I grab the back of his shirt. “That fence bite? Climb?” I ask, pointing to the tall structures running beside us.
He snorts. “No, they aren’t electrified, but if you try to climb them, you’ll get tranqed from the guard towers.” Al pushes me toward the fence, and I tolerate his touch only because he’s teaching me something. “See up there?”
On the roofline, two structures jut up into the blue sky, like small versions of the apartment building.
“Guards are up there, so no climbing or they’ll shoot you.” He wags one finger in warning.
I lift my lip in disgust at the idea of guards, and as I do, I catch movement in the high, round building. People keep watch up there. I turn my attention back to the yard, where other alphas roam and sit. My skin prickles to match my insides as their gazes turn my way.
One man, taller than both me and Al, with a black triangle printed on the skin under his eye swaggers up, one hand in his pocket. “So, the feral didn’t snuff you out, Alhedy?” He clicks his tongue. “Pity.”
I swivel, giving him my full attention. The clear malice in his tone sets my teeth pressing together. Is he challenging Al?
Al grins, equally threatening as he postures up. “Can’t make it easy for you, can I, Brody?”
The man smiles, but he doesn’t seem happy. “No, that wouldn’t be any fun. But mark my words, your time is coming.” The tall alpha looks me up and down. “Maybe this mutt has been neutered.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Al says, tone dark. “He and I reached an understanding.” He doesn’t exactly step between us, but he angles his body. As if I need an alpha like him to protect me.
I shove him aside with a snarl and step into the other alpha’s space. “Challenge?” I snap.
You can tell a lot about an alpha from their scent. Even more from the way they respond to another alpha getting in their space. This one’s mean but has a coward’s spine. I know, because his eyes light up with hatred, and he leans forward, but his scent turns bitter with caution, not strength.
Al touches my sleeve. “Easy, Zack.”
I’d back down, except for the discomfort growing in my belly, fanning into anger. My ohm-ga isn’t happy, which means I’m not happy.
“Want my teeth?” I ask, stepping close enough to bump into the stranger’s chest. “I show. On your throat.”
The challenger reaches out to push me, but he’s slow. I circle my arms around the outside of his and slap down, forcing his arms away. He’s got nothing on the alphas I used to fight.
But with that thought comes a faint warning voice: Cal-ee, asking me not to kill. I rumble unhappily, torn between my alpha instincts and the desire to go home.
“Stand down, lads,” a guard alpha calls, walking a few steps closer.
The stranger smiles and steps back, lifting his hands. “We’re all good here,” he says, corners of his mouth sucking in. Even though he backs down, he seems pleased about something. “For now,” he mutters, before walking away.
I hiss at his back as he goes.
“Scum of the earth,” Al says, making a wet sound in his throat before spitting on the ground. He glances at me and kicks his shoe into the grass. “That man’s like dirt, or poo.”
I nod. I can see the resemblance.
Al leads me over to the concrete area, where a set of lines mark the ground. He whistles at some men holding a ball, and one throws it to him so hard Al huffs for breath as he catches it.
“People are ever so pleasant around here,” he mutters.
I scan the group. They regard me with some interest, but their gazes quickly swivel back to Al, full of venom.
“You. Alphas don’t like you,” I tell him.
He snorts. “Got that right. They all love me so, so much. Guess you’re not as dumb as you look.”
“But they not challenge?”
He scoffs. “They’re trying, but not where the guards can see them.” He points to the alphas patrolling the area.
I turn and scan the closest threats.
