Page 49 of Night Sector

Except that wasn’t really the case for me at all. Lorcan wasn’t mine. And it was time my inner animal accepted that fact.

Kieran immediately wrapped Quinn up in a hug, his lips going to her temple before he dipped to whisper something privately into her ear. I could have tried to hear the words if I wanted to, but I really didn’t. Their open display of affection was enough for me.

If there’d been any question about whether or not Quinn had chosen Kieran, it was answered now.

She was over the moon for her Alpha. And it seemed he felt the same way about his Omega.

What’s that like?I wondered, a hint of melancholy touching my inner voice.

A hint of melancholy that I immediately squashed because I refused to consider it more.

I preferred being alone. In charge of my own fate.Unattached.

My gaze went to Lorcan, his expression bored. There was no question that he felt the same as I did.

With a nod of understanding, I returned my focus to Quinn. “Fly safe. Let me know when you’ve arrived.”

“I will,” she told me. “Love you, K.”

“Love you, too, Q.”

We hugged again.

Then I watched as the three of them walked through the courtyard wall, out toward the waiting jet.

Lorcan didn’t say a word. Didn’t think anything at me. Didn’t even look or acknowledge me with a goodbye. He just disappeared, his duty to Kieran fully intact, just like he’d promised.

My wolf whined inside, aware that he was leaving.

We’ll get through this,I whispered to her.We’ve survived much worse…

CHAPTERTWELVE

KYRA

My wolf was moping.

I tried to convince her to go for a run, but all she wanted to do was curl up into a ball in our ice cave and pout.

This is pathetic, I told her.We don’t crave Alphas; we kill them.

She huffed in reply. Not that she actually understood what I was saying, just how I was feeling. Shifter dynamics were unique in that we could only really communicate basic emotions and needs with our animals, nothing more.

Therefore, my wolf didn’t understand concepts, such as the fact that Lorcan wasn’t truly ours, or that I didn’t want this mating. To her, we were now bonded to an Alpha, and she wanted to play with said Alpha.

If you’re going to just pout, then—

Kyra,Lorcan interjected, causing my wolf’s head to come up with interest.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you with all this. My animal is being obstinate.

He didn’t reply right away, like he wasn’t sure what to say.

I’ll try to tone down the mental thoughts,I added.I know you all are busy interrogating Alphas.Quinn had messaged me when they’d landed in Blood Sector, and I knew from some of Lorcan’s scattered thoughts that he and the others had gone into the dungeons to start questioning some of the potential culprits.

That’s… that’s not why I’m reaching out,he said slowly.I need you to help me verify something.

Oh.My wolf sat up, her ears and nose twitching as though searching for her Alpha’s scent.What do you need?