Page 6 of The Alpha Wolf Defying Fate

I shrugged when they all looked towards me, Sasha’s eyes filled with doubt. “I don’t mind you joining me. Just know that I want the first go at that witch. She has something important that I want returned. After I get what I want, I have no interest in what you all want with her.”

Sasha snorted, but it was Aurora who replied quickly. “That’s fine, we won’t get in your way.”

The two cousins exchanged looks, a silent conversation that only they understood passing between them before Sasha ultimately sighed and nodded.

“Fine, but if I so much as smell betrayal from you, I will personally end you and the witch. And if whatever she has that you want so much is deemed dangerous to the world, then I will do everything in my power to make sure you never get your hands on it.”

I growled at that threat, but that was my only response. I turned and began to walk down the alley as we had before, the forest edge just beyond the next darkened street.

The others began to follow, Sasha closing in the distance and pressing ahead of me. I rolled my eyes at her as she attempted to lead the way into the forest. We all heard what the vampire had said. However, all we needed to do was find the smell of licorice.

“Don’t mind her,” Aurora said from behind me. “She’ll come around.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I wasn’t even worried. As soon as we’re done with that witch, we will all go our separate ways, and I won’t have to worry about her again.”

I smiled to myself; the expression forced as my wolf revolted at the thought of losing his mate. Aurora didn’t react to my words, her face remaining straight with a glint of what I could only believe to be disbelief. It was as if she saw right through me and knew something that I didn’t.

Although, she probably did.

I shook off the thought of whatever the seers were hiding from us. What futures The Fates may have shown them a glimpse of. I didn’t want to think about it. Not when I was certain that those very same goddesses had to have made a mistake with their pairing. There was no way they meant to make Sasha my mate. And there was no way that either of us were willing to accept that bond.

My gaze moved from the approaching trees to the very she-wolf that I was resisting. Her hips swaying with every confident step. The movement entranced me, my mind going to all positions I’d like to see those hips move.

I smirked as she seemed to move more sensually before my eyes. As if she knew I was watching, and she was giving me more to see.

She dramatically bent over to avoid a low-hanging branch, arching her back as she straightened back out and sniffed the air.

“I think I smell it,” she said over her shoulder to the rest of us. “It smells just like black licorice. It’s amazing. I don’t understand how anyone could resist following this scent.”

“It’s your wolf side,” I said, sniffing the air and finding the scent myself. “Canines enjoy the scent. It’s like catnip to cats. The scent is actually star anise.”

“How could you possibly know that?” Sasha asked, her attitude returned.

“Because I’ve known this scent for as long as I can remember,” I said, taking back the lead as I followed the scent to an old tree that had seen better days. “Growing up, I enjoyed the scent so much I wondered why, so I did some research on it and found out the connection to canines. It was pretty clear then why I loved that scent so much. Why my grandpa loved it so much too.” I smiled at the thought of my family, the smile falling as I remembered the message my mother had left me just hours earlier.

I cleared my throat and pointed to the tree. “It’s here.”

The others sniffed the air, their pupils dilating as the licorice scent hit them.

“That’s incredible,” Baer said. “I can’ t believe I’ve never smelled that before. I’m sure my family has used star anise in a potion or two.”

I shrugged. “It may not have been strong enough. I noticed that the scent has to be very strong to affect my wolf. The herb itself barely reached him, but something with magic that carries that scent. It’s harder to resist.”

“So maybe it’s more than that scent. Maybe there is something with the magic that calls to wolf shifters.” Aurora contemplated aloud.

“Who cares,” Sasha said sharply. “We are getting completely off track with this. Minerva could be miles away by now and even if we get through the portal, we don’t have any idea which direction she went.”

The others nodded as I turned towards the portal. “Don’t worry,” I said as I moved a branch that blocked the rippling portal from view. “Even if we knew which direction, the forest isn’t going to make it easy for us to follow.” I paused just before stepping through and looked back at them all. “You should all prepare yourselves to use that magic my uncle taught you. You’re going to need it here more than anywhere else in the world.”

Chapter Four

Sasha

Icouldfeelhimwatching me. My body reacted to every glance and lingering gaze. I could feel exactly where his eyes trailed along my body and gods help me, I loved it.

Even thinking about his eyes undressing me as I walked along the path sent shivers through me. I hated it.

I hated that I loved it so much. That I craved it.

---