most wolves feel the same. It's just Kaleb and his inner circle of extremists who want to kick things off and probably use the vampire retaliation to bring all the wolves behind them. It's always the same old tricks," Thor replied with a sigh. He had seen it all before.

He had thought the world didn't have too many more tricks to show him until Nicola turned up. He had to get back to her. He hated being apart from her. Bjorn and Astrid would protect her if anything happened, but it grated on him not to be at her side.

"I don't suppose you would consider giving the girl back to Kaleb and hoping that it's enough to keep the peace?" Claudius asked. Thor gave him a long look, the silence stretching between them like a bowstring. The vampire pinched the bridge of his nose. "No. I didn't think so."

"She is my mate," was all Thor said.

"You intend to turn her into your Bride as well? Because turning a wolf will make you more ostracised from the vampires than ever."

Thor snorted. "Like I care. Politics is their game, not mine. As for turning her, that will be Nicola's decision, not mine. I just want to keep her safe and deal with our mutual enemies."

"Kaleb Pateras will attack you, you know that, yes?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

Claudius made a frustrated sound. "Keep the conflict in your territory if you can, and get me that evidence so we can start shutting down some of Kaleb's operations. Cut him off at the knees."

"I have an ax that can do that just fine," Thor said with a vicious grin. "But I will get you the paper trail from Nicola. I just wanted to warn you that this will be heated."

"So considerate of you," Claudius deadpanned. "I suppose I should be grateful you are bothering to warn me at all these days."

"That's right. You should be. Isn't that why Blood Pack land is wedged between the vampires and the wolves? I stand between you both and protect the vampire flank. Let me do it my way, or not at all. Now, if you will excuse me, Chairman, I have a mate I need to get home to," Thor said and was struck by the feeling that gave him. Warm. Contented. Something he never thought he would feel again.

"Don't be a love-sick fool and keep your head on your shoulders," Claudius warned him, but he smiled as he said it.

Thor had never been either of those things, but he had never had Nicola in his life. For the most part, his life had always boiled down to two things—winning or dying. Those were the only outcomes.

What the hell would a creature like him do with a mate? Thor grinned as his mind helpfully provided him with a long list ofexactlywhat he would like to do. He hurried out of the council building and toward home. He had a promise to keep to his mate.

11

Nicola couldn't sleep. Her mind was turning over everything Thor had told her, and she was worried about him being outside his territory where Kaleb could attack him. Kaleb would be stupid to try, but confidence in his own abilities wasn't something that he lacked.

Nicola couldn't stop thinking about the moment with Thor's hands on her in the hall either. He had barely touched her, and she had been more aroused than she could remember. She wasn't a virgin, but usually, her hookups were with humans because all the wolves knew that Kaleb had wanted her for years and didn't want to deal with the psycho.

I'm going to get my taste of you before dawn. Thor's words came back to her, sending a shiver through her.

Nicola had heard the stories of how intense a mating bond could be, but she had no idea. She didn't care if he was a vampire or a warg. She wanted to throw all caution to the wind and climb up into his arms. She had been so stressed with the death of her father and gathering the damming evidence on Kaleb that all she felt was relief that she didn't have to shoulder the burden alone anymore. If she hadn't been at her wit's end, there would havebeen no way that she would have walked into the trap the night of the party.

There was a rustle at the door, and Nicola sat up, "Thor?"

"Sorry to disappoint, princess," Astrid said, her eyes gleaming gold in the darkness. "Our perimeter wards were just tripped. Get your ass up. I think Kaleb finally grew some balls. Can you fight at all?"

Nicola pulled on her jeans and shirt. "I was an alpha's daughter. Of course I can fight. And before you say it, I was jumped the night of the party and drugged—that's why I couldn't stop them from taking me."

"Good to know you aren't useless," Astrid replied and offered Nicola a pair of small axes. "Can you use these without hurting yourself?"

"I'll be fine," Nicola said and took them. She tested the weight and gave them an experimental swing. "These will be great."

Astrid opened up the window. "Good. Out you get. We are sneaking you out before they come looking."

"We aren't staying to fight?"

"Thor would literally tear me apart if I let anything happen to his mate. You are the first mate the wargs have ever had. Did he tell you that? You are a hope for all of us, and you're not going to die or be taken on my watch," Astrid said and jumped out into the snow.

Nicola pushed down her surprise and went out after Astrid. Her wolf was on high alert as they crouched low and headed into the trees.