Page 8 of Claiming Xan (Shifters of Greymercy #7)

RIVER

Another shitty day in the life of River DuPree, but at least there was the tiniest sliver of a silver lining?

Despite being separated from my twin, we were still allowed to talk to each other. Kind of. Gracie had given us both cell phones, but strict rules that we could only text one another.

So text we did. Every day. Multiple times a day, sometimes for what seemed like hours. I’d lay in bed and chat with Sky, and we’d talk about everything and anything.

Today, Sky was venting about how much this situation sucked and how much he missed me. Maybe we should just say fuck it and take our chances as lone wolves. It can’t be as bad as this. At least we’d have each other.

I frowned down at the screen, unable to form a reply. Was he right about that? Or was it wishful thinking from a depressed and lonely shifter?

I couldn’t help but think about the grisly life Gracie had painted for us, that very first morning. That my rage would build until I’d snap, and that Sky would end up prostituting himself just to survive. I didn’t want that for us.

But was this really the only way?

I didn’t answer Sky’s text.

He must’ve taken my silence as rejection because suddenly, to my surprise, the phone began to ring, vibrating so hard that my hand buzzed with it. I stared down at the screen as it rang and rang, Sky’s number like a beacon that I desperately wanted to answer.

Instead, I pushed the red X. I rejected his call. He tried again, and I rejected that one too. My chest tightened up as the three little dots on the screen began to bounce, telling me that he was texting me.

Why won’t you answer?! I just want to hear your voice!

I’m sorry, I replied. I can’t. I told the Alpha I’d only text you.

Fuck her! Shouldn’t I be more important? he replied. I miss you so fucking much! This isn’t fair!

I swallowed around the lump of sudden emotion in my throat as I tapped out a reply. I’m sorry, Sky. I’m trying to make this work.

Whatever.

Don’t be like that, I texted back.

No response. He left me on read.

Frustration sizzled through me, fiery hot and burning my insides. With a growl, I slapped the phone down on the bed. It bounced off and hit the floor before sliding towards the wall.

“FUCK!” I punched the pillow with both fists, then curled myself around it, laying on my side as if that might stop the ache in my soul. He didn’t understand. He wasn’t even trying! Typical Sky. Stubborn bastard.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on breathing. Before the facility, Mom had us both in therapy and believe it or not, I remembered some of the techniques and tricks that the many therapists we’d seen in our younger years had taught us.

In to the count of five. Hold to the count of five. Exhale to the count of five. Hold to the count of five. Repeat.

I was beginning to calm down when there was a knock on my door. It was too soft to be Gracie, which meant… I sat up in bed as the door opened, and sure enough, Xan propped himself up against the doorframe, his hip cocked.

And damn if the Omega wasn’t sexy as hell, all sleek lines and smooth curves, with his tousled dark hair and curious eyes. He must’ve seen me checking him out, because the corner of his lips curled into a pleased smirk.

“Hey. You wanna go for a run?”

His question took me by surprise. I stared for a moment before asking, “What?” like I hadn’t heard him correctly.

“A run?” he repeated, waving a delicate hand through the air. “Like… As wolves? You haven’t seen the territory yet, and I’m bored, so I thought we could take a little jaunt around. It’ll be fun.”

I frowned, because even though the thought was tempting, it set off warning bells in my head. “Didn’t your mother specifically tell you to keep your distance from me?” I pointed out.

Xan scoffed. “Yeah, well. She’s at work till six, and what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Sooo?” He flashed a winning grin and bounced his pierced brows. “What do you say, beefcake?”

Beefcake. There was that name again.

I pushed off the bed and stalked towards him, a growl building in my throat. It rumbled free, but Xan didn’t shy away; he stood his ground, even when I got right up in his face. I wasn’t sure what I was trying to prove. Maybe I was still just pissed at Sky.

“You should be more careful,” I warned, my voice low. “I’m dangerous, Xan.”

Xan tilted his head back, so that we were nearly nose to nose.

He smiled, his eyes heavy-lidded, his dark lashes fanning over his cheeks.

“Mmm… Nah, I don’t think so. You’re angry and frustrated and you need an outlet.

There’s a difference. You’re like a stressed out, destructive dog with nothing to chew up but the walls. ”

I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not a?—”

“Shh.” He pressed a fingertip to my lips to silence me. “C’mon.” Then he turned on his heel and strode away, and I’ll admit, I couldn’t help myself—I checked out his pert little ass in those tight jeans as he did so.

Damn it.

Sighing, I closed my bedroom door and followed him outside.

By the time I reached the front yard, Xan had already shifted into a small, spritely young wolf with gray and tawny fur. He wagged his tail, the tip of it splashed with white, and ran a circle around me, nosing the backs of my legs impatiently.

Exhaling slowly, I called upon my own inner-wolf, who perked to attention immediately. Magic washed over my skin and my soul, and the change was instantaneous. Soon, I was on four paws, staring into Xan’s dark espresso eyes.

He stepped forwards and ducked his muzzle before pressing it into my cheek. I felt his warm breaths whuff against my fur as he breathed me in, scenting me.

I did the same to him. He smelled good, too. Faintly like lemon-drops and other sweet confections.

He backed away, tail still wagging. Then he yipped and dropped into a play-bow, his rump up in the air. I huffed at him. He shot me the most wolfish grin, then turned and sprinted off into the woods with a yip.

I loped after him, feeling a strange zap of something shoot through my chest. Longing? I wasn’t sure, and I pushed the thoughts aside as I caught up to him, our shoulders brushing and bumping against one another.

Xan took me from place to place, showing me where all the scent markers were.

My lips curled up at the stink of the Alpha’s urine, where she’d marked her territory, but it was her pack.

Still, a low growl rumbled from deep in my throat and I had to clench my jaws together to keep from baring my teeth.

Xan peered at me, his ears swiveling forwards and back. He watched me for a moment, then wedged his muzzle beneath mine and nudged me away from where we stood. I growled again, but I let him lead me through the woods.

My body was tense, but Xan seemed to know what to do. Prancing around in front of me, he nipped at my ear, then ran ahead a few paces and turned back to me. Expectant. Wanting me to follow him.

So I followed. Together, we dashed through the forest, our paws eating up the distance so easily. The tension all but melted from my body.

How long had it been since I’d been able to really stretch out and run like the wild in my soul desired? How long had it been since I’d howled beneath the light of a full moon?

Up ahead, I could hear the gentle lapping of water against the shoreline, and my ears perked. With a bounce in his steps, Xan galloped towards it, and we broke free of the woods, emerging onto the sandy beach of a large lake.

Xan shifted back and ran a hand through his hair. I hesitated a moment before following suit, and together, we walked along the beach. My shoes sank into the sand with each step, but my eyes were locked on the Omega beside me.

“So?” Xan gushed. “What do you think? Nice, huh? We have a lot of territory in Greymercy. Hey, maybe some other time I’ll drive you around and show you what the town has to offer. It’s small, but it’s home.”

“Maybe.” I crossed both arms over my chest. “I still don’t think it’s wise for you to be hanging out with me.”

He simply shrugged and smiled up at me. “That’s one thing you’ll come to learn about me—I do my own thing, no matter what anyone else thinks or says. Mom’ll come around. It’ll just take time, that’s all.”

I grunted. “Doubtful.”

He brightened. “Hey, do you want some ice cream?”

What? I stared down at him, at a loss for words. I didn’t understand… This Omega kept throwing curveballs and I had never been great at sports.

Finally, I blurted, “Why are you being so nice to me? I don’t deserve it.”

Xan shrugged a slim shoulder. “You’ve been dealt a shitty hand at life, and I don’t know, I think maybe you do deserve a few good things,” he said. “Sure, you might be growly and filled with rage, but you’re not a monster.”

I wasn’t a monster? Had he not seen me? Bristling up, I growled at him, jabbing my finger into his chest, hard. “I attacked your brother!”

“You were protecting yours! You were panicked! I don’t blame you for that, and I know Kace.

He doesn’t blame you either.” He stared up at me, his expression so damn earnest that I had to look away.

I couldn’t take the emotion shining in his eyes.

I sucked in a sharp breath and fisted my hands at my sides, trying to calm down.

“So… Ice cream? Yes, no? My treat.” When I hesitated, Xan cocked his head and tried a different approach. “How about this? What’s your favorite flavor? What flavor would you have chosen before all this shit happened to you?”

“You mean, when I was a kid?” I asked, my brow furrowing.

“Sure.”

I thought about it for a moment. Thought back to a time when things weren’t so hard, and life didn’t suck so badly, and I still had a family who loved me.

One day, in particular, stood out. Sky and I had been eight or nine, and Mom had taken us to the local ice cream parlor for a treat.

There were tons of flavors. Sky had gotten chocolate, of course, but I’d pressed my hands and nose up against the glass and stared at all the colorful buckets of ice cream until I finally made a decision.

“Banana,” I said, at last. “They probably don’t have that, though.”

Xan giggled. “Well, you’re in luck, because they do.

C’mon!” He took off at a jog across the beach, headed towards a small wooden building with a large window and colorful signage, listing ice cream flavors and prices.

Beside the shop was a cutout of a giant yellow ice cream cone man, his cartoon arms waving in the air while his beady black eyes seemed to stare into my soul.

Creepy.

I caught up with Xan just in time for him to hand me a waffle cone, dipped to perfection and filled with two heaping scoops of heaven. My stomach actually gave a tiny rumble of anticipation at the sweet treat.

Together, we sat down at one of the vacant picnic tables in front of the ice cream stand and looked out at the lake, and that first taste of banana walnut frozen yogurt felt like I was eight years old, all over again.

I groaned as the sweetness exploded on my tongue, making me forget all about my problems, at least for a little while. “Wow, this is really good,” I admitted.

Xan smirked. “Told you so. Mr. Frostee is practically famous here in Greymercy. It’s a mom-and-pop owned place, so a local business, and they have the best ice cream in town. We’ll definitely have to come back.”

I looked over at him, questioning why he’d said “we” but he had busied himself with licking his ice cream cone in such a way that was far too explicit for words.

Damn.

Feeling heat rise to my cheeks, I quickly looked away. The last thing I needed was a crush on the Alpha’s son, when she’d made it abundantly clear I should stay far away from Xan Howell.

Why did I get the feeling that he was going to make that very hard?