Page 22 of Snows Sinful Seven

Dallas laughs deeply. “So defensive.”

“I’m not being defensive.” But I was because I hated that he was right.

That day, a few months ago, when I came into town, it was the first time I saw her. Princess Snow, with her long raven hair and skin as fair as her name.

At first, I felt rage at the sight of her. She was the daughter of the man who killed our brother, our packmate. A man who continues to destroy his kingdom and the people within it. The only thing I felt in that moment was the need for revenge, despite the agreement of peace we made with the King.

So I followed her. What I didn’t expect to see was her going into the orphanage. Something within me needed to see what she was up to. I risked someone seeing me and went up to the house, peeking inside one of the windows.

There she was, the kids gathered around her with happy smiles, eyes full of wonder and laughter. She was talking to them, getting down to their level, listening to their stories, and speaking to them like everything they said was important.

Then I saw her hand Annie, the lady who ran the orphanage, money. Annie cried and hugged Snow.

I didn’t buy her kindness, not convinced it wasn’t all an act. I had it in my head that I needed proof she was a liar, a con artist, someone who was just as fake and full of shit as her father.

So I started following her home, lurking in the shadows of the forest. I knew my way around these woods, and I knew how to go unseen, unheard.

I watched from the treeline as she disappeared into some sort of secret exit. Whatever she was up to, she didn’t want anyone to know she was leaving the palace.

I had myself so convinced that I started going into the village because I wanted to see what Snow was really up to, to make sure she wasn’t planning something that would be harmful to the villagers.

But I was only lying to myself. Because what Dallas and the others don’t know is... I haven’t only been coming into town with hopes of catching a glimpse of the stunning Princess.

I’ve been stalking the forest surrounding the palace. It was stupid and reckless, but something inside me pulled me to her. It demanded that we watch over her, protect her.

There’s only one reason a feeling like that would consume a lycan. Mates.

It was clearly the answer, but I’ve still been lying to myself and refusing to believe it because that would be the worst thing that could happen.

If the king found out Snow was mated to a monster, he wouldn’t care about the agreement. He’d slaughter us all.

Then there's the fact that I’m sure this gorgeous princess would take one look at me, see something horrifying, and kill me herself. Because who would want to be mated to a seven-foot wolf-like monster covered head to toe in fur with razor-sharp claws, teeth that can rip flesh from bones, and a jaw that can crush skulls.

“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” Dallas chuckles. He’s the leader and the oldest one in the pack, at thirty-five. None of us, apart from me and my younger brother, Brady, are related. All of us are orphans, our parents killed by humans who either thought our kind was an abomination and wanted us wiped from the Earth or who were so afraid they shot first.

Dallas found Brady and me first. He was sixteen, and we were ten and eight. When he found us, we were sobbing by our mother’s bloody body, utterly destroyed by her death. We saw every second of her murder as we watched from our hiding place.

He took one look at us and knew he couldn’t leave us behind. Dallas brought us back to our pack, only to find out they were all gone. Some were killed, some ran. So, from that day forward, we formed our own little pack.

I shudder at the memory, sending a rush of white-hot anger through me.

The traumatic events we lived through changed us. It made me cautious of everything, unable to trust anyone but my pack brothers. Brady became quiet and withdrew into himself. He doesn’t talk very often unless he is comfortable around you.

“You're wrong, by the way,” I mutter as we reach the halfway point to our home.

“Wrong about what?” he asks.

“I didn’t come with hopes of getting a glimpse of Snow. It’s too early in the morning for her to be here anyway,” I grunt, glaring at him as he chuckles at my admission. Fuck. “I came because the storm sent a branch crashing into the outhouses. I had to meet with the lumber yard and order some wood to rebuild it.”

“Damn it,” Dallas groans, rubbing his hand against his grey muzzle. “The six of us sharing the bathroom inside the cottage is going to be hell.”

“Tell me about it,” I sigh.

“How much you wanna bet Sterling falls asleep on the toilet with his toothbrush in his mouth again.” Dallas shoots me a toothy grin.

“He better fucking not. Last time he did that, we were waiting over an hour for our turn. It’s why we made the damn outhouses. If that’s the case, he goes last.”

Dallas laughs, shaking his head. He’s tired, though. I can see it in his eyes. He works hard for our pack, the only one of us that has two jobs.

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