things she hadn’t considered when she’d decided to mate with Knox. She was now an Alpha female of a pack of wolves? It felt too surreal. And it was also obvious those females didn’t know she and Knox were actually mated yet. Which made her wonder when and if he was going to inform his pack. Maybe he wanted to keep it a secret?
She was on the side of the house if her bearings were correct. Stalking across the grassy yard, she headed for a lone gazebo surrounded by a cluster of trees. At least she could think and breathe and just be alone right now.
As she neared it, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Glancing around, she frowned. She could smell someone nearby even if she couldn’t see them. She didn’t doubt Knox had plenty of security on his land but this was different.
It wasn’t just another presence she felt. She smelled actual danger. It hung in the air dark and potent. Instead of walking up the steps to the gazebo, she kept going and circled around it. If someone wanted to ambush her, they were welcome to try.
When she reached the other side of the structure, she stilled. The male she’d seen earlier at the top of the stairs stood in the shadows of the bushes by the gazebo intently staring at her.
And he held a long, shiny dagger. No doubt silver.
Not very subtle. Or smart. Now that she saw him in the light of day she realized how young he was. Barely twenty in human and werewolf years if she had to guess. “You really want to do this?”
His eyes turned to slits. “You’re weaker now.”
Yeah, not so much. Probably some stupid myth he’d heard about day walkers. But she didn’t tell him that. Let him think what he wanted. “You want to kill your Alpha’s mate? You’re a pup. You must know he’ll kill you.” If she didn’t first.
“I won’t submit to a vampire,” he spat.
Before she could respond and tell him to rethink his youthful stupidity, he lunged at her.
With ease, she dodged to the side. He missed her by a good foot which only enraged him. He growled deep in his throat but didn’t shift to animal form. That surprised her. He was obviously young and inexperienced. Maybe he thought the only way he could kill her was with silver.
Gripping the blade tightly in his hand, he turned to face her again. He was quiet and intent. And so inexperienced. She didn’t want to hurt him if she didn’t have to.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Your kind killed my brother.” He wielded the blade.
She gritted her teeth and faced off with him. It was always the same with werewolves or vampires. Stupid blood feuds. “Well, I didn’t. I just want to live in peace. You really need to put the blade down.”
On the balls of her feet she swayed back and forth, waiting for him to move. She didn’t want to get into a direct fight with him and if she could stop him from doing anything stupid, it could alleviate any bloodshed. Definitely wouldn’t do for her to kill a werewolf her first day as Knox’s mate.
He dodged back and forth like a fighter then jumped for her. She was fast, but not fast enough. He sliced through her sweater and upper arm. The scent of her own blood tickled her nose and made her claws involuntarily extend.
The wolf came at her again, faster this time. He wasn’t trained but he was strong. So was she.
When he flew toward her with the knife, she simultaneously clawed at him and kicked out. As her claws sliced the side of his face, her booted foot connected with his stomach hard and fast.
Grunting loudly, he soared back through the air but managed to land on his feet. As he did, a burst of wind ruffled her hair and teased her face.
Then the young wolf went sailing farther through the air until he slammed into a tree with enough intensity that she heard a loud crack.
Frowning, she blinked as Knox skidded to a halt on all fours in wolf form. She hadn’t even scented him. Or heard him. How could he have moved so fast? Her heart pounded erratically as she
She was on the side of the house if her bearings were correct. Stalking across the grassy yard, she headed for a lone gazebo surrounded by a cluster of trees. At least she could think and breathe and just be alone right now.
As she neared it, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Glancing around, she frowned. She could smell someone nearby even if she couldn’t see them. She didn’t doubt Knox had plenty of security on his land but this was different.
It wasn’t just another presence she felt. She smelled actual danger. It hung in the air dark and potent. Instead of walking up the steps to the gazebo, she kept going and circled around it. If someone wanted to ambush her, they were welcome to try.
When she reached the other side of the structure, she stilled. The male she’d seen earlier at the top of the stairs stood in the shadows of the bushes by the gazebo intently staring at her.
And he held a long, shiny dagger. No doubt silver.
Not very subtle. Or smart. Now that she saw him in the light of day she realized how young he was. Barely twenty in human and werewolf years if she had to guess. “You really want to do this?”
His eyes turned to slits. “You’re weaker now.”
Yeah, not so much. Probably some stupid myth he’d heard about day walkers. But she didn’t tell him that. Let him think what he wanted. “You want to kill your Alpha’s mate? You’re a pup. You must know he’ll kill you.” If she didn’t first.
“I won’t submit to a vampire,” he spat.
Before she could respond and tell him to rethink his youthful stupidity, he lunged at her.
With ease, she dodged to the side. He missed her by a good foot which only enraged him. He growled deep in his throat but didn’t shift to animal form. That surprised her. He was obviously young and inexperienced. Maybe he thought the only way he could kill her was with silver.
Gripping the blade tightly in his hand, he turned to face her again. He was quiet and intent. And so inexperienced. She didn’t want to hurt him if she didn’t have to.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Your kind killed my brother.” He wielded the blade.
She gritted her teeth and faced off with him. It was always the same with werewolves or vampires. Stupid blood feuds. “Well, I didn’t. I just want to live in peace. You really need to put the blade down.”
On the balls of her feet she swayed back and forth, waiting for him to move. She didn’t want to get into a direct fight with him and if she could stop him from doing anything stupid, it could alleviate any bloodshed. Definitely wouldn’t do for her to kill a werewolf her first day as Knox’s mate.
He dodged back and forth like a fighter then jumped for her. She was fast, but not fast enough. He sliced through her sweater and upper arm. The scent of her own blood tickled her nose and made her claws involuntarily extend.
The wolf came at her again, faster this time. He wasn’t trained but he was strong. So was she.
When he flew toward her with the knife, she simultaneously clawed at him and kicked out. As her claws sliced the side of his face, her booted foot connected with his stomach hard and fast.
Grunting loudly, he soared back through the air but managed to land on his feet. As he did, a burst of wind ruffled her hair and teased her face.
Then the young wolf went sailing farther through the air until he slammed into a tree with enough intensity that she heard a loud crack.
Frowning, she blinked as Knox skidded to a halt on all fours in wolf form. She hadn’t even scented him. Or heard him. How could he have moved so fast? Her heart pounded erratically as she
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