Chapter 52

MISTY

It was nearing lunchtime, and Chelsey and I were still sitting in the administration’s boardroom, sifting through the transactions Shelley had already flagged on the printed statements; it quickly felt like a futile exercise.

Axel—or perhaps Egon—had been transferring money into an account labeled as salary. The accounts department had no access to this account, and it looked like Axel used the palace account for every expense and not his own.

He’d likely amassed millions, hidden away for his purposes, rendering the palace’s finances almost irrelevant.

“Shelley, what do Black Meridian Logistics and Watchglass Initiative do for us?”

“Oh, um, Axel liked to donate money for military research…” She trailed off and shrugged.

~“This is bad,”~ Chelsea linked me. ~“Was he funding research that could be used against us?”~

~“It makes no sense, though.”~

All the while, I could hear the gossiping in the hallways, which I ignored for the most part, but some of it was worrying.

The squads that had been sent out to protect the packs hadn’t been accepted by Lloyd, which meant a breakdown of communication.

“How many warriors are there?” I asked Shelley.

“Eight hundred, give or take,” Shelly responded without looking up.

There was no way Lloyd could accept so many, not in a day. I just hoped that they were loyal and wouldn’t turn on us.

Paging through another ledger, I suddenly remembered the helicopter and looked for an entry, but he probably paid for that himself, so he could keep it hidden.

Shelley had already blocked Axel from the palace account and every other website he had access to, like the car trackers, and she’d sent generic emails to make sure he couldn’t use the accounts the palace had.

Axel had transferred another salary the day before yesterday, and Shelley called the bank to reverse the transaction.

“Argh,” Chelsea huffed. “None of these properties have landing pads, just like Tanner said. He could have bought a thousand properties no one is aware of…”

“Yes, and I’ve been racking my brain,” Shelley said. “I only dealt with Egon, and he never mentioned anything—I didn’t even know he could fly a helicopter.” She stopped and got up excitedly.

“What?” I asked.

“Where do you buy a helicopter? Egon had to take flying lessons. They must have paid for them using King Axel’s account, I mean Axel,” she corrected.

“How will that help us?” Chelsea asked. “We already have the account number he transferred to, but we can’t access that.”

Shelley grinned. “He didn’t use the palace account, so maybe he gave them a different address. It’s a slim chance, but it’s worth investigating. I know of an aviation school on the city’s outskirts, and I think I will pay them a visit.”

“Not on your own,” Chelsea said, getting up excitedly.

“I’m coming too,” I said. “Which means Adam and Trent will have to tag along.” Lloyd had instructed them not to let us out of their sight. Both were kicking their heels outside the boardroom door.

“Okay, I’ll arrange a vehicle,” Shelley said, hurrying out the door.

Just then, Adam poked his head in, his gaze darting between us. Clearly, he’d overheard our conversation and knew what we were planning.

“No, not going to happen. You’ll have to clear it with Alpha, and we can send someone else with Shelley,” Adam said.

“I’m going stir-crazy,” Chelsea yelled. “Can’t we go to a mall and do a spot of shopping, maybe have lunch and a hazelnut latte with cream?”

“Retail therapy and a hazelnut latte with cream,” I echoed dreamily.

~“You could do with a change of clothes,”~ Cammy chimed in.

~“I know, I have clothes scattered everywhere, but none where I need them. Lloyd doesn’t have shoes…”~

“Link Lloyd and ask him,” Chelsea demanded. “Axel’s not going to attack in a mall.”

“What about Shelley?”

Chelsea shrugged. “Adam can go with her.”

Adam folded his arms, and I had to bite back a laugh. “No, I am tasked with keeping Luna and Una safe.”

“Who are you calling Una? I think you’re getting too big for your boots, little Adam,” Chelsea retorted, drawing herself up to her full height.

I giggled at Chelsea’s haughty expression and Adam’s narrowed eyes.

“Why don’t you link Tanner?” I suggested.

“Fine,” she said and turned her back. A minute later, she announced, “They are on their way here… Take that,” sticking her tongue out at Adam.

I’d missed Chelsea more than I realized. Being back together felt like a balm to my weary spirit, easing some of the tension that had built up over the last few days.

The idea of spending the afternoon shopping, laughing, and forgetting about Axel’s looming threat was more than tempting—it was almost a necessity. Just a few hours of normalcy sounded like heaven.

Lloyd and Tanner came into view. In her usual exuberant manner, Chelsea squealed with delight and launched herself at Tanner, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

Her laughter rang out, infectious and free, and for a moment, the weight of our circumstances seemed to lift.

I watched them, a smile tugging at my lips. Why couldn’t I do the same—run into Lloyd’s arms without a second thought, let the world fade away, and lose myself in the comfort of his presence?

I couldn’t fault his affection, but I wondered if he’d been carefree before he was cursed.

~“Get him drunk…”~ Cammy advised. ~“He was different when he was delirious, remember?”~

~“True.”~

~“I don’t mind if you want to jump into my arms, sweetheart,”~ Lloyd linked, picking up on my feelings.

He didn’t ~mind~, but did he want that? Instead, I walked over, those green eyes that always seemed to see right through me—watching me. I reached out, taking his hand in mine.

In one swift movement, he picked me up, one hand curled around my thigh, and kissed me. With his tongue in my mouth, he left me no doubt that he genuinely didn’t mind public displays of affection.

The penny dropped, and I realized what I wanted—unbridled passion. Was Lloyd capable of that?

~“Geez, give him a chance. Once Axel is gone, you’ll see…”~ Cammy assured.

“So you two want to go shopping,” Tanner asked while Chelsea slowly detached herself from him.

“Please. Misty needs clothes, and Llo—Alpha is barefoot.”

Everyone looked at Lloyd’s feet, and he shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. “Just call me Lloyd,” he said, breaking the silence.

Tanner nodded. “I don’t see why not, as long as Adam and Trent go with you.”

Trent groaned quietly, clearly not thrilled at the prospect of shopping malls.

“Shelley needs someone to accompany her,” I explained. “She thinks Egon might have taken flying lessons and bought the helicopter using an alternate address.”

Shelley came striding back and stopped respectfully. Lloyd gestured to her and took the knife out of his pocket. “I’d like to accept you into the Shadow Moon Pack while here.”

“Yes, sire.” She quickly complied and dropped to her knees.

“I prefer to be called Alpha, and you may pledge in your own words,” Lloyd told her, making the cuts swiftly and efficiently. I wondered how many times he’d cut his palm today.

“I, Shelley Brogan, pledge my loyalty to the Shadow Moon Pack and vow to obey and carry out every order.”

As Shelley spoke the words, my eyes met Chelsea’s, and I saw the surprise mirrored in her expression. Neither of us had expected Shelley to commit herself so completely, with such unwavering devotion.

Tanner’s eyes glazed over for a second before he turned to Shelley. “It’s a damn good idea,” he praised. “Can you handle it on your own?”

“Thank you, Beta. Yes, of course. It’s just an inquiry,” she responded, blushing to the roots of her ash-blonde hair.

The minute she was gone, Chelsea held out her hand. “Credit card, please.” She grinned.

Lloyd’s face fell, and I knew immediately what the problem was. He didn’t have a credit card and probably no money. I rebuked myself for being so thoughtless.

“I’ll get you some petty cash until we can sort out a credit card,” Tanner said smoothly.

Lloyd frowned. “Petty cash? What’s that exactly?”

Tanner chuckled softly. “It’s just a small amount of cash for minor expenses. Think of it as a temporary solution for the alpha king.”

I slid my hand into Lloyd’s and linked, ~“I won’t go overboard—just the necessities.”~

He nodded, but I could feel he wasn’t happy. He would earn a salary as alpha king, but I was positive Lloyd would never demand such an excessive amount as Axel claimed monthly.

Tanner strode into the administration office, Chelsea on his heels.

“I’m sorry. I should never have put you in such an embarrassing position,” I apologized.

Grasping my chin, he angled it upward, a frown on his face. “As my mate, you are my priority, and I was not embarrassed but ashamed that I hadn’t thought you needed more than one outfit.”

I blinked once before throwing my arms around his neck and wrapping my legs around his waist. His lips smashed onto mine, and I moaned in appreciation. Had I just misinterpreted things? Maybe my holding back had him holding back?

~“We should delay shopping and stay in the bedroom for a while…”~ he linked me.

Goddess, he addled my brain, but when he unclasped my legs, I was confused until I noticed Chelsea, Tanner, and Adam grinning at us.

~“Later?”~ his link came through, a huge smile on his face.

I nodded curtly and grabbed the envelope. “Let me just grab my phone, and um, what’s your shoe size?” I asked.

“Eighteen,” Tanner supplied.

“I’ll meet you out front,” I said to no one in particular and raced out of the administration section.

Feeling much happier, I flung open the bedroom door and grabbed my phone, powering it on for the first time since the gala. Hundreds of messages and missed calls flooded in, mainly from Chelsea.

The door slammed shut, and I jerked in fright, whirling around. “Did you think you could leave me like this?” Lloyd asked, grabbing me and throwing me on the bed.

He followed me down and kissed me so passionately that my breath hitched, and my arousal bloomed.

“You should wear dresses more often,” he mumbled as he sucked on my marking spot, one hand on my ass.

“For easy access, you mean?”

“Hmm, I can’t tear these clothes because you don’t have spares.” He sat up with one knee on either side, tugged off my T-shirt, and pulled the bra down, thumbs rubbing my already pert nipples. Sucking one into his mouth, he groaned. “You smell so good, but unfortunately, we are pressed for time.”

Arching my back, my lids drifted closed as his warm, calloused hands roamed, and I let the sensations roll over me.

Unbuttoning my jeans, he tugged them off impatiently, then got off the bed to remove his. Grabbing my ankles, he pulled me to the edge and kept my legs upright as he dropped to the floor.

“Can’t resist,” he said, and I squealed when his mouth covered my clit before his tongue hungrily delved deep inside. I couldn’t get enough and lifted my hips. It was unbelievably erotic to have his tongue stroking and his mouth sucking on every sensitive part.

“So soft and wet,” he said, blowing hot air on me.

“Lloyd, please,” I whispered, feeling my orgasm building.

“Please? What do you want?” he asked teasingly, slipping two fingers into me, curling them upward, and rubbing them across my inner walls.

I almost shot off the bed at the intense feeling, so much stronger than anything I’d felt before. I grabbed his hand with both of mine, just wanting to fulfill this urge and orgasm.

He removed his fingers with a chuckle, and I glared at him, so close to the edge, “No-oo.”

“Yes,” he breathed, guiding his cock into me.

“Oh, yes,” I yelled as his cock rubbed over the same sensitive area. Bent almost double and completely exposed, he rammed into me, and I whimpered as the pressure built again, every cell sensitive, every muscle tightening.

Letting my legs fall to the side, his mouth found mine, but I could barely concentrate on kissing him, my hips keeping pace with his, just wanting that release.

My nails dug into his back, and my heels pushed against his muscular ass as I tried to pull him closer. Teeth scraped over my marking spot before biting into it gently, not enough to break the skin, heightening my need.

And then the wave took me, and I shouted in bliss, my pussy clenching as his seed spurted into me.

“So good,” he grunted and rolled us. I lay on his chest, relishing his heavy breathing, which rocked me up and down. I never felt so boneless and satisfied, his arms wrapped securely around me. This was better than the first time, and I wondered whether it would get better each time we did it.

~“Enough passion for you?”~ Cammy demanded.

I didn’t answer, just smiled.

“That was wow and very unexpected,” I mumbled, still coming down from my high.

“Hmm, my beautiful mate. I think I’m going to sneak up on you more often,” he chuckled.

“You masked your scent, didn’t you?”

“How else can I sneak up on you?”