“Ok, so what does that mean, then?” I ask, turning my back on him as I walk to the side of the bed. “It means Johnathon is still the real alpha.”“But we already knew that Enzo.” I frown at him over my shoulder as I pull back the comforter to climb into my bed.“We didn’t know to what extent. The pack’s security is absolute shit. Only a small portion of the pack actually respects James as their alpha. It’s because Johnathon hasn’t handed the full title over yet. And the only reason for that is because James isn’t a suitable replacement.” My mouth sours and the thought of James being as bad as an alpha as Enzo says just doesn’t sit right with me. James is sexy and kind to me, but most of all, I like him. I genuinely enjoy his company and his hugs. I’ve never been the girl who wants someone to have a position of power, and I’m still not. It’s the thought that James is failing so terribly that is weirdly turning me off? It’s a feeling that is hard to describe. “James is not a terrible
“Sarah. Are you okay?” I ask, reaching out to steady her as she sways. “I don’t really know…” she mutters, her eyes drooping closed before shooting back open. “I just haven’t been feeling the best.” “Let me walk you back to your room. Do you need a healer?” I ask her and she shakes her head no, her eyes turning into worried saucers. “No healers. I don’t trust the pack healers.” She clings to me and I just watch her with mild confusion. “What do you want me to do, then?” I ask her, confused. I can’t imagine why she would come to me or why she wouldn’t trust the healers in the pack. Her cheeks redden and she drops her gaze. “I was hoping you would have sanitary items I could borrow… Since you know… you are mating with the alpha…” I rear back at her words, a sneer on my lips. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I demand. “Alpha James… He said you were mates and that you are going to provide him with an heir… I thought…” “You thought wrong.” I snap out. “Do I look pregnant
“You did?” Sarah asks. Her eyes find the tea on the bedside table and she moves for it, wrapping her hands around the steaming cup and taking a sip. “Yeah. My mom, dad, and my brother.” I murmur. I’ve never talked about this out loud before. I never had to with Enzo. He just knew he understood because he was there. He may not have witnessed the death of my parents, but he witnessed his parents’ death. Enzo and I are one and the same, broken but functioning. “What was your brother’s name?” Sarah asks, getting more snuggled into the bed. “Caleb,” I whisper. “He was my older brother, and he was always looking out for me when he wasn’t picking on me.” “Chloe was my baby sister.” Sarah frowns, her eyes glittering with tears. “Alpha Jonathon is so evil.” “Did James really just watch?” I ask, my chest aching. The thought of him being less than what I have built him up in my head to be is scary. Is it so easy for a woman to fool herself with emotions? “He wanted to help. But the more
~Enzo POV~ I almost told her. For the first time in over five years, I almost said the word love and meant it. The last people I said that word to were my parents. And I stupidly, prematurely, almost told Ivy that I didn’t like her. I love her. I want to be angry at myself for nearly saying it, but I feel more disappointed that we were interrupted. The things I would do for Ivy are endless. Shit, I assassinated someone tonight just to ensure that Alpha James wouldn’t be sleeping in her bed tonight. Was he a bad guy? Yes. I recognized him as the warrior terrorizing the staff in the kitchen over something the day they took our pack from us. He gutted the lead omega when she refused to step out of his way. An attempt, I assume, to keep him from harming the others. Brave and pointless.The second I saw him stumbling his way down the trail, I jumped into action. I didn’t even give myself the time to process what I was doing other than the alarm bells of who he was and the need for him to
~Ivy POV~ Orange and yellow hues are just peeking over the horizon, filtering through the kitchen windows as I reach into the cupboard to pull out the coffee container. By the time I made it back here last night, Sarah had been passed out in her room. I wanted to wake her up and tell her she would be safe soon. That I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her anymore, but what she needs more than anything is sleep. And I need to press her a little for information on where she meets the dickface who hurts her. I have no doubt that he meets her in different places. One thing Alpha Jonathon is not is stupid. I wish I could say he is a burly, brainless man with a knack for killing, but it would be a lie. He is annoyingly smart and knows most want him dead. It’s no wonder his daughter betrayed him and the pack. Ok, so I don’t know the details that lead to her betrayal or what she even did. But if she acted against her father, then she must be freaking awesome. The wooden floorboards creak behind me
As I walk into the kitchen, I stop and watch Sarah as she moves about. She always has had an air of grace when she cleans or cooks, but she seems different now. Almost like… she is relying on muscle memory. A dancer who knows the moves but has no emotions attached to the movements.“What are you doing?” I frown at her as she grabs a pot and fills it with water.“I am making breakfast.” She says, looking at me like I’m the one that’s strange. “Sara, I already talked to James about your not being well. He agreed you could have the day off.” I move to her and take the full pot out of her hands, placing it on the counter next to the stove.“You shouldn’t have done that,” she sighs, her hands dropping to her sides. “I don’t enjoy appearing weak in front of them.”I scoff. “Weak? Are you kidding me? You are here. Alive and thriving at your job while going through the worst shit anyone, in my opinion, can go through. You are anything but weak.”She peeks around me, looking at the empty doo
“What did you say?” He asks, his eyes are foggy with desire as he blinks down at me. “What?” I ask, trying to come out of the clouds.“You called me… Enz… As in Enzo?” James snatches his hands from my pants and I stare at him. Did I really? I don’t think I did.., but then the room comes more into focus and I’m not in the safety of my bed, the hand on my bare skin isn’t calloused but soft and gentle. Why the hell is Enzo in my head at a moment like this…“I… I don’t know why I said that.” I tell him. Obviously, I know why I would say that. But I don’t know why it came out when it did. It’s not like I don’t know I am with James right now. How could I not? So why did my mind trick me into thinking it was someone else? I like James, so there was no reason for me to be thinking about Enzo right now other than guilt for feeling like I am betraying our mission and his trust. “Do you have some sick, twisted crush on your slave trader?” James asks, sitting up on me as he straddles my waist.
~Enzo POV~I allow my wolf to take over as I run for the trees, sprinting as far as I can. Ivy is letting her feelings overshadow her sound judgment and I’m left looking like the bad guy for calling her out on it. As a man with feelings for her, I hate it more than I can verbalize. But as the protector assigned to her and the man who promised to keep her safe from all harm? It’s killing me. Her stubbornness and naivety are going to get us both killed.I make it to the pack borders in record time and pace along the line, shifting into my human form as I try to clear my mind. All I can do is think about how she smelled like him, how she was aroused… for him. My chest constricts and I pound on it, releasing an agonizing scream that reverberates off the trees. It sounds just as melancholy, echoing back to me as it did, ripping from my lips.I drop to the ground after taking a pair of spare shorts out from one of the dead tree trunks that the pack has around their lands for warriors when t