“Well, first of all, speciesist much? Second of all, there’s not just wolves in our pack. We only call it a pack for convenience. It’s like a pack-herd-warren…thing. Basically a big family.”
At the wordfamily,Xander’s eye twitched. He turned his intense gaze on me. It was equally irritated and interested, full of both exasperation and hunger. He stared so hard at me that it sent a weird little shiver through my fur.
“Just so you know, he’s not joking,” Remington added. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but we live in a mixed shifter species pack. There’s prey and predator both.”
“And you all get along, living in harmony and singing songs?” Xander asked sarcastically.
“There’s no singing, but yeah, basically!” I chipped in.
“Goodbye, Remington.”
My jaw dropped as Xander stalked off before even saying goodbye tome.What the hell was his problem? Suddenly enraged, I growled and ran ahead, cutting off his path.
“Hey!” I snapped. “I know I’m annoying, but that doesn’t excuse how rude you’ve been to me lately!”
“Lately meaning the past hour?”
“Well, yeah.” I puffed out my fur. “You’re gonna leave, just like that?”
“Yes. Move.”
I wasn’t going to let some cat boss me around. I refused and stayed put. If he wanted me to get out of his way, he’d have to shove me with his big stupid paw.
Xander went still. There was a slight tremble in his muscles, like he was gearing up to pounce but never did.
“Sage,” Remington called carefully. “Just let him go, okay?”
“No,” I insisted. “I want him to—”
A shadow lunged at me. In the next second, the breath was gone from my lungs. My back hit the grass and I yelped, bringing up my paws to my chest like a submissive pup. Xander loomed over my body, his claws digging into the ground on either side of me. His fangs were inches from my snout. The scent of his hot breath rolled over me, along with the heady smell of his natural musk. I shivered violently.
“This is my last time saving naïve little omegas like you,” Xander growled, his voice so quiet only I could hear it. “Don’t expect it again, Sage.”
Something electric shot through me. The way he said my name made me melt, made me want to whimper.
I couldn’t reply. Words wouldn’t come out of me. My brain felt like it had been zapped.
“Sage!” Remington cried in the background. He sounded worried, but I wasn’t afraid.
Before Remmy caught up, Xander leaned in close enough that our noses nearly touched. His eyes were hot and cold, frigid yet blazing. His next words sounded both angry and sad.
“Goodbye, Sage.”
And with that, Xander leapt off me and disappeared into the night like a shadow. I stayed where I was, feeling… weird, but in a good way.
Tingly.
“Oh my gods, Sage, are you okay?”
Remington caught up with me. Once again, he’d dropped the books he’d been carrying.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I said slowly.
“Did he hurt you?” Remington demanded. “Why’d he turn on you like that?”
Remington seemed betrayed and confused, but I wasn’t. Well, I was a little confused, but not betrayed. I was intrigued, curious. Strangely needy. My head felt like it was full of mist.
“What were you saying?” I asked.
