Page 147 of Rejected By the Alpha King

You’re second best, Kenzi. You always were, and you always will be.”

Petty. I hadn’t even realized I could be this petty. I hadn’t even realized that there was this much bitterness in me. I certainly hadn’t realized I could stoop this low, but I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out of my mouth.

She started to shift, but I was faster. My wolf landed on all fours and launched itself at her before she could finish. Her howl of pain rose up from the trees as we tumbled down the hill, and by the time we hit the bottom, she was full wolf.

Fuck. She was huge. I had no idea that Kenzi’s wolf was this big. She was almost as big as Jax, and now that she was furious, her power ripped through her. Her paw slammed into me, and I saw stars as I stumbled.

My wolf whimpered, and inside, even I whimpered. This was not a fight that I was going to win, and we’d barely gotten started. Still, I turned and attacked. I managed to draw blood just as her fangs ripped into my shoulder. She picked me up and flung me like I was a rag doll.

Pain seared through me, and panic set in. My wolf shuddered.

Hurt. Scared. Help.

Suddenly, before I could stop her, she started to shift.

Oh, God. No, no, no. I tried to grab control, but she’d slipped beyond me. My bones shifted in pain, and something thorny scratched against my bare skin. In a span of a heartbeat, I became a naked, shivering human.

Kenzi didn’t stop. She didn’t even hesitate. She bore down on me with the same fury as before. I tried to curl my body into a ball but it was too late.

Her fangs bit into my side, and she tore flesh.

This was it. I was going to die.

67

Anna

Eight wolves descended on Kenzi. I recognized Emerson as he pulled her off me and threw her across the clearing. When he stared down at me, there was nothing but disgust in his eyes. No worry. No compassion.

When he growled, I whimpered and tried to drag myself away. Finally, he shifted back to human. “Leave her,” he commanded his other wolves. “Kill her, and we’ll start a war that we’re not prepared for yet.”

Turning my head, I watched numbly as Kenzi fought off her attackers. Her eyes on me, she snarled. “Leave my territory,” he said dismissively. “I can’t have you killing my mate, now can I?”

She shot one more look at me and then bounded away. Nobody followed her. Their eyes were on Emerson, waiting for instructions, but his attention was fully on me. “Shift before you die,” he said mildly.

Painfully, I tried to sit up but pain exploded in my hip. Kenzi had, no doubt, broken several bones. “Can’t,” I whimpered. “She’s too scared.”

Emerson cursed loudly and turned to his wolves. “Get a stretcher and make sure the infirmary is staffed. She’ll need the healer.”

They bounded off, and he leaned in close. “Painful lesson for you to learn, Anna. For your sake, I hope it sticks with you. That is the wolf Jax chose to be his mate. She felt she had the freedom to kill you. Maybe she did. I suspect killing that mating bond completely would make Jax very happy. He’s not the hero you envisioned. This is your home now. I’ve given you everything you need to be happy. Accept me, and I will protect you.”

Tears spilled out onto my cheeks as I closed my eyes. “Heal, and we’ll start your training. I cannot have a weak alpha mate. What will my pack think?”

With that, I lost consciousness.

When I came to, there were three shifters surrounding me. They spoke soothingly. It seemed as if my whole body screamed in pain. Shuddering, I tried to scramble away.

“Wait, Anna, stay with us.” Hands grabbed me and pulled me back. “We’re almost done.”

Darkness took over again.

When I woke up again, I was woozy. There was an IV drip in my arm. Groggy, I tried to reach for it, but I couldn’t quite make it. Swallowing, I tried to wet my dry throat. It was quiet.

“Hello?” I rasped. “Is anyone there?”

No one answered. The windows were still dark, so I couldn’t have been here more than a few hours. Turning my head, I glanced around the room and saw the blinking red light above the door. A camera. So someone was watching me. “Hello? I could use some water.”

The air shimmered just below the door, and the red light went dark.

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