the twins.”
When she met Hayden’s gaze again, she saw the wolf peering back at her, proud and arrogant.
God, she hoped she was doing the right thing.
Chapter Eight
Hayden smelled Cameron and Ana before he and Christa broke through the trees. He suppressed a groan. He was not ready to face any of his Pack. Not yet.
He especially wasn’t ready to talk with Cameron, who could sense his mood thanks to the mating bond to Blaine. Being the mate of the Alpha, she’d know he’d started the mating dance with Christa.
As soon as he and Christa stepped into the open space that used to be Hunter Ridge, Cam turned toward them and narrowed her eyes at Christa. Hayden instinctually took Christa by the arm and tugged her into him.
Christa tried to pull away from him, but he was quicker. He fought a smile at her irritation, which he picked up on her scent and by the low human-like growl she let out. He could imagine her doing that with the twins when they were in trouble, like a mother with her pups. The image of Christa round with his pup came to mind, and he quickly banished it.
No. Way.
Not now.
His wolf perked up at the thought and moved to rub against him where Christa’s skin touched his. The damn beast liked the idea of Christa carrying his pups. The wolf never understood patience. No, the animal within took what he wanted, all be damned.
It was a curse left behind by his father. The Raines bloodline was too pure, their connections to their wolves too strong. From what Hayden knew, all the males in his father’s line either went completely wolf, or rogue.
He’d recently discovered that there was only one Raines male left, besides he and his brothers of course. Hayden and his mom were currently working with Jared to search for that male. What they would find, Hayden wasn’t sure. A part of him hoped his uncle, Rafe Raines, was still sane because it would kill Luna to watch her mate’s twin die. It would be like watching Royce die all over again.
Cam cleared her throat, bringing Hayden back to the present. He stared into her gold eyes and held her gaze until she shifted it to Christa tucked behind him. “She can’t come to the den.”
Hayden set his jaw and bared his fangs. “She’s agreed to a blood oath. It is now up to the Alphas.”
Cam watched Christa for several moments before she returned her gaze back to him. There was something different about Cameron, but he couldn’t place it. He scented the air, drew in the smells of forest, Pack. The female’s scent was different.
He tilted his head and studied her. Then took a step closer. Instantly, Cam held a hand up to stop him. “Don’t.”
The one word command held both a warning and a hint of fear. He shook his head and brushed by her, making sure his shoulder knocked into hers as he tugged Christa to the house.
Christa finally managed to jerk out of his grasp and fell into step with him. “Who was that? Are you always rude around others? And here I thought it was just me…”
Hayden spun around, gripped her by the biceps, and drew her into his body. She gasped, placed both hands on his chest, and met his gaze with a fire that only made him want her all the more. With a growl, he leaned in so their lips were inches apart and said, “That is one of the leopard Alpha’s mates. You are to show her respect.”
She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “I only give respect to those who show it to me. Now let me go.”
Hayden felt his lips twitch. His female held a strength he’d never seen in a human. And she dared to challenge him. “What if I don’t?”
She smiled, and before he knew it, she’d wrapped a leg around his and jerked, throwing him off balance. He flung his hand out and gripped her arm, pulling her to the ground with him. He landed on his back then flipped them over so he pinned Christa.
“Not the outcome you were hoping for, was it?”
She pounded on his chest and wiggled under him, hitting just the
When she met Hayden’s gaze again, she saw the wolf peering back at her, proud and arrogant.
God, she hoped she was doing the right thing.
Chapter Eight
Hayden smelled Cameron and Ana before he and Christa broke through the trees. He suppressed a groan. He was not ready to face any of his Pack. Not yet.
He especially wasn’t ready to talk with Cameron, who could sense his mood thanks to the mating bond to Blaine. Being the mate of the Alpha, she’d know he’d started the mating dance with Christa.
As soon as he and Christa stepped into the open space that used to be Hunter Ridge, Cam turned toward them and narrowed her eyes at Christa. Hayden instinctually took Christa by the arm and tugged her into him.
Christa tried to pull away from him, but he was quicker. He fought a smile at her irritation, which he picked up on her scent and by the low human-like growl she let out. He could imagine her doing that with the twins when they were in trouble, like a mother with her pups. The image of Christa round with his pup came to mind, and he quickly banished it.
No. Way.
Not now.
His wolf perked up at the thought and moved to rub against him where Christa’s skin touched his. The damn beast liked the idea of Christa carrying his pups. The wolf never understood patience. No, the animal within took what he wanted, all be damned.
It was a curse left behind by his father. The Raines bloodline was too pure, their connections to their wolves too strong. From what Hayden knew, all the males in his father’s line either went completely wolf, or rogue.
He’d recently discovered that there was only one Raines male left, besides he and his brothers of course. Hayden and his mom were currently working with Jared to search for that male. What they would find, Hayden wasn’t sure. A part of him hoped his uncle, Rafe Raines, was still sane because it would kill Luna to watch her mate’s twin die. It would be like watching Royce die all over again.
Cam cleared her throat, bringing Hayden back to the present. He stared into her gold eyes and held her gaze until she shifted it to Christa tucked behind him. “She can’t come to the den.”
Hayden set his jaw and bared his fangs. “She’s agreed to a blood oath. It is now up to the Alphas.”
Cam watched Christa for several moments before she returned her gaze back to him. There was something different about Cameron, but he couldn’t place it. He scented the air, drew in the smells of forest, Pack. The female’s scent was different.
He tilted his head and studied her. Then took a step closer. Instantly, Cam held a hand up to stop him. “Don’t.”
The one word command held both a warning and a hint of fear. He shook his head and brushed by her, making sure his shoulder knocked into hers as he tugged Christa to the house.
Christa finally managed to jerk out of his grasp and fell into step with him. “Who was that? Are you always rude around others? And here I thought it was just me…”
Hayden spun around, gripped her by the biceps, and drew her into his body. She gasped, placed both hands on his chest, and met his gaze with a fire that only made him want her all the more. With a growl, he leaned in so their lips were inches apart and said, “That is one of the leopard Alpha’s mates. You are to show her respect.”
She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “I only give respect to those who show it to me. Now let me go.”
Hayden felt his lips twitch. His female held a strength he’d never seen in a human. And she dared to challenge him. “What if I don’t?”
She smiled, and before he knew it, she’d wrapped a leg around his and jerked, throwing him off balance. He flung his hand out and gripped her arm, pulling her to the ground with him. He landed on his back then flipped them over so he pinned Christa.
“Not the outcome you were hoping for, was it?”
She pounded on his chest and wiggled under him, hitting just the
Similar Books
