“Whatever. Are you coming or not?” I ask Rachel. My voice comes out in more of a growl than I meant, but I can’t seem to care as I head out my front door towards Ryan’s place. I’m so sick of this shit. Every girl I’ve ever been with has envied Sofia in some way. When she was younger, it was because of all the time I spent with her and how protective of her I was. As she got older, it wasbecause of her alpha wolf—unusual for a female. But that drew interest as well as her beauty, her strength, and the way she could hold the attention of anyone she spoke to.
Sofia has had every unmated male in the pack obsessed with her for years. And she doesn’t even see it. Keeping them at bay has practically been a full-time job for Ryan and me.
I hear Rachel’s heels clipping down the steps of my cabin behind me, I guess she’s following. I don’t slow down to wait for her. If I’m honest with myself, I’m dreading this party, but nothing will stop me from being there.
Every unmated male from the pack, and every ranked male from other surrounding packs, will be here. I’m not sure what will be worse; her mate being from another pack and seeing her leave or her mate being here and seeing her with him every day.
Knowing what we do about some other packs, I may have to figure out a way to step in and stop her from leaving. At least at first. My wolf huffs out a breath and, yeah, I get it. I’m sure me trying to intervene in what Sofia does will go down well.
Walking towards the front door of Ryan and Sofia’s, I tune into the conversations of the partygoers. Some warriors commiserating not being Sofia’s mate with one another. A couple of unranked females bitching about not getting enough attention at the party. Some wolves I don’t recognize have my wolf growling low and territorial. He doesn’t want these pieces of shit anywhere near Sofia.
“Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to her,” a Delta I don’t recognize sighs. His tone is almost wistful. “Her mate would want to hurrythe fuck up unless he wants to meet her while her legs are over my shoulders and she’s moaning my name like a bitch in heat.”
“Fuck that, I outrank you. If anyone is fucking her, it’s me, and I’ll be bending her over so I can see that sweet ass,” laughs a beta. “You know an alpha female is going to be a dirty bitch, right?”
With hackles raised and teeth bared, my wolf and I snarl a warning at them. The air thickens with tension. They turn to me in surprise, their eyes widening and brows furrowing. “What’s your problem, dude? We’re all here for the same reason,” the beta says, walking into my space.
“Back the fuck up,dude. I’m the beta of this pack, and no one disrespects the Alpha’s sister,” I growl, pushing him away from me.Please don’t back down. Please give me a fucking opportunity to tear you to shreds.He blinks at me, opens his mouth and then closes it before he bares his neck and steps back. The two of them scurry away like rats. And I’m left here trying to push my unused claws back inside my fingers while adrenaline courses through my body.
Everyone knows you don’t pick a fight in another pack without wanting war. But I wish he had given me an excuse. My wolf howls, wanting me to avenge Sofia. I mean the pack. It’s not about Sofia; it’s about defending the pack. And cutting out anyone who thinks it’s okay to speak about females like that. It’s a slippery slope between careless comments and being willing to do…
Fuck. I shake off those thoughts because they really aren’t helping to calm me or my wolf.
Rachel huffs behind me and storms into the party. I need to end things with her. If I’m honest with myself, I’m sick of wasting timewith casual flings. It’s supposed to be about blowing off steam for both of us, but it’s not working for me anymore. And it’s not fair to Rachel if she wants something I can’t give her. Jackson is waiting at the front door with an eyebrow raised as he stares at me.
“What?” I bark out.
“Yeah, no one disrespects Fia except you,” he says while giving me a pointed look. His posture conveys an intentionally relaxed stance, standing with his back against the cabin and one knee bent back to rest his foot against the wall. As if to make it clear he isn’t looking for a fight despite the comment he just made.
“What are you talking about?”
“It needs to end, Luca. She’s officially not a kid anymore. You need to stop treating her the way you do. As if she’s not an important part of the pack. You need to stop butting heads with her at every opportunity.”
I can’t help the growl that travels up my throat as I clench my fists. Why would he say I regard her like she isn’t important? As if she doesn’t matter. I might treat her like she’s a kid, but she’s the one always starting shit and getting into trouble. I can’t help how protective I am of her. The comments those shitheads were making might have been unwarranted and disgusting, but it’s definitely not the first time I’ve had to step in that way.
Not that Sofia—or anyone else—needs to be aware of that.
But fate, it’s as though she attracts negative attention on purpose sometimes. Like when she joined the damn cheer squad in the human high school and pranced around in that tiny fucking outfit. Or when she went skinny dipping with the warriors. Oreven just the tiny shorts and cropped tops she wears when she bothers to turn up to training. She laughs it off, but I have to hear the comments about her perfect body. Not that I ever hear it for long. I shut that shit down quickly.
“It’s not my fault if she’s constantly getting in trouble or leading wolves on.”
Jackson sighs heavily and runs his hands through his hair. “Look, man, Emily threatened to withhold sex for a week if I didn’t say something. And as unlikely as it is that she would actually follow through, I’m taking no chances. Tonight is Fia’s birthday. Hertwenty-firstbirthday. Her parents aren’t here, and she hasn’t met her mate. The last thing she needs is you giving her shit. Promise me you won’t upset her tonight?”
I don’t upset her. Sure, we verbally spar, but she never gets upset. She gives it back as soon as I throw something her way. It’s the highlight of my day when I get to banter with Sofia. She would have said something if it upset her. Wouldn’t she?
Sofia is the most unflappable shifter I’ve ever met. Other than when I held her back from joining the fight against Aidan’s warriors, I haven’t seen her emotionally waver in the three years since I’ve been back at the pack. Dread creeps into my veins at the thought that maybe more was going on. That she’s been hiding her feelings. I shake off the creeping worry that there has been more going on for her than meets the eye. Ryan, as alpha, would have detected her hurt if she had felt it. And while he has pulled me up multiple times on how I talk to her, he’s never said I washurtingher.
I’m so fucking over this conversation. My wolf is champing at the bit to get in there, and I need a beer, or preferably something a hell of a lot stronger. A bourbon would be nice.
“Fine!” I snap. “I’ll stay out of her way. Happy?”
“Very, my cock and I thank you for your service,” Jackson laughs, slapping me on the back as we walk into the house. He’s been so fucking happy since he met Emily. Which he deserves. He was miserable before. But it’s not easy seeing your friend getting everything you want. I’m beyond ready to meet my mate and find my forever.
My wolf huffs and snarls, not at all impressed at me agreeing to stay away from the birthday girl. And as soon as I step inside, I recognize why.
I’m going to have to break the promise I just made, because nothing could keep me away from Sofia now. Not when I realize exactly why I’ve always been so fiercely protective of her.
My wolf picks up her scent immediately, an intoxicating mixture of bergamot, bright and citrus-sweet orange, threaded with a trace of cinnamon. Stronger and more intense than ever before, her scent calls to me, and I follow blindly. There’s probably music playing, but I can’t take it in. Someone laughs, and it sounds like an echo. All I can think of is her.
