He glanced at the weapon, not the least bit intimidated, and cocked an eyebrow. “Is your sword happy to see me?”
Ryder snarled, baring his fangs as he lunged forward. Atlas was barely able to hold the wolf back in time.
It took her a second to process the man’s words. She gave a horrified look at the sword in her hands and immediately released the blade.
Which had been exactly his aim.
She couldn’t help the way her lips twitched, and she nudged Kincade to release her. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
She spotted Loki, the massive gardog slinking along the bushes next to the house…if a dog with wings the size of a car could actually slink. His head and front were low against the ground, churning up dirt as he pushed forward, but his backend was high in the air, his pointed tail lashing.
He was three times the size of the bushes he was hiding behind.
Despite his size, he was amazingly silent, moving at the speed of a slug.
The beastie had been practicing, trying to up his ambush game by using her and the guys as his targets.
Surprisingly, he was getting damn good at it.
Draven ran a tired hand down his face when he spotted their protector and released a long sigh, but otherwise pretended not to see anything.
The amusement dropped away from the visiting wolf at her question, his shoulders going back, and a serious look entered his dark green eyes. The transformation was minute, but the change was drastic—he went from the friendly guy next door to a murderous thug.
His brown hair was only long enough to curl, his jaw strong, the angles of his face harsh without the smile to soften his expression.
It was the face of the man who had seen too much and yet survived.
And she knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“I’m Louis, alpha from the Arbor pack. We share the borders to the national park that abuts this land.” The hulk behind him shifted and scowled, but Louis didn’t pause. “TheAlpha Assembly is gathering tomorrow and demands your presence.”
“Demands, you say? Interesting. Especially since you’re standing on Academy grounds.” Morgan crossed her arms and lifted a challenging brow. “And that national park is part of the coven, as you well know.”
His smile became sharp, more teeth than anything pleasant. “Every new werewolf in the territory must present themselves to the Assembly. You don’t have to go, but your wolves do.”
He spoke to her like she was an idiot, his condescending tone grading on her nerves. Magic swirled around her at the threat, and she clenched her hand into a fist to stop it from knocking the fucker on his ass.
Much to her surprise—and annoyance—a black, glittering fog gathered around her hand and the obsidian bow she had taken from the gods formed in her grip. “Are you threatening the people of my coven?”
Louis’s eyes landed on the weapon and any amusement vanished. He stiffened, claws slowly piercing the ends of his fingers. His lips curled slightly, and she knew he was fighting the urge to snarl. “Not a threat. We were sent to extend an invitation.”
She barely resisted the urge to snort.
Invitation, my ass.
She tried to release her hold, but the damned thing was welded to her hand, almost as if it sensed the threat and refused to leave when she was vulnerable. She glanced at Ryder. “Explain.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, which meant the jackhole was telling the truth, and her spirits plummeted.
“The Alpha Assembly is a committee consisting of ruling alphas.” The flat tone of Ryder’s voice held no emotions, the man reverting back to the submissive wolf she had first met. “All wolves are subject to their rules.”
Needing her wolf back, she marched up to Ryder until barely a space rested between them and grabbed the back of his neck. “You are my wolf. My mate. No one will take you away from me.”
Morgan allowed the chaotic magic swirling around her free rein, not bothering to hold back any of it when she turned toward the two intruders. Dark, ominous clouds formed overhead, the shadows around them lengthening, the earth rumbling. Even the wards warbled in warning.
The hulk backed up with a snarl, the hairs on his arms standing on end. Louis wasn’t any happier, his face harsh as he glared down at her. When she refused to back down, both men slightly tipped their heads to the side in submission.
Uncertain what was happening, Morgan grimaced, her stomach churned with unease.
