Page 85 of The Ashpaw: Part One

He wants to breed us.

Fern almost laughed. It was easier to laugh when you weren’t in charge.

A series of howls sounded in the distance, and Harland finally made his move. He leapt, jaws snapped right over her neck, teeth not breaking skin but with enough force to tell her he could if he wanted to.

Her wolf struggled for only a moment before instinct forced her still, a soft, miserable whine leaving her throat.

Harland gave a very smug whuff, and then rounded behind her.

Oh no…

He really was going to…

Fern searched desperately for a place to hide the way her wolf did, so she could be spared witnessing what was about to happen.

And then five large shadows burst from the woods and tore Harland away from her.

Her wolf yelped in pain, and one of the newcomers immediately came between her and Harland, nudging her gently with his snout while he sniffed her from tip to tail.

That’s enough of that, Fern thought, wanting her wolf to shoo him away.

But her wolf didn’t mind at all.

Alpha, she cooed, and Fern finally recognized his scent.

It was Karn.

Gnashing teeth lured her attention away from Karn, and through his long legs she watched the battle.

She quickly realized who the rest of them were as well, their eyes and scents identifying them.

Alastair, Norden, Eidan, and Kyntha’s cousin, Reinn.

Eidan and Alastair had tawny fur, a few shades darker than her own, Norden’s was gray, while Reinn’s fur was so white he almost glowed in the moonlight.

The four alphas continued their attack on Harland, who for some reason refused to back down or give up.

Because we’re special, her wolf told her. We’re omega.

And that means?

Shh…

And with a sickening crunch of teeth through bone, followed by the hollow thud of a body hitting the ground and the iron-rich tang of blood that filled the air, Harland was dead.

It was fast, brutal, and terrible.

The alphas licked themselves clean before turning to look at Fern, ears high and alert for more challengers.

Her wolf immediately showed her belly.

Harlot, Fern snorted.

Eidan approached first, nuzzling and lightly nipping her flank, while Alastair and Norden gave her a couple of licks, then turned to stand guard.

Reinn watched her more carefully, sniffing and then snorting like he was satisfied with the answer her scent had given him.

Eventually Eidan encouraged her to stand and follow them, and as they guided her through the woods, Fern finally figured out why her wolf was absent sometimes.