Lucas straightened, dropping his hands at his sides. “Alpha, I didn’t mean to interrupt—I mean, I’m sorry I bothered you while…” His cheeks turned beet red, but I was all out of shame at this point.
I rubbed my brow. “What do you want, Lucas?”
He avoided my gaze. “Joey’s outside.”
I sat up in the chair, my hand shooting up to my chest. My wolf had yelped at the sound of her name, the cry a stab of silver to the heart.
“Alpha, are you okay?”
“How long has she been here?” I snapped.
He jerked his head back and forth. “I don’t know,” he stammered. “But I saw her talking to Maya and Jerome. I assumed you were waiting for her. So, I came to tell you—”
“Get out.”
The young shifter turned on his heels and sprinted out the door.
I spun in the chair, facing the window where the sun poured into the room. Its warmth touched my skin, but its light would never reach the darkness now inside me.
Only Joanna could stir my wolf. Only her aura could light the void.
But it would takebothof us to completely sever the mating bond. Maybe if she hadn’t left me to die, I would’ve mentioned that little detail.
The wolf and I didn’tneedher. But I sure as hellwantedher.
And I was an alpha. I always got what I wanted.
By the time I collected myself well enough to leave my office, Lucas stood outside my door with his head down anda clean t-shirt in his hands. He lifted his arm, allowing me to snatch it from his grasp and throw it on.
He followed a few steps behind me as I made my way through the building to the main floor. I loved the smell of fear on my enemies, but on one of my wolves, the scent made my stomach churn.
Control yourself.
We soon reached the double doors. Through its glass panels, I found Joanna’s car parked off to the side by the old fire hydrant. But the hunter and my gamma were nowhere to be found.
Lucas gasped from behind me. “Alpha, I—”
I held up my hand to silence him. I took a deep breath and waited for the cock-hardening scent to fill my lungs and reel me in. It didn’t take long. Maya had taken my hunter west, to the meeting hall, away from the prying eyes of our pack.
Was she trying to keep word of Joanna’s arrival away from me?
I turned to face the skittish shapeshifter behind me. “You did good, Lucas.” I dismissed him and hurried to the hall.
They hadn’t realized when I arrived. I kept my presence unknown, watching them from afar.
Joanna leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed. Her bow and quiver of arrows lay by her feet. She’d closed her eyes and began shaking her head.
Jerome reached out to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He began stroking her arm, and my body tensed.
My wolf released a low warning growl.
The three of them jumped like I’d caught them doing something they shouldn’t have been… like how Jerome’s fucking hands shouldn’t have been on my mate.
“See,” Joanna said with vigor in her voice, “your alpha is crazy.”
I sauntered toward them, not bothering to address my wolves. “So, are we monsters or aren’t we, hunter?” When she didn’t answer, I smirked. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“You wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t forbidden Maya from answering my calls.”
