Page 51 of Dawn of the Pack

But beneath that there’s something else, and with a start I realize that I’m picking up her scent, something unique to Azalea that identifies her alone.

And that scent is laced with anxiety, almost like fear. No idea how I know it—it has to be some sort of wolf instinct—but I know it to the very core of my being.

Azalea is super anxious right now, despite her attempts to appear otherwise.

I pull in another deep breath, trying to determine if I can read anything else in her scent.

“Why are you sniffing like that?” She asks with a snarl. “You really have turned into a dog, haven’t you?”

The ribbon of fear weaving through her scent gets thicker. Interesting.

Curiosity satisfied, I return my attention to my plate and finish my meal. Azalea’s eyes burn holes on the top of my head, but she she doesn’t speak again.

Maybe my lack of a response is really bothering her.

Just then, the door flies open.

Nielsen storms in, his face a dark, angry red beneath his beard. “What the hell are you doing here, witch?” he growls. “I don’t recall issuing you an invitation to visit.”

She doesn’t turn to face him. “You said you’d be in touch and I haven’t heard from you in days. Figured I’d come down and follow up on my dear cousin’s progress.” She’s giving him the same indifferent attitude she gave me, but another breath confirms she’s rattled by his presence.

I can’t seem to get a read on him; either I can’t scent other wolves the same way, or it’s more nuanced than non-shifters.

I don’t need his scent to tell me his emotions, however. They’re written plainly on his face.

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you want. You don’t have the right to waltz into my house and do whatever you see fit. I can banish you just as easily as I did your aunt, so don’t assume you have any kind of leverage over me. Now that I have Leaf here, he’s more than capable of performing any magic we might need your help with.”

“Ha!” she snorts. “You seem to have forgotten one tiny, significant detail: without speaking, Leaf can’t use his magic, period. So as long as he has that collar on, he’s no more good to you than every dog in this mangy pack. And since I’m the only one who can remove it, you’d be wise to remember that.”

“Nobody threatens me in my own home!” The alpha is well and truly pissed now, veins popping in his neck as he thunders at her. Given her natural height and the added six inches from her thigh-high platform boots, Nielsen has to look up to continue raging, and he’s clearly not happy about it.

“I can find another witch to undo it if I want to. You keep your position solely because it’s my choice to allow you to remain. My good will only goes so far, and you are testing my patience to the limits, witch. Get out of my house!”

Dropping her voice to a deadly whisper, Azalea is suddenly more menacing than the hulking man. “We had a deal, Nielsen, and you can’t back out of a deal with a witch. There is a price to pay if you don’t keep your word. A very steep price.”

He meets her threatening tone head on, growling deep within his chest. “You can’t touch me, and you know it. That’s been the deal between packs and witches since the beginning. You can’t use your magic against the alpha of the pack you serve. And you signed the contract, so you’re beholden to it unless I choose to release you.”

Azalea’s not deterred. “That doesn’t release you from fulfilling our other deal. Like it or not, you owe me, and you’ll have to pay up soon.”

“You’ll get what I promised when I choose. Now get out of my house before I decide you’re not worth the trouble and do something drastic.”

“You can’t touch me either, and you know it. That little bargain goes both ways, and you’d be wise to remember that, dog.” Azalea sniffs, then turns to stroll casually from the room. “Our little stalemate continues, but you’d better pony up before I tire of waiting. Lovely to see you, Leaf. Let’s do dinner sometime!” she calls over her shoulder and saunters through the doorway.

Nielsen roars in earnest, releasing a guttural, animal sound that belongs on a Nat Geo special.

His gaze lands on me, and I realize with a start his eyes are glowing an unnatural shade of blue. “I know that witch is your cousin, but her time’s coming, son. Mark my words.” And with that, he storms out the door, slamming it closed behind him.

And I’m finally alone.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Milo

Of course, it took us all of thirty seconds to regret our fight and apologize to each other. Jared filled me in on what his dad said about mated-but-unmated males, and it suddenly makes a load of sense. My crazy emotions started immediately following the night Lily spent at my house, and now after their night with her, we were at each other’s throats.

But not being able to apologize to Lily ate an acidic hole in my stomach. I tried texting and calling, but neither she nor Landon answered. Jared and I spent the night camped out in her suite, dozing off and on, hoping to get a message or see them walking back through the door so we could make amends.

It’s not until we’re blearily drinking the coffee Mary was kind enough to deliver that my phone vibrates across the table.

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