Cora smiled back at me. “Oh, even better! Grab me at seven tomorrow.”
“It’s a date.”
With one final wave, she jumped into her car and took off, and I clutched the bag closer to my chest, ready for phase two of Prank Wars. Still unsure of how far I could push Slade, I was happy with the lowkey, unobtrusive prank I had planned.
It would require me to scramble the cameras and enter his room again, and I was excited that only Finley was home. A statement I thought I’d never make.
But the bear rarely kept an eye on me, which was exactly what I needed to make this happen.
In my room, I tucked the items from Cora into my pocket and retrieved the scramble device from the side table. In my bathroom, I spritzed myself with the scent-blocking spray, not that it was necessary since Slade knew exactly who was behind it all, but I followed the same steps anyway.
After hitting the button, I sprinted from my room, heading down the hall and up the stairs to reach Slade’s room even faster than last time. When I placed my hand on his handle, I knew this was the ultimate test. If he wanted to continue our war, the door would be unlocked. If not, I’d respect his wishes.
Or at least keep the pranks from his room.
As I pressed down, it clicked open easily, andfuck,I felt like I’d achieved greatness with the simple act of intriguing Slade into this war. That had to be as great an achievement as Hunter’s invention of Shifter Serum, right? One got you drunk and the other one tamed a fucking dragon. Same-same.
Inside the room, I was surrounded by Slade’s scent, and I breathed it in, wishing it coated my skin the way Hunter’s and Kellan’s did. Since our bonding, and sleeping in the same bed, our scents mingled like old friends. Or bonded mates.
It made me wonder if there’d be any major changes when the quintet was complete.
There was very little chance I’d ever find out, and with no time to dwell on what I was missing—I had minutes to get my prank rolling—I shut it out of my mind and raced across the room.
Yanking back the curtain to reveal his stalker wall, I paused to take it in.Were there more photos and monitors?Yep. Slade had added to his collection.
With a shake of my head, I pulled out the bag of googly eyes from my pocket and spent precious minutes peeling off the backs and sticking them to every photo of me, so when he checked his wall, all he’d see was eyes bobbing at him. And bob they would thanks to stalker Slade pinning his photos to a curtain.
When I was satisfied with the hilarious wall of wobbly eyes, I returned the curtains to their regular position and raced out of his room, closing the door behind me. My heart slammed in my chest all the way back to my bedroom, and I drew to a halt at the sight of Finley leaning against the wall by my door.
Silence extended between us, as he appeared content to examine me without words until he finally said, “You’re playing with fire, you know.” His thick lashes fluttered, hiding his beautiful eyes as he straightened. “Just don’t push him too far. Slade is not like the other two.”
I noted that he didn’t include himself in that statement. It was a subtle warning not topush Finley too faras well. With a shake of his head, he left the hall, his steps echoing until the garage door slammed closed. He was off to tinker with one of his cars, and I almost followed, before remembering myself. His warning hadn’t been put out there for me to disregard, and despite my need to push at the dragon, I didn’t feel the same way about Finley.
I actually had no idea what to do with the bear shifter. He certainly wasn’t my friend, but maybe he wasn’t my enemy anymore either.
In my room, I paced for a while, working off adrenaline from the prank and my meeting with Finley. The rest of the pack would be home soon, and knowing I’d probably missedmessages, I was about to grab my phone when my gaze fell on the pile of books stacked haphazardly in the corner. Books that had been there since Chelsea dropped them off at the guard house.
Deciding I had a few minutes to give these books, I sorted through the pile, while taking my time to slowly read the titles. There were a few words I couldn’t figure out, but I managed to sound out most of them.The History of omegas;Pack Hierarchy and Omegas;Embracing Your Strength as an Omega;Strengths and Weaknesses;Pack Bonds Through the Centuries;andThe Magic of Omegas.
The last book on the magic of omegas had a small sticky note attached, and I squinted to keep the words straight as I deciphered what was written.Emme, start with this one. It’s the most detailed. I think there’s even a section on bonded alphas and omegas near the back. Let me know if you have any questions. Chat soon, Chelsea.
I’d barely spoken to the other omega since the day of the guard-attack, outside of a quick message to thank her. It wasn’t like we’d hit it off immediately the way Cora and I had, but she’d been nice and was one of the few omegas in the pack cities. Her entitled alpha was also Hunter’s best friend—Sorenson, a charming tiger shifter. For that alone, I should invite that pack over for a meal one evening. It was time for me to start taking a more vested interest in my pack, and the shifters who were part of their lives.
I picked up the book Chelsea suggested I start with, wondering how magic was related to omegas. We held no active magic, outside of the same essence that hadcursedshifters to begin with. But maybe this was a reference to the sharing of energy, which could be viewed as a magic of sorts.
Excited, I pulled the book closer, rubbing my fingers over the gritty surface of the cover. It must have debris on it from theattack—I’d dropped these books as I fought back, and they’d lain on the ground until Hunter retrieved them from the guard hut and placed them in my room.
My hand tingled as I flipped open the cover, pausing as a puff of white dust erupted from the first page, drifting into my lungs. Dropping the book and scrambling back, I clawed at my throat, which felt like it was already closing over. Every muscle in my body ceased up, leaving me unable to move, and only the faintest of breaths entered my lungs.
Then my legs moved… only, I wasn’t the one moving them.
With no control over my actions, I marched toward my desk and quickly jotted down a note that I’d never have been able to pen without assistance.Dear Alphas, I can’t do this anymore. I don’t trust you all not to force the bonds, and I need to forge a life away from the risk of being part of a completed quintet. If you care for me, you won’t come after me. This was never meant to be. Emmeline.
The pen fell from my unresponsive fingers, and my legs took me to the windows where I tore the shutters open and pushed out the glass.
I tried to scream.
I tried to grasp the window and hold on until someone came for me, but no part of me was under my control. Not even my voice.
