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“What do you mean I attracted attention? Did you bite me just to have some sort of claim over me? What the fuck?”

Despite my voice growing louder and sharper, Kane stays composed.

“I marked you because I love you,” Kane says simply, and my heart stops.

Jace and Finn enter the room then. Neither speaks, their expressions cautious. They stay at the edge of the room, watching the conflict unfold.

I sweep my gaze between all of them. “You all lied to me. You knew what I was and chose to keep me in the dark.”

“We did it for your own good,” Finn says, his voice calm but resolute. “There are packs who want you just to breed you. But we care for you, and I love you, Mia.”

Jace nods. “We’ve always had your best interest at heart, Mia. We have only wanted to protect you.”

I can’t believe they would defend this lie of omission. My thoughts and emotions swirl together in a chaotic tangle as I process everything that has happened in the last few weeks. With each passing second, I grow more confused and more frustrated.

However, one thing keeps coming back to mind. I’m an omega. Not human, like Kane had insisted. Which means...

“Can omegas get pregnant from alphas?” I ask, my voice breaking.

There’s a long pause as the alphas all look at each other. Their silence confirms the truth.

Confusion is overcome by anger as it fully registers. We didn’t use protection last night. My gaze hardens as I take them all in.

“You’ve done nothing but ruin my life since you showed up!” I shout at them, my voice cracking again. “You lied to me, and now I could possibly be pregnant with a wolf pack that I barely even know?!”

They all look as if I’ve slapped them.

“Mia, please.” Kane’s voice is calm and measured. “Let’s just talk about this. I know a lot has changed?—”

“Changed?” I cut him off. “My entire life has been turned upside down because of your lies. No, screw this.”

I storm toward the door.

“Mia!” Kane calls after me, his voice no longer calm. But I don’t listen. I throw the door open wide and walk out into the forest.

twenty-four

. . .

Mia

I’m out of breath as I rush out of the house. I don’t stop until I’m completely out of the perimeter of the house. Stepping into the late afternoon light, my breath catches. A thick forest of trees surrounds the house on all sides. I notice smaller buildings scattered around the main house, but I don’t head for them.

With deliberate steps, I storm into the forest. Every stride is purposeful, driven by a need to escape my racing thoughts.

The alphas lied to me. They withheld the truth, turning my life upside down and then having the gall to say it was for my own good. I worry about what the ritual means for us and whether I’ll get pregnant. The stress makes my head pound as I walk beneath the branches of the trees.

The whole time, my breaths come in shallow bursts while my mind replays Kane’s words.

You have werewolf blood. It repeats in my head over and over, each repetition stinging more than the last. But that’s ridiculous. I would know if I weren’t human... right?

As I turn it over in my mind, my frustration only grows. My heavy footfalls crunch leaves and snap twigs as I pressdeeper into the unfamiliar forest. I don’t even care about getting lost. I don’t know where I’m going or if I’ll be able to find my way back, but all that matters is getting away from Kane for a while.

Despite feeling frustrated and scared, I actually enjoy the forest. Everywhere I turn, there’s a new plant I want to look up or a small forest creature skittering into the bushes. Out here, with these tall trees and life all around me, my problems feel a little smaller.

Eventually, I come across a fallen log in my path. I sit down on it, arms crossed, as I hold myself. Frustrated tears sting my eyes. I need to take a breather, try to break free from this spiral I’m in, and think things through.

Breathe, Mia. I just need to take a deep breath and figure this out. I could literally be pregnant right now.