Page 96 of The Ashpaw: Part One

She didn’t understand how quickly his touch could undo her, how easily her body turned desperate for him. It was worse than being moon drunk, because this felt like a fire he’d ignited knowing only he could put it out.

His other hand slid down her side, rounding her backside and gripping it tightly, and he began bringing her, step by step, back to his bed, when the door burst open.

Darion immediately drew her behind him, his body coiling and then easing in rapid succession.

“So it’s true!”

Kyntha stood, half covered herself, tears staining her cheeks, her hair mussed. And a red mark in the same spot on her neck where Darion had just been attending on Fern.

“Kyntha,” he called softly. “Please, let me explain…”

She stomped towards him and began beating his chest with her fists, as though she might actually hurt him. “You promised me you would not take a Naravekh unless I failed to bear you pups. You promised!”

“Kyntha,” he said again, his voice a slight warning.

“And the Ashpaw? Of all the she-wolves in the castle? You take her? Knowing how she disrespects me with her jealous stares!”

Jealous stares? Fern had done nothing but avoid looking in Kyntha’s direction as much as possible.

Her wolf rolled her eyes. Never trust the pup who cries the loudest.

What does that mean?

It’s a wolf saying, she replied. You wouldn’t understand.

“Kyntha, stop.” It was not a bark, but close enough that the words could seize her body into stillness. “She is an omega.”

Kyntha remained still, but her eyes widened in shock. She sniffed the air, and then her face crumpled like a newborn babe’s and she began to wail, the sound so loud and shrill that Fern needed to cover her ears.

Darion abandoned Fern and embraced his mate-to-be, shushing her and enduring her sobs and struggles, as though she could not decide whether she wanted to fight him or be held by him.

And Fern could do nothing but watch.

“I can’t… I can’t be near her. I can’t think with her here. Her scent is too cloying…”

“Fern.”

She looked up, Darion’s expression stern.

“Leave.”

She froze for a moment. “But…”

“What did I say about questioning me?” he snapped.

Fern bolted for the door, grabbing her cloak on the floor on the way out.

The door slammed shut behind her, and once she’d caught her breath, she realized she didn’t know where she was supposed to go.

“Why did you take her?”

“I will be the Head Alpha soon, and she’s an omega. She had to go to me.”

Fern leaned against the wall opposite the door, then slid down until she hit the floor, wincing at each overheard word.

“But it’s not fair! She will need you, she will take you away from me…”

“No, nothing will take me away from you.”