Page 96 of Aine

My lips part to release a quiet groan as I try and fail to connect with Aine through the bond. I was clear with Alex not to let her get so drunk, it wouldn’t respond to me, but I’m not surprised he disobeyed my command.

He’s still mad at me for trying to set Freya up with Owen, my assistant quick to spill the private information I shared with her. Olivia’s always telling him things, whispering my plans and thoughts in his ear.

It pisses me off.

An elder, Toby, takes it upon himself to sit next to me, his thigh pressing against mine. He’s one of the few who threatened to challenge me after my betrayal to Alex.

“You okay?” he asks.

I shrug, refusing to explain myself to him. I know everybody’s heard Aine’s screams these past few days, my mate loud as she insults my manhood from her bedroom window. It’s embarrassing, but I’m sure that’s the point.

“The humans are weak.” Toby laughs, clearing his throat when I shrug off the hand he places on my shoulder. “We’re doing the world a favor by keeping their numbers low. Your ancestors would be proud of you for putting your mate aside for the good of the pack. It’s a decision your father was too weak to make.”

He opens his mouth to continue, but I stand before he can spit out another word.

My father was a good man who led us for as long as he could. Even after my mother’s death, he forced himself to hide his grief and be a present father. The memories of my grandfather are faint, but “cruel” would be a generous description.

They say by the end, my grandmother was his mate in name only.

My teeth ache as I imagine Aine and me in such a relationship. She’s an enigma, always keeping me on my toes and challenging my opinions. I like it.

Had my father been in my position, he would’ve called off the hunt before it was even asked of him. I should be at home soundly asleep next to Aine right now, not getting ready to slaughter her kind.

Fuck.

“No humans,” I blurt out, locking my hands behind my back as I turn to face the group of hunters.

They frown, their expressions a mixture of rage and shock.

“If you come home smelling of a human, I’ll tear out your throat and use your meat to keep us fed through the winter. You can hunt any other mammals,” I snap, watching as most shift and disappear into the woods.

They’re the ones who just enjoy a good hunt. It doesn’t matter to them the target.

A few others linger, probably waiting to see if I claim this to be a joke, before groaning and leaving. They’re annoyed, but they won’t be a problem.

The men I once feared don’t put up the fight they once threatened, but I can tell by their tightly clenched fists and jaws that they’ll cause issues back home. Some will return smelling of human despite my order and will find themselves disappointed when I follow through on my threat. Well, most of it.

I won’t eat them, but I sure as fuck will tear out their throat.

Some young men remain, circling my body in challenge, but I’m not concerned. That number continues to grow as I bounce around making sure everybody’s heard me, a slight jump to my step with the knowledge that I can go home and face Aine without shame.

When the last of my people leave, I turn to my challengers. My beast is outraged at their disrespect, but I only feel sadness as I look over their faces. I train with most of these men daily, and now I’ll be forced to kill them over some barbaric tradition.

Some shift, only furthering my disappointment.

Had they stayed in their human form, I would’ve only fought them until submission, but their transformation into beast signals that they want this to end with death. They hope it will be mine.

The first lunges quickly, and already knowing his weakness, I sidestep and tear at his throat until he falls limp beneath me. I do it in my human form to intimidate the rest, showing them how strong I am in the hopes they back off.

Some do, two of the ten tucking tail and leaving, but the others remain.

My breath is shaky as I give into my beast and shift. The second and third go just as fast as the first, but the fourth manages to bite off a chunk of my hindleg before he’s put down like the others.

The fifth returns to his human form before attacking, and I sigh in relief as I follow. I won’t have to kill him tonight. My body’s slick with sweat and blood as I pin him to the ground and force him to submit, the man doing so with a loud whine.

I can tell the others no longer want to fight me as they stare with wide, fearful eyes, but tradition states that once a challenge has been accepted, it must be seen through. They lost the opportunity to leave when I shifted.

I could cry when they return to their skin and drop to their knees, their foreheads touching the ground as they turn their heads and expose their necks.

---