Page 5 of Claiming Xan (Shifters of Greymercy #7)

XAN

I woke up and came out into the dining room just in time to see the twins’ tearful goodbye. The Omega clung to his brother, sobbing heavily while River stroked his hair and back and uttered soothing words, but nothing seemed to calm him.

I could literally feel the crackling noise in their energies, like TV static that might reach out and zap me if I got too close, so I grabbed a bowl of leftovers and sat down at the table to eat my brunch in peace.

It wasn’t too long after that that Jem Murphy came to pick Sky up.

Apparently, the twins had agreed to try separation. River would stay here, with us, and Sky was going to move in with Jem. I knew he’d be in good hands. Jem was a little gruff on the outside, but once you got to know him? He was a sweetheart of a gentle giant.

As Jem and Sky drove off, River’s mood suddenly spiked. With a snarl, he stormed into the guest room and slammed the door so hard, the pictures on the walls shook.

That’s when the chaos began.

The clatter and crash of River trashing the guest room in a fit of fury had my jaw dropping. It must’ve taken Mom by surprise, too, because the two of us just stood in the hall and stared at the closed door as if waiting for the Alpha to burst out through the wood and attack us.

“Wow…” I murmured, kind of impressed that one guy could cause so much damage. He wasn’t even a big guy, either. Not like Kace or Sevren; just an average-sized Alpha who was a little on the skinny side.

Mom turned to me, her expression calm but very serious.

She looked me right in the eye and said, “You listen to me, Xander Howell. I know you like to bend the rules and play games, but I am telling you now—stay away from that Alpha. Stay far away. He isn’t safe.

He may not even be sane. I’m risking too much letting him stay here, but what else am I to do?

But if he so much as lays a finger on you? I will put him down.”

Ouch.

“So, what? I can’t even smile at the guy?”

“Xan.” Her dark eyes flashed in warning. “Don’t.”

“I mean, he’s gonna be living in our house. I don’t wanna be rude,” I explained.

She sighed heavily, as if she couldn’t handle my antics today. “You know what I’m saying. Don’t pretend that you don’t. Keep your distance. Please. That’s all I’m asking,” she said. “You can have your pick of literally any other Alpha in this pack, but leave River alone.”

I flapped my hand at her, then paused to inspect my nails that I’d painted yesterday with a fresh coat of black and glossy topcoat.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll do my best.”

“Xander.”

“Mom. I hear you,” I said sharply. “I got it. God.”

I knew where she was coming from. I knew what she wanted. I understood the assignment, but damn if it wasn’t going to be hard. River was sexy as fuck. Dangerous as hell, but sexy as fuck.

Thankfully, the Alpha made it pretty easy to ignore him.

For the most part, he stayed in his room and didn’t come out unless it was to use the bathroom or shower.

He refused meals, though food went missing in the fridge overnight so I knew he was eating.

He hadn’t said two words to either of us; he just glared and growled before slinking back off to his room and slamming the door behind him.

Angry. So damn angry.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy.

His entire world had been upended. In a matter of days, he’d gone from being a prisoner in an evil facility that did all sorts of creepy tests on him, to escaping that hell, and now he’d been split up from his brother? His only family? I’d be mad too.

The next morning, I decided to…bend the rules a little bit, as Mom so aptly put it, and do a good deed. I got up early and, with the radio blasting pop hits, I made fluffy pancakes and maple sausage links. I even cut up some fresh strawberries and bananas for a fruit salad.

Then I arranged things on a plate and knocked on River’s door. “Wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey,” I singsonged.

“Go away,” came his low growl.

“I brought breakfast,” I tried again.

“I’m not hungry.”

“That’s a lie. You skipped dinner,” I told him, matter-of-fact. “C’mon, I made pancakes!”

“I SAID—” The door was yanked open so fast, my hair fluttered in my face from the breeze. River stood in the doorway, one hand pulled back, as if to swat the plate right out of my hand as he snarled at me.

I didn’t even flinch. I stared up at him. Our eyes met. Locked. River froze, a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. I only smiled and offered the plate to the surly Alpha.

“Pancakes and sausage,” I said with a smile. “Don’t be such a dick, babe. It’s unbecoming.”

River just stared at me, his jaw slack and his eyes wide. It was like his big, growly Alpha brain hadn’t caught up with the rest of him, or maybe it couldn’t process the fact that a cute Omega was offering him food out of the kindness of his heart.

Then, as if everything came rushing back and reality set in, River snarled, snatched the plate out of my hands, and slammed the door right in my face. My hair, once again, fluttered in the breeze.

I huffed. “Enjoy, I guess.”

Shrugging, I wandered back into the kitchen to eat my own stack of fluffy pancakes—which I’d added a metric butt-ton of chocolate chips to.

The whole time, though, my stomach was doing somersaults.

What was it about that Alpha that made me feel all squirmy inside?

Was it the danger? The fact that he was off-limits?

Or was it something else?

I didn’t know, but give me some time, and I’d definitely find out.