THE SCENT OF TREASON

THE WITCHES DEBT

Mate.

The word hit me like a physical blow. The breath vanished from my lungs, and the room began to spin. Werewolves did not have human mates. It was a biological impossibility, a myth whispered in the dark corners of the supernatural underworld. But the burning gold in Kaelen's eyes and the possessive, crushing weight of his aura told me he was absolutely serious.

No, I gasped, pressing my palms against his solid chest, trying desperately to push him away. No, that is impossible. You are a royal Alpha. I am just a cleaner.

Kaelen did not budge an inch. His hands tightened around my waist, anchoring me so completely to his body that I could feel the violent, heavy thud of his heart beating against mine.

My wolf does not care about your job, Nalia, Kaelen growled, his voice vibrating through my bones. My beast only knows that you belong to me. And right now, it is demanding to know why you are shaking like a leaf when you are in the safest place in this entire city.

Safe. The word tasted bitter on my tongue. I was not safe. The moment I failed to report back to the broker, the coven would know something had gone wrong. They would not wait to ask questions. They would go straight to my apartment. They would take her.

Panic, cold and sharp, pierced through the hypnotic fog of Kaelen's scent.

Let me go, I begged, my voice cracking. I struggled against his grip, my nails digging into his shoulders. Please. I have to leave. If I do not go back, they will kill her.

The air in the room instantly turned to ice. The golden heat in Kaelen's eyes vanished, replaced by a glacial, terrifying fury. The Alpha King was back, and he was staring at me with a lethal intensity that made my blood run cold.

Who? Kaelen demanded. The single word cracked like a whip in the silent room.

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears of pure frustration and terror finally spilling over my lashes. I had kept the secret for two years. I had scrubbed blood, bone, and magic off concrete floors just to keep the coven satisfied. But I could not fight an Alpha King.

My little sister, I sobbed, my entire body trembling against him. The coven holds a blood curse over her. My parents died owing them a massive magical debt, and the witches transferred the ledger to us. If I do not pay the monthly installment, the curse activates. They will drain her life force.

Kaelen went completely still. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy with impending violence. He slowly lifted his hand, his rough thumb wiping a tear from my cheek. The gesture was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the absolute murder radiating from his posture.

You took the job tonight to pay her ransom, Kaelen stated. It was not a question.

The payout was enormous, I whispered, opening my eyes to look at him. It was enough to clear the debt entirely. I did not know it was your brother. I swear on my life, I did not know.

Kaelen stared down at me. The betrayal of his brother's death was still raw, a bleeding wound in his chest. But the wrath building in his eyes was no longer directed at me. It was aimed entirely at the witches who had used his mate as a pawn in their treason.

What is the name of the coven? Kaelen asked, his voice deadly calm.

The Obsidian Circle, I answered, my heart pounding in my ears.

A dark, terrifying smirk curved the corner of Kaelen's mouth. It was the smile of a predator who had just found its prey. He finally released my waist, taking a step back. The sudden absence of his body heat left me shivering.

Get some sleep, Nalia, Kaelen commanded, turning toward the heavy bedroom door.

Where are you going? I asked, panic flaring again. They are dangerous.

Kaelen paused in the doorway. He looked back over his shoulder, his eyes glowing with that lethal, molten gold.

I am going to pay the Obsidian Circle a visit, Kaelen promised softly. And I am going to show them exactly what happens when they threaten the family of an Alpha King.