Page 157 of Ensnared by the Pack: The Complete Series (Destined Realms #3)
AUDREY
The dress was a beautiful emerald green, the same shade as the flecks in Bishop’s and Knox’s eyes with flowers embroidered on the bodice in golden thread.
It was a similar design to the dresses that were popular in the pack with a tie securing it around my neck and another mid-back to give it shape. But instead of being completely backless, the fabric tucked around me at the middle of my back, hiding two of the four large puncture-wound scars marring my skin and the tie around my neck was also slightly different. It was thinner than the usual design, revealing more of my neck and shoulders, and ensured both Knox’s and Bishop’s mating marks were clearly visible.
No one would be able to question if I was mated to them with the very permanent and uncommon bite-mark scars out in the open. And while I was thrilled at the idea that my mates weren’t embarrassed by me and wanted their whole pack to know I belonged to them, it also made me nervous. Not everyone would like that I mate bonded with Bishop, and I needed to be wary and on my best behavior to avoid causing problems.
“Stay close to Bishop or Cyrus,” Knox said, his gaze locked on his mating mark as lust oozed like lava through our bond. “I’ll keep an eye on you as best I can, but part of the tour involves the market and there are too many people there.”
“I’ll stay close.” And I wouldn’t cause a scene. Although I knew that wasn’t what Knox was worried about.
Whoever had attacked me and Bishop was still out there. I doubted they’d outright attack me while surrounded by dozens of witnesses, but those same people could act as cover for a secret attack, like a nick with one of his poisoned claws. It would be as easy as someone bumping into me.
A shiver rolled down my spine and Knox pulled me into a tight hug.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know,” I said against his chest as I nuzzled closer and drew in a breath heavy with comforting wood smoke. “I trust you.”
“Good. Now go before I rip this dress off you and fuck you senseless.”
A wave of need slammed into me and I groaned as I stepped out of his embrace.
“When this is done…” he promised.
He yanked off his shirt, dropped his pants, and shifted into his enormous black wolf.
I bit back another groan. This tour couldn’t end fast enough.
You coming, Audrey? Bishop asked in my head, sending more need rushing through me. The tour is about to start.
Oh, she’ll be coming. Tonight, Knox replied, making Bishop groan and me shiver in anticipation.
“Stop with the sex comments. I’m going to smell like I’m in heat again,” I huffed, trying to think of ice-cold showers.
Only the other members of our pack, the gryphons, and the Dedearc will notice, Knox replied.
“That’s two-thirds of the tour group.”
Knox chuffed with wolfy laughter. More like half. There’s a human kingdom and a human independent state in the Alliance.
“Still doesn’t make me feel better.”
But the embarrassment of smelling like I needed sex cooled some of my desires, and I hurried out onto my patio before either of my mates could work me up again.
Knox followed beside me until we reached the edge of the Residence and our next turn would make us visible to whoever stood in the front courtyard. He sent a wave of love and confidence into the bond and stepped out of sight behind a hedgerow.
I squared my shoulders determined to appear confident despite the voice from my past insisting that I didn’t belong and rounded the corner.
Close to three dozen people gathered in the center of the courtyard near the fountain with the two enormous wolves on either side of a woman pouring water from a large urn.
As Knox said, half of them were human with varying degrees of sun-kissed skin, from golden tan to rich dark brown, and three-quarters of them were men. About half of the men wore military style uniforms and by the looks of them, represented two different militaries. The other men wore clean, tailored clothes while none of the human women wore military uniforms. They all wore dresses, some elaborate and some quite plain.
Beside them were two men and five women who looked human — the same height and build as the others — but they weren’t. They gave off a predatory, shifter vibe that I didn’t recognize and wore clothing similar to our pack’s clothing. They had to be the gryphons, a type of shifter everyone in my realm thought was just legend like all the other fairy tale shifters: dragons, hydra, unicorns, and elementals.
To the right of them, a few steps away from the humans, were six enormous lizard-like people. The Dedearc .
I’d seen a few of them the last time I’d visited the market and hadn’t wanted to stare, so I hadn’t gotten a good look at them. But now, standing a good fifty feet away, I had a chance to study their unique features.
They reminded me of some of the demons I’d seen on TV. They had human-shaped bodies that were covered in scales — black or dark red or blue on their back and shifting to cream or white on their front. They had a lizard-like tail and a reptile-like head, and a few of them had short horns at their temples like incubi or succubi, reinforcing my suspicion that they were a type of demon or at least had demon ancestors.
They all wore the same loose clothing made from a shimmering silky fabric that was cut to accommodate their tail but didn’t give me a hint to their gender. Of course, for all I knew, their species might not have a gender.
Lucius and another wolf shifter, a woman I didn’t recognize, talked with the shortest of the Dedearcs who still stood half a head taller than him, which meant all the Dedearc were at least a head — and a few even head and shoulders — taller than the humans and gryphons, while Bishop talked to a Dedearc a head taller than him and two of the humans in military uniform.
Nearby, Deacon talked with three human men wearing fancier clothes. Their complexion was fairer than the other humans and their facial features sharper and narrower. All three of them would have been handsome if they hadn’t been giving me an ever-so-slightly creepy vibe.
Even from where I stood at the edge of the Residence, I could sense — either from their body language or from whatever small wolf instinct I had — that they didn’t belong with any of the other humans and were trying too hard to be nice to everyone.
Sterling had played that game with me too many times when I’d first moved into his house, and I’d learned my lesson not to trust anyone who’s too friendly or too helpful. They wanted something. And the moment they didn’t get what they wanted, their fake friendliness vanished and I’d be punished.
The Residence’s front doors opened, and Cyrus walked out, drawing everyone’s attention. His arrival probably marked the beginning of the tour, so I hurried toward the group.
I got halfway before Velora stepped out from the shade of a tree and grabbed my wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she hissed. “You don’t belong here.”
I tried to wrench free of her grip, but with her shifter enhanced strength, I didn’t stand a chance.
“You go right back to that suite you don’t deserve and stay there until the Alliance meeting is over.”
My instincts to shrink in on myself and look at my feet in submission screamed at me, and I fought with everything I had to keep my head up. “Let me go.”
“Not until you’re where you belong.”
She yanked on my arm, making me stumble, and marched back the way I’d come, not waiting for me to catch my balance.
“Velora,” Bishop snapped from behind us, his voice quiet, low enough that the Alliance delegates wouldn’t hear, but edged with steel.
“Bishop,” she purred. She spun around, jerking me off balance again, and gave him a heated look. She even battered her eyelashes at him as if that would make her more attractive.
A growl bubbled in my throat. She was trying to take what was mine and that ferociousness trapped deep inside me didn’t like that. Not. One. Bit.
But before I could foolishly attack her, Bishop snarled, her attempt at flirting hardening his expression and making my ferociousness preen with satisfaction.
“What are you doing with my mate?” he ground out.
“Your mate?” Velora hissed, her eyes flashing wide.
She jerked her attention back to me, her gaze jumping from one mating mark on my shoulder to the other and back again.
Something ugly passed across her expression then disappeared as she turned back to him, returning to overly flirty. “Congratulations, Bishop. You should have told me you’d picked your first mate.”
“My only mate,” he replied, making my soul sing with pride and pleasure while the cautious part of me cringed.
I didn’t want Bishop to lead Velora or anyone else on, but there was no wiggle room in his declaration. There was no reason for her to pretend to be nice to me anymore.
“She’s mated to two of the pack’s alphas.” Bishop held his hand out to me and I took it. He tucked me against his side, reinforcing his claim on me. “She belongs at our side, especially during political events.”
“Of course, alpha.” Velora dipped her head in submission but managed to glare at me through her lashes. “I’ll make sure she has a place at the alpha’s table at dinner tonight.”
“It’s already taken care of. Come on, Audrey,” he said, and he turned his back on Velora. “The tour has already started. We need to catch up before we fall behind.”
We hurried after the group of delegates as they stepped through the open gate separating the Residence from Old Town. I kept my focus ahead of me, knowing Velora was trying to burn a hole in the back of my head.
I didn’t want another confrontation with her, especially without Bishop, Knox, or Cyrus nearby, and I could only pray with Bishop claiming me and not leaving room for doubt, she’d finally move on.
But I’d never been so lucky before and I doubted my luck would improve now.