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They shriek and press themselves tighter against the walls – all but the little wolf in front.

But then Cole shifts, becoming his big wolf behind me, prowling back and forth and making it very clear that while he is my protector, he is not moving against them.

The tiny she-wolf before me stands straight, her snarl fading, cocking her wolf pup head to the side. Then, to my shock, she shifts, turning into a tall girl, maybe twelve years old. She’s too skinny like the others, her dirty blonde hair ragged around her shoulders. She frowns at me, her hands clasping into fists in the fabric of her filthy blue dress.

“You boss him?”

I just stare at her for a second before I glance back at the Prince. “Who, Cole?”

“Yes!” she snaps. “The Alpha! You his boss?”

A ridiculous little laugh stumbles from my mouth as I stare at her. “Yeah. I think it’s fair to say that I’m his boss.”

Disbelief crosses her features before the girl bares her teeth at me again, taking one aggressive step forward. “How?” she barks out, showing me her pointed fangs. “How did you become boss of a big Alpha like that? This is a trick!”

Cole snarls at her, fierce, his hackles rising.

Slowly, I shake my head, putting my hands up and slightly out toward her. “Not a trick. And I’m going to need you to take a step back. My alpha doesnotlike your body language right now.”

The girl considers for a moment before she does as I suggest, sliding her foot back, though she does nothing to retract her fangs. She raises her chin, demanding an answer to her question.

I rack my mind, trying to figure out something to say – not quite thinking “he has a big ole crush on me and does what I say because he’s desperate to get in my pants” is going to fly with this crowd. So…I go with something that might have been convincing to me when I was a little girl.

“He’smyAlpha,” I say, setting my shoulders back, lifting my chin. “I tamed him.”

Gasps ring out through the group as Cole’s snarl suddenly cuts off. He stands stiff with surprise, looking at me.

I look back at him, smiling, kind of…loving this. I stroke a hand over his head like he’s a little pet puppy. “Yes, he’smine. See? He doeseverythingI say.”

Cole rolls his eyes as murmured wonder passes through the crowd.

“Prove it,” barks the girl in front. “Prove you tamed the Alpha!”

I glance at her and then back at Cole. “All right. Lay down, Alpha.”

He stares at me for a second like I’m…fucking insane if I think he’s going to do that.

I shake my head at him, pointing at the floor. “Down. Now. On your belly.”

Cole groans and then does as I say, sinking down onto his stomach. The girls gasp.

“Head on your paws,” I command next. He huffs and does it, resting his head almost as if he’s sleeping, a grumbling, discontented growl sounding in his chest. I fold my hands in my lap, prim and pleased. “Now wag your tail. Show these girls how nice you can be.”

A little snarl at that, but Cole does as I say, his tail sweeping across the ground at the entrance to the cavern.

“Good boyyy,” I coo, scratching his head with my fingers. Cole glares heartily at me, letting me know that I’m going to pay for this as cries of wonder sound throughout the cavern.

I turn back to the girl in charge, raising my brows. “Satisfied?”

She looks at me, agape, and then falls to her knees, stretching her hands out in front of her, prostrating herself on the ground. “Teach me!”

“What?” I just stare at her.

“If you teach me how to tame the Alphas, I will give you everything! I will be your slave! I will do whatever you want! Because then they will never hurt us again – and we don’t have to give them our food – and we can sleep without fear that they will –“

“Hey!” I cry, lurching forward, reaching for her. “You don’t have to do that –“

“Please!” she shouts, begging and desperate. “Please!”