Delilah
When we get to the Alpha’s house, there’s a heavy tension in the air as we all gather in a large office-like room with a massive table. At least twenty chairs surround it, most of which are empty. Quil sits beside Coal, and on the other side of the table are Dean and Matteo. There are a couple more Wolves here that I don’t recognize that look about my age. They must also be from the Academy. I tug at my chokers which feel as if they tighten by the second.
There’s a fireplace on one wall which is behind the seat I assume belongs to Michael. Above it hangs the skin of a bear. It’s such an odd sight. Shifters are apex predators, seeing as they have the intelligence of a Human and the strength of a Wolf. How is hanging a bear's skin on the wall considered anything other than pathetic?
Like, good for you, Michael, you killed an animal for no fucking reason. Just because you can. Then you hang itsdead body on your wall. It’s not as if he’s using the furs for warmth. We don’t eat bear meat because of how rare they are in this area. Killing that animal served no purpose.
I think that says a lot about the kind of Wolf Michael is.
The longer I stand here, the worse the room smells, but I can’t figure out why. It’s almost like… old blood? I squint at the bearskin. Maybe it wasn’t cleaned properly, and it's rotting.
Quil’s shoulders are tense, Matteo looks ready to toss me over his shoulder and bolt out the door, while Dean looks ready for a fucking war. The fire casts a soft glow against his dark features, and I’m reminded of pictures I once saw of brave warriors. Dean might be a teddy bear on the inside, but outside? He’s all beast. I bite my lip because right now is not the time to be getting lusty.
I would rather chop all my toes off with a spoon than have Michael walk in and scent me.
I stand closely behind Coal’s chair which is to the right of the unoccupied end chair saved for the Alpha. Quil sits beside his best friend, not even glancing at me once, but I can sense the barely veiled anger vibrating off of him in waves.
I keep my head down, focusing on my shoes which are killing my feet already. Why are heels even a thing? So painful. Inconspicuous torture devices.
Alpha Michael enters, and I suck in a breath. The air changes, and I nearly gag on the smell of his sweat and body odor. Oh, that is foul.
I was expecting blood and chaos, but he just sits at the head of the table and addresses the Wolves. He looks nothing like Coal who takes after his mother entirely. Michael has gray hair that was once brown, a crookednose, and thin lips with squinty eyes that look dead inside.
He radiates menacing power and evil. His body is relaxed, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. He’s a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
They speak for a while, and I zone out. My feet are killing me, and I really want to sit. Or just kick these damn things off. It made for a good distraction from my fear of the Alpha, though.
“No, the issue will be rectified right now! Headmaster Evans never should have allowed another Wolf to claim a Human you had already Avowed!” When the Alpha shouts, my blood runs cold, and I freeze, all my attention focused on Michael once again.
“Yes, Father,” Coal says in a low tone that is so unlike him. It’s submissive and filled with defeat. “I will let Headmaster Evans know his mistake will not be excused. The Human is mine. Dean will have no issue relinquishing his claim.”
Dean rumbles a low growl at Coal’s words but doesn’t object.
Alpha Michael snaps his fingers, and my gaze jumps to them; he gives me a come here motion. “Come here, now!” he growls, making me swallow hard. “Human trash…” he grumbles. I move to stand beside his chair, my back facing Coal. “Mmm, she’s grown. Perhaps I’ll just dissolve both claims and use her for my own needs.” Michael's words cause Coal to jump to his feet. The sudden movement startles me, and I look over at him. Quil whimpers, watching Coal with wide terrified eyes. My heart rate spikes. The men I spent so much time fearing, are scared? This is bad…
“No!” Coal snaps loudly and then clears his throat when his father glares, teeth bared. “What I mean to say isthat I’ve been using her for my own needs for years, Father, you don’t want her…”
“Nonsense. You may claim another Human as your Avowed.” Alpha Michael waves a hand in the air. I snap my attention back to the older Wolf. “Take her, clean her, and put her in my room. Your mother was a submissive whore, let’s see how you compare.” I don’t have to see his face to know his grin is evil. A sick feeling washes over me as my mind fills with horrifying possibilities.
My eyes fly around the room, looking for whoever is about to grab me, so I can attack as soon as they get near.
I’d rather die. I’ll fight him until my last breath. He’ll have to kill me…
He’ll beat me, rape me, make me wish I was dead. No. No, I won't let him destroy me. I’ll fight with everything I have, even if it means I die right here in this room.
My thoughts are spiraling, my heart racing, and my muscles tensing for a fight, which is probably why Coal’s protesting yells don’t register until I feel a piercing bite clamp down on my neck.
I yell out at the pain and then moan as the pain turns to pleasure. Blood rushes in my ears as adrenaline pumps through my veins, and my fight-or-flight kicks off full force.
A link snaps into place in my mind, and I hear a voice that isn’t my own.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…”He’s panicking. Terror fills my chest as the new bond sends his emotions slamming into me.“Fuck, flower. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”Oh my goddess, Coal. Coal is in my head. Coal bit me.
“Holy fucking shit! Coal just gave me a mate mark!”I practically scream in my head when Coal releases me. What the ever-loving fuck was he thinking? This will kill me, it will kill us both! Blood drips down my shoulder as aburning pain spreads from the mark through my body.“I’m already dying…”
“Out!” Alpha Michael screams. Everyone, except Coal and I, is forced out of the room. “You fool!” Michael backhands Coal so hard that he slams into the floor, the sound so unnerving, I’m sure he just broke his son's jaw. I reach my hand up, covering the bite, and flinch when it stings. Blood drips down my hand and makes me light-headed. Michael’s angry glare lands on me, and I keep my eyes on Coal, who is already getting back up. “A Human mate! You fucking fool, if she dies, you will too! The son of an Alpha mated to a fucking Human! Disgusting!” he roars in anger. “They’ll all laugh at me for this! My son dead, because of a whore!”
“Everyone in this room saw me give her my mate mark. If you murder her, before she dies from my mark, they’ll turn against you. Shadow Moon and Black Moon will not stand for it,” Coal rasps through a mouthful of blood, smiling up at his father. “Shadow Moon claimed her. They won’t take her death lightly. They’ll want proof her death wasn’t a result of your anger, because if there is any chance she’ll survive, we’ll have to prove the bond was formed. I can already feel her,” Coal punches his fist against his chest, punctuating his words.
