at the Hager voletention, enching a drink I wasn''t baiting.
shuipened benind their bandit, eyes darling to her before they dissolved Into imati A deep bord spread through my Kipha Kmg, 1 tirely *elf helpless, but watching these wolves circle Ava like was wounded prey white politiet tied
O The Telleritance ceremony had been had enough. Watching how these people treated someone who once fought for their park confioned what lá
the Hayes family was rothen straight to the marrow.
crtical alliance for both packs, don''t you agree?" Michand donned on bedde me,pletely oblivious that I''d tuned him out five minutes ago.
Richard was apposedly Shadow Creek''s second inmand, but the whole pack knew he was just a mouthpiece for his wife. My ge drifted across the reem to where Martha stood with the eldes, her spine straight as a de. She nced my way, her perfectly painted smile never reaching these calcting
"Absolutely," I muttered, not giving a damn what I was agtering fo.
1 focused my hearing instead, zeroing in on the group of semen who''dpered we by the refreshment table.
"Got some nerve showing her face here," a blonde in a dress that probably cost more than most pack members made in a month said, her lip curled.
Traitor''s daughter strutting around like she belongs."
"Well, she''s Sophia''s pet project," another one snickered. "Poor thing has no idea how close her fiancé used to be with this... warrior."
Something primal and dangerous rumbled up from my chest before I could stop it a sound that rolled through the air like distant thunder. Conversations within twenty feet went dead silent. Richard froze mid-sentence, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.
"Alpha King?" he asked, tension threading through his voice. "Is everything alright?"
I inhaled slowly, fighting back the Alpha energy that wanted to food the room. "Excuse me. Something needs my attention."
I didn''t wait for his response. The crowd parted as I crossed the floor, nobody stupid enough to make eye contact. I moved with purpose, my focus narrowed to the women still surrounding Ava, too caught up in their own viciousness to notice the approaching storm.
Ava stood among them, spine straight as steel, face carefully nk. But I knew her now-could read the fury in her clenched fists and the slight tilt of her chin. My warrior was holding herself back, honoring our agreement to avoid making waves.
"She''s probably only here with Sophia to save daddy dearest, Vanessa sneered, ying with her silver bracelet like a cat with a mouse. "How pathetic. Still hanging around after being tossed aside like yesterday''s garbage."
I reached them in three more strides, my handing to rest on Awa''s shoulder before I''d even thought about it. The temperature in our little circle seemed to drop ten degrees. The women''s vanished like they''d been pped.
"Ladies," I said, keeping my voice deceptively soft. It didn''t matter-every wolf within hearing distance went still as prey. "Seems like you''ve found better entertainment than the ceremony itself"
Eleanor-the family matriarch-recovered first, her face transforming from cruel to sickly sweet so fast it was almost impressive.
"Alpha King Morgan! What a pleasant surprise," she practically cooed. "We were just catching up with our
old... acquaintance."
"Catching u up?" 1 raised an eyebrow, letting a hint of gold are in my eyes. Funny,
it sounded more like you were being nasty as hell to my guest."
Eleanor nched. Vanessa took a half-step back, eyes darting around for escape routes.
"1-1 apologize, Alpha King, Eleanor stammered. That was never-
"Save it 1 cut her off "Your apology isn''t for me."
hold wide
the walking crowd Mattles the held Phelt breath. Thayes widers didn''t apologize
to anyone tally not in someone they considered kanapen
↑ Hedded sneh, a kmall smile ying at her lips that didn''t quite reach her eyes. "Apology epted, Elder Hayes-
3 kept nos band en Ava''s shoulder, using the slightest pressure to guide her away. "As will be joining me et my table. The Morgan familyndler host donnently
No one mined my meshing. As we moved through the crowd, whispers tippled out like stones thrown in a pond.
That ti start talk," Ayn mattered when we were far enough away.
"Let them talk," I replied, not removing my hand. "They were already talking. At least now they I think twice about it."
She nced up at me, a hint of a real smile tugging at her mouth, "My knight in shining silver, huh?"
"More like your everprotective Alpha who can''t mind his nws business."
That earned me a quickugh that hit me right in the chest. "I thought I was just your son''s instructor."
"You''re..." I paused, lowering my voice so only she could hear. You know damn well you''re more than that."
A flush crept up her neck, and she looked away, but not before I caught the warmth in her eyes. Something settled in my chest-a quiet satisfaction at bring the one who put that look there.
We''d barely reached our seats when Martha glided up to the table like a shark smelling blood. She slipped into the chair across from me, her expensive perfume hitting my nose a second before she did. Martha was the power behind the Hayes throne-always impably dressed in clothes that cost more most pack members saw in a year, with the family medallion gleaming against her throat.
Heres the exact same ice blue as her son''s-stid from me to Ava and back, calcting risks and opportunities with every nce.
"Is everything to your satisfaction, Alpha King?" she asked, her voice smooth as honey but with a bite beneath the sweetness.
BITE ME WEREWOLVES: Well hello there, pack members! ke just went full Alpha mode, and I''m here for it! The way he shut down those Hayes harpies? Pure. Alpha. Energy. Marthas calcting eyes miss nothing though....what secrets is she hunting? Don''t you DARE go anywhere because things are about to get seriously HOT in the next chapters! #Teamva
Chapter Comments