Free Blood Crave 2 by Jennifer Knight

with the CIA. “Derek, this is Rolf. The pack master.”
    Derek’s eyes shifted to mine, they were lighter than normal—white with black rims encircling them. His wolf eyes. The nerves were really starting to trigger him. I prayed he’d keep it under control. The last thing we needed was for him to change and start trying to rip the house apart.
    “It is an honor to meet you, Derek,” Rolf said. “Please, all of you sit down. We have much to discuss.”
    Something was definitely up. Rolf was acting way too nice, even if he’d promised he wouldn’t hurt Derek. I reached out for his vibe and felt it boiling beneath his blasé exterior. He was frustrated. But why? I tried to get a handle on what specifically was irking him, but before I could delve deeper, something sliced its way around his emotions, cutting me off.
    My eyes flicked to Yvette, who sat next to Rolf. Her steely gray gaze was locked on mine. She knew I’d been feeling Rolf out. I hastily withdrew my feelers and looked away.
    Julian sat on the couch beside Melanie and Katie sat cross-legged on the floor by his feet, eyes bright with anticipation. Derek cast a worried look in my direction, and I grabbed his hand. I heard a few people gasp at this, and I glared at the room, holding tighter. I pulled him to the couch in front of the fire and sat beside him with Lucas on my other side.
    “So,” Rolf said. “He can touch you, after all. He does not have the blood crave? After the other night, I just assumed . . .”
    Lucas answered for me. “He has it. But he can eat regular food, too. If he doesn’t breathe, the crave seems manageable. He hasn’t eaten anyone, anyway.”
    “That is good.” Rolf’s face relaxed somewhat. “That is very good.” He observed Derek levelly. “The dawn is soon approaching, and we do not have much time left with you. I assume Lucas and Julian have told you all that you need to know about your condition—at least for now?”
    Derek nodded.
    “Well, I must admit, that I have questions for you , Derek Turner,” Rolf said. “And some words of caution.” His eyes darkened, and he leaned in, clasping his hairy fingers together. “The Pack Council has decided that your life will be spared as long as you remain under complete control. If you find that the need for blood is too much, we have ways in which you can satiate your thirst without resorting to murder. We urge you to come to us before you lose control. We do not want to kill you. Despite what you might think”—he shot me a scathing look—“that is not our way. However, if you become a danger to our territory, we will have no other choice. The safety of the humans and of our pack is our priority. Is that clear?”
    “Yes, sir,” Derek said.
    That sounded strangely fair, coming from Rolf. I wished I had the guts to ask him what his angle was, but I remained silent. Maybe he was just trying to prove to the pack that he would honor his word and not hurt Derek for tonight.
    Derek opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but pressed it shut again without saying anything.
    “What is it?” I asked gently.
    “I can go back to CSU now?” he asked softly.
    “No,” Rolf said, leaning back in his chair. “I apologize, but that is simply impossible. You’re in an extremely unstable state right now and being in the vicinity of so many humans will put them at risk. I cannot allow it.”
    Derek’s face fell.
    “Then where will he stay?” I asked, speaking up for him.
    “Here,” Rolf said.
    Alarm bells fired off in my head. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Derek live here? At the mansion ... alone? There was no way that was happening.
    “No,” I said at once. “He needs to come back to school with us.”
    Rolf’s eyes could have laser-beamed through my head and into the wall behind me. “That is not for you to decide.”
    I turned to Lucas, waiting for him to speak up. At first, he looked down at me as though I was being difficult. Then, without even really