"Order whatever you wish." Cruden tapped his finger upon the menu written in cursive, just as he excused himself to the farther end of the garden to pick up a phone call. Despite the distance that separated them, he watched her intently.
Buzzing phone in hand, Cruden could not look away from her. He could see the gears turn in her brain as she squinted. Confused? She studied everything intently, bringing the menu closer as if it'd help her understand. She tilted her curious head, her soft lips parting.
The things Cruden would do to that pretty little mouth of hers… Cruden loosened his tie, suddenly suffocated by the same tightness he always used.
"Took you long enough to pick up," Kallum growled on the other line.
"I'm busy." Cruden couldn't tear himself away from Roselia's visible disbelief. She turned a page, her brows coming together and rising in befuddlement. He gritted his teeth, feeling heat spread throughout his tensed body. She was reading a menu and he was a blink away from losing control.
"You turned off your mindlink, so I have to reach you this way," Kallum continued, ignoring his words. "I know you left with the Fiore girl and you haven't bedded her, so you're not as busy as you seem."
If Cruden didn't know any better, he'd feel like a husband being nagged by his wife. A soft breeze picked up strands of Roselia's raven locks, fluttering in the wind. He exhaled, but that didn't help his fingers twitching with need to touch her. To stroke her hair back in place.
"Are you listening to me?" Kallum demanded. "I said, we have a situation at our hands—"
"Not Fiore girl," Cruden finally corrected his brother. "She's a Tiberias now."
A heavy silence tugged between the phone line.
Roselia placed a finger on her mouth and ran it downwards, resting the tips on her small chin. His eyelids grew heavy as her lips slightly bounced. She was temptation wrapped in silk he longed to tear in two.
"Suit yourself," Kallum relented. "As long as you don't forget our plan, Cruden, I don't care what you call her—"
"She's your sister-in-law."
"..."
Cruden's patience was at its limits. The longer he watched Roselia, the more he suffocated he became.
Roselia brightened when she flipped to the last page. The dessert section. She was craving sweetness and he was itching to taste hers. Abruptly, she perked up, her head turning to him as if she felt his penetrating attention.
Cruden glanced away, turning his back to her. Finally. Some peace to cool his head.
"You said she won't get in our way," Kallum growled. "When you brought up marriage, we were hoping for a sensible woman that you'd never feel anything for, except maybe respect. Are you trailing from our mission? This wasn't the plan!"
"Just because you want to be single for life doesn't mean I should suffer with you," Cruden muttered, pinching a spot between his brow. When did the cute little Kallum become a nagger?
An image of a battered Kallum flashed before his mind, and instantly, Cruden straightened. Since Cruden became Alpha. Or, had it been years in advance?
"We need alliances if we're to make you the official ruler of this country, given our lack of a King here, in comparison to the West who already established a Vampire King and another Werewolf King," Kallum bit out. "I know Pack Fiore was a good choice, given their ancient lineage and—"
"Get to the point," Cruden said. "I don't have all day."
Kallum sharply exhaled, counting down from five to quell his fury. "We found Kerpan men lurking in our territory."
"We practically own half of this country," Cruden growled. "Our territory spans for miles on end. You're going to have to be more specific than that."
"Near the pack town," Kallum stated. "They've managed to slip in, but not out. We've captured a few of them trying to learn our street plans. You have to come back and interrogate—"
A wretched scream filled the air.
Cruden spun around.
"What's wrong?" Kallum demanded.
"Roselia is held at gunpoint." Cruden hung up the phone.
"Don't move!" Lennon demanded, snatching her into his arms, the pistol pointed at her temple. "Stay right where you are, Alpha Tiberias!"
Cruden clicked his tongue. What a tamper on their outing. Couldn't they have waited for her to at least taste the food before threatening her?
At least Roselia would've known if the food was truly to die for.
"What do you want?" Cruden asked, his voice monotone and irritated. He checked his watch, this whole thing beneath him. He had a wife to feed and people to torture.
Kallum wasn't a patient man. None of the Tiberias Trio was.
"Nothing actually," Lennon spoke, despite the tremble of his finger. "I'm only supposed to do this and—"
"Did Alpha Kerpan send you?" Cruden humored, tilting his head.
Roselia's pupils trembled at the realization. She gripped tightly onto Lennon's arm that pressed against her throat. She was the embodiment of fear, her life threatened and her husband too calm for everyone's liking.
"No," Lennon said instantly. "I work alone."
"So, Alpha Kerpan did send you," Cruden nodded in amusement. By now, the sniper should be ready.
Cruden chose this restaurant for a good reason. Various rooftops had the perfect view and opening of the garden. Rooftops filled with his men surveilling the two of them.
"He didn't!" Lennon cried out.
"I can hear you perfectly fine. There is no need to shout."
"Shut up!" Lennon demanded.
Cruden couldn't be more bored with the situation. And it was written all over his face. He watched in humor as a cold sweat trickled down Lennon's temples.
Cruden scowled. Lennon's fear was dripping all over Roselia who couldn't stop shaking. A strange itchiness scratched at his chest, threatening his patient. Tobias was pacing furiously at the idea of his prey escaping his clutches.
'Why are you so calm?' Tobias snarled. 'Do something!'
"I don't want any trouble," Lennon said.
The air was dense with Lennon's emotions. He was a horrible negotiator.
"I can see that." Cruden didn't have all day. And Roselia was going to faint any second now. He planned on remaining cold and composed. In a hostage situation, only the calmest people could be the victors.
"Shut up and quit being smart! I'll kill your wife right now!" Lennon seethed, furiously pressing the gun to Roselia's head, digging into her skin.
Roselia winced in pain.
Cruden's jaw ticked. "Alpha Kerpan must've offered you something to kill her," Cruden stated. "You didn't work this hard to be an employee of the month all for nothing, Lennon."
"Like I said, I'm not working for him," Lennon growled, unlocking the safety on the gun trigger. "I only want to kill whoever you love—"
"Love?" Cruden repeated, shaking his head. "I love no one, you fool."
Lennon's fingers trembled, attempting to process the information. "S-she's your wife, is she not?"
Cruden scoffed. The tiny sound put everyone on even more high-alert. Lennon's fingers curled around the trigger, but Cruden delivered the final blow.
"I especially do not love my wife."