"What are you doing?" I snap.
Andrea's steps falter before she squares her shoulders and lifts her chin, deliberately avoiding Mona's gaze as if my omega isn't even there. Good. I shift my weight forward, positioning myself as a barrier between them, but Mona's warm palm presses against my lower back, guiding me back to her side.
Her scent has shifted from honeyed sweetness to something sharper, more acrid. Not fear, exactly. I search Mona's face for clues, but it's carefully neutral, almost calculating.
Omega energy is interesting. Deceptively powerful. Quiet and persistent. It radiates from her in waves, and I don't think she even realizes she's doing it. It makes you want to bask in her warmth, like she's a steady clay hearth in a nuclear winter—just being near her settles the uneasiness inside of you. But I'm her alpha, and she doesn't need to do this alone.
Though Mona's sarcastic wit, armor forged through years of being underestimated, helps matters. She doesn't just roll over and show her belly to the first dominant wolf she crosses. She waits. Assesses.
"I thought you were supposed to be in the kitchen," Mona mutters.
Andrea's lips curl back before she remembers herself. The scent of her frustration sours the air between us, her eyes defiant and wary. "I am working the kitchens. I'm still allowed to exercise. Or has that changed, too?" Her eyes bare into mine, ignoring Mona.
"There are community gyms. This training hall is for enforcersonly," I growl.
"Seriously? I can't even work out here anymore? It was one simple fucking mistake."
"Amistake?" The words tear from my throat, and my alpha roars. "You could havekilledher!"
"Everyone makes mistakes," Mona whispers, tugging on my sleeve as she tries to drag me away.
"I don't need your pity,omega," Andrea spits.
My vision flashes red. One step and I could rip out her throat. Fuck the kitchens. Fuck the jails. I'll just kill her and be done with it.
But Mona pauses, halfway to the exit, and says softly, "I'm not a witch, Andrea. I'm not working with the witches, or whatever excuse you gave for attacking me."
"No, you're just weaseling your way up the hierarchy. Didn't know omegas' legs spread that wide."
My alpha pulses like a hammer, forcing Andrea to bare her neck in submission. Surprise flashes across her face. I rarely show my dominance, leaving the hothead alpha shit to Gray.
Mona defends herself. "I'm not challenging you for your place in the clan, Andrea. I'm not challenging anyone."
Andrea scoffs, her eyes darting to me, then back to Mona. "You're challenging me for Grayson, though, aren't you?"
Mona pales. "W-what?"
Andrea shakes her head, like she's disappointed in what she sees, then turns to me. "You're blind. Both of you. I expected it from Grayson. Flash new pussy in front of his face and he loses all sense. But you?You,I expected more from."
I take a deep breath, letting her words fuel the fire. I don't care what punishment she and Gray agreed on. She's not getting away with spewing this bullshit.
But again, Mona stands her ground. "Mistake or not, I'm here. I'm sorry if my being here offends you, but you need to take responsibility for your actions. If what Doc told me is true, it's not just me you could have—"
Andrea scoffs, eyes blazing. "You're tellingmeto take responsibility? You, who just waltzed onto our land, expects to be treated like royalty—"
"I don't expect—"
"You think because Gray wants you as his Luna, you can just shove me into the kitchens, and I'll roll over like a good little pup? Like I was never even there, like I haven't put inyearsof work? Like I'm not the strongest enforcer this entire clan has? This place needs me. These wolvesneedme!"
I can practically taste the bitterness rolling off her. She glares at Mona, and for a brief, horrifying moment, I think she's going to challenge her.
"That's not—" Mona stammers, stepping back, eyes wide and panicking. She can feel the challenge, too. Andrea's alpha pheromones radiate off her.
I wouldn't let it get that far, but it would force me to put Andrea down because I would fight in Mona's stead.
But before it gets any further out of hand, I give Andrea a hard shove towards the exit, reason flaring through my anger. "That's enough, Andrea. Out.Now."
Andrea flinches, and I throw so much alpha bark into it, her knees actually bend. She manages to straighten, but won't look at either of us, or anyone else in the room. She huffs and turns on her heel, like leaving was her idea. The door swinging shut behind her clicks and echoes. I turn and snarl, and everyone rushes back to their workouts.
