But first…
I slowly pad over to the alpha, belly low and tail between my legs in a submissive posture. He sits unmoving, gaze locked on my face as I approach. The odds of him attacking me are small, but not nonexistent. I’m sure he knows we’re fated mates, but even if his eyes aren’t completely blank anymore, he’s unpredictable and there’s no telling what he might do.
I creep across the last few feet with my belly to the ground, then butt my head against his large, furry chest and make a low whining noise. He lowers his head and rubs his cheek over my ears, letting out a contented rumble. Leaning my full weight against his legs, I close my eyes and just sit there for a moment, enjoying the closeness and warmth of my mate.
Raquel clears her throat, and I open my eyes, meeting her gaze and lowering my chin in a slight nod. She stares at me for a beat, then cautiously approaches, arms loose at her sides and eyes on the ground, only glancing up a few times to check in with me.
As she draws closer, the alpha goes tense and the happy noise turns into a growl as he slowly rises to his feet. He flashes his teeth and the hair along his back starts to rise. I whine, trying to get his attention, but his attention is fixed firmly on my friend.
Not a good sign.
A feral shifter loses their humanity, their wolves in full control. No logic. No reason. They kill without remorse, and the only thing that can stop them is death. I don’t think my mate is quite to that point, but he’s definitely right on the edge and if he attacks Raquel unprovoked, there might not be any coming back for him.
Or for us.
Whether we’re fated mates or not.
Nine
Blake
Thehumanholdspainin its hand. Torture, torment, and control.
No.
They will not control me any longer. I snarl and snap my teeth, the blood of the others still a bitter, metallic taste on my tongue.
Kill the human.
Kill the human.
Kill the human.
The voice that says those words is not my own, but it echoes mythoughts desire will. And even if it didn’t, the voice demands obedience.
I must obey. Iwill obey. I—
My nose twitches, a sweet scent filtering in through my senses and drowning out everything else. My mate. Fate’s gift to me. He’s here. He’s…
Anomega. Even more precious. Special.
Someone to be protected. Treasured.Always.
The smaller wolf presses his head into my chest, ears brushing my chin as he pushes meaway away awayfrom the human.
A disjointed memory breaks through the bloodlust, the anger, the cold ball of fury in my chest. My mate calls this human “friend.” He won’t let me hurt her.
But he’ll letherhurtme?
I don’t understand.
I let out a plaintive whine, the sound half involuntary, and my eyes dart from the remote to my mate and back again in a silent plea for understanding. I have to do this. I have to.I have to.
My mate straightens and rubs the side of his face against my shoulder, letting out a quiet whine of his own. Something about the action tugs at my awareness, reminds me I am not just an animal and my choices are my own.
Like the choice I made tonight, the choice to die in the fight.
But fate intervened, sent me a mate, sent me hope and a future.
