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“Come. I’ll escort you to your bedroom.”
She studies me, seeing right through me, then asks, “Maybe we can go sit outside for a bit? The inside feels stifling on such a nice day.” I hear the fear in her voice.
“Of course,” I say and take her purple dress, which I place in a corner basket for communal washing. Then, we stroll out of the bathroom and turn left down the hall. We walk past a couple, their whispers reaching us.
“She’s with another man already?”
I shake my head at the gossip mill in this place.
“Dušan is very territorial, but he’s also a generous Alpha,” I say to Meira who doesn’t seem to notice the couple we pass.
“Why are you saying that to me? Is there something you want to tell me?” She fiddles with the tips of her long, brown hair.
“Is there somethingyouwant to tell me?”
She half-laughs when she looks at me, then as we reach an arched alcove, she turns on me rapidly. “You know, don’t you? About me with Dušan and Lucien. I can see it in the grin you’re trying to hide. So tell me… Is Dušan going to hurt Lucien? God, you must know something. You need to tell me.” Her voice climbs.
Her panic drives my pulse, but I hold my hands up in a playful surrender and offer her a small smile. “Well, I know once a wolf connects with another wolf, it’s for life. And I also know that until you have your first transformation, neither Alpha can truly mark you as theirs even if you are fated mates, or stop others from trying to mark you as their rut partner.”
The hum of adrenaline sounds in my head, along with my wolf pressing for release. He sees so much in Meira… I hoped my earlier feelings were just a physical attraction. Except I’ve never felt such intensity shuddering through me.
Her breaths hitch, and she feels it too. She backs away, her eyes widening with shock.
In haste, she rushes past me, careful not to touch me. I take her side when we reach the rear entry to the fortress that leads into the woods in the settlement.
Before we turn in that direction, an earth-shattering scream cuts through the air.
Meira flinches and bumps into me. I clasp a tight arm around her waist, holding her near.
Then an explosion of shouts and what sounds like a stampede swallows every sound. My heart slams to the back of my throat, and two Beta males dart past the arched entrance in fright.
My adrenaline rages and I turn to Meira. “Run upstairs to your bedroom. Lock yourself and don’t leave.”
She’s trembling. “What’s going on?”
“I’m about to find out. Now go!” I turn her by the shoulders and push her to the steps. She grasps the metal railing and rushes up, glancing back at me with fear in her eyes.
“I’ll come back for you. Go!” I bellow.
She turns and races upward while I lunge outside to find out what the fuck is going on.
Meira
Panic pummels through my chest. I know this drill. I’ve seen it too many times, and the fear I’m feeling isn’t for my life. It’s for this pack, for the Alphas I can’t resist.
I abruptly stop halfway up the stairs and turn around to find no sign of Bardhyl. He’s gone.
Terrifying screams erupt from outside, along with shouting and that skin-crawling groan that I know too well. The sounds of utter pandemonium shatter my world.
I’m clinging to the railing, my legs shaking. I feel the blood drain from my face because we are meant to be safe in this pack. The lofty metal walls, the powerful Alphas, the guards with guns. They promised fucking security!
This can’t be happening again…please, not again.
I need to move, but for those few moments, I’m paralyzed to the spot as I remember losing my mama, the massacre in the settlement, and all those bodies.
My heart clenches with excruciating pain, my eyes welling with tears as every thread of grief I’ve been holding on to rips me apart.
All I can picture is Mama on the ground, blood pouring from the deep gash across her torn throat. My cheeks are soaking from hot tears, and I wipe them angrily away with my fingers.
