Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,20

opponent.

Outside, Storri had gotten his most nervous when Knox and I had argued. I needed to remember how averse Storri was to conflict if I was going to make any headway with the man. He preferred me in my wolf form, but I didn't know why.

He'd lived without human companionship for five years. Suddenly being surrounded by people had to be a shock. When I'd shifted, it had been a last-ditch effort to keep Storri from trying to run. I wouldn't have let him go far—he had no idea where he was or where he would go—but I also knew catching him would've only frightened him more.

A loud splash told me Storri had gotten another bucket of warm, soapy water poured over his head. He sputtered as he spoke. "Maybe Mr. Grouse knew I was a nephilim. Maybe that's why he thought I was such a danger."

I didn't have to turn around to know what Jazz and Hallie's faces looked like. Despite the torture Storri's teacher had inflicted upon him, he was still willing to give the man an excuse.

Knowing Storri was still frightened was the only thing that kept me from searching for the monster now. I wanted to take him apart, not to see how he ticked, but to kill him slowly enough there would be no way for him to doubt who was killing him and why. He needed to recognize what he'd done, that he'd fucked with the wrong kid. I didn't care if Storri's teacher did know he was a nephilim. What he'd done was inexcusable.

Storri might've been too kind to hurt his captor, but I wasn't.

"Maybe," Jazz offered without conviction.

"My vote is that he's just a psycho," Hallie added.

Water splashed from the tub to the floor. Cleaning five years of grime had taken more than one tub of water. They were on their third now, and it sounded like they were about finished.

"You can look now," Hallie said.

I turned, eager to see him again. Even just looking away for the length of time it took them to clean him had felt like too long. Dog, who obviously hadn't turned around, waited beside the tub, his tail thumping softly.

Jazz grabbed a mirror and put it in front of Storri's face. "See, I told you there was a person under that dirt."

Storri smiled softly. He still hadn't blinked, and he brought his hand up to his face, close but not quite touching. "I changed," he whispered.

I couldn't imagine what he was feeling, but I could be there for him. I comforted Storri in this form in a way my human body didn't. That wouldn't work forever, but I was grateful for it now.

"I brought you some clothes." Hallie turned to grab a folded pair of pants and a shirt. Neither smelled like me, so I made a soft rumbling sound to get her attention. Storri glanced over his bare shoulder, his hair wet and combed back so it curled around his ear.

I have things that should fit you. In my bedroom.

"He says he has things that will fit me," Storri said quietly. The only time he seemed able to speak without stammering was when he was relaying a message or speaking to Dog or me.

Hallie rolled her eyes. "Of course, how could I forget how weird you all are about smells?"

"Smells are very important," Storri replied quietly but with a sharp, defensive edge.

My chest puffed out, and I stood a little taller.

Hallie didn't push the issue. Instead, she opened the door to let me out. Once in the hallway, I shifted and went to my room.

Shelves lined every wall but the one the bed sat against. Each shelf was packed full of smaller boxes, labels facing out so that I could identify what was where.

I didn't need the labels anymore. I knew every piece of evidence in this room. Interrogation transcripts, police reports, as well as the debris that was left behind after our pack had been destroyed. The things I hadn't been able to collect I'd taken photos of. None of the others understood why I needed to keep the proof of our failure so close all the time, but the answer was in the question.

We'd been the pack's Alphas. Their protection was specifically left up to us, and we'd been useless when they'd needed us. I lived with this stuff in my room because I had to. I needed to force myself to look at it and remember. I'd spent entire weeks not sleeping