Reaching out, I touched the spirit of my wolf, our minds connecting, snapping together like a magnet clicking onto steel. An instant later, I stood on all fours, the cold breeze fluttering my fur. The entire crowd was dead silent, and my grandparents were staring at me, open-mouthed. Beatrice had her hands on her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
A wave of sound washed over me as the town cheered.
This was what I’d always wanted. Acceptance. To be part of the town I loved so much. To live with my grandparents and takecare of them as they aged.Thiswas home. But, if I was getting everything I’d hoped for, why was I feeling so melancholy?
Shifting back, I waved at everyone, unsure what else to do. My body was exhausted from poor sleep the night before, from all that happened with Levi, and the fear of what awaited me.
Anders put his arm around my shoulders and called out to everyone. “Let’s celebrate! Danny, Shelly, open up your restaurant, meals are on the alpha. Chris, same for your bar. Everyone gets a round on me. This is a big day for Idlewild, let’s give it all we’ve got.”
The townsfolk hurried off to begin making food and slinging drinks. The restaurant and bar were both at the intersection of Main Street and Idle Way, the exact center of town. It sounded like Anders was planning an impromptu block party for the occasion.
“I think I need a nap,” I said.
“No way,” Anders said, and squeezed my shoulder. “We’ve got to party! This is all for you. Come on. We have to celebrate.”
He was right. I was an alpha’s mate now. I had obligations,especiallywhen this whole thing was supposed to be in celebration of me, but I was so exhausted—mentally, physically, and emotionally. All I wanted was some quiet time away from everyone to process everything that had happened. I’d need to push through, though. There would be time to rest after all this celebratory stuff was over.
“Okay. Sure. Why not,” I said, allowing Anders to lead me on. Gran hurried over and took my free arm, with Grandpa and Beatrice behind us.
My mind drifted back to Levi and our last time together. I could still feel his hands on my body, taste him on my tongue, and hear the sounds of our lovemaking. Even now, arm in arm with my new mate, that other man still held sway in my mind.How long would it take for that to fade? How long would it take for Levi to forgive me? Would heever?
I glanced over my shoulder at the forest behind us. I thought for sure I’d see Levi standing there, watching us as he had at the clearing. Instead, there was nothing but trees.
49
LEVIATHAN
Kill. Kill. Kill. That word echoed through my mind as I sprinted across the moss-covered ground. My wolf growled the word at me, rage and anger fighting to be the dominant emotion. At that moment, I was more monster than animal or man.
Skidding to a stop, I lifted my nose, breathing deep to catch the scent again. Red Maw. Those fuckers had been getting every closer and intruding on our territory with more frequency since June left.
June.
I growled and shook my head, trying to dislodge her name from my mind. It had been almost two weeks since she’d left me, and still the pain of it was like a hot, gaping wound in my heart.
Taking off again in pursuit of my quarry, I tried and failed to not think about that day. I’d awoken from a nap to find June gone. When I hadn’t found her in the bunkhouse or the dining hall, I’d grown worried and tracked her scent into the forest. The whole way, I’d been terrified that the Red Maw had taken her, or perhaps that Eugenia had snuck back to exact some sort of revenge. Either of those would have been preferable to what Ifound. Those two things I could fight. I could have saved June from someone who’d taken her against her will.
Instead, I found her with another man. Anders, the alpha of Idlewild. The man who had thought she was lesser because she couldn’t shift. It had been a punch in the gut to see her go with him willingly. He hadn’t forced her or threatened her—no, it had been wholly and completely up to her. I’d been so shocked, hurt, and confused, I hadn’t even had the strength to call out to her. All I could do was stand there, dumbstruck, as she left. She’d looked back before rushing away, and our eyes had locked for a split second.
Once she was gone, all the strength had gone out of me. I’d slumped down to my knees and sat there for over an hour, trying to understand what I’d done wrong. Why would she have left me right when it seemed we’d finally fully given ourselves to each other?
The shock and sadness had quickly given way to anger.
I’d returned to town, unwilling to speak to anyone. Rainier had informed me new tracks had been found, and a scout had spotted a Red Maw member on the outer edges of town. I’d used my anger as fuel. It was a threat I could take care of, something I knew how to handle. I’d run the piece of shit down, fought, and killed him that very night.
Over the last two weeks, the intrusions had gotten worse, and I’d already killed five more men, yet the violence did nothing to remove the pain that ached in my heart.
I’d been out of my wolf form less than a day since June left, choosing to spend my time hunting my enemies in the forest. Rainier could manage the day-to-day operations of the pack. All I wanted was to hunt, to drag my pain and sadness out with ruthless anger.
Ahead, the leaves rustled. Pausing, I pricked my ears to hear better. That was when the prey I’d been stalking—a hulking,dark gray wolf with a white belly—rushed from cover, angling straight toward me.
I didn’t flinch.
I growled and tensed, ready for him to crash into me.
When he did, the wolf tried to bite down on my neck. Twisting, I rammed my head into his side, sending him skidding back. Before he had time to recover, I jumped onto him, pinning his legs with my front paws. I paused, confused. The fur around his lips were matted with dried blood. I wasn’t hurt, though. Who had he attacked before I chased him down?
The fear that struck me gave him an opening. Too worried about which of my people he might have injured or killed, I let my concentration lapse, and he kicked me off, using his back legs to send me spinning.
