Page 8

I winced and shouldered past him. That had been a moment of weakness. A mistake. My innate needs unfortunately left me readily enticed by her scent and wants, and I had given in to the urges. There was nothing wrong with Clover. She was a beautiful and kind omega, but she was not mine, and she never would be. I couldn’t have been more relieved that my seed didn’t spawn a pup the month before. I clearly remembered the shame in her eyes when her Heat was over—she’d regretted it. As had I.

By tradition, Clover and I were supposed to be bonded in the wake of my brother’s death. It was our duty, but bonds were finicky. Many lycans were eager to bite—to claim—especially in the throes of passion. But I was not. Sometimes I wondered if I was meant to be a lone wolf instead. I never quite understood the pack mentality at the level that most did. I never felt that pull. Sometimes I just wanted to go on a run by myself. It was doubtful I would ever have a true mate.

Evander followed me into my bedroom. Not Antoine’s room, but my own. It was smaller than my brother’s, but more than enough for me. Large windows stretched across one wall, curtains billowing in a gentle breeze. Evander was still sputtering nonsense about the importance of claiming “the omega” as I dropped my towel and searched my drawers for clothing. I threw on some loose trousers and cinched them tight, glaring at him.

“Evander?” I said, cutting off his tirade. “Please shut up.”

He took a controlled breath and released it slowly. “Fine. What are you going to say at the meeting tomorrow?”

I gnawed on my lip. The change of subject was equally annoying. “If they ask, I’ll say Antoine is still away, meeting with another pack about the possibility of another omega.”

The Ministry of the Occult generally respected these archaic practices; they would probably eat that one up.

“Alright,” said Evander. He made his way to my door and eased it open, dropping his voice low enough so hopefully no other pack members would hear. “I know you’re struggling, but it’s been six months. You are Alpha Prime. Don’t tempt anyone to challenge your position.”

“I won’t,” I said.

Evander gave me one last pitying look and left the room.

With a heavy sigh, I dropped onto the bed and closed my eyes. I waited for my body to calm down, allowing my muscles to relax after tonight’s run. My body felt tired enough, but my thoughts were running laps in my head. I kept thinking of my brother’s dying words—bonds are stronger than blood. I kept seeing the blood bubbling out of his mouth, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

Bonds are stronger than blood.

What the fuck did he mean?

When I still couldn’t relax, I left the bed to tug on socks and shoes. Shirtless, I stepped outside, making my way to the axe wedged in a large tree stump, a pile of logs beside it. I began the repetitive, comforting motion of splitting logs. It cleared my mind and turned my body’s focus away from my inner turmoil.

As I held the axe above another log, a prickling sensation walked down my spine, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Something within me tugged like a thread being unraveled, and I nearly lost my breath.

Danger, the unknown force screamed.

There was confusion, hostility, hatred.

The pack!

I took off running toward the border from where the odd force radiated. As much as I wanted to shift to get there faster, I remained in my human form. I had a feeling I would need a whole lot of logic for whatever had entered our territory.

4

NAKED AND ANNOYED

AURA

My fingers dug into something damp and gritty while I tried to lift my aching head. An unmistakable scent hit me with disorienting force. Lycans. All male. Where the hells was I? Goosebumps broke out across my skin, a shiver rolling through my sore body as multiple voices seeped into my awareness. There was a warm, rough touch against my back, and though I willed my body to pull away, it didn’t listen.

“Do you think she’s drunk?” one man asked.

My fingers wiggled. My toes. But the rest of my body refused.

“Are you sure she’s a leech?”

I would’ve rolled my eyes if I could’ve.

Each blink cleared my vision a bit more. Blink. Bare feet. I pushed myself upright. Blink. A fuzzy silhouette. Blink. A face way too close to mine. A curse simmered in the back of my throat. Hot breath fell against my cheek, and without thought, my hand rose and slashed.

The lycan barked out a curse and pulled me to my feet. A breeze swept over me, chilling me everywhere. With horror, my bleary gaze dropped down to my body. Naked as the day I was born. Not again. Just weeks ago, I’d woken up naked on my bedroom floor. Weeks before that, the same. Until then, I’d gone years without waking up this disoriented. Not since the incident with my aunt and cousin. Panic shot down my spine, and my blood ran cold.

I was shoved into someone’s arms while the lycan I’d evidently struck towered over me, angry slashes bleeding freely across his face. His teeth sharpened to jagged points, turning red from the blood that trickled into his thick beard. The odor of hatred, anger, and attraction mingled, twisting together with my surpassing hunger.