Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

HEL

T hree days have passed since I injured my leg. Now, the scar's nothing more than a bumpy line, courtesy of Awa's incredible help, along with my fast wolf healing abilities.

Yep, I'm finally standing without wincing. The stitches are gone, and so is most of the pain. I stretch carefully, testing my weight on both legs.

"You've healed so fast." Awa's words carry from the doorway to the bedroom.

"Guess I'm harder to kill than expected." With a grin, I cross the room, feeling steady on my feet and about damn time.

"Hel, don't joke about such things." But there's a glimmer in her eyes that tells me she's fighting a smile too.

The weather outside my window is disgustingly perfect—blue skies, gentle breeze, not a storm cloud in sight. It's almost offensive how calm everything is now that I'm not running for my life or having emotional meltdowns. My storm-brewing gift seems to be taking a vacation.

"My mother never…" I start, then catch myself.

But Awa's already reading between the lines, the way she always does. She enters the room casually, smiling, hands in the pockets of her jeans.

"Never what?"

"She never just checked on me. Never just… talked normally to me." I shrug, aiming for casual but probably missing by a mile. Maybe she knew what was coming—the arranged marriage, everything. Maybe keeping her distance was her way of being kind.

Tightness forms in my throat, and I hate that after her coldness, all I can think about is her tears and pleading with my father not to sell me off on the day I was delivered to Jarl. It was the only time I felt like she truly loved me.

Awa's face softens, watching me. I blink my eyes, frustrated that I should shed a tear for her after everything.

"Or maybe she didn't know how to love properly. Not everyone does."

"Yeah, well, fuck that." I wince at my own language, but Awa just chuckles. "Sorry. I just… distance doesn't make anything hurt less. Trust me, I'm an expert on emotional distance by now."

"Come on," Awa says, throwing an arm around my shoulders and pulling me against her side. "There's a gathering outside. Food, fire, fresh air, and company—all the things you need."

We head outside the room. I adore Awa for being so kind to me, so down to earth. She's in her early to mid-thirties, yet we get along so easily.

"You never told me," I say on our stroll down the hallway. There are a few guards around, something I noticed since the incident with my leg, which would be Ghost not trusting I won't disappear again.

"What's that?" she asks.

"How did you end up in this place?"

Her lips pinch tight. "I killed my new Alpha in self-defense. That was, of course, after he rejected me as his mate and intended to feed me to his pack."

"The fucker!" I growl, pressing closer to her. "I hope you made it really hurt. Like, made him suffer."

She laughs. "I love how evil you sound. I used a screwdriver in all the places it hurt."

We both chuckle, which makes us sadists, considering our topic of discussion, but I never said I was pure and perfect.

The front yard of the enormous mansion is alive with activity when we step outside. A massive bonfire dominates the center, flames licking at the darkening sky. The smell of woodsmoke mingles with cooking meat, making me salivate.

Around us, the scene is pure chaos… but organized chaos, like a wild family reunion. Two men wrestle in the corner, all snarls and muscles, while others cheer them on. Several wolves in their shifted forms lounge in the grass, their fur catching the golden light of sunset. A group of men practice throwing knives at a tree trunk, the blades thunking into the bark with deadly precision. Others are drinking, eating, chatting.

Then there are a few totally naked men walking around like it's the most natural thing in the world. I roll my eyes but still stare because I'm a hot-blooded woman.

The Omegas cluster together in small groups near the flames, though I notice a few chatting with Alphas. The whole yard thrums with energy, laughter, and the occasional playful growl. I remember Eve telling me how deadly they are, and I'm not saying they aren't dangerous as fuck, but they all get along, too.

Then I spot him. Ghost .

He's standing by the fire, deep in conversation with two men I haven't met yet. Even from here, the sight of him makes my insides burn up, butterflies bursting to life in my stomach, and my nipples harden.

Calm down, girl. He hasn't even looked at you yet.

His feet are bare, and he's wearing jeans that hang indecently low on his hips and a white V-neck shirt that's definitely struggling with the task of containing his biceps. His dark hair is longer on top, wild in the breeze, and that mask… that damn mask that should be terrifying but somehow just turns me on.

He twists his head, catching my gaze, and smirks.

My pulse speeds up, heat burns me up, and fire pools between my thighs so fast that I blush. I feel giddy and crazy hot. What in the world is wrong with me?

All three men start walking our way, and I'm struck again by how Ghost moves—all predatory grace, all shoulders, and raw power. He towers over his companions, who are hardly small men themselves.

Awa nudges into me. "Hey, I'm going to go say hi to some friends. You've got company coming." She gives me the most sinful grin in the world, wiggling her eyebrows, and I playfully push her away.

My body's reaction to him is getting harder to ignore. There's this constant warmth under my skin, a restlessness I can't shake. When he's near, it gets worse—my pulse races, my skin feels too tight, and there's an ache deep inside I don't want to think about. Something's changing in me, and it's equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

The guy with the wild, dark hair and tanned skin drops to all fours in human form and lets out a howl. Several others join in, and I can't help but laugh at them.

One of the men with Ghost has a collection of small scars across his face. His khaki cargo pants and loose top give him a more casual air than Ghost, but his careful assessment of me is anything but casual.

"How is your leg?" Ghost asks first, studying me up and down, his attention the kind that misses nothing.

"Good as new. Well, except for the sexy battle scar." I pause. "That's what we're calling injuries these days, right? Sexy battle scars? You all seem to have them, too."

Knut howls with laughter. "Oh man, Ghost, she's perfect for you."

Ghost seems to ignore his comment but has eyes only for me. He smiles a bit too long before turning to his two companions.

"This here is Axel," he says, nudging the casual-looking guy, who hasn't taken his sights off me. I can't deny he's cute, but nothing compared to Ghost. "And there, we have Knut." He points to the one acting like a damn wolf in human form with others. "My two closest commanders."

"Hey," I say, smiling, unsure what else one says. I'm not exactly practiced at socializing.

"So, this is the infamous new arrival," Knut calls out, finally standing up and joining us. His amber eyes are intense, fixed on me. He's extremely gorgeous, with that chiseled look that would make any girl's legs buckle.

I tilt my head to the side. "Infamous already? I've barely had time to earn my bad reputation here."

Ghost's laugh is heavy and rich. "Give it time. You seem to find trouble easily enough."

"Trouble?" I press a hand to my chest in mock offense.

Axel grins. "Oh, we've heard stories."

"All lies, I'm sure. Unless they're really good stories, in which case they're absolutely true."

Ghost moves closer to me, and there's something different about him today—more intensity in his gaze, more tension in his shoulders. The air between us feels charged, and the moment he lays a hand around my waist, which I realize is his way of declaring to everyone that I'm his, my insides melt. I'm suddenly breathing harder and lean into him because my body seems to be taking over now.

It's been getting worse as I've been healing—this constant thrumming awareness, the way my body seems to know when he's near even before I see him. Sometimes, I wake up burning, sheets damp with sweat, and his name on my lips as I come undone from an orgasm.

I glance over at Awa, who's settled on a nearby log, watching a few Alphas prepare meat for cooking. The excuse to escape this moment where all three are staring at me, and I'm not sure what to say, presents itself.

"I should probably…"

"Of course," Ghost states as though he read my mind, but his gaze doesn't leave me. That mask hides so much, but his eyes… they give everything away if you know how to look.

That's when I spot Eve around the other end of the fire.

My blood runs cold as memories flood back to her tricking me into getting stuck out in the woods at night. I remember the fear.

She spots me, too, and immediately tries to move out of my line of sight.

I hurry away from the men, smile at Awa, and keep going. My healed leg protests the sudden fast motion, but I ignore it.

Eve moves toward the tree line, but I follow. She's wearing a flowing dress that catches on roots and overgrown shrubs, and her brown curls bounce as she walks. When I catch up, she's staring into the shadows like they might offer an escape route.

"Hey there, bestie!" I call out, layering on the fake sweetness. My heart is pounding, but I'll be damned if I let her see how much she rattled me. "Thanks so much for trying to kill me the other day. Really thoughtful of you."

"Are you insane?" She laughs nervously, fingers twisting in her dress as she looks at me. "I heard you got lost and went out of bounds. That's on you for not following instructions."

My mouth falls open for a moment, then I close it up and step closer, anger burning me up.

"Oh, you mean the ‘go down these steps and out this door' instructions? Those super helpful, totally not murderous instructions? Because I've got to tell you, your tour guide skills need serious work."

"Look, I don't know what you think happened?—"

"Let's break it down, then, shall we?" My voice is trembling now, but with rage rather than uncertainty. "You nudged me down the stairs. And you knew exactly what you were doing. What I can't figure out is why. What did I do to you, Eve? I'd been here five minutes."

She lifts her chin, defiance replacing the nervousness. "You really don't get it, do you? You waltz in here, and suddenly, you're all he sees. Do you have any idea what it's like?—"

"To be replaced?" The laugh that escapes me is bitter. "Bestie, I've been unwanted my entire life. My own mother couldn't wait to trade me away. At least you had something to lose."

"It's not that simple."

"Then explain why you thought murder was the answer."

She takes a step forward, then another. "You don't understand what it's like here. What it means to be an Omega, to finally find someone who sees you, really sees you, and then?—"

"Ladies." Ghost's voice makes us both jump as he approaches, towering over us. My heart slams against my ribs. "Everything all right here?"

Time seems to slow down. I look at Eve, really look at her—the fear she's trying to hide, the desperation in her eyes, the tremble in her arms. She tried to kill me. The words are right there on my tongue—words that would seal her fate. Ghost doesn't seem like the kind of guy who forgives betrayal. I've seen the darkness in him.

My throat feels tight.

She's staring at me with a tight smile, as if pleading with me.

Images flash through my mind of being naive, scared, and traded away like I meant nothing. The helplessness. The rage. But also the promise I made to myself—that I wouldn't become the monsters who hurt me.

The words shift and die in my throat.

Ghost makes a clearing sound since no one has responded to him.

"Just Omega talk," I say finally, forcing a smile. "You know how it is."

His eyes narrow behind the mask, that penetrating gaze shifting between us. "If you're sure?"

Every instinct screams to tell him the truth. My wolf prowls beneath my skin, wanting justice, wanting blood. The heat that's been building in me flares higher in his presence, making it hard to think. But I suspect Ghost might kill her or at least hurt her gravely, and I didn't want that on my conscience. He'd do it without hesitation, and another Omega would disappear, and everyone would look the other way because that's just how things work in our world.

I refuse to be part of that cycle.

"Totally sure," I affirm, meeting his gaze steadily. "We're good here."

He glances at Eve, who's nodding. "Nothing to worry about."

He leaves, but reluctantly, his suspicion obvious in every line of his body. The silence stretches between Eve and me until he's out of earshot.

She leans in closer. "Why didn't you tell him? What do you want from me?" she demands finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Because I'm not a fucking monster," I snap. "And contrary to popular belief, I don't actually want you dead. I know you're involved with him… or were… or whatever. I never planned to come here and disrupt that."

I could have told her there's nothing between Ghost and me, but the words stick in my throat. It's impossible to ignore the possessive way he is around me.

"Listen carefully," I continue, keeping my voice low. My wolf is still restless, wanting retribution, but I push her down. "If you ever try anything like that again, if you so much as look at me wrong, I will tell him everything. And we both know how that will end. I'm giving you one more chance than you gave me to do better."

Eve's face pales. "You don't understand?—"

"I get it; you're hurt. You're angry. Welcome to the club. But trying to kill me was your choice. Using my ignorance of this place against me was your choice. Remember that."

She stares at me for a long moment, something shifting in her expression. "You really mean it, don't you? About not telling him?"

"Yeah, well, don't make me regret it." I run a hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted. "Look, I've had enough people in my life decide I was disposable. I'm not going to do that to someone else, even if they probably deserve it."

She stares at me for another long moment before turning away, her dress catching the last rays of sunlight as she disappears around the other side of the bonfire. I stay there, letting the cool evening air calm my racing pulse. My hands are shaking—from anger, from adrenaline, from this damn heat under my skin that won't go away.

A wolf howls in the distance, and several others answer. The sound echoes through my bones, and my wolf wants to answer too. It's getting harder to ignore these new instincts, these changes in my body. Everything feels heightened lately—smells are stronger, sounds are clearer, and my emotions… well, they're a mess.

When I finally return to the fire, the sky has deepened to purple and gold. The flames cast dancing shadows across the gathered wolves, some now sprawled on blankets, others perched on logs or standing in small groups. The smell of cooking meat makes my mouth water.

"Here," Ghost says, appearing at my side with a metal plate. Two thick cuts of meat steam on it, barely cooked. The sight of it, pink and juicy, makes my stomach clench with want. "You need to eat."

I take the plate, trying to ignore how my fingers tingle where they brush his. "Thanks." Though I usually prefer my meat a little less… alive.

His eyes crinkle behind the mask—he's smiling—then he moves over to talk to more of his Alphas, all of them eating the meat with their hands, their teeth tearing into it.

I bite into the meat and have to stifle a moan. The taste explodes on my tongue, rich and primal and perfect. My wolf purrs in satisfaction.

I enjoy the barbecued meat like I haven't eaten in days, which honestly isn't far from the truth. Awa plops down beside me, offering me fresh bread slices slathered in coconut butter.

"Oh, Mara's bread. Yes, please. You're going to make me fatter."

She laughs at me. "You are not fat in the slightest."

The fire crackles and is beautiful to watch. Maybe it's the flames, or maybe it's the three helpings of meat I've devoured, but I'm feeling oddly brave.

"So… any special someone caught your eye in the pack?"

Awa's laugh rings out, rich and full. "I have four."

I choke on my bread. "Four? As in four different men?" My eyes must be huge. "Wow, I like how you think. Share your wisdom, O Great One."

"When you've been around as long as I have on this island, you learn not to limit your options." She winks, tearing off another piece of bread.

As night settles in, we keep chatting and watch couples disappear into the woods. Other Alphas are passing around what I'm pretty sure is rum, their off-key singing making me wonder if werewolves can get alcohol poisoning.

Then there's Ghost.

He's deep in conversation with Knut, but I can't stop staring. The firelight catches his profile just right, and something in my chest does this annoying flutter thing.

My breathing suddenly thickens, struggles. I place my plate down on the grass at my feet and get up.

"I need some air," I say.

"We're outside," Awa points out because, apparently, she's appointed herself Captain Obvious tonight.

"More air. Different air. Air that's not…" Not making me feel like I'm about to combust. Not filled with his scent that's doing things to my brain I refuse to acknowledge. "Just… different air."

Understanding dawns in her eyes, along with something that looks suspiciously like pity.

"Walk by the woods where the air is clearer and with fewer Alphas scents," she advises. "But not too far. The men are wild on these nights."

I head toward the tree line. The farther I get from the fire, the clearer my head becomes… or at least that's what I tell myself. Taking a few deep inhales, I stop before the tree line, having no intention of going in there, and with the fire at my back and others beyond that, I close my eyes.

Breathe. In and out.

Why am I sweating so much?

The cool night air carries the scent of pine and burning wood.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" A deep voice cuts through my thoughts, coming from behind me. I turn to find one of the Alphas; he doesn't look familiar. Tall, broad chest, with dirty-blond hair and a hungry stare in his brown eyes.

"Yeah, great," I reply, deliberately taking a step away. The heat from the bonfire feels too intense suddenly, or maybe it's the way he's looking at me.

I make it about three steps before I glance back at the party and immediately wish I hadn't.

Eve's practically draped over Ghost like she's auditioning for the role of a blanket. Her fingers trace his bicep while she laughs at something that probably isn't even funny. And he… he just stands there, looking amused. Not moving away. Not stopping her.

Something ugly twists in my gut—definitely the barbecue meat. Has to be. Certainly not the way she's looking at him like he's dessert. He doesn't seem to be responding to her, yet my heartbeat's a frenzy right now. On fire.

I mean, it shouldn't matter. It doesn't matter. We're not a thing. I want to heal and most likely look for a way to leave and go track down my brother in Romania.

Except, didn't Ghost just spend the past few days making me feel like I was the only Omega he saw? Or maybe that's his signature move—make each of us feel special until we're all in his little harem like Awa's group of men. For all I know, he's got a whole rotation schedule worked out.

Monday: brooding stares at me.

Tuesday: Eve gets the smoldering looks.

Wednesday: Probably some other Omega I haven't met yet gets the full Ghost experience.

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the bonfire's heat.

"I'm Nic," the Alpha says.

Turning to him, I mumble, "Oh, you're still here."

His hand brushes my arm, lingering too long, as he moves to stand in my way. The touch makes my skin crawl, and I shove him away.

"I was actually just leaving." I try to move past him, but he doesn't move. The playful facade drops from his face.

"Why so rushed?" His fingers wrap around my wrist. "Night's just getting started."

My stomach lurches. "Fuck you!" I yank my arm back, but he's stronger, much stronger. In a heartbeat, he shoves me against the tree, his mouth crushing against mine, tongue down my throat. I gag, driving my hands against his chest. The taste of alcohol and something bitter floods my mouth. I jerk my knee up instinctively into his groin.

He grunts but doesn't release me. Terror spikes through my body, then freezes as a thunderous growl rips through the night air. The sound isn't human. It isn't even wolf. It's something ancient and terrifying.

Nic's suddenly gone from my space. Through blurred vision, I watch Ghost materialize from the shadows like a vengeful spirit—eyes blazing gold in the firelight, shoulders curled forward, chest puffed. The sound coming from his chest makes the hair on my arms stand up.

Other Alphas are gathering from the party, but my attention is on Ghost and Nic. Ghost is holding him off his feet by his throat. The man is gurgling, clawing at Ghost's grip.

"You dare fucking touch what's mine!" he roars.

Okay, so I'm his, but then he lets Eve drape all over him?

Awa's at my side in seconds, grabbing my arm. "We need to go. Now!" Her voice is urgent, scared.

"But—" I start to protest.

"Trust me," she cuts in, already pulling me away. "You don't want to see what happens next. When Alphas get jealous, it's ugly." She shakes her head, tugging harder.

My feet finally move, and we're running, the sounds of snarls and shouts fading behind us. My stomach churns as a horrible scream fills the night, one of pure torture or fear. My stomach turns. Part of me wants that creep to suffer and wants Ghost to make him pay for touching me, but another part feels sick knowing what's happening back there, knowing it's because of me.

We sprint across the compound, past confused onlookers, until we reach the safety of my room. Awa pushes me inside, her usually calm face tight with worry.

"Lock the door," she orders. "Don't open it for anyone but Ghost or me."

"Awa, what's going to happen back there?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing that wasn't earned. But these things… they can get out of hand. The bloodlust spreads like a disease among Alphas. Stay here."

Then she's gone, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. I pace the room, unable to sit still. My lips still feel bruised, and I scrub at them frantically with the back of my hand, trying to erase the memory of Nic's touch.

Every sound makes me jump—footsteps in the hall, voices outside, the creaking of the old building. I count my breaths, trying to calm down, but the adrenaline won't fade. Even staring out the window shows me nothing as my window looks at a different part of the yard.

Suddenly, the door bursts open.

I flinch hard, backing away until I hit the wall. Ghost fills the doorway, and my breath catches in my throat.

He's transformed from the man I know into something else entirely. His black hair is wild, his chest growling with each breath. Blood spatters his white shirt and smears his knuckles. But it's his eyes that hold me. They're still that molten gold, pupils blown wide with rage and something else, something hungry.

"Did he hurt you?"

I quickly shake my head.

He stalks into the room, his movements fluid and predatory. Power radiates from him in waves. My heart thunders against my ribs—not in fear exactly but in recognition of something primal and ancient.

"Ghost," I whisper.

A growl rumbles from deep in his chest. He stalks closer until I feel the heat rolling off his body. His hand comes up to brace against the wall beside my head, and I catch the scent of blood, pine, smoke, and perspiration.

"You're mine." The words seem to tear from him. "Mine to protect. Mine to defend." His other hand comes up to cup my face, surprisingly gentle despite the violence still thrumming through him. "Anyone who touches you without your permission forfeits their right to breathe."

I should be terrified. Should be running from the barely contained violence in front of me.

He pushes something into my hand, something hot, warm, and sticky, while saying, "Anyone who dares touch you will lose that part of their body because only I get to touch you."

I glance down at the slimy, gross, red tongue in my hand. A scream bursts from my mouth, and I fling the tongue away. It hits the wall with a wet thump, then slides down.

"What the fuck, Ghost!"

He's there in my face, hands on my arms, drawing me against him, and I shake him off, already rushing to the bathroom to wash my hands. He's right there before me, doing the same.

"Do you know how it felt to look over and see that fucking monkey with his tongue down your throat?" he said, glancing over me. "I practically vomited and flew to come for you. It murdered me seeing someone else taste you."

"Oh, that's funny coming from you," I snap, trying to ignore how my body automatically leans against him. "You want to talk about murder? Try watching Eve treat your bicep like her personal stress ball while you just stand there looking amused." I inject as much venom into the word as possible, even as my traitorous body floods with warmth at his proximity.

I march out of the bathroom, and he's on my heel. When I stop, he pauses, looking genuinely startled. "Eve?"

"Don't act dense. It doesn't suit you." My hands press against his chest—to push him away or pull him closer, I'm not even sure anymore.

"She means nothing to me. I should have pushed her away." His voice drops lower, rougher. "Sometimes I'm so used to her being there like a bug that she's invisible to me."

"A bug?" I'm laughing. "Wow, that's actually kind of mean. I like it."

Suddenly, he's on his knees before me, his hands gripping my hips with a possessiveness that makes my breath catch.

"Hel, I'm sorry. Fuck, I'll grovel all night to show you that you're mine and the only one I want."

Something molten unfurls in my chest at his words. My wolf is snarling at me to submit, to let go, to give in to whatever this crackling energy between us is. My rational brain is trying to remind me that I've known him less than a week, but it's fighting a losing battle against the way my body is responding to him.

With trembling fingers, I reach for his skull mask, pulling it up and off. He stays perfectly still as I lift it away, like a predator allowing their prey one last move. The moment I set it aside and look down at him, I see it blazing in his good eye—the hunger, arousal, possession. His hands slide up my dress, leaving fire in their wake.

Then he climbs to his feet, towering over me.

"Maybe we shouldn't," I murmur, even as my body arches into his touch.

He growls and hauls me closer. "If I don't have you right now, I'll burn this whole fucking forest down."

The raw desire in his voice makes me shiver, but then his mouth finds that spot on my neck, and coherent thought becomes a distant memory.

"Ghost…" My voice catches as his teeth graze my skin.

"Say it again," he demands against my throat. "Say my name."