"Alpha Stone, what are you doing here?" Captain Shou raised a brow at Raphael's presence inside the Knight Division's bullpen. It wasn't hard to find the damn dhampir. After all, he had the lingering scent of that woman on his body. Raphael had to resist the urge to stalk back and assert his dominance over the doctor. She was brave for a human, being able to challenge him in such a tense setting. But if she were Shou's lover, then facing an Alpha wouldn't be the hardest thing in the world. The dhampir had a reputation as a ruthless leader. If there were a lover's spat between the two, she would need nerves of steel to face him of all people.
"I wanted to discuss a few things with you." Raphael glanced around the room, finding that the bullpen of the knights entranced in their work. Of course, they wouldn't bat an eye at the power that Raphael typically exuded. They were accustomed to dealing with beings even stronger than Raphael. "It seems there was a complication regarding the task force."
"Really?" Shou smirked across the room and shook his head playfully. Raphael watched him, taking in his reaction. He had to be careful with the Captain of the Shadow Knights. Shou was able to infiltrate any society seamlessly. It wasn't too hard for him to put on a mask here. "Fine, then let's get a coffee."
"Thank you." Raphael nodded as the dhampir started to lead him down a hallway from the bullpen. "It seems that we need a new leader for the force."
"Madame Hamma not to your fancy, I take it?" Shou snorted in response. "It's not surprising. She's always been a bit of a difficult pill to swallow. But why are you telling me this?" Shou stopped in front of a kitchen area with the basic amenities of a break area. Single-serve coffee makers lined the countertops with a selection that rivaled the closest coffee shop. Shou grabbed a very dark blend and placed it into the maker before pulling down a coffee cup. He waited for Raphael to respond, curious as to why exactly the man was here.
"Because from what I understand, it seems that you're the closest person I know to Dr. Lewis," Raphael observed Shou's fingers twitch for a second at the mention of Dr. Lewis around the cup before he laid it under the machine's dispenser. Curious. Raphael seized a cup and placed it underneath a nearby machine before selecting a coffee blend known for its hints of rum.
"Dr. Lewis, that's why you're here?" Shou's lips flashed a very toothy grin. "You can't equate a rummage in the sack with really knowing the doctor." For some reason, his pretentious tone grated on Raphael's nerves. His wolf ached to release a snarl at the dhampir for acting so non-chalet about it.
"Even so, I think that we both know that you vet the women you take." Raphael kept his tone even. "I'm sure that it wasn't just a single time." He glanced from his freshly brewed cup at Shou that stared at him.
"You caught me," Shou answered after a moment of silence, guiding his hands up. "Sure, I don't like to have anyone too troublesome warming my bed. Dr. Lewis and I have met a couple of times."
"And surely, as a result of these rendezvouses, you must know her." Raphael drew the cup to his lips and began to sip slowly.
"What are you exactly looking for?" Shou returned roguishly. "It's known that I don't kiss and tell. And I've never worked with her directly."
"I think that she would be a good candidate for Hamma's position as the leader of the force." Raphael watched as Shou started to laugh hysterically.
"You, of all people, want to put Dr. Jess Lewis as leader of the task force?"
"She was the only reason that anyone wasn't injured, to say the least." Raphael shrugged. He knew what Shou was implying. After all, she was the number one suspect of being the black market dealer of lunar orchid years ago.
"So she made an impression is what you're trying to say." Shou raised his brows playfully. Raphael frowned at the insinuation the dhampir was making. "The woman does have that effect on people. But no, she is not ready for a leadership role by any means."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because she's never really been into commitment." Shou raised his eyebrows upwards, trying to allow Raphael to grasp the unspoken here. That was the only reason why Shou was with her. As Captain of the Knights, Shou couldn't afford to get attached or tied down. The only way he was allowed to pursue anything intimate was with individuals that sought the same.
"So that sort of attitude is shared about other aspects of her life?" Raphael asked. He couldn't deny that Shou was attached to her in some aspect. The man practically allowed and enabled her grand entrance. Despite all appearances, Raphael knew it was staged to a degree. She wanted it to appear like the rumors surrounding her name were true. It made him even more curious as to who she was.
"I can't say that for sure."
"But you've thought about pursuing a more concrete relationship with her?" Shou froze at Raphael's statement. The dhampir's eyes narrowed at him as his fingers tightened around the cup of coffee. Raphael resisted the urge to smirk before taking a sip of his coffee, carefully watching Shou rub the back of his neck. So the ruthless leader did have a heart.
"I'll admit that I've tried to settle her down." Shou's eyes glanced away from Raphael, his tone growing a little strained. It was obvious that the man had some feelings for her.
"But she's refused?" Raphael pressed, interested in the actual relationship between the two.
"She's a free spirit." Shou's eyes narrowed as they gazed off into the distance. His lips curled into a smirk. Raphael tried to remain still. He was reading someone telepathically. "Speaking of which, the lady has requested my assistance with locating Captain Yong. I'm afraid I'll have to leave you. Feel free to hang here. Spar with a few of our members, I know that Hera is itching to practice taking on an Alpha." Shou waved Raphael off. Raphael's brows raised slightly at the mention of Dr. Lewis. Shou's feelings had to be more than just casual for the two to have a telepathic connection.
Raphael's eyes glanced around the room to find a few eyes on him. He sighed as he took another sip of the coffee. His investigation into Dr. Jess Lewis was just beginning.
Comments (0)
See all