7. Chapter Seven

Snow blanketed the ground and wind whipped through the valley, though even without a jacket I didn’t feel the cold. Ewan stood on one side of me, Winter on the other. Four shifters formed a semi-circle across from us. Colleen, Essie, and Walter arranged themselves between the groups.

I recognized two members of the Taurus pack–Mrs. Wynn and the red-haired man who I’d watched climb off the ATV when Essie arrived. Ewan’s mother offered me a tight smile, and I got the impression she was against this idea. The two shifters I didn’t recognize clearly shared her sentiment. I didn’t blame them. Had my father asked me to meet with a newly risen vampire to test the potions and tonics meant to curb bloodlust, the answer would’ve been a resounding no.

The redheaded man was the only one brave enough to break ranks and approach. He strode over, not a trace of fear in his expression. He nodded to Ewan and then turned his bright hazel eyes on me.

I didn’t hear his heartbeat or even fixate on the blue veins running beneath his pale skin. His scent was faint, and while not unpleasant, also not enticing.

“We met briefly on your bonding night,” he said. “Name’s Charlie. I’m your beta.”

“It’s nice to see you again,” I replied in a polite tone.

“This guy and I go way back.” Charlie flashed a toothy grin and jerked his thumb toward Ewan. “If you ever want some embarrassing stories, I’m your man.”

Ewan growled his displeasure but remained otherwise silent.

“Say more,” I teased.

Charlie glanced at Ewan and shook his head. “One day. You and me can grab a beer, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I’m a sieve, leaking secrets left and right.”

I laughed. “Then I guess I’ll never tell you any of mine.”

“How ya doing? Any bitey urges?” Charlie cocked his head to the side, reminding me more of a golden retriever than a wolf.

I pretended to consider the question. “Nah. Not yet.”

His gaze transferred to Ewan. “You were worried about nothing.”

Ewan took a step closer to me, so our arms brushed. “The day’s still young.”

Mrs. Wynn joined us next. She also acknowledged her son with a nod before addressing me. “It’s nice to see you up and moving, Zara.”

“Thank you. I hope my presence hasn’t been too much of a burden,” I said, digging deep to remember my social graces. The interaction felt oddly formal compared to Charlie’s joking nature.

“Not at all.” Mrs. Wynn pursed her lips. “Of course, as the alpha couple, you two will move into your new home now that you’ve risen.”

It was the first time someone had called us the “alpha couple”, and those words brought a flood of memories from my life with Zeno. I squeezed my eyes shut and willed the slideshow to stop playing.

Ewan reached over and rubbed my back until my mind went blank. “Better?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m good,” I promised.

He gestured the other two shifters over. The tall, lanky man sauntered across the powder, while the woman dragged her feet as if wanting to prolong the journey.

“Gaia, if she was going to bite someone, she would’ve done it already.” Charlie rolled his eyes. “And neither of you is exactly a prime candidate.”

They both acknowledged Ewan. The man turned to me and introduced himself as Birch. He wasn’t exactly friendly though not rude either, more like indifferent. The woman, on the other hand, radiated anger. I thought it was fear at first. But no. This stranger despised me.

Ewan must’ve felt it, too. He pressed against my side and the hand that had been rubbing my back moved to grip my hip possessively. A light tickle ran up my spine as, on my left, Winter summoned her magic. Her family came to stand behind the shifters, clearly sensing the mounting tension.

“Kilbi,” the woman said, voice clipped. Blue eyes filled with hatred. “You killed my best friend. Don’t expect me–”

“Think very hard before you finish that sentence,” Ewan snapped, his temper rising to scary levels. “You will respect her if you wish to remain a member of this pack.”

Kilbi paled but stood her ground. “Angelica was your mate. Your true fucking–”

“One. More. Word.” Crimson and gold flames twist within Ewan’s irises. He moved to block me, power radiating from his taught body. “And you’re done.”

The tension in the air was so thick. Magic swirled around Charlie as if he fought the urge to shift. Birch backed away from Kilbi, as if needing to distance himself from her and her unfavorable opinions.

“Does our friendship mean nothing to you?” she spat. “Did she really mean nothing to you?”

“Zara is my mate. End of story. Either accept it, or get the fuck out of my territory.” He, too, fought to keep his wolf from coming out.

Kilbi’s blue eyes sparkled. “Then I challenge her.” She gave my syrupy sweet grin around Ewan. “In our pack, until you birth him an heir, you’re fair game.”

Maybe it was the fact I would never give Ewan an heir, or maybe it was that I felt the twinge of guilt he experienced when she said Angelica’s name. Or maybe all the precautions they’d taken to ensure this meeting went well were warranted. Whatever the case, my blood boiled, and I saw red.

“You want a fight?” I shrieked, darting around Ewan. “Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

Winter reached for me, but she was no match for my speed. I shifted and charged the short distance to Kilbi. Ewan screamed my name, his alpha voice in full effect. The rage inside of me couldn’t be tamed. Not even by him.

Claws fully extended, my paws smacked either side of Kilbi’s face. The rest of my body slammed into her. She fell backward, and I landed on top of her.

Her screams filled the air, as did elemental magic. Blood poured down her face. My throat constricted, and I yearned for a taste. She slapped at my muzzle and tried to wiggle out from beneath me. My jaws parted, the thirst undeniable.

I was so focused on Kilbi that I didn’t notice Ewan shifting. His head rammed into my ribs with just enough force to get my attention.

“Zara, no,” he pleaded inside my head. “You don’t want to do this.”

Didn’t I, though?

Blood smeared her cheeks. It was right there for the taking. My body ached, desperate to satisfy my cravings. Ewan rammed into me again, harder this time.

“No one else feels your bite,” he roared in my head, trying a different tactic. “You promised.”

Did I actually make that promise?

Magic made my fur bristle, and then it was Winter’s voice inside my head. “She’s not worth it. Please, Zara. For me. Stop.”

Her soft tone tempered my fury, brought me back to a place where I could see reason. I stared down at Kilbi’s slashed face and my stomach dropped. I rolled off her, shifting as I did and landing on two feet. She shot up and wrapped her arms around my leg, a primal scream escaping her lips.

She clawed at my bare skin, shredding my calf with her claws. I howled, feeling actual pain for the first time since turning. Still in wolf form, an inferno burning in his gaze, Ewan clamped his jaws on one of her arms, biting down with enough pressure to make her release me.

He shifted and glared down at Kilbi. The tremble started in her fingers and spread until her whole body quaked with fear.

“Go see a healer,” he snapped, not an ounce of sympathy in his tone. “And then you’re done here.”

“No.” I couldn’t believe the word came out of my mouth. Placing my hand on Ewan’s corded forearm, I added, “She’s learned her lesson.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mrs. Wynn smile, while the Sable contingent frowned. I stared down at Kilbi, expression cold. “You have every right to mourn your friend. But I promise you, she wasn’t who you thought. I’ve known her in several lives, and her loyalty blew in each one. She was once my friend, and that didn’t stop her from shoving a knife in my back. Think about that.”

Ewan wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “Consider yourself lucky,” he told Kilbi. “You caught Zara on an empathetic day.” He turned to the large ginger wolf. “Escort her to the healer.” To Birch, he added, “She’s housebound until further notice.”

The wolf and Birch nodded. Ewan steered me back toward the house. His mother and the Sables followed. The slashes on my leg had healed, leaving only the drying blood as evidence of Kilbi’s attack.

Ewan led me to the bathroom. I sat on the vanity stool. He wet a washcloth and knelt in front of me, gently rubbing my skin with the terrycloth. He kept his eyes on the task at hand.

“I’m sorry.” My fingers curled around the edge of the stool. “Attacking her wasn’t my finest moment.”

His shoulders shook with anger. “It’s my fault, Zara.” He finally looked up. “Kilbi and I have been friends for years, same with Birch and Charlie. Angelica was part of that. She and Kilbi were close. I knew that. I shouldn’t have asked her to come today.” His jaw worked back and forth. “I wanted you to meet my friends.”

It was oddly sweet and so very Ewan of him. Most alphas would have wanted their mate to meet the council first, but he chose his childhood friends.

I forced a smile. “Charlie was nice.”

Ewan finished wiping away the blood and then started on my hands, slowly drawing the wet towel down each of my fingers. It was strangely sensual, arousing even. The grin he fought suggested that was his intention.

“He’s a flirt, a relatively harmless one.” He brought my hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across my fingertips.

My nipples tightened, free hand entangling in his dark hair. Ewan slid my middle finger into his mouth, tongue caressing the skin. I let my head fall back as anticipation built at my core.

He pulled away and stood, offering me a hand.

I blew out a frustrated sigh. “Why are you toying with me? Do you secretly hate me?”

He laughed and gathered me in a hug, pressing his hard length against my hip. “Patience, my love. Patience.” His gaze was almost pure gold. “The others want to talk. Do you think you can handle it?”

I paused and listened for the mortal heartbeats downstairs. They sounded very far away, and my body didn’t react.

“I’m good,” I told him, and then glanced down at my naked body. “Got clothes for me?”