Silent Cravings Read Online Free Page B

influential Were’s. He didn’t seem to notice. “Thank you for coming, my dear. If the other young Goliaths are as respectful as you, I’m sure we can make an arrangement for some of them to stay here. Which reminds me, I’d almost forgotten. We have another guest here tonight.”
    Christoph’s head came up in alarm as he glanced at the fourth person who’d stood somewhat apart, waiting in the shadows. This wasn’t part of the arrangements.
    “Christoph, Analie, please meet Alec Royce. We asked him to come tonight to see if what they say about your younger pack members being blind to the presence of vampires was myth or reality.”
    Christoph took an involuntary step back, and Analie paled when the shadows shifted as the vampire moved into the light. He’d left his ruined jacket behind, but his slacks and white button-down shirt looked relatively clean after the scuffle. His smile was fierce as his black eyes focused on Christoph, the promise of pain to come written in his expression.
    “Oh, no worries about introductions, Rohrik. We’ve already met.”

Chapter Two
    C hristoph’s gaze shifted back and forth between the slightly puzzled leader of the Moonwalker pack and the angry, anticipatory look of the vampire. This was not good.
    “Is there a problem?” Rohrik asked, wondering if Christoph was looking so panicked because of the vampire or because of the change in plans.
    There was natural enmity between vampires and werewolves, but that had been set aside on the East coast for the common good of all Others. The leaders of the different races and packs wouldn’t go out for beers together, but they’d collaborate on projects and changes that would affect the territories of any supernaturals involved. They’d formed the loose alliance after a crazy sorcerer-mage had attempted to kill or enslave them all. Such a treaty didn’t exist between the Others in southern California, where the Goliath pack was from.
    “Alec won’t harm you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Nathan said. “He’s only here for negotiations like the rest of us.”
    “That’s right,” the vampire purred, the silken promise in his voice sending a shudder down Christoph and Analie’s spines. “We have much to discuss. Things like apologies and reparations, in addition to limitations to be imposed on their pack before any more of them enter our land.”
    One of the other pack leaders, Chaz, raised a brow. “What for? Nobody mentioned anything about this to me before the meeting.”
    “Me neither,” Nathan said, frowning. “Was there an attack we should know about?”
    Christoph would’ve tucked his tail between his legs if he’d been shifted when the three alphas and the vampire all turned to look at him. Instead, he lowered his head, assuming as submissive a stance as he could manage in his human form. There was no way to put any kind of spin on this to make it look good. “We… uh… had a scuffle. Just a bit of a disagreement, really.”
    “He attacked me, unprovoked,” Royce stated flatly. “Twice.”
    Grimacing, Christoph nodded at the others’ incredulous stares. Analie looked mightily disappointed in him, but kept her mouth shut.
    “Yeah. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
    “You attacked Alec Royce? Over ice cream ?” Rohrik looked like he was trying hard to keep from choking on his laughter. He knew Christoph had fought with a vampire in that convenience store, but no one had told him who he’d been fighting with. The warm brown eyes of the elder Were focused on the vampire, glittering with mirth. “And you didn’t kill him for his impudence? Of all of us, you’re the last I expected to go soft.”
    The question, while asked in jest, posed a deadly serious problem for the vampire. If he admitted to weakness, the packs might use it against him. Unperturbed, he kept his voice as cheerful as Rohrik’s, though the others stiffened at the implied menace behind his words.
    “Not at all. I wasn’t