Lingering Bargain

My phone vibrated on my nightstand, waking me up. I peeled open my tired eyes, struggled to pick up the phone, and answered. “Baby.” Roman’s voice came from the other end of the line. “I heard you had a high fever yesterday. How are you now?” Good lord, this person was strange. Did his wolf take over sometimes and make him forget things? We’d already been over the fact that I’d had a high fever and gone to the hospital. Plus, why did he care? He’d only wanted to sleep with me, so why the questions about my health? Could it be…he knew I was dying? I managed to shut that thought away and replied calmly, “I’m fine.” “Okay, good, good. That’s great,” Roman said mechanically. Then his tone changed, grew more eager. “So, did you finish that thing?” And there it was. His real reason for calling me. I sat straight up in bed, supported my forehead with one hand. “I went to Alpha Knight, and he said he would think about it.” The excuse I’d used to get away from Roman wasn’t one I could do…and t