12

Zoe held up a hand to stop Kolton. “Now I will admit, if you think too long about some of the stuff that happens, it is awful. I mean…I don’t like watching people die, but they all signed up for it, and it’s more of a cultural thing. In the past, wolf shifters went through similar trials to find their mate, and lots of them died. It’s part of why you all do the blood test thing now. It’s a show, and that’s that. Watch it or don’t. I, on the other hand, love the drama. It’s sort of romantic. A bunch of rejected alphas competing to win the heart of a rejected female. The whole thing where the Moon Goddess comes and blesses their new union at the end.” Zoe sighed and smiled, her eyes glassy. “It’s dreamy. And honestly, if I knew I was going to find a lifelong partner, I’d think long and hard about taking part in the dangerous missions and tasks they go through. It’s exciting to watch.”

Kolton laughed and shook his head. “Okay. You do you. I’m gonna grab something to eat.”

He was gone before I had a chance to say anything. Zoe and Kolton always picked at each other like they were siblings. I usually found it entertaining, but I hadn’t enjoyed it this time. I was still stewing about Jayson and how Kira was about to ruin her life. The guy was a piece of work and spoiled rotten—always had been. He clearly didn’t give a shit about Kira, but either no one else saw it, or they were too blinded by the prospect of aligning the packs.

I was almost out the door when I stopped and turned back to Kira.

“Hey, can you debrief your team at some point? I gave them a basic rundown, but they still need your account. The big wigs aren’t too happy about what went down.”

Kira held out her hand for Zoe to paint her nails and rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Wyatt, but I’m a big girl. I’ll take care of it. I can handle things without you being anal about everything.”

I suppressed a groan of annoyance and walked out before we started sniping at each other again. As much as Kira and I disliked each other, she was still my coworker and my best friend’s sister. I couldn’t help but worry about her. I couldn’t simply erase my concerns, no matter how much I wished I could.

Tomorrow, I’d have to watch her bind herself to an unworthy piece of dog shit. She’d have to spend the rest of her life waking up next to Jayson Fell. Lord, how would I ever be able to watch that happen? Maybe I should just vanish. Leave my unofficial pack, resign from the council, and go out into the world as a true lone wolf. As terrifying and dangerous as that prospect was, I thought it might be preferable to watching Jayson and Kira together all the time. Especially knowing he viewed her as nothing but a piece of arm candy.

She was more than that. It was too bad her mate didn’t see what I saw.

Chapter 5

Kira

The forest around me had gone completely still. There was no chirping of insects or trilling of birds. I glanced around and wondered if the animals were being silent as a form of respect…or mourning. A bitter grin crossed my lips. Maybe the forest creatures shared Wyatt’s opinion on what was about to happen.

Wyatt? Why was I thinking about him at a time like this? I sighed and gritted my teeth, chastising myself for letting my mind drift to him on the day of my mating ceremony. My mind drifted to the fantasy I’d had, but I slammed the door on it before it could fully form. Today was about Jayson and me.

Not Wyatt.

I turned my focus back to the present. My dress really was beautiful. The gauzy red fabric trailed behind me, flowing atop the rose petals that had been strewn about. But the simple thoughts of my dress were drowned out by the hammering of my heart as the moment I’d step out of the forest grew ever closer. The murmurs of the crowd drifted toward me.

As I leaned out from behind a tree trunk, I could see the entire Eleventh Pack gathered for the ceremony—hundreds of attendees, all with their faces painted in traditional tribal markings. The swirling patterns and runes symbolized fated mates and fertility.

Mating ceremonies were ancient occasions everyone looked forward to and celebrated. It was supposed to be a time of great happiness and revelry. From the look on everyone’s faces, they were excited and ready. It made the lump of depression in my chest even heavier. I didn’t love Jayson. I’d come to that realization years ago. This was a pairing of power, nothing more. I wished I did love him, but it was what it was. I was doing what I needed to for my pack.

Lots of shifters mated without loving each other. You were fated to whom you were fated. Simple as that. One thing that excited me was the fact that my parents and the rest of the pack would gain a huge amount of influence once I bound myself to the Ninth Pack. The pride that gave me pushed the depression aside. I was finally doing something that made them all proud. I’d give Jayson as many pups as he wanted, even though the thought of mating with Jayson wasn’t incredibly pleasant. I felt no desire or sexual connection to him, and the idea of him fucking me made me cringe a bit. Still, I’d be the best mate imaginable, and I’d do it all with a smile.

Though…maybe things would be easier if I could get my hands on whatever drug that lion shifter had slipped me. The idea was tempting. At least then, I might want to do it with Jayson. But anything was worth throwing off the stigma of being a latent alpha.