Page 11 of Fever

“I got the message.”

“Dinner?”

“Are you ever going to give up?”

“On you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to give up?”

Leah is quiet. “Okay, Hordesman, let’s do dinner.”

I fucking knew it!

Chapter 5

Leah

“The gate seems bigger,” I say as Deyo strolls into the Stronghold. The energy buzzing off the massive thing gives me goose bumps. I rub my arm as we pass it and the huge office building. We emerge behind the building, and straight ahead are more buildings. I point. “What’s over there?”

“That’s the Omega compound.”

When someone says compound, I envision a jail or worse, barbed-wire fence surrounding a torture camp. The Stronghold’s Omega compound is a network of five tall buildings and is everything I didn’t expect it to be. There’s no fence, and the whole thing looks like a mini mall with shops, even a small coffee place where a few women sit outside chatting. Red-caped Collectors patrol the area.

On a little sidewalk, Deyo turns left and proceeds straight for what looks like a housing complex. There’re only a few homes, small compared to the monstrosity that is the office building.

A whistle sounds, and I look over my shoulder, then follow Sotay’s gaze all the way to the top of the office building where an Alpha male in a kilt leaps off the roof, catches the swinging rope, and makes his way down to the ground. When he lands, I recognize him as the prince. The serpent tattoo over his eye is unmistakable. Hunger smiles, showing me his canines.

Sotay dismounts and meets him halfway. They exchange words, and the prince rounds Sotay and proceeds to where I wait on the hound. As he approaches, I dismount in as ladylike a fashion as possible.

“Leah Jenkins.”

“Yes.”

“How is it possible we never met?”

I blush like a schoolgirl.

Hunger continues. “In the past week, I’ve heard your name so many times, you’re somewhat of a celebrity in the family.”

I make anOwith my mouth. “That’s…nice.”

“The king and I are thrilled to have you in the Stronghold.”

I gulp. “Thank you…Prince.”

“You may call me Raven.”

I smile politely, then glance at Sotay, who’s adopted a rather murderous expression.

“Please do make yourself at home,” the prince says. “You’ll be spending the rest of your life around us.”

“That’s enough,” Sotay says.

“Accept your Alpha, today, if possible. You will save yourself and me headaches and wasted time.” The prince takes a step toward me. Deyo growls, but the prince ignores the beast. Sotay steps between me and the prince, and the males’ chests thump.

“Thank you, Raven. You can fuck off now,” Sotay says.

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