Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
The words he left unsaid hung in the air.
I did have to make my choice, quickly, if I did not want The Conclave making the choice for me.
Chapter Six
ALEJANDRO
“I would like to ask you to draft a contract that frees me to be a...Cavaliere...to a pack princess of the Panthera.”
The words should have come as a shock to the heir of the Moretti pack, but when Domenico Moretti looked up from the documents he was quietly perusing, his handsome face was unreadable. His tone was just as bland as he said, “Please take a seat.” Everyone who knew him, however, would also understand that the words were not a request but a command.
When his younger brother was seated, Domenico asked, “Why is there a need for a Cavaliere?”
“It appears that her father is on a husband-hunting mission for her.” Alejandro cracked his knuckles as he spoke the words. It did not sit well with him that his little kitty might be given to another man.
Domenico studied the play of emotions on his brother’s face with interest. “May I ask which pack princess is this?”
Wordlessly, Alejandro pushed forward the invitation he had wrangled from another pack princess, this one the stunning and worldly eldest daughter of the pack of the Garridos. She had been the only Lyccan he knew who had been invited to tomorrow’s auction, and that invitation was vital since panthers were notorious for being distrustful of strangers.
One eyebrow arched questioningly as Domenico read the invitation. “They must need to have her mated as soon as possible. Those panthers are famous all over the world. I can see a lot of pack leaders’ sons hurrying to attend this event.” He paused. “Do you plan to be her Cavaliere just for the sake of owning one of those panthers?”
Alejandro said idly, “Would it be hard to believe if I said yes? Those panthers, as you say, are world famous.”
Domenico wasn’t fooled. His younger brother might insist on making others see him as nothing but a carefree playboy prince, but he knew all of his siblings well. With this brother of his, the charming sophisticated façade he presented was just that: a façade.
“If you become the princess’ Cavaliere, you will need to spend a lot of time with those panthers. They are not exactly friendly with strangers. You will need to bear a lot of prejudice there.”
A pair of ocean-blue eyes flashed in Alejandro’s mind as he questioned his decision. The memory of the taste of his kitty’s lips and the feel of her body had kept him awake and aching the entire night, so much so that in the end he had found himself masturbating and pleasuring himself in the shower – something he had not done since he was a boy.
When his younger brother only shrugged, Domenico remarked casually, “You know, my first thought was that this would be more to your twin’s liking. As we all know, Alessandro’s been rather aggressive. That would make him feel right at home there.”
No fucking way, Alejandro thought blackly. Only when Domenico started talking about panthers and his twin in the same sentence did Alejandro remember one important thought. He had an identical twin, and he did not like to think about what could happen if his little kitty realized the same thing.
Would she want Alessandro more? Perhaps. She seemed to be the type of woman who was all for grand gestures, and what was grander than one Lyccan prince fighting a dozen other shifters, all for the glory of defending their pack’s reputation?
“Alessandro would not make a good Cavaliere for her. She’s already too passionate. He’s too hotheaded, especially when you consider he’s a college professor.”
Domenico smiled but said evenly, “As you are too charming for a paid fighter.”
Alejandro stiffened. So Domenico knew of his nocturnal activities then. He waited for his brother to ask about it, but no question was forthcoming.
“Nonetheless, I’m thinking about whether Alessandro should accompany you to this party. What do you think?” Domenico asked even though he really had no plans of having both twins attend the party. He only wanted to push his younger brother into revealing his thoughts. Alejandro worried him in a way Alessandro didn’t. This brother of his kept too much to himself even as he continued to charm everyone with his lazy wit and courteous ways.
“Whatever the pack leader’s heir decides,” Alejandro said.
The words were spoken in a dulcet tone, but the muscle ticking in Alejandro’s jaw gave Domenico hope that all was not lost. Pride had lost him the woman he loved, and he was determined that none of his younger brothers would follow in his footsteps. In Alejandro’s case, it appeared that the fate of his heart lay in the hands of a panther princess.
Domenico took careful note of the princess’ name even as he kept silent. It would be healthy to let Alejandro sweat it out a bit. Calys Adelardi. He must find out everything about her and ensure that she was the ideal woman for Alejandro.