The Wilder Alpha by Evelyn Glass Page B

give me virile pups.”
     
    The mere suggestion that his Mate, his Kristi, would cave to this snide, obnoxious alpha filled every crack of Jay’s brain. His self-restraint exploded, blasted aside by indignant rage. Snarling, Jay propelled forward, hands outstretched and crooked, claws glistening in the light. He swiped at the alpha’s chest, but his only reward was the rending of fabric under his strike.
     
    Gavin danced out of the way of Jay’s claws, amusement dancing in his green eyes. His teeth elongated and sharpened as his pupils narrowed to slits. Hair sprouted along his cheeks and jaws while bristling along his tough, sinewy arms. “Oh, did I hit a nerve, dog?”
     
    Jay clamped his mouth shut before any more words couldn’t weasel out of his mouth. He didn’t trust his mouth to not betray him. Though the look that would cross Gavin’s face would be worth it, Jay couldn’t do that to Kristi. Her pack could shun, exile, or kill her for the very association. The very thought made a coldness grip at Jay’s guts.
     
    Instead, he continued slashing his claws at Gavin in a chaotic attempt to land a blow. The alpha easily dodged every movement. Just as Jay wondered if his opponent would ever retaliate, Gavin’s hand shot out and snapped around his extended wrist. Claws bit at the underside of Jay’s wrist as he was forcefully spun. A thick arm clamped around his neck, blockading air from his lungs. Gavin wrenched his arm painfully back while Jay scrabbled at the limb wrapped around his throat.
     
    Jay struggled and grunted against Gavin as the alpha leaned forward. An infuriating grin sounded in Gavin’s tone, taunting and smug, “No wonder you’ve got no pack. You’re absolutely useless.”
     
    Blunt pain blossomed in Jay’s side, Gavin’s knee firmly connecting right below his ribs. Jay grunted and gasped, his suddenly-released hand instinctively going to block more blows. With his hand free, Gavin slammed his knuckles into Jay’s temple, releasing the chokehold at the same time. A hissed obscenity left Jay’s lips as he stumbled forward, catching himself from falling.
     
    He turned, glaring at the smirking Gavin. Hunger pinched at Jay’s stomach and in his head, as if sensing excessive exertion. Thirst clawed at Jay’s throat and, at the sudden realization, his lips burned from dehydration. The isolation from the moon ached in his very bones as his body demanded retribution against the alpha. The itch of a transformation crawled over his skin. Jay couldn’t do it, though. He had been away from any lunar light much too long.
     
    And Gavin knew it. “Aw, is that all you had left in you?”
     
    Jay huffed, trying to swallow down the feeling that ached in his lungs. He let out a snarl and launched himself at Gavin once more. The alpha easily hauled him from the air and flung him against the packed wall. Pain drilled through Jay, to his very bones, as the air escaped his lungs. His throat and chest burned, his sight blurred.
     
    As he slid to the floor, the alpha’s crunching footsteps drew closer. Jay didn’t need to see his opponent’s face to know the malicious grin he used. He’d seen it enough times in other faces. A boot slammed into his side, something cracked, and Jay’s lungs screamed for air. He grunted, curling up in a tight ball as more blows rained down on him.
     

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    Kristi inhaled sharply as pain raced up her body. For the twenty minutes or so, pain had bluntly throbbed over her body. It felt like an invisible opponent was going to town on every inch of her. She bit her lip, swallowing down a grunt of pain while attempting to eat. She knew who and what caused her misery. It was the same person who sent rivers of outrage flowing though her thoughts as she helped on the hunt. Thankfully, her violent expressions were hidden under a veneer of overeager huntress.
     
    Over the course of dinner, she had attempted to ignore the continual bursts of irritation,