“The actualfuck,Corvin?” Radic growled, jumping backwards out of my reach. He might be a Beta, but he was a strong one. “Get a fucking grip before the Alpha General gets here and tears you a fucking new asshole,” he hissed, dodging my swiping hands.
I had to protect Kitten. She was scared and vulnerable here.
“Corvin!” Darius’s voice cut through the din of yelling. “Stop!”
We liked to pretend that Alphas were the top of the food chain, and in a way, we were. We were stronger, faster, more deadly. But a mated Omega could turn an Alpha into a lap dog if he was so inclined.
I pulled up, still growling low in my chest. Beckett and Cooper were there, still in human form, and they stepped between me and Radic.
“Fucking hell... Did you guys mate the new Omega? Because someone should’ve let me know—I wouldn’t have come within a hundred yards of here.”
“You mean you wouldn’t have come without backup. We both know that Bonnie would have made you come check on Kitten anyway,” Darius teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Radic got a blissful look on his face. “You aren’t wrong.” Yeah, he was in love with his new Omega too. He looked back at Kitten, his face turning somber. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” His voice was soft, the voice he used with the kids at the Sanctum. Non-threatening and reassuring. “I just came to make sure you were happy here with the Wiley-Fletcher-Reid Pack. If you feel uncomfortable in any way, or wish to return home, I can help. You aren’t obligated to be here unless you want to be.”
The growl in my chest hadn’t stopped, and only got louder at the insinuation he would take Kitten from us. Or that she wasn’t happy here. But Radic was used to dealing with the strongest of us on a daily basis, and just stood taller, meeting my eyes.
“I’ll bring back the Alpha General to enforce it himself, if I have to,” he said, not dropping my gaze. Ballsy move.
“No!” Kitten yelled, setting my Beast off all over again at the sound of her distress. Then I remembered her past, and the fact she didn’t know we’d recently had a change of leadership. Beckett, who’d already worked this shit out because he was way more intuitive than I was, stepped closer to Kitten, putting a hand gently on her arm, and when she leaned into the touch, pulled her into the safety of his hold.
“It’s not the old Alpha General, Kitten. We’ve just gotten a new one, and he’s a good guy, I think. He doesn’t hold the same old-fashioned beliefs. He won’t care that you aren’t pure-blooded Manix.”
Radic snorted. “He’ll probably like you more because you aren’t. He hasn’t exactly got a lot of respect for the ‘Old Guard,’” he said, doing air quotes. He eyed Kitten again. “He’s not from Maxton either.”
Kitten remained quiet, and I could see Radic using that sharp intelligence to try and work out what the hell was going on.
“Do you want to stay here?” he asked softly once more.
I held my breath, but didn’t look at her. I didn’t want her to feel pressured, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep the longing out of my eyes if she looked.
“For now,” was all she said, but it was more than I’d hoped for.
Radic seemed happy enough with that answer too. “Fine. I’ll leave you guys to it.” He stepped toward Kitten once more, making us all tense, even Darius. He pulled out a business card from his pocket and gave it to her. “If you change your mind, you can call us any time of the day or night. I’ll bring Bonnie. She’s better at these things than I am.” He moved away quickly, because like I said, he was a smart guy. “I’m sure the guys will bring you around for dinner sooner rather than later to meet everyone.”
I stared him down, but Darius made an affirmative sound. “I’ll be back at the Sanctum today or tomorrow. Cooper’s parents have been watching the place while we… dealt with a few things.”
Radic shrugged. “I doubt Bonnie will be far behind you. She’s dying to get back to work. She misses the kids, even though she was just in a coma for what felt like an eternity.”
Darius and Cooper walked him out, and I shifted back to my human form. Beckett sent me a disgruntled look. “Seriously, dumbass? Jesus, we’ll be lucky if he doesn’t go home and tell the Alpha General you almost ate him just because you’re a jealous douche.”
He went back to the waffle maker, pulling out a pastry that was more a cookie than waffle now. He tossed it on a plate and started again, acting completely normal. Like we didn't just witness Kitten having a freak-out.
And maybe me too, just a little.
When Cooper came back, I knew I was in the shit with him too. “We need to talk. All of us.” He looked at Kitten. “Are you staying or going?”
I frowned. “It’s a bit more complicated than that, Coop, and you know it.”
He shook his head, sitting down at the table and stretching out his long legs. He met my eyes, and I knew then and there he wasn’t going to budge. “It really isn’t. Now she isn’t all hopped up on hormones, and she’s met Darius and me, she can decide if she wants to go back to her life or stay here in Maxton.” He gave Kitten a soft smile. “Either with us, or by yourself. We’ll help you get settled in your own house here, if you want to be closer to civilization.”
“Manix civilization. Been going to town for years among humans.”
My Beast growled at the reminder she’d been going to town to have sex with humans. With other men who’d touched and tasted what was mine. I didn’t notice I was growling again until Darius cleared his throat. I threw him a sheepish look, tamping it down.
Kitten was silent, but that was her way. Lorso had taught her to think like a strategist, to analyze every move before acting. It was what made her a good hunter.
Finally, she sighed. “I like my cabin. I like the woods and the silence. I like the trees and the animals. I know who I am there.”
