truck. Three redheaded male wolves got out. I hadn’t taken a good look at them in their human form. Pale skinned with deep set eyes, Kiera might not have been too far off about the zombie apocalypse. Drones, carrying out their alpha’s wishes. Even more of an insult. Their scent caught in the breeze; rotten leaves on the forest floor.
Heat radiated through my body and my stomach churned when Ember joined them, leading them over to the office.
Baron took off his goggles, and watched the scene open-mouthed. This was no surprise, but it was still an intrusion.
“How do you want to handle this?” Baron asked, the disgust plain on his face. We’d been held hostage once on this land, and I’d be damned if it happened again.
“As quickly as fucking possible.” I dropped the pile of wood I was carrying. My mouth watered in that sickening way, as we walked over to the office. This was my fight, and I wanted to reach them before they dragged Shadow into it. He’d been too much of a loose cannon as alpha, and I wanted this to end with a whimper instead of the next world war.
I concentrated on Lyssie; the sensation of her thumbs circling the base of her neck, her pale, slick curves moving in time with my body, and her expression when she lost all control.
It should’ve been enough. It was enough for me. That’s what I wanted. But Ember stopped in the middle of the walkway, waiting for me to come to her.
“We didn’t have a chance to finish talking the other night, Dallas.” Ember’s blood red lips slid up into a smirk. She licked them, probably to catch a drop of venom before it ruined her makeup. Her blue dress and sky-high heels were more red carpet than Granger Falls. “I hate dive bars. Loud music, obnoxious drunk people. I prefer things to be a little more refined. Intimate.”
“You should’ve stayed home.” The ranch, her drone wolves, all of it spun violently, slamming against the corners of my vision. Only Ember stayed clear and steady. Fuck. “Because that’s the kind of pack we are. Loud, obnoxious. We’re not concerned with material things. That’s not important. Family and pack, the rest of it doesn’t matter.”
Ember stepped closer, reaching for my hand. It was crossed over my other arm. I didn’t take hers. “Oh, you’re warm.” She traced small circles on my exposed skin. My wolf groaned, thankful for the relief from the unbearable heat. “You know Full Moon Fever can kill a wolf if they don’t treat it. Suck the life right out of you. That’s why wolves mate for life. Separating from one’s true mate is a death sentence.”
Sweat trickled down my spine. There was no denying my wolf’s reaction to this woman. “Wouldn’t be the first time I cheated death.”
“That might be true, but tell me something. Have you actually lived? Or just existed? No hope of a mate, living in your brother’s shadow, and that dog fighting ring.” She shuddered. “Family and pack is the most important thing. But it’s slipping through your fingers. It’s a horrible feeling, isn’t it? The Channing Reserve will be a ghost town in fifty years. Or you’ll be old and weak and in chains again with no one to defend you. At least you’ll have a front row seat to watch other packs ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for. I can give you want you want. A future. Security. You’d be my mate, your voice would be heard. That’s what you want. No more being lost in the shuffle. I’m your dream come true, Dallas, and that’s before we even consider all the things I’ll do to your body.”
“If pack is so important to you, why did you come without your alpha?” This bitch was a fucking traitor. She was either going to cause a pack war or drag us into hers. I’d never fight for her.
Ember laughed and leaned in, those deceitful lips moving against my ear, her cool breath offering sanctuary. “I am the alpha.”
Chapter Nine
L yssie
“Did you do it?” Kiera asked right away. I hadn’t
Heat radiated through my body and my stomach churned when Ember joined them, leading them over to the office.
Baron took off his goggles, and watched the scene open-mouthed. This was no surprise, but it was still an intrusion.
“How do you want to handle this?” Baron asked, the disgust plain on his face. We’d been held hostage once on this land, and I’d be damned if it happened again.
“As quickly as fucking possible.” I dropped the pile of wood I was carrying. My mouth watered in that sickening way, as we walked over to the office. This was my fight, and I wanted to reach them before they dragged Shadow into it. He’d been too much of a loose cannon as alpha, and I wanted this to end with a whimper instead of the next world war.
I concentrated on Lyssie; the sensation of her thumbs circling the base of her neck, her pale, slick curves moving in time with my body, and her expression when she lost all control.
It should’ve been enough. It was enough for me. That’s what I wanted. But Ember stopped in the middle of the walkway, waiting for me to come to her.
“We didn’t have a chance to finish talking the other night, Dallas.” Ember’s blood red lips slid up into a smirk. She licked them, probably to catch a drop of venom before it ruined her makeup. Her blue dress and sky-high heels were more red carpet than Granger Falls. “I hate dive bars. Loud music, obnoxious drunk people. I prefer things to be a little more refined. Intimate.”
“You should’ve stayed home.” The ranch, her drone wolves, all of it spun violently, slamming against the corners of my vision. Only Ember stayed clear and steady. Fuck. “Because that’s the kind of pack we are. Loud, obnoxious. We’re not concerned with material things. That’s not important. Family and pack, the rest of it doesn’t matter.”
Ember stepped closer, reaching for my hand. It was crossed over my other arm. I didn’t take hers. “Oh, you’re warm.” She traced small circles on my exposed skin. My wolf groaned, thankful for the relief from the unbearable heat. “You know Full Moon Fever can kill a wolf if they don’t treat it. Suck the life right out of you. That’s why wolves mate for life. Separating from one’s true mate is a death sentence.”
Sweat trickled down my spine. There was no denying my wolf’s reaction to this woman. “Wouldn’t be the first time I cheated death.”
“That might be true, but tell me something. Have you actually lived? Or just existed? No hope of a mate, living in your brother’s shadow, and that dog fighting ring.” She shuddered. “Family and pack is the most important thing. But it’s slipping through your fingers. It’s a horrible feeling, isn’t it? The Channing Reserve will be a ghost town in fifty years. Or you’ll be old and weak and in chains again with no one to defend you. At least you’ll have a front row seat to watch other packs ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for. I can give you want you want. A future. Security. You’d be my mate, your voice would be heard. That’s what you want. No more being lost in the shuffle. I’m your dream come true, Dallas, and that’s before we even consider all the things I’ll do to your body.”
“If pack is so important to you, why did you come without your alpha?” This bitch was a fucking traitor. She was either going to cause a pack war or drag us into hers. I’d never fight for her.
Ember laughed and leaned in, those deceitful lips moving against my ear, her cool breath offering sanctuary. “I am the alpha.”
Chapter Nine
L yssie
“Did you do it?” Kiera asked right away. I hadn’t
Similar Books
