by Ellen Lane
Or so he thought.
The moment he straightened, muscles coiled to launch himself upwards, he was slammed away from the window and into the hard dirt. When Titus flipped with a snarl, the change rearing in him, Thomas slugged him across the jaw - hard enough to knock a few teeth loose.
“You think I’m stupid, Titus? That we didn’t hear about your little plan?”
He raised his head to the waxing moon and bellowed a howl that must have echoed for miles. Within seconds, Ephraim’s Dozier bodyguards were coming out of the woodwork - as well as the Alpha himself.
One look at the smug smile on the Alpha’s face told Titus all he needed to know: he’d fallen into their trap hook, line and sinker. “About time, Traitor. I was waiting for you to make your move.”
Thomas slammed his head into the ground so hard Titus saw stars. “Your punishment for the attempted murder of an Alpha is death.”
As if Titus would have expected anything different. But even now, surrounded by wolves, he was ready to fight. If he was going down, he was taking pieces of them with him.
“-By exile.” When Ephraim continued, Titus stiffened in shock.
Amon barked a laugh, shoving away from Titus as he made his way back to Ephraim’s side. Now, no one restrained him - but six wolves stood at the ready to tear him apart the moment he made one wrong move.
Slowly, Titus sat up. He could feel blood trickling from a healing wound at the back of his neck. He had failed the woman and he had failed his clan. He could fight to the death here, on their land, or he could let Ephraim’s dogs chase him beyond, where he would slowly wither and die away from his connection to his birthplace.
Beyond...where Duke was.
If he could make it that far.
“I’m feeling sporting tonight, Titus...so I’ll give you a three-second head start.”
Titus hadn’t ever pushed his body so hard. He shoved away from the ground as the change rippled over him. The pain was twofold, as his body broke and remolded itself in the image of the wolf - and he pushed his changing muscles to get every edge he could against Ephraim’s rapid squad.
They pushed Titus hard - to his limits and beyond. Outrunning one hunting wolf was hard enough, but five? They were on him at every turn, nipping at his haunches and forcing him to redirect in an attempt to drive him off the side of the mountain. Only Titus’ superior knowledge of the terrain kept him one step ahead - and even then, by the time they neared the edges of the territory, he was sore and bleeding.
And then, just like that, it was over.
Titus broke into the fields on the far side of Dockery, close to the highway, and his captors broke off at the edge of the woods. They would go no further - after all, they’d been instructed to kill Titus in an entirely different way.
It might take a few days or weeks, but gradually, he would weaken. The need to return would drive him mad, and he would waste away pining for the home that had turned him out.
Which was why he had to convince Duke to help him before then.
**
“So, what’s the plan?”
Soft.
She had been so damn soft.
It had been over twenty-four hours since he left her, and Solomon could still feel her against him.
“Solomon. Earth to Solomon.”
Solomon looked down from where he’d been reinforcing the tiles on his roof to see Hunter standing below him, his single eye gleaming in the evening light. Solomon had the barest moment to consider what his brother had asked before he answered.
“Plan? What plan?”
His mind had been far from the chaos around him. In the serenity of his own head, Georgia was still in his arms, where she could remain for the rest of their days.
But reality always intervened.
“Thomas told me what they want you to do. If you’re attacking, I’m with you.”
Hunter’s profession was enough to sober Solomon immediately. Eyes narrowing, he hooked a hand over the edge of the roof to drop onto the ground. When he straightened, he towered over Hunter by a good few inches. “Like hell you are. And who said I was attacking?”
“The Elders.”
“Fuck that.” Solomon shook his head in denial. “I’m not doing anything that will cost us more than we’ve already lost.”
If he expected his brother to push for the attack the Elders wanted, Solomon was surprised. Hunter merely ran a hand through his hair with a long sigh. “Ok, so no attack. I agree with you there.”
Solomon’s brows shot to his hairline. “So why were you all gung-ho for it?”
Hunter grimaced. “Not so much gung-ho - if you were going to your death, I was going to be right there with you.” Solomon merely glared at him before reaching for the edge of the roof once more. Hunter was the type that could never sit still - he never felt effective unless he was actually doing something...and just now, he was like a caged tiger.
“Right now, there is no plan. But I’m working on something that doesn’t get more Belleview wolves killed.”
And kept Georgia as far from danger as humanly possible.
“Solomon.” Before he could haul himself upward, Hunter called his name again and he glanced over his shoulder. His brother’s good eye was fixed on his face, steady and unafraid. “You’ve got this. And no matter what you do...I’ve got your back.”
Solomon never thought he’d need to hear something so much. Between his night with Georgia and this little pep talk, he almost felt like he wasn’t the worst Alpha in existence. He could even feel his mouth twitching in something that felt like a smile.
Hunter could smell victory. His smile was full-blown. “I made you feel better.”
Solomon rolled his eyes as his brother continued smugly. “I soothed the savage beast.”
“Fuck off, Hunter.”
“Hey, man.” The smaller wolf sidled up to him to clap a hand on his bare shoulder. “I have faith in our fearless leader.” His tone dropped so low that not even any nearby wolves with their enhanced senses could hear. “And if all else fails, we can just sic the Hunters on them.”
Even though Solomon knew his brother was trying to make a joke, the words still sent a tendril of cold discomfort through him. He was so busy with the current crisis that he hadn’t had much time to be reminded of how precarious his position as Alpha really was. He glanced down at Hunter, who’s smirk made him growl.”
“Don’t joke about that shit.”
“Look, it can’t be the worst option we have,” Hunter pressed, careful to keep his voice the barest level above a whisper. “Can you imagine how the Dozier’s would scatter if they found out you have Hunter blood running through your veins?”
“Don’t.” Solomon’s warning was whip-sharp, issued in a snarl that made even Hunter flinch. The Alpha’s eyes flashed gold and he fought the change that threatened. Even if Hunter annoyed the shit out of him and wasn’t the best tactician, his intentions were good. Which was why there was no way he could comprehend what the Doziers would do if they found out about his parentage.
Taking his brother firmly by the shoulder, Solomon ushered him into the cabin and shut the door firmly behind them. By the time he rounded on Hunter, he had managed to get his emotions in check - at least on the surface.
“Hunter, I know you believe in the mating bond.” Which Solomon himself had found himself thinking on more than usual in the past few days. Like hell if he’d admit it though. “But let me tell you something: it destroyed my parents. Sure, they were crazy about each other, but mom’s family was just crazy. Their fucking Hunter daughter fell for a Shifter. And our Dad...fucking hell, he was Alpha. Of course, the pack could never know. All that secrecy for the bond...my mother died for it, Hunter.”
“And you’re still Alpha,” Hunter retorted almost immediately, refusing to be cowed. “You’re living proof that your parentage doesn’t matter. You’re stronger than all of us - better than all of us.”
“And half-Hunter.” Solomon snapp
ed, his stomach twisting brutally. “If word gets out, I won’t be Alpha for very long.”
How many of their kind had been killed by Hunters? Certainly, less since Shifters had exposed their existence to humans, but still enough that even whispering the word was enough to evoke a wave of hatred and disgust. Solomon’s father ensured that he took the secret of his Eldest son’s parentage to the grave...and it would stay that way.
Hunter was the only one he could really trust.
“Solomon, you know I don’t give a shit about any of that, right? You’ve more than proven yourself to me. Over and Over.” Hunter’s declaration was enough to draw a bitter smile from the Alpha.
“If only you were the only wolf I had to worry about, little brother.”
“Alpha…”
An unsteady, questioning tone had both of them on their guard immediately. Solomon whirled back towards the front door - and froze.
It was wide open, Anne standing with one foot over the threshold.
One look at her face was enough to tell Solomon that she’d heard every word of Hunter and his discussion.
He reacted on instinct, lunging towards her to haul her into the cabin so a low sound of surprise escaped her. “You heard.” He expected her to cower at his defensive growl - there were few things Solomon wasn’t willing to do to keep the secret that protected his pack.
“It doesn’t matter!” Anne blurted immediately; her face flushed. Her hand raised to his grip on her shoulder, but she didn’t try to shake him off. Quite the contrary. The healer’s slender, calloused fingers covered his firmly. “It doesn’t matter what I heard. You’re our Alpha...and I am loyal.”
The admiration in her eyes was different than that of a simple-pack member, and, in that moment, several things clicked into place. Solomon swallowed thickly as his mind worked overtime to process the situation before him.
This was why Anne was so harsh with Georgia.
If it were anyone else, Solomon would have made it clear that he wasn’t interested, but this was hardly the time or place to create more tension. He would have to deal with this issue later...even if the thought of Anne’s affection in place of Georgia’s made his stomach roil.
“Anne.” Solomon took her hand in both of his, his gaze darting briefly to Hunter’s. If anything, his brother was just as tense as he was - if not more so. “You must keep this to yourself...at least until I’ve handled the Dozier’s.”
When he met her eyes once more, they all but glowed with pride. “Of course, Solomon. I would never betray your trust.”
It was a chance he would have to take.
Chapter 11
Anne was in a better mood than Georgia could ever remember seeing her.
Shocking, considering she’d expected the healer might very well tear her head off when she figured out what happened between Georgia and her Alpha.
Though it had pained her to do so, when Georgia woke up the morning after their tryst, she’d scrubbed herself clean until her skin glowed pink. She couldn’t risk Anne’s sharp shifter sense of smell figuring out what had happened - she was malicious enough towards Georgia already.
Thankfully, however, she was given a full twenty-four hours before she had to meet up with the healer again - and something must have happened during that time frame to put such a smug smile on Anne’s face.
But Georgia also knew better than to ask. So, instead, while she helped Anne powder feverfew and chamomile, she let herself return to the night that she’d spent with Solomon.
Georgia had never known sex could be like that. With Vincent, the smallest inkling of pleasure was a gift. He’d always been far more invested in his own release than hers. But with Solomon...every moment was suffused with pleasure. Everywhere he touched her, he ignited fire, and Georgia could still see the look on his face when she’d clenched around him, triggering his own orgasm.
And the way he’d felt inside her...Georgia swallowed thickly, trying her best to concentrate on the herbs she was washing. It was hard when she could see Solomon through the open window across the room. He and a few of the other Shifter men were sparring - though none of them seemed to be able to get a grip on Solomon. Certainly, he had size on all of them, but there was also an expertise in his movements - a deadly accuracy that spoke of all the experience he must have had in battle.
After an hour or so of training, the Alpha’s skin glistened with a thin layer of sweat...much like it had the night he and Georgia had been together.
Biting her lip, Georgia shoved the handful of herbs in her fist even further underwater. What happened between them was a fluke. There wouldn’t be a repeat - that Solomon was gone when she woke was more than enough evidence of that.
So why couldn’t she forget the vulnerable way he’d snatched her to him before they slept together? Or that the man beneath all that muscle seemed just as human as she was?
“Calm down, little girl.”
Georgia jumped at Anne’s scathing tone, turning to see the healer smirking at her in obvious amusement. “Wet your panties any more over him and the entire pack will know.”
Georgia’s face flamed red as her eyes narrowed. Irritating as Anne might be, she had long stopped letting the healer push her around. “I’m not wetting my panties.”
“You forget our noses can smell that type of thing from miles away...and the human brand isn’t particularly nice.” Georgia dropped her herbs and turned to glare at Anne. The scathing comment on the tip of her tongue was out before she could stop herself.
“He didn’t seem to mind my brand the other night.”
For a moment, she thought Anne was going to claw her eyes right out of her head. The healer’s complexion reddened, her eyes flashed silver and a snarl rose in her throat. But just as quickly as her anger had surfaced, Anne contained it. Her gaze went cold and she drew herself up to her full height - a good inch or so taller than Georgia.
“Do you know why wolves and humans don’t mate?” Georgia merely scowled, refusing to rise to the bait. “Because they’re not compatible,” Anne continued flatly. “The chances that a human woman could bear a pup are close to nothing and trying to turn you could kill you just as quickly. That’s why it’s illegal in human society. So, it’s in neither our kind nor your kind’s interest to get involved. So however special you feel because our Alpha fucked you, remember that it’s just that: fucking. You got lucky.”
It wasn’t as if Georgia hadn’t told herself some version of the same thing. It was an accident that she was even in the settlement - she didn’t belong here. When she left the mountain, she’d forget everything that happened here - all the shifters she’d met, their complicated politics and their bloody war.
So why did Anne’s words hurt so much?
She hadn’t really thought...hadn’t really imagined that she and Solomon could be anything more than casual bed partners...had she?
Without a word, she groped for her makeshift crutch and hobbled her way from the room, down the hall, and carefully down the steps of Anne’s front porch. As usual, the pack members took notice of her presence, but that was about it. She strongly suspected that most of them had been instructed not to interact with her, but Natalia waved from across the clearing, a wolf pup under each arm.
The sight of them was enough to make her stomach clench.
Of course, Solomon would need pups as an Alpha...and someone like Anne could provide them for him. The healer was right...why should she feel special that Solomon had slept with her in a moment of weakness?
Georgia was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she paid little attention to where she was wandering. Even with her injured ankle, she made good pace, meandering past the wall that surrounded the settlement through the trees until she was right at the edge of the mountain.
It was there that she almost broke her leg clean in two.
“Christ, woman. Watch where you’re going!” A half-shriek left her when Georgia’s foot slipped into a four-foot-deep hole in the ground - and
the only thing that saved her was a strong pair of arms under her own. In a trice, she was hauled back onto solid ground, where she fell heavily on her behind.
Georgia blinked in shock at the sight of the diminutive red-haired female before her. She plucked Georgia’s crutch out of the hole she’d almost fallen prey to before holding it out to her, her expression exasperated. “Are you even supposed to be out this far?”
“I wasn’t...I didn’t mean to.” Georgia met the girl’s gaze apologetically. She looked pretty young herself to be out here all on her own - perhaps in her early twenties, and small for it. But the lithe muscles that stood out against her skin and her glowing eyes pronounced her one of Solomon’s pack. “I just needed some time alone to think.”
“Solomon is going to kick my ass.” The girl groaned, raking a hand through her short, messy locks. “I’m not even supposed to be out here by myself, and I have claws.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble.” By now she was babbling. The last thing she needed was another enemy in the Belleview pack.
“Christ, stop apologizing,” The shifter female’s command cut her off sharply. “We’re not in trouble if we don’t get caught.” She shook the crutch she held in Georgia’s direction for emphasis. “Come on, get up.”
Georgia grabbed hold, shocked at the strength of even a smaller shifter. The woman hauled her upright like she weighed roughly as much as a small sack of potatoes. “You’re already a human in a den of wolves. Don’t apologize for existing.”
Georgia gawked at her. Was she being nice? “Thank you.” She finally answered. “I’m sorry, I’ve only been here for a few days. I don’t know everyone’s name-”
“You only know Natalia because she’s a softie, Hunter because he’s a loudmouth and Anne because she’s a bitch. And Solomon, of course, because you’re bonking him.” Heat flushed her cheeks at the accusation, but Georgia didn’t bother to deny it. Especially not when the redhead tossed her an amused grin. “About time he got laid. He’s a fucking grump even without Ephraim Dozier on his back.”
