"He's not a performing circus animal here for your entertainment," I continue, my voice dropping even lower. "He's a person. A member of my pack. Mybrother. And if you ever—ever—refer to him as a monster again, even in a creative way, we're going to have a very different kind of conversation. One that ends with you looking for a new job. Are we clear?"
The threat hangs in the air between us, heavy and unmistakable. Coach swallows hard, some of his bravado finally cracking. "I didn't mean?—"
"ARE. WE. CLEAR?"
He nods jerkily, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Crystal."
"Good." I step back, giving him room to breathe again. "Now. I suggest you focus on getting the rink ready for practice. I'll handle the team."
Coach practically bolts, his shoes squeaking against the polished floor as he hurries away. I watch him go, the rage still simmering just beneath my skin. Part of me wants to follow, to make absolutely sure he understands the gravity of his mistake.
But I can't.
I have to be better than that.
With a frustrated growl, I turn and punch the nearest wall. The impact sends shockwaves up my arm, pain blooming in my knuckles. But it helps. Gives me something to focus on besides the red haze of anger clouding my vision.
Deep breaths, Thane. Get it together.
I lean my forehead against the cool concrete, trying to center myself. Images flash through my mind unbidden. Wraith's first night in our home, curled up like a wounded wild animal in a basement closet he didn't fit in even as a boy. The way he flinched every time someone moved too quickly. The nightmares that had him clawing at his own face until we had to restrain him.
The day I finally learned the truth about what had happened to his face. What his stepfather had done. How I wanted to hunt him down and make him suffer the way he made my new brother suffer. My fury when the real monster was locked away in prison instead.
Safe from me.
Until he gets out, at least.
My hand throbs, and I realize I've punched the wall again without meaning to.Fuck. I check over my knuckles. They're already starting to swell.
Plague is going to give me hell for this later.
Deep down, I can't help but feel like there's more to my current state than just Coach mouthing off. We're all on a hair trigger lately. Me, Wraith, Whiskey… even Plague's not quite his usual disaffected self.
Is it Valek's impending arrival?
That might be part of it, but it still doesn't feel right. More like our world has shifted on its axis, and none of us knows why.
But we all feel it.
Chapter
Ten
PLAGUE
Istare at the stack of pancakes in front of me, methodically flipping another golden disk onto the growing pile. The rhythmic motion is soothing, helping to quiet the chaos in my mind after yet another restless night.
My dreams have never been particularly normal, but last night's were stranger than usual. Fragments of honeysuckle scent and fleeting glimpses of an omega moving through shadow still refuse to fade, clinging to my consciousness like cobwebs.
All I remember is her honeysuckle scent and hair like fire.
The kitchen is quiet except for the soft sizzle of batter hitting the hot griddle and Whiskey's fork scraping against his plate. He's already demolished half the stack I set in front of him, though his usual enthusiasm is subdued this morning. The shadows under his eyes match my own, telling me I wasn't the only one who struggled to sleep last night.
"Thanks for breakfast," Whiskey mumbles around a mouthful of pancake, breaking the comfortable silence. "Thought it wasgonna be a protein bar kind of day when I got up late. You really outdid yourself."
I grunt in acknowledgment, not turning from my task. The compliment shouldn't please me as much as it does. I blame the lingering effects of those unsettling dreams for the way my lips threaten to curve upward.
"Didn't realize I made so many," I mutter, frowning at the gigantic pile of pancakes stacking up on the countertop. Evidence of my distraction. The phantom scent of wild honeysuckle keeps pulling at my attention, making it hard to focus. "Must have been lost in thought."
