Page 9

X ander

Eli’s scent is everywhere in his bedroom in his manor, but at least he’s finally put our Faye down.

When Ezra pointed out that him being naked and covered in blood might be traumatic for Faye when she wakes up again, Eli had reluctantly slipped her into his large bed and left to bathe and clean himself up.

But not before reminding us to watch her, in a tone I didn’t like.

As if we, her mates, would not watch over her.

Even though we’re the ones who know her and have a relationship with her.

“What are your thoughts on the ultima?” Cayson asks quietly, sweeping his fingers through his messy blond hair.

The healers had made it clear that Faye had been given sleeping tonic and would likely sleep through wild horses stomping near her, but we all still spoke in low voices. Although we rarely spoke. Guilt was still hovering heavily in the room.

“He’s bossy,” I say.

Maverick snickers as he uses his fingers to try to untangle the many knots in his long, auburn hair. “Ultimas are always bossy.”

“This is going to change things,” Ezra remarks, leaning back in his chair.

Of that, I’m certain. Ultimas are rare and powerful. They’re like stars, burning balls of light. No one gets close to them. Except, maybe, their families, but everyone else endures them when they’re close. It’s hard to imagine comfortably having one in our group.

“We don’t really have a choice though,” Ezra says, staring down at his hands.

“He made it clear he thinks all of this is our fault,” Cayson says. “As if we could’ve stayed in Faye’s room and just watched her every move. Everyone knows the omegas and alphas are expected to sleep separately.”

Although, to be fair, they’ll look the other way on the occasional sleepover, which we’d certainly taken advantage of without consequence.

“We could’ve broken the rules,” I say, but even the thought makes my stomach turn.

It’s not that I’m a rule follower. It’s more so that the expectations of The Selection are ingrained in most shifters from a young age.

Our fathers make it clear to us that having sex with an omega is allowed.

Moving into her room after staking our claim on her is not.

The Selection is the dating part of us getting to know each other.

To move into her room is to show her disrespect.

I don’t honestly know why on the deepest level, but I know that the guard felt like the smartest thing we could’ve done to protect Faye.

It should've been enough.

Except that bastard Kurt was smarter. I hate that he was smarter. Our job is to protect our mate, and we failed.

“It was our fault,” I say.

“But the guard–” Maverick begins.

“Wasn’t enough to protect her.”

There’s silence for a minute before Ezra says, “It won’t happen again. We’ll never let her get hurt again. Hell, we’ll never leave her alone again.”

All of us nod, but I can feel it in my bones. We won’t. We’ll be smarter in the future. She deserves smart mates. She deserves everything.

Fuck. She deserves better than me. I have to tell her. Before this goes on too far. I’d told Maverick the truth about me, and he’d accepted it. He’d understood it. The others will too. She will too.

But the thoughts don’t bring me comfort.

“Do you think he killed Kurt?” Cayson asks, his dark eyes even darker for a painful moment.

“I hope so,” I say.

Ezra sighs, crossing his arms in front of his broad chest. “That will bring Dexter to our doorstep.”

“Is he that bad?” Maverick asks.

I watch Ezra, wondering the same thing, and his wince says everything I need to know.

“The man would start a war over the smallest slight. He sure as hell will start a war over this. His pack has a lot of strong alphas. Perhaps all the alphas in Cayson’s and my packs will be enough to take him and his men down, but there will be a lot of lives lost. Even with Eli at our side.

Although, granted, the addition of an ultima certainly changes the tides of war.

” He rubs his hands over his face, like he’s imagining the lives that will be lost. “But there’s nothing that we can do about it. ”

Suddenly, the door opens. Eli steps in looking like a giant in a room of large men. His gaze instantly goes to Faye, and he crosses the room to peer down at her tiny form. We all watch in silence for a moment as he watches her breathe, and a smile crosses his face.

Everything inside of me tenses. I still don’t like the man looking at my mate like that. Like she’s his.

In a white button-up shirt and white pants that contrast greatly with his tanned skin, he comes toward us and pulls out a chair to sit in the middle of us. Like that’s his place. Like he’s already in charge of us, and we must simply follow his lead.

“What are we talking about?” he asks, his tone arrogant.

My mouth twists.

“About Dexter and what he’ll do,” Ezra tells him slowly, carefully, and I can sense his mistrust too.

Eli flicks his wrist, and his tone is cocky.

“Dexter may be seen as a powerful alpha to lesser men, but he is nothing to me. Should he choose to start a war over the destruction of his son, I will call to me every pack that has thrived under my authority, and I will tear every alpha of his pack into so many tiny bits and pieces that I can use them to fertilize my gardens.”

I have to hand it to him. He has a way with words.

Ezra looks at him, unconvinced. “Are you so certain of the loyalty of all these packs to you?”

Eli leans back in his chair, smirking. “ Absofuckinglutely .”

“I guess there is some benefit to being bonded with an ultima,” Ezra says softly.

The big ultima looks at the other man, and something softens in his face. “I guess I never asked how the four of you felt about me becoming Faye’s mate. I apologize. The ultima in me is a big cock who acts first and asks questions later.”

Cayson and Maverick exchange a look, and I can tell they’re trying not to smile.

“We’re not sure how we feel yet,” Ezra tells him honestly.

“Fair enough,” Eli answers, then after a long pause, “but you should know, you’ll get used to my influence over you, my power.

It will calm. And you could ask for no one stronger to protect Faye.

With me, all of you will be able to offer her anything she wants.

If she wants to see the world, she can see the world.

If she wants a dozen children, they will live in luxury.

Cars, jewelry, clothes, there’s no limit.

For her. Or any of you. If your packs need help, I will help them.

I will make them strong, powerful, and unstoppable. All you need to do is ask.”

Cayson laughs, his blond hair falling into his eye as he does so. “Can you get an old asshole to step down and let his son rule a little?”

Eli answers without hesitation. “I can. Like I said, there’s no limit to what I can do.” And then, his cocky demeanor vanishes. “Except heal one tiny omega.”

To my surprise, Ezra puts a hand on his shoulder and squeezes. “You got to her as quickly as you could.”

“I should’ve been faster,” he whispers, then looks at all of us. “But she seems to be improving. Right?”

And I realize he genuinely needs reassurance.

“She already has more color in her face,” Cayson says.

“And she’s stopped bleeding,” Maverick adds.

Eli takes a breath that shakes his whole chest. “She’ll be alright. She has to be.”

And it’s strange. Those little words… they pull us all together. They make us all realize that we’re all on the same side. We love Faye. She’s our everything. We’re in this together.

It’s strange how nice that is. This is my new family.