“That is enough!” Dunc stopped walking and turned around to everyone who was within earshot. The park was full of people enjoying the beautiful weather. All eyes fixed on Dunc, and Amanda wished she could crawl away somewhere and hide. He didn’t say anything more, just glared intensely. People began getting up and leaving as though a parent had reprimanded them. They scattered.
Dunc sighed. He had thought his people would have the decency to ignore him and Amanda. But no, they had to stare because this was something they had never seen with him before. He was out with a woman. The Lycans all knew what was going on. They were a bunch of idiotic, love-crazy, well-meaning people who were happy for him. But they were going to scare Amanda if they kept it up. He would have to have a talk with them about ignoring him when he was out with Amanda.
“Don’t mind them. They’re stunned by how beautiful you are.” He paused, wrapping an arm around Amanda’s shoulders. “And how ugly I am.” Amanda was not set at ease by Dunc’s explanation. There was something weird about how everyone treated Dunc. For a guy that seemed to rarely leave his home and not be social at all, there was a strange level of respect from everyone they met. It did not match her perception of Dunc.
“Don’t say that, Dunc.” Amanda leaned against him. “Don’t say you’re ugly.”
“It’s the truth.” He shrugged, his shoulders slumping forward and head down. “Big nose. Skinny face. Too much cheekbone. Bony. Too tall. Too thin. Covered in cuts and bruised up. It’s the truth.”
Amanda slid her arms around Dunc, positioning herself in front of him so that his face was above hers. “It is not.”
“Just because you say words to deny something doesn’t change the truth.” Dunc smiled, nuzzling the top of her head and hugging her. “It doesn’t matter. It’s something I’ve had plenty of time to get used to.”
“You know, you keep saying I’m beautiful, and that’s not what anyone outside my family would say about me.” Amanda took a deep breath. “I don’t understand why you are even here. I don’t understand why you took me out today. I don’t understand anything you have done for me.”
“I like you,” Dunc muttered.
“Nobody likes me,” grumbled Amanda. “I’m paranoid, get mad fast, and people annoy me. I don’t get along with other women because they’re all about expensive vacations, clothes, jewelry, and so much stupid! Fake, stupid people! And men, seriously! They all want me to answer to them and do everything they tell me to do! I don’t see the point.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“You’re different.” Dunc chuckled softly into her hair.
“So I’ve been told,” groaned Amanda.
“That’s what I like!” Dunc laughed a little more excitedly than he meant to. “I mean, that’s fine. I don’t care either. I really like you, Amanda. I like you as you are.”
“I like you too.” Amanda tilted her head up, intending to kiss Dunc. She met the palm of his hand instead.
“No.” Dunc took a step back with a grin on his face. “I said I would take you out, no strings attached, and that I didn’t want anything. And after your little rant, this is best.”
“Hey!” Amanda tried to get around his hand. Dunc danced back. He was fast for such a tall man! “I want to kiss you!”
“No!” Dunc laughed and turned away from her. “We are friends, and that’s how we went out today.”
“This isn’t fair!” Amanda lunged, grabbing him around the waist as he tried to get away. “I can’t even reach you!” Dunc chuckled, half dragging Amanda with him in the direction of his car. A few people passing by stopped to watch with smiles on their faces, then walked away. Their King had his hands full with his Queen.
***
A massive grin crossed Joseph’s face as he read the lab report in his email. The results from the blood samples he had dropped off that morning were in. He chuckled. The information changed everything about how he would proceed with his attack on October 31st. He had done his research into Amanda’s neighbor. He knew his name and resided in the same home for over 30 years with his mother. That meant there were two he would have to deal with. Two Caliph Regis Lycans.
Joseph was going to need help with this, but only his closest friends. He didn’t need anyone upstaging his hunt. Caliph Regis was considered the most dangerous type of Lycan. If these two had hidden out peacefully for decades, then they could be taken off-guard. Joseph had learned early in his career that if you hunted Lycans who were not an active threat, they were easy prey. They panicked. They always ran. They were targets. Even though these were Caliph Regis, the Kings of all Lycans, they would be no different. He would get paid to take them out and turn over their bodies. Or, he could try to capture one or both of them and turn them into registered hunting Lycans. That would be difficult, but it wouldn’t be impossible and would be a powerful status symbol. Controlling a Lycan for hunting was common, but there had never been a Caliph Regis registered. Ever.
Chapter 10
D unc sat with his mother. The box holding the sterling silver necklace was on the coffee table between them. A lit candle sat next to it. “Okay, so I’m going to use wax on my fingertips to
