Page 45

“No worries. I’m sure you are busy as Alpha.

” Once they left the area of Chanin’s house, she saw more than a few structures that made up the town, which looked like pictures she’d seen of shipping containers.

The structures were of various sizes, some multiple floors and others long or wide, all welded together.

There were signs above them, but they rushed on so fast Morlie didn’t have time to figure out each place.

Finally, he slowed when they reached a spacious, open field with metal risers around it in a semi-circle. Chanin stopped at the center. “This shouldn’t take long.”

When Morlie glanced behind her, she noticed that others had begun to follow in their wake. More people poured in through the streets that appeared vacant in the early light of day, now beginning to form crowds.

Wow. Word travels fast.

She felt nervous as shifters stared at her as they climbed the stairs and took seats. A murmur built among those gathered, but no one overtly asked questions.

A man with two women walking beside him headed to the center. The man paused a few feet away and kissed both women before letting them move away to find their seats.

“Alpha. Good to see you made it back safely.” The man, who looked familiar, looked down at her. His eyes were warm, and his face kind. “Morlie, glad to see you with us.”

“Morlie, you may recall Bleddyn from the preternatural council meeting. He is my Beta and my second in the Pack.” Chanin gestured to the man.

Now Morlie knew why he looked familiar, but the day had been extraordinary and shocking in so many ways she recalled very little besides Chanin’s touch and her sister’s actions.

“Hi, Bleddyn. It is nice to be here, but I’m still sorting it all out,” Morlie answered honestly.

“Understandable. If I can help in any way, don’t hesitate to ask. It might help you to know that Amira, one of my mates, is human. Amira had a similar experience and could help you adjust.”

One of his mates? How many mates do wolves have ? She didn’t know anything about shifters and their mating or breeding practices. Would she be expected to share Chanin? Did he already have another?

Her stomach twisted in knots at the thought, making her feel ill. “Thank you. I look forward to meeting them.”

A few other men gathered with them in the middle. She recalled the names Boris, Dolf, and Raul. A group of men came in and stood off to the side of the open area behind Chanin’s back.

Their appearance made Morlie a little apprehensive. The small group of men were shirtless but also seemed to be in some half-shifted state.

Chanin raised a single hand, and then even the lower discussion ceased. “Since most of the Pack is here, I want to share some things with you briefly.”

He released her hand as he stepped forward to speak to his people. “I know a lot of you have questions regarding Farkas. As you all know, my cousin has been a taint on our Pack for far too long.”

There were nods and whispers of agreement within the crowd.

“I’ll not lie to you. Farkas got away, but he is on the run.”

Most growled, but a few Lupine gasped.

Morlie didn’t know who this Farkas person was, but she was sure she didn’t want to meet him if he set off such trepidation among wolf-shifters.

“Do not fear. Farkas’s rogue Pack is disbanded, and most have fallen. There is no safe place for Farkas to hide. We will rip him from whatever hole he hides in and bring him to justice.” Chanin’s voice rang with power and authority.

Wolf-shifters cheered, rose to their feet, and chanted words supporting Chanin and his prowess.

“I’ll question Valko this day and discover what threats, if any, lay at our door.

” Chanin scanned the crowd of shifters. “Until we find Farkas, I’ll ask everyone to be vigilant.

Do not fear, the Omega Pack has survived much over the last few years and has become stronger. We will continue to do so.”

“Omegas! Omegas!” The chant rose to thunderous levels.

Morlie shivered as the roar of the mass rocked her body. She wanted to step forward, draw close to Chanin, and feel his strength and heat around her, but she stayed in place, not wanting to appear weak.

Chanin allowed a few people to ask questions, which he answered in his strong, booming voice. It wasn’t hard for Morlie to see how his people respected him as Alpha. She didn’t know what the shifters had been through, but she could tell Chanin had earned their trust and confidence.

When the questions fizzled out, Chanin turned to her. With a firm nod, he indicated he wanted her to come to him.

She bit the inside of her mouth to keep herself from glancing at the many faces and allowing a higher level of anxiety to settle in.

Chanin placed his hand on her lower back when she was beside him. She now had the heat and strength she’d wanted a moment ago. She sighed as she attempted to allow her body to absorb what she needed from him to stand boldly before his people.

“I’m sure you all have heard the Great Spirit has honored me with a mate. Someone by my side who will help our Pack strengthen.” Chanin set his intense gaze on her. She saw many things swimming within—hope, promise, determination, desire.

Her heart pounded in response.

“This is Morlie. I’ll declare before you now, I’ll claim her as mate.”

This time, cheers, whistles, and a few lude comments made Morlie’s face flame.

Chanin winked at her before he turned back to his people and called out, “Stronger as a Pack!”

“Stronger as a Pack!” reverberated through the crowd.

Soon, Chanin dismissed his Pack and allowed them to start their day.

Chanin stepped over to speak with his leaders.

Morlie saw Bleddyn wave over his mates. The two women rose and walked toward the center with their hands linked.

“Alpha, sorry I’m late. I was still out scouting with one of the patrols.

We picked up Farkas’s scent but lost it southwest of here,” said a woman Morlie could only describe as gorgeous with her almond-shaped eyes and long, straight hair.

The woman’s body was slim, but her short dress effortlessly showcased the lethal tone of the muscles in her arms and legs.

The woman’s brash, fluid sashay through the den of men announced her confidence in both her beauty and strength.

Morlie noticed the woman boldly stood close to Chanin.

“No worries, Minsi. I’ll hear the report on the way to interrogate Valko,” Chanin assured the woman, then turned back toward Boris, his head of security.

“Yes, Alpha—” The woman’s nose twitched, and a deep frown distorted her features.

Morlie watched Minsi scan the group, only for the woman’s gaze to focus on her.

For a moment, Morlie thought the woman would introduce herself to her, but the woman’s lips peeled back in a snarl. In a flash, a moment Morlie could barely register, Minsi crossed the short distance.

“He’s mine!”

Pain exploded in Morlie’s face as the back of the woman’s hand made contact. The strength of Minsi’s slap knocked Morlie to the ground and filled her mouth with thick, liquid copper. Morlie saw darkness and stars as her hand clutched the ground to find purchase.

She coughed and blinked as a ruckus went up behind her.

Anger filled her as she lifted her dirty hand and wiped the blood running over her chin.

Minsi was a strong, fast Lupine, Morlie would give her that, but the fuck if she would allow someone to come at her without defending herself.

Morlie doubted she could beat the she-wolf with only her human strength, yet she’d attempt to beat the shit out of the other woman, even if she lost in the process.

Rage had Morlie reaching for a large rock on the ground before her, then getting to her feet, ready to fight.

“Chanin!” Bleddyn barked, standing over Chanin, who, at some point, had taken wolf form and struck down the Alpha female.

The moment was tense as everyone seemed to hold their breath collectively. Finally, Chanin’s wolf released the woman’s throat, and then he shifted, nude once again, his clothes in tatters at his feet.

Minsi clutched her bleeding throat and stared up at her Omega Pack Alpha.

Still holding the rock, Morlie remained on guard, not trusting the other woman. She watched as emotions swirled in Minsi’s gaze—everything from anger to fear to hurt.

“Alpha, Morlie can stay with my mates as we handle business,” Bleddyn volunteered.

Chanin still hadn’t torn his gaze from Minsi’s prone form.

Not wasting another moment, Minsi shifted and took off toward the woods, leaving the torn fabric of her dress in her wake.

“Wait, Minsi—!” A man sporting a green bandana around his neck, his wolf ears and tail on display, and sharp claws out started after the black she-wolf.

Chanin clutched his arm and pulled the man up short.

“I don’t care if you’re burying your dick so often inside Minsi she can’t recall how to walk after,” Chanin growled, standing in the face of the man wearing the bandana and his tail swishing agitated from left to right behind him.

“Hear. Me. Faolan, you will guard Morlie and not let harm come to her.”

Faolan’s hands balled into a fist, and his jaw flexed, but his head dropped a fraction in a short nod. “I’ll protect what is yours, Alpha.”

Morlie heard something else in the man’s tone but didn’t know the situation well enough to understand what else was happening.

She flexed her jaw side to side and ensured nothing was broken or dislocated.

She quickly understood how these wolves were a different breed of shifters from what she’d seen and experienced with the dragons.

However, she was a fast learner. And the one thing she was sure of was not to turn her back on Minsi. Once she’d gained her full power, Morlie would pay back the wolf bitch in kind.

Chanin stepped to Morlie and cupped the back of her head before kissing her deeply, apparently not caring about the smeared blood on her. He released her and let out a fierce growl, “Mine.”