“There’s a lot to think about. I’m not ready yet to make a decision on that.” He’s looking at me when he says this, like I’m the answer he’s looking for
She brings me back to my place beside her son at the head of the table. We spend the rest of the night talking about his childhood, his pack, how big it is easily it’s triple the size of my pack. We also talk about his mate and how wonderful she was. It doesn’t get me jealous. I just feel so bad that he lost someone so precious. He tells me the story of when be found her the first time, he claimed her immediately. They were together one year before she died In a beating accident.
I look at his neck. The claimed mark has faded away, as if his mate never existed. It must be sad for the living to slowly watch the mark fade away nothing they can do about it but watch. It allows them to be claimed by someone else when enough time has passed.
“I should be going.” Standing, I say goodbye to the brothers, who all bow slightly in respect. The Luna embraces me again.
“Anytime you want into our pack, all you have to do is show up and we will take you in.” She really means what she’s saying
a war,” I say sadly.
“I would start a war,
“Wars have been fought for much less. If my son wants this, the whole pack will stand behind him.” Her teeth flash her white of war.
“I’ll walk you out “His hand is on my back, very close to the curve of my ass
When we reach my car, we pause. lean against it, facing him. “Thank you for coming and meeting my family. Next is my father, but we have to go to my pack for that.” His head dips low, and he kisses me
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re a future Alpha?” I still feel slightly betrayed that he held this information from me,
“I didn’t think it was important until now. I don’t like to advertise this too much, especially when I had no intention of taking my birthright. Forgive me I won’t keep anything like this from you again, okay?”
Inod my head. “Okay,” I say q
quietly. He closes the door with a small wave
It’s not a very long drive back. I get out of the car, and my nose curls up with the smell of a wolf claiming territory. The smell is ammonia strong, pungent, making my eyes water. Quickly looking around,I search for him among the trees.
My door has long scratch marks gouged into the wood. I see a tree to the side of me down. Another one is toppled onto my garden, which lays barren
now
“I just want to talk to you.” His voice scares me, prickling down my spine. He’s holding himself against a tree, claws dug in as anchors.
“Let me just talk to you, Rya.” He growls out my name, jaw clenching. His body looks like it’s dueling with itself. Snarling fangs poke out of gums. A tendon snaps bone, only to realign again.
“I don’t want to talk. You’ve said more than enough to last me a lifetime.” I try to get my keys out. My hands are shaking. One clawed hand unhooks itself from the tree, deep heavy growls vibrating into me. My wolf rises up inside me. Blood…she wants the blood from his throat
I scream slightly with the pain of nails that push from my skin. His other hand just swipes away the thick chunk of wood like it’s nothing, and the tree topples with a groan and creak
His step is awkward as a hip tries to shift into his fighting form. Scalpel blades feel like they are pushing themselves through my nail beds. I’m sweating from the pain, and I almost retch my dinner up beside my door.
He’s so close now his breath hits my face. My body pulses with a life of its own an arch of electricity from him to me joins us. His nose goes into my neck, inhaling. His teeth have descended. His fist hits my door, shaking the foundation of the building I can’t breathe
He gives me a full–grown male wolf growl, ringing my ears deaf from the noise. With another inhale of my scent, he presses himself against me. His hand takes my extended claws in his, easily pinning my arms above my head. His eyes are no longer green but that of a wolf who is going to do what he has always wanted to do
His other hand turns my neck to the side, while his chest presses into me. A tongue slides out, tasting a mate’s flesh for the first time. He groans, shaking his whole body. I try to break his hold, but it’s impossible. I can’t even kick hard enough to have him feel it. They will leave bruises, but right now he
“Clayton, what are you doing?” Kennedy’s voice, full of pain, hits his back like darts.
I look at her. It’s as if a wife just caught her husband cheating on her. She looks the way I looked when he chose her over me.
