But not yet.
I know how my enemies work. I’ve been studying them for well over a decade.
“I also told you I would protect what’s mine,” I purr softly and walk through the mess they’ve made to press myself into Hazard’s side.
I look up at him and then stretch up and kiss him. It’s hot, and even more hotter because of who is watching, sending us seething, livid glares.
I pull away and lick my lips, then I step through the mess to Liam and punch him hard. I do the same to Preston.
“Keep your hands off what’s mine.”
Liam growls, but when I look at him, he swallows the sound and drops his gaze.
I walk back to Hazard and put my hand through his arm, allowing him to lead me out of the coffee shop like I’m a damn queen. It takes us ages to drive home, and we barely speak.
Riot meets my hungry kiss with one of his own. When I draw back for air, he raises his brows.
“So, I need to bring you into town once a week so we can have this kind of sex,” he runs a hand up and down the space in front of me.
“This?”
“Aggressive. Sexually powerful, confident.”
I shake my head, finally smiling. “Tell me something about yourselves.”
Hazard grunts. “I hate bananas.”
I laugh. “No, seriously.”
He grins. “I really hate bananas.”
I chuckle, but it fades to silence when he leans in close to me and stares into my eyes.
“Nobody sees me but you. It’s like I’m a ghost in this world. But you see me. I don’t feel like I need to be stupid or tell jokes all the time to get your attention. Thank you.”
“Hazard.” They are breaking me. I’m breaking under the hope.
He presses a kiss to my forehead. “My parents were strict. Angel was the good wolf; I was the little shit. The angrier they got, the more extreme I had to be. It was a constant game of chicken. I was out the night I ran into those women, trying to find a way to stop our father mating Angel and I to a pair of wolves the pack had approved of.”
“You were?” Riot asks in surprise.
Angel stiffens and stands up straight, while Wrath perches on the porch steps beside me.
Hazard nods. “I overheard them. We were all supposed to be auctioned off before the end of the winter. Wrath, you had a match as well, she had arrived with the same females that we were going to be mated to.”
It’s clear Angel didn’t know this information. Fuck.
Wrath takes my hand.
“My family was good, but we were poor. My mum was dying when this curse was put upon us. I have no idea whether she’s alive or dead. And my real name was Hudson.”
“You changed your name?” I don’t know why I’m so shocked. I look at Riot, who already gifted me with his name. Riordan and Hudson.
“We all did. We chose our own names when we realised we’d be moved on,” Hazard says. “Our names depict our natures, and hide us so our families are safe.”
I consider their names. Riot. Hazard. Angel. Wrath and Khaos.
“Why did you choose Wrath?”
