Page 181 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

What the hell was going on?

This wasn’t right. Thistle loved him more than anything. I think she loved him more than me. I don’t know… we were scent matched. There was a tether between us—one I cherished, but she’d fallen for him without that.

Finally, something changed.

An offer of a bond.

I could feel it, like a splash of fire in darkness, burning behind my eyelids.

Fuck me.Relief hit my system.

That was him—he was joining.

All of this was just a nightmare. My mind was playing tricks, and I looked up to search for Thistle—she’d be happy.

Ineededto see that.

Wanted to see the expression on her face when he offered.

I couldn’t sense Thistle in the bond, not her or Ace.

Maybe…

Oh. I think I might have closed it on my end.

Panic over Knox’s death. But… I was being stupid.

Of course he wasn’t dead.

What I saw when I looked up didn’t fit. A man sat in the armchair my father had once favoured. The bone-coloured mask was on his lap.

Carrion was middle-aged, with a strong jaw and flecks of grey in short hair. Familiar, faintly. As if I’d seen him a few times in my life.

He had Thistle’s hair gripped in his fist as he drew back, blood splashed on his lips from the bite he’d given her.

I blinked, but the reality didn’t fade.

The offer wasn’t Knox’s.

“Why haven’t you accepted?” Carrion’s voice was cold.

“I’m sorry,” Thistle whispered. “I’m… nervous.”

She wasn’t looking back at us. I could hear the tremor in her voice.

“Omega,” Ace’s voice cut into the strange reality, and his hand brushed her back, as if in encouragement.

“Sorry,” she said again. “I-I can do it. I promise. Please try again?”

The man’s lips were pursed, a slight snarl on his face. He dragged her close, and this time, I reacted. A low growl rumbled up my chest as I staggered to my feet.

Slowly, the truth was sinking in—an impossible abyss awaited.

A world without him in it.

But she was scared, and that was enough to force me to move. Before I could reach her, though, Carrion’s grip in her hair loosened.

“Shh.” Thistle pressed her hands to his chest and pushed him back slightly, her voice a whisper I could barely hear. “You came into my house and threatened my pack.”