Page 2 of Fated Alpha Protector

“Oh, relax, Ness!” Darren chides as he rises to his feet. Rounding the fire, he grabs Vanessa by the arm and pulls her to him. “Should I tell the Alpha that you’ve been fucking his Beta?”

Vanessa glares at the blonde man. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Darren chuckles as he releases her with a purposeful push. “Of course not,” he says. “Now be a good girl, and relax.”

Rolling my eyes in the safety of my cabin, I quickly dodge to one side. Darren’s sharp eyes flit over to my door, and I wouldn’t want to be caught eavesdropping.

After all, it’s not my business that Vanessa is vying for the Alpha’s attention. Attention that Cyrus refuses to give her. So her rebound is the next best thing – the Beta.

Vanessa and I aren’t close by any means. But it’s something any fly on the wall would know.

The rustling outside grabs my attention back, and I peek out through the washed-out lace curtain on my kitchen window. The group of Blackclaw wolves leave their campfire burning as they head into the forest.

Shifting into their esteemed wolf-forms before heading out. The group of six disappear into the shadows, giving me a chance to finally get some fresh air.

I shouldn’t be scared, but I’m only avoiding conflict by treading out when no one is around. Pausing at the bottom of the porch, I look up and instantly feel my lips curling to a smile.

The moon in all its magnificent glory illuminates the sky with brilliant light. Some strange sense of warmth permeates from the sky, enveloping me in its embrace.

The feeling is welcomed, lessening the blow of a rather lonely birthday.

It’s not like any of my other birthdays were special enough to compare. Tonight just feels different. Gloomy in isolation, even if I have grown accustomed to that loneliness.

Shivering in my coat, I cross the meadow toward the crackling fire. It’s inviting with its orange flames licking at the air as if it craves to be the master. I kick aside an empty beer bottle, pursing my lips when it hits a tree.

My only concern about it shattering is the noise it makes. It might call them back. Glancing over my shoulder, I mentally plot out my route to run back to the cabin.

Just in case.

I listen out long enough until I’m sure no one’s coming back. When I’m certain that the coast is clear, I remove my hands from my coat and wave them over the fire.

Relishing in the warmth, I smile to myself and close my eyes. But as soon as I do, I see the flames behind my eyelids.

Along with the vision, my gut churns. My heart races with fear, filling my throat with a lump as bile rises to the top.

Gasping, I instinctively snatch my hands away from the fire and open my eyes again. When they’re safely behind my back, the feeling of dread subsides.

What was that?

Staring at the fire now, it appears to be small. Much less imposing than the flames behind my eyelids. I can’t make sense of it, so curiosity spurs me on.

That’s when I reach out toward the campfire and shut my eyelids.

When the vision of treacherous flames engulfs my vision again, the dreadful feeling returns. It’s so vivid, that I can feel my senses kicking in. The smell of burning firewood scorches my nostrils.

The sound of crackling as the fire persists on the ground. The heat that laps at my fingertips.

Amplified only by the sight of the fire behind my eyelids. The one burning in front of me isn’t big enough to stir my senses like this. Frowning, I begin choking as if the fire’s gripped my throat.

My breath comes in hot pants as I lose control, fear causing me to lose my footing. I’m about to hit the ground, keeping my eyes pressed tightly as I anticipate the fall.

But it doesn’t come. Not the way I expected it, anyway. Instead, it’s like time freezes over as the crack of bones overpowers the crackle of fire.

The sound is what prompts me to open my eyes. That’s when I witnessed the fur spreading across my arms. Chestnut brown, like the hair on my head. It rolls out like a blanket as it covers my arms.

Arms that now appear disjointed, larger than my human arms. With sharp nails distending from my fingertips. It’s only when the transformation is complete and I land on cushioned paws, do I realize what just happened.

‘Wolf…’ a voice inside my head echoes.

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