Page 3

Evren

Frantic with trying to figure out how to get away, I went home and showered for the pack run. I didn’t go to any effort to look feminine, of course, but anyone who reeked of manure or other barn smells would be subject to being called up and dressed down. Not the kind of attention I sought. Not that I sought any. Lounge wear, usually old and worn, was the actual attire most of the pack showed up in. On a regular day, most of us could count on having time to undress before shifting, but the pack runs under the full moon had our wolves wound up, and there was almost always one or two that had a break-through shift, ruining whatever clothing they had on.

My wolf was stressed out, either reacting to my mood or possibly understanding what I feared. She didn’t have a lot of interest in human things. She did care about mating and when I looked over the matches on the Mail-Order Matings app, I could feel her close by and agreeing with my rejections of each of them.

Which was great confirmation of my choices, but not helpful right at this moment. I hovered at the back of the crowd and steeled myself for the announcement. Perhaps I was wrong and he really had found some other pack foolish enough to sell him a female. Not that I would want that for anyone.

Then, he marched to the front and stood on the stump there, waiting for silence and everyone’s attention —which did not take long. Avoiding tantrums was a delicate matter.

“Welcome!” he bellowed. “Our monthly full-moon run is always a cause for celebration, but tonight I hope you will join me in the happiness of the announcement I promised this afternoon.”

Everyone was looking at one another and, to my discomfort, several people cast their attention in my direction. Before I could process that, I became aware that two of the alpha’s thugs, betas, whatever they chose to be called, were closing in on me. Any hope I had that my suspicions were wrong faded quickly.

“Come on.” Gare, the worst of the thugs, grabbed my arm. “You need to be up front to accept the honor being bestowed upon you.”

Honor? I’d rather have plague than the alpha in my bed. The very thought made me shudder.

But Gare and his compatriot were pushing me through the gathered shifters toward the front. I didn’t fight. I knew better.

“Here she is. Join me, my mate, and we will shed our skins and race four-legged in the forest under the moon’s glow. Together.”

I stumbled forward with the assistance of a shove between my shoulder blades from one of the betas, but before I could look back to see who it was, the alpha had grabbed my hand and yanked me to his side. “Tomorrow, you will be my mate.”

Silence greeted his words, and not just mine. Not a peep from anyone, which was a little heartening that they weren’t thrilled to see me entering such a dangerous relationship. But a growl from the alpha had all the cowards cheering for our union.

I slipped out of my clothes, trying to ignore his stare at my body. I’d been shifting most of my life, as did all the others, so my nudity was nothing new and every shifter courtesy involved not leering at pack members while they took their fur or shifted back.

Then I realized something. I had been shifting for years, and exposed my body to everyone. All the hiding in baggy clothes and filthy boots, hair hidden away…none of that protected me during the monthly pack runs. How long ago had he noticed me? How many full-moon nights had he ogled my nudity and laughed at my attempt to keep in the shadows.

My wolf reacted to my distress and shifted faster than ever before, arriving and tearing off before the alpha finished his shift. We were at the tree line when he caught up, nipping my shoulder in retaliation before darting off at full speed. I followed, for a while, staying right behind him in the alpha female position until the other males caught up and I saw my chance to escape.

Not completely, but long enough to create some distance.

He showed no signs of noticing.

Fortunately, neither did anyone else.

Chapter Four

Rain

My contract with the money-transporting company ended three days ago and I was ready to move into more private contracts.

One had contacted me that very day.

A woman, looking for a guard. A personal bodyguard. That was all I knew.

My discreet office in town lay off the main road. Unmarked. I usually directed clients to the rear door off the alley for their privacy, but that might not be attractive to a woman looking for security.

A knock came at the door and, before getting up, I checked the camera above the door to see who it was. I groaned, looking at the dating app to the side of my camera one.

Warren was growing weary of us looking for our mate. He wasn’t the only one.

“This is Rain. I’m coming to the door.” I called through the speaker connected to the camera. The woman nodded and in seconds, I let her in after scanning the alley for anything and anyone who shouldn’t be there.

“I’m Alana. Thank you for taking my call. I have heard you don’t regularly do private contracts but as the son of the Jacob Worthy, you have a reputation.”

Ah. My father and his pack had a reputation and by connection, I apparently had one too. My father had been a pack guard since he was sixteen. He’d saved our alpha from threats from those within the pack and even one instance of poisoning as official taster.