Page 16 of Monsterland Mayhem

Naturally, she’s chosen the worst path imaginable.

Growling under my breath, I shift back into my wolf form and take off in their direction.

There’s only one way to distract her now.

I sprint through the woods to the beach and release a howl that has her stumbling forward to an abrupt halt.

She spins around just as I reach the edge of the forest, her eyes going wide. “Beast!”

I cock my head in the way I know she thinks is cute and wait for her to start running toward me.

That’s it, little mate. Come get me.

She bypasses Craze—who is glaring in my direction and no doubt thinking he had this handled when he obviously didn’t—and darts straight for me.

I wait until she’s about fifteen feet away to turn back around and bound into the woods.

“Wait!” she shouts.

I do, but just enough to string her along and get her moving in the right direction this time.

“What are you doing?” Craze demands.

His words are more for me than for Ailsa.

Yet she replies with, “Following my pet!”

“Pet?” Craze echoes.

Then laughs.

Because of course he finds the term fucking hilarious.

I’m a king. Therightfulking of all the Alphas and Betas in this kingdom. And this adorable little Omega considers me her pet.

I don’t mind.

I’ll be anyone she wants me to be so long as she chooses me. Choosesus.

It’s not just what she is but who is, and that distinction is what the Imposter King has failed to understand.

He’ll take Ailsa by force, knot her until she’s pregnant with his heir, and then present her in front of Monsterland like his prized broodmare.

But this connection is much deeper than breeding. It’s about mutual respect. Winning her heart.Marrying her soul.

That’s the lesson Monsterland needs to relearn.

That’s why we let her take that elixir.

That’s the reason we’re playing this game now.

Her acceptance will remind Monsterland of our past.

And her choice will define the future.

I trot along a little more for her, glance over my shoulder to see that she’s well and truly on the correct path now, and take off at full speed.

“Beast!” she yells for me, making me smile inside.