AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Following West’s lead, I purposely try to keep my voice down. As a shifter, I know how far voices carry to supe ears. Just because Rafael left us, that doesn’t mean he didn’t leave wolves posted nearby.
That’s what a good Alpha would do, after all.
He purses his lips. “That’s not what I meant.”
I know it’s not.
In a pack, using a high-ranking shifter’s title is a respect thing. Normally, calling me ‘Omega’ is a sign that they’re acknowledging that I have that post. Most of my packmates in Hickory know I dont like it. I’m ‘canari’ to Bishop, and ‘Lane’ to West, but everyone else calls me by my name.
Here in Darkwoods, I’m not the Omega. I’m sure they have on of their own already, and even if they don’t—considering how prized and rare omega wolves are, not every pack has one—I can’t be it. Despite my wolf type, as Rafael’s intended, I’m not just another she-wolf. I’m the future Alpha female of this pack. They should be calling me ‘Alpha’ instead… but not a single Gravetail wolf has.
And West noticed that, too.
“Forget it. That’s not important—”
“It’s not?”
“No. What are you doing here?” I ask through gritted teeth. My voice is low enough that only West can hear me, but in case any of Rafael’s wolves are peeking in through the open window, I force my lips into a smile.
“Lane…Helene. You can’t honestly act like you don’t know why I’ve come.”
I raise my eyebrows at him.
“Okay. You need to hear it. Fine. You reached for this male, but you reached for me, too. Maybe you were right. Maybe it was instinctive, that the fear made you do it. But that’s the thing. You still called forme. You still love me. I know you do. And I will never, ever forgive myself if I don’t give every last bit of me to
“West, please. Don’t do this. Not now. You ended us this time.”
“I didn’t think there was an us.”
Maybe there wasn’t. But between his bite, his ring, the way I was the first one to initiate sex, and then everything that happened with the feral last night…
There might have been. If he’d kept me instead of throwing me at Rafael, there might have been.
“Doesn’t matter. We were over.”
A rumble starts low in West’s chest. In control, he silences it right away, but I know what I heard.
“West—”
“We will never be over. Not until you wear another male’s mark over mine. Even then, I’ll still hold out hope for my last breath. But that’s where I went wrong last time. Thickheaded wolf that I am, I forgot that it’s not just about what I want. It’s your choice, Lane. It’s always been your choice. I just… I have to witness you make it. That’s all.”
As I process what he just said, the corner of his mouth kicks up in a crooked grin. It’s not that cocky smile I know so well, or the secret one who always shares with me when we’re alone. It’s sad, and my heart breaks to see it.
“I’m not here to make things difficult for you.”
“So, just to be clear”—because my wolf insists on it—“you didn’t come to challenge Rafael?”
West takes a deep breath. Exhales softly. “I thought about it.”
Oh, Luna… I bury my face in my hands. Iknewit. “You can’t. West… for me, please. You can’t do it.”
“Worried about your intended?”
A lump lodges in my throat. I force it down, and in a small voice admit, “I’m worried about you.”
His jeans rustle together as he moves toward me. I don’t look up, but I know instinctively where he is in the small room from my other senses.
“Don’t be. I told you. I’m just here to keep you safe. I’m done hurting you. I’m done making mistakes. If this is what you want, you’ll get it.”
