An engine revved suddenly down the road and they all turned to look.
A truck screeched to a halt in front of the gate, dirt and debris flying as the brakes locked.
“What fresh hell is this?”Javan asked.
“Shit,” Fallon said.“It’s Otto.”
* * *
Avi used his walkie to alert Crew and the others that Otto was at the front gate.Fallon grabbed her mom’s arm and pulled her close as Avi stepped in front of them.Javan and Amadeus took up protective stances with Avi, low growls from their lions making the hair on Fallon’s arms stand up.
Otto and two males got out of the truck.She’d never seen the males with him so she assumed they were part of his prowl.Fallon had only ever seen Otto on security footage from the park.He was lean but had a lethal air about him, a true predator behind the dark eyes and tanned skin.A cursory once-over showed scars on his arms and neck, and she was certain they came from fighting.He wasn’t alpha of his prowl because he was nice.It was because he was dangerous.
The three males stood on the other side of the gate.
“We’ve come for Fallon.She’s my arranged mate, and I mean to claim her through any means necessary.”
Crew, Ford, and Grey joined them as Otto finished speaking.Crew stepped up.“I’m the alpha, and you’re not only trespassing, but you’re threatening one of my people.Fallon and Avi are mated, and that means she’s not yours and she’s absolutely not going anywhere with you.Leave.Now.”
Crew was a stallion.Otto was a jaguar.
They were both alphas, both powerful.
But Crew was noble, and Otto thought nothing of chasing after her across state lines, and lying and threatening people.They might have the same title, but they werenotthe same.
“Cute,” Otto said, making a face.“She was promised to me by her alpha and stolen away by her mother, and I’ve come to collect.”
“I’m not your mate, and I wasn’t Dario’s to barter,” Fallon said, seething.
Her jaguar was furious, and her skin prickled as she glared at him.Her fangs tingled in her gums and her skin flushed.She rubbed at her neck with a trembling growl, tempted to just shift into her jaguar and tear him to pieces for being such a smug prick.
Otto’s gaze narrowed as he stared at her neck.That’s when she realized she was rubbing underneath her collar and most likely exposing her pregnancy flush.“You’re pregnant,” Otto said.
Avi took a step forward and Crew threw his arm out to stop him from moving.“Yes, but it doesn’t matter,” Crew said.“She’s part of my people and under my protection.You’re outnumbered.Leave while you can.”
Otto growled.“Then I’ll just take Sera, instead.”His dark gaze shifted to Fallon’s mom.“You’re mine by law, by prowl rights.I took over Dario’s prowl and that makes me your alpha.You defected, Sera, but you’re still part of my prowl and that gives me the ultimate authority over you.I might not take some bitch jaguar carrying another male’s baby as my mate, but I’ll take you.”He took a step forward, his eyes flashing to amber for a moment.“I’ll enjoy making you pay for the trouble you’ve caused me.”
Sera stalked forward, her jaguar rumbling in her chest, ignoring Avi’s attempt to try to keep her back.
“I’m not yours, you pretentious jackass,” Sera said loudly.“Dario died because he was an idiot, and he arranged to mate Fallon to you because he was too scared to be killed.You’re not my alpha.I don’t recognize your authority.”
Otto’s smile was cruel and cold.Fallon shivered.
He wasn’t just a dangerous male, he was downright deadly.
“You’re not free, Sera.You’re just prey.”
Fallon leaned into Avi, her hands gripping his shirt as fear surged through her.
“You have no power here,” Avi said.“Leave on your own or be buried in our woods.That’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”
“You heard my male,” Crew said, folding his arms.“If I see you in my territory again, I’ll consider it an act of war.”
Otto didn’t flinch or look the least bit scared.
Amadeus and Javan both growled so loudly and with such menace that it made Fallon want to run for cover.
For just a moment, Otto’s smirk faltered.He recovered quickly and cast a cold smile at Sera.“You’ll never be safe.”
