Page 21 of Alpha Scorned

“No kill O-wen.”

Devon’s fierce gaze was trained on Stone and Rawson, not the alphas currently cowering at my feet. All of my fury melted away, my wolf settling at the little boy’s touch. I swallowed hard, awareness hitting me. He wasn’t saving the alphas, he was protecting me. I met my brothers’ gazes, and blinked slowly. My slow nod and lowering my foot to the ground told them I had my control back. Both of them exhaled slowly, their fists unfurling, and magic seeped out of Stone’s eyes. My skin went cold. They were right, I was losing control.

Stone rubbed his face and Rawson shook his head. My challengers were just young males, barely even men, they were never a real threat. With my heart slamming against my chest wall, I scooped Devon up into my arms, my attention narrowing on my fallen challengers.

Rawson quickly strode closer.

“Calm your tits, brother. They aren’t going to die by my hand tonight.” I peered down at them. “You two will get your arses up off the ground and report to Robin. I want you on my team where you can be trained, and watched. If I get even a sniff of defiance from either of you, I will end you without discussion. You feel me?”

“Yes, Alpha,” they both replied, their voices shaking.

“Stone, Rawson, I’m taking Devon home. Both of you can relax. I won’t kill anyone tonight. Zander will watch my back. I’ll see you at seven in the morning.” Without looking at my brothers, I turned away.

Zander nodded as I passed him to show me he’d heard.

“You can leave me when I get to Selina’s.”

Zander smiled a little. “Sure. I guess you can make your way back to our digs alone.”

I didn’t say anything.

“O-wen ‘kay?” asked Devon, his little face twisted, and his fists clutching at my shoulders.

I forced a smile. Killing my challengers would have been unnecessary. Gods, they weren’t ever really a challenge. Shit, if Devon hadn’t pulled me from the bloodlust, my brothers would have been forced to step in. I clenched my teeth, not so far gone that I had no awareness of the fact that I’d been putting my brothers through hell with my journey towards self-destruction. I needed to sort my shit out. And that started now.

“Yes, I’m okay, Dev.” I peered down at him, wondering how he’d known I was in danger. “Where’s your Momma?”

He looked down, his adorable little face full of guilt. “I ran ‘way. Momma no know.”

“You did, huh?”

He nodded, looking utterly crestfallen. “She gonna be cross with me.”

A warm, tight feeling invaded my chest at his anxious expression and the way he bit his bottom lip just like his mom did when she was worried. I huffed and smiled ruefully, holding him close and kissing his cheek. “Yeah? Well, she’s cross at me, too. Shall we go and see her together?” I grinned and winked. “Safety in numbers, little man.”

Devon gave a relieved smile and wrapped his arms around my neck, nodding. The warmth in my chest increased to ridiculous proportions, and my wolf rumbled. He was as happy as I was that Devon was where we could keep him safe. By the time we reached Selina’s home, he was fast asleep on my shoulder.

I turned to Zander. “It’s okay, man, I got it from here.”

Zander nodded. He brushed his hand over Devon's hair before he met my gaze. “Don’t fuck this up. She’s hurting. I don’t know why, but she is. It’s your job to figure out why.”

“How the fuck do you know she’s hurting?”

He smiled, his eyes glowing red in the dark. “Demon, remember? We can do all sorts of things. One of them is sensing things that others can’t.” The look he gave Devon turned contemplative. “Like danger…” I swallowed hard as his gaze met mine again. “...or pain.”

I dipped my chin in acknowledgement. Fuck, even my brother could tell my mate was in pain when I’d just focused on my own. I’d let her down. I didn’t say goodnight to Zander as he walked away, instead I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and knocked.

Chapter 9

Selina

I steppedout of the shower and grabbed one of the fluffy pink towels I’d bought last week. I dried myself vigorously except for the scars across my abdomen and around my neck, which were still super sensitive even after all these years. The silver collars the guards had used to suppress our wolves in the prison had left deep ridged scars. But when I’d been tortured to a point I was too far gone to control her, my wolf had always tried to push through. All she’d wanted to do was fight for me, to help me, and every time she did, I’d burned. The bumpy raised scars across my abdomen were always sensitive, too, but became agonising if I didn't care for them properly. Shifters had good healing abilities, but silver burns, especially those that were repeated, never healed well, nor did wounds inflicted by demon possessed werewolves...

Frightening memories pressed on my mind. Hands everywhere, claws slicing at my skin…My breathing hitched and I fought to get enough air in my lungs. No. No I wouldn’t do this. I pushed with everything I had against those memories, fighting them back. Instead I counted, concentrating on dragging air into my lungs…

Breathe in. Breathe out.

My heart rate began to slow and the tightness in my chest eased enough I opened my eyes. Now wasn’t the time to deal with those awful memories...it never was.

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