17
My heart throbs in my throat. Noah said he found the wolf that’s been stalking us, which should be great news, so what’s making Noah so agitated?
The worst possibility comes to mind. I grip the couch arm, struggling to stay upright.
Amy rushes to my side, holding me up by the shoulders. “Aliya?!”
Who is he?I mindlink Noah.
Mason Hart. Do you know him?
Oh. For a second there, I thought he was going to say it was my ex, Steven.
I let out a relieved breath, dropping my forehead against Amy’s chest. No, I don’t know a Mason. But it sounds like you do.
Well, I fucking hate his dad, but Mason? I don’t know him beyond kicking his ass. It”s just... Something about the way he’s acting today is so infuriating that I—
Noah doesn”t continue to mindlink me.
Noah?
When he still doesn’t reply, I grip my chest, struggling to keep my raging heartbeat under control.
“What did he say?” Amy asks.
I pull away from Amy to walk in a circle, unsure what to do with myself. “He’s suddenly not answering. Do you know Mason Hart? Or Mason’s dad?”
Kira and Amy glance at each other, then they shrug.
I grip my forehead. “Mason”s the one who keeps attacking Noah. Noah also wants to make sure Kira”s here to protect us, and I don”t know why. He said something about hating Mason’s dad?”
Kira frowns. “Now that you mention it, Alpha Ritchie kicked out a sexist asshole with the same last name: Jack Hart. That had to have been like 20 years ago.”
“So maybe they”re related?” Amy’s eyes widen. “But wouldn”t Alpha Ritchie kick out Jack”s whole family in that case?”
“I don”t know. Alpha Noah and Alpha Ritchie have always taken in Rogues far more than they created them. If Jack”s family didn”t cause any harm themselves, they could”ve stayed,” Kira says.
“Either way, my mate doesn’t sound like himself.” I grip my hair, losing control over my breath as it breaks into a sprint. “I need to be with him.”
Kira puts a reassuring hand on my back, her protective Alpha musk presenting itself. “Breathe. I’ll check around the house, and if it’s all clear, one of us can stay with the baby, and the other can travel with you through the woods as our wolves. But do you even know where Noah is?”
My stomach rolls. I hate not knowing the answer to that question now more than ever. Noah, where are you?
He still doesn’t answer me, but he’s alive and alert; his emotions are still blazing.
“He still isn”t replying. If I had to guess, he probably doesn’t want me to get involved,” I say.
Amy’s eyes dance between mine. A slow smile spreads across her face. “But you’re not going to listen to him, are you?”
I breathe out the acid in my veins. “No. I’m going to see this Mason Hart for myself, and protect my Alpha.”
Amy grabs my hand, following after Kira out the door.
We shed our clothes on the porch, shifting into our wolves to better sniff for signs of life nearby.
But after two minutes, all Amy and I find is Kira, her giant wolf head smashed into the crawl space entryway under the porch.
Her tail wags voraciously. I smell a terrified chipmunk trapped down here, but that’s it.
Leave it, Kira! This isn”t the time! Amy says.
Kira’s tail droops, her giant ears popping out of the crawl space in her retreat. Yeah, yeah.
Amy’s ears flatten. Wait, now that our house is clear, who’s going with our best friend, and who’s staying to protect our baby?
Kira’s ears twitch. Shit, I don’t know. Can you two stay in the shadows if I let you go alone?
Yes, I mindlink through my wolf”s growl. And if anyone spots us, I’d never let anyone hurt Amy.
Kira gazes into my eyes for longer than usual, studying me with one ear rotating to the side. Then she lets out a sharp huff. I believe you. But stay hidden so it doesn’t need to come to that.
We will, my love.Amy nudges my side with her nose. Come on, let’s go.
With my nose dusting the forest floor, I seek my mate’s scent.
My wolf growls through her frustration. There’s no trace of him anywhere near here.
Amy bounds beside me, agile paws beating in time with mine as we run. I’m here with you. We’ll find him in no time, I know it.
Comforted by Amy’s fur rubbing against my side, I scatter the leaves beneath me with a huff from my snout. I can do this. Reaching within, I seek out the most familiar soul I know.
The second I call on Noah’s presence, his pulsing emotions erupt in my chest as if they’re my own.
A growl forces its way from my throat, releasing a bit of Noah’s emotions before they explode within me. Shit, we need to hurry. I can sense he’s closer.
Amy’s wolf hunkers into a prowl. Where? I”ll keep watch while you lead the way.
I sprint through the trees, my sole focus on the magnetic pull in my chest guiding me to my furious mate. Sinking into a sprint, my chest brushes against loose leaves as I fly low to the ground. My paws meld with the earth no matter the terrain, finding themselves in just the right pockets to keep me moving.
Where’d my klutzy best friend go? You’re freaking fast, and graceful as hell! No wonder Noah won’t stop talking about how beautiful your wolf is. Amy’s compliments tug at my heartstrings.
He does always say that, doesn’t he?God, I love my sweetheart of a mate. But my moment of adoration doesn’t last long with his despair pummeling my core. I need to be with my Alpha.
I know. You’re almost there.
The wind scratches the skin beneath my fur, urging me to pick up speed. With it, a hint of Noah’s sour, angry scent enters my nose.
He’s nearby!
Amy catches up to my side, her huffing snout locking onto Noah’s scent with me. I’ve got your back, but keep your ears alert. There are a lot of wolves nearby.
One ear rotates at her suggestion, helping me focus in on distant rustling. The wind carrying their scent tells me it’s multiple Greenfield wolves with Noah, back near the rock where we met.
Mate!I mindlink Noah.
Oh, Goddess, Omega. You”re here?!Noah’s wolf bristles in our bond. Don’t come near—
No, I’m coming to protect you!
I expect to feel relieved when I spot Noah pinning Mason to the ground, surrounded by familiar, safe wolves—Rainn, Yasmine, and Dave at his flanks with an army of Greenfield allies—but a sickening growl bubbles up my throat at the sight of Noah wrapped up with Mason.
Noah is so agitated that his fur is fluffed all the way out, making him appear twice as large. Even worse, Mason is gloating at the reaction he’s creating in Noah, baring his teeth with an irritated tail wag.
What’s going on here?I mindlink our closest allies, dashing for Noah.
But multiple wolves swoop in, forcing Amy and me to a scrambling halt.
Dave’s hulking wolf blocks our view in particular. His stocky, brown-and-black striped wolf pants like he’s been sprinting as hard as us. No, Luna. It’s not safe.
Yasmine rushes to my side, herding away other wolves except Amy, Dave, and Rainn. Your Alpha has lost his shit. I”ve never seen Noah this angry, but whatever Mason mindlinked, it locked Noah’s jaws.
My throat tightens. Mason is still taunting his pack Alpha, even after losing this badly?
I”m assuming, but I’m not fully sure. Yasmine growls, including Noah in our mindlink. Your Alpha is just as stubborn. We can’t separate them to talk it out.
And we won”t separate if this asshole won”t shift back to show me his human face. It”s suspicious as fuck. Noah only seems to grow larger, his fur rippling with each growling breath.
Mason’s mindlink makes me shiver with the anger coursing through its force, each word shoving its way into my mind. I guess you don”t know what it”s like to have a deadly animal pinning you down, Alpha. How can I shift if I feel unsafe?
That was completely insincere. Mason obviously feels safe enough to keep baiting Noah.
When Mason glares at me, his scent reveals utter distaste, blaming everyone else for the mess he put himself in. My muscles spasm on instinct, jerking me backwards.
Noah snarls loud enough to make me quiver. His jaw tightens until saliva leaks onto Mason’s neck, and Mason yipes in pain.
But when Noah pauses, Mason still chooses to glare at me. With my ears slicked back and body curled, my paws sneak back a few steps.
Until I get a good whiff of Mason”s scent.
Oh. He’s just scared, deep down, Noah.
He should be. Especially if he tries anything else around you.
Around me?
Yes. The day you and I found each other, I beat the shit out of him for trying to keep me away from you. But now he”s upset I went ”beyond necessary measures” to protect my mate, and says he has it out for vengeance.
My heart pounds hard enough to make my wolf pant. Wait, Noah, this is freaking me out. I knew he found us that day, but you think he was being possessive over me? Why didn’t you tell me this before?
It’s not like that. My dad always warned me about the day I’d find my mate. You and I were omitting a mating call scent, and it”s the best time to challenge an Alpha. Noah’s growling heightens, raising the fur on Yasmine’s back. If he kills the pack’s top Alpha before I mate with my Luna, he ends my lineage, replacing it with his. His ears flick back, irritation and dismay tensing every fiber of his shoulder muscles. So once again, you’re just caught in my mess.
Noah, it’s not your fault.I whine, my tail tucking harder. But what if he”s not actually Mason? What if he”s someone else you know, plotting to hurt you? Shoot you?
Trust me, this is Mason. His dad was one of the only Rogues my dad ever created, and Jack”s obsessed with Alpha domination, just like this asshole. But Mason hasn”t done enough to justify kicking him out. With how much other packs hate Rogues, it”s basically like issuing a death sentence.
Oh, God... So you really do think this was just a dominance thing?
I want to think that, but now that he”s going with that story too, it”s hard to fully believe it.Noah’s snout curls into a tense snarl. I think he’s hiding something else he did. But the way he”s challenging me pisses me off. No one should use you to get to me.
I think back on the night I met Noah. Mason attacked Noah in front of me that night, just like Mason attacked Noah at my first Welcoming Ceremony. Both times, Noah was vulnerable. The only times I can remember Noah letting himself have an opening is when I’ve been upset.
Guilt and anger burns my lungs, forcing my wolf to let out a heavy huff. It’s a clever tactic, Noah.
What?His deep snarl makes Mason flinch between Noah’s teeth.
It worked, twice. He saw an opening to dominate you while your sole focus was on me, and he took it. His motivations make perfect sense. But now he”s distracting you from the real problem: why isn’t he shifting back?
Noah stops growling, his eyes tightening into a disgusted squint.
Which means he”s using the same tactic a third time, mentioning me to make you vulnerable and upset, I mindlink.
Shit, you”re right. God, he”s so fucking obnoxious.
He is, and I think it”s on purpose. He knows he”s at a loss, and this is his last-ditch effort: he’s hiding something serious enough to keep pushing back, even when he”s cornered. My tail curls over my ankles as I sit on my haunches. But he doesn”t stand a chance against my gorgeous, powerhouse Alpha, does he?
Noah’s growl is cut off by my compliment, his chest puffing with pride. Mate...
I can’t help but wag my tail. There”s my big, goofy Alpha.
As Noah releases a delighted purr, it finally feels safe to approach. Rubbing myself along Noah”s side, I soak him in my adoring scent. I love you. We’re okay. I love you.
Noah’s ears soften. But then he sneezes in annoyance. I’m not going to drop him.
You”re at a standstill if you keep him pinned, my adorable Alpha. Something has to change to resolve this. There”s no way Mason will give us any information if we don”t play into his cards a little.
Noah’s wolf gives me a wavering grumble despite flashing his puppy dog stare. Sweet Omega, I don”t like the sound of that...
At this point, he”s only gathering tactics to piss you off more. Let”s try our hand at his game. Let him go to trap him further.
Ugh... Only because I love you, and you”re a damn genius.Noah’s eyes squint into irritated slits, rapid flicks of his left ear telling me he hates everything about this. But you should be the one to order us to play nice. It”ll piss him off the most.
I can hardly resist wagging my tail, but I force myself to regain my composure. It’s time to mindlink everyone present at once. Play the game.
Enough of this. Let’s have a rational, adult discussion,I say. Please drop him, Alpha.
Yeah, Alpha, drop me.
Mason’s grating response charges me from nose to tail with rage, making me lose sight of our game just as it started.
Noah growls at Mason, but I snarl so viciously that both of them flinch.
Don’t forget what I look like when you attack my mate. If you try anything, I’m even more prepared for you this time.
Mason’s ears flatten, his breath rapid. He can’t bear to look into my eyes. After a few silent seconds, Mason growls. Fine. I’ll stay and talk.
Noah puffs his chest even higher as he beams at me. My feisty Omega.
Releasing Mason, Noah makes every other wolf pace with his vigilant stance. We circle Mason, but the beaten down Alpha shakes his coat clean of dirt and slobber.
Is this a dictatorship now, Alpha? No one can challenge you?
Noah rotates one ear back as if Mason is speaking gibberish. You made this personal, Hart. No Alpha would let this slide, especially not when you keep involving my mate.
When did I ever involve her? I’ve only gone after you. Or are you admitting all Omegas are weak and biologically dependent on us, after all?
Noah bristles, and I rub against his shoulder.
Giving into his manipulation is a waste of energy. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
Noah stares deep into Mason’s eyes. A tense, extensive silence falls over the forest. I’m tempted to shiver.
Low, dark rumbling erupts from Noah’s chest. I”m going to ask you this one more time only, Hart. Are you going to shift into your human form? Or are you going to make a social enemy of yourself in the eyes of the pack?
Mason’s tail wags, but it’s not a happy wag. It’s a cornered, agitated wag.
Warning signals alarm in my head. Varying scents clash around me in dissonant chords as every wolf bristles.
This is authoritarianism, Alpha, and I think more wolves are going to agree with me than you’d care to admit.Mason glares.
That’s when I see the other eyes in the forest, glinting over Mason’s shoulders in the moonlight. Unfamiliar wolves stalk closer.
I press closer to Noah, my tail tucking. Noah leans closer in response, his counterpressure acting as a wolf-hug.
Come on, man. You’re suspicious as fuck, and you won’t cooperate after presenting yourself as a threat. I don’t like that you”re unwilling to show your face, Hart. That’s not normal.
One of your Betas recognizes my wolf. Or did you not listen to him either?
Noah paws at the dirt with a grunt. Dude, cut the dramatics. You have something to hide, and you”re doing a shit job of hiding it.
Mason growls, and my heart leaps into my throat. I can’t believe he’s still challenging Noah this heavily. He”s completely outnumbered.
I have something to hide, huh?Mason drops his chin, gazing at us with a flash of the whites of his eyes. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.
For the first time, my body runs cold at the familiar phrase Jenny and I say in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy. Only Amy, Noah, and Jenny know I have OCD, but the way Mason said that makes me feel sick. Like it”s not a coincidence.
Mason turns his back, padding through the forest.
Noah’s breath hitches, his lips curling to show his enraged grin. That’s how you’re going to play this, huh?
What? I’m showing you my back, Alpha. Completely vulnerable to you. You’re gonna go after me when I”m already hurt?
Mason isn”t just cocky. He’s dangerously entitled.
I want to humble him. I’m afraid if I don’t do it now, he’ll only tighten his hold on the situation.
I stalk after Mason, circling in front of him to look him in the eyes. He tenses, tracking my every step with raging, frantic eyes.
Omega!? What are you doing?!Noah bristles in the corner of my eye, sneaking closer.
Don’t threaten him, Alpha. I just want to talk,I mindlink.
Mason stands straighter, his tail rising in a proud taunt. That’s hilarious, did she tell you to stop? She doesn”t need protection, anyway. Right, Alpha? Omegas don”t need our strength.
Ignoring his taunts, I sit on my haunches, staring him straight in the eyes. Let’s hope this dominance challenge doesn’t get me into deep shit.
But Mason hasn”t moved. As I glare, a momentous rage wells up in my core.
Instead of letting it consume me, I exhale it through my snout like dragonfire.
Mason Hart.
He loses any and all remaining confidence when I mindlink his name, his wolf going rigid.
There”d be no conflict between us if you hadn”t created it, yourself. You know that, right?
Mason sneers, but he’s unable to hold my stare. My fur bristles, craving deeper dominance over him.
Maybe you’re not used to anyone seeing through your cries for victimhood. But from an actual victim to a clear manipulator— My lips lift on their own, flashing my fangs. I recognize you for who you really are. You can’t hide from me.
Mason’s tail tucks, his breath short and rapid. He backs away quickly, pressing lower and lower to the floor.
But it’s not enough for me. My dominant scent extends on its own, making every wolf shrink—except for Noah and his alert, tilted head.
Omega, you smell like...Noah’s awe trickles through our bond, but I have to keep focused. Glare at Mason until he realizes I’m serious. Serious enough to end his life if he threatens to take ours again.
When I lower into the deepest growl I can manage, baring my full fangs, Mason scampers away, his tail tucked as tight as possible in submission.
In Mason’s absence, there’s dead silence. I spin around, confused.
All eyes are glued to me. Everyone awaits my next move. Like they usually do for Noah.