“And you came straight away?” she asked.
“Yes.We didn’t have another mission scheduled so I decided it was best to get it over and done with. Although, if I’d been aware of the circumstances the Pack was living under, we would’ve been here a long time ago.”
“So, you care about Wolves?”
Zohar paused, considering her words before replying. “I don’t know how to answer that. It’s my job. I protect those not able to do so for themselves. I deal with Alphas who abuse their power, or renegade Shifters who attack Packs. It’s what I do, it’s what I’ve done for so long that I no longer think of the why. I just do my duty as the Council’s Lead Enforcer.”
Maisy sat on the edge of an armchair next to the fireplace, motioning for him to take the one opposite. She waited until he’d taken his seat before she spoke again. “I have a feeling that it’s taken a heavy toll on you, Zohar. All these years working for the Council, doing what you’ve had to do. I can see it when I look in your eyes.”
Zohar scowled, doing his best to look his most fearsome as he jutted out his chin. “And what would you know about such things? I assure you that I’m just fine.”
Maisy didn’t flinch, merely gave him a hint of a smile. “See, there it is again, a look that on any other man would have me cringing in fear, but you don’t scare me, Zohar. Why is that? And what’s going on with my beast? Is the same thing happening with yours?”
“You should be scared, Maisy.” Zohar pierced her with a withering stare. “I’ve a darkness inside me that definitely should terrify you.”
“So you say.” Maisy pulled her legs up and tucked them under her, settling herself into a more comfortable position. “But again, I’m saying, I’m not frightened. That’s weird on so many levels, but you didn’t answer me . . . what’s going on with our Wolves? Mine is acting very strange and your scent is, well, it’s calling to my beast and if I didn’t know any better I’d say—”
Zohar’s hand shot up. “Don’t say it. It’s not possible.”
“What isn’t? That you have one, or that I do?” Maisy’s face flushed scarlet. “I know I’m not exactly a catch and I’m not strong the way Libby was, but there’s no need to be so damn rude.”
Zohar saw the change come over her, the tantalizing aroma that clung to the air now tinged with sadness and distress. The effect on him, both man and beast, causing an inner battle like nothing he’d fought before. Words spewing from his mouth before his mind had time to catch up. “That’s not what I meant. Not at all. It’s not you who is not worthy . . . it’s me. The Goddess would never send me this gift and I’m certain this fucking Hunger is a spell that one of my many enemies has inflicted to weaken me.”
As soon as he’d spoken he saw realization dawn in her eyes. Her emerald green orbs twinkling with excitement as a hand shot to cover her mouth when she gasped. “Holy shit.”
“Wait, don’t go there, Maisy. This is a mistake. It has to be. I’m telling you, this can’t be. It’s just not possible for this to happen to me. I am not worthy. Not with my dark soul. Not with what I’ve had to do for the Council. All the deaths on my hands. So many that I wonder my skin isn’t dyed blood red permanently. You have no idea of the things I’ve done. The Goddess wouldn’t be so stupid as to—”
“Hold up, Mister!” Maisy’s temper rose, unfurling her legs she sat forward, her hands on her hips. “You have no right to call the Goddess names. In fact, you’re the stupid one for doing so. She could just as easily take this away and then what? I’m supposed to just try and forget how I feel right at this moment? How you make me feel? Not scared, not terrified, in fact, for the first time in a very long time I feel safe. With you, Zohar, you make me feel like that and that is most definitely a gift from the Goddess.”
Zohar’s blood thundered in his ears as he listened to her, but more importantly as he watched her passion flow across her features, showing him something he’d never thought possible. A woman who appeared to truly care for him, no matter what he’d done. Even with the darkness inside him. Surely she must see it? Or was love truly blind after all?
“That’s a pretty speech but you’ve only just met me. You have no idea of what I’m capable of and—”
She did it again, interrupted him, jumping to her feet. “Don’t patronize me, you big lump. I’m not an idiot. I can see how dangerous you are. I was right there when you tore Marlon apart . . . remember? But that’s not all there is to you, Zohar. You do what you do to help people. You protect those that can’t do it for themselves. That’s a good thing. Why can’t you see that?”
Words slipped out unbidden, ones that slithered around inside his mind when he was alone and the darkness threatened to overwhelm him. “Because all I see in the mirror is my fucking dark soul, Maisy. Every damn time. The darkness inside of me has grown and grown with each life I’ve taken and soon I fear it will swallow me whole.”
Maisy dropped to her knees before him, reaching to grab one of his massive hands in both of hers. “Then there’s only one thing you can
