Page 8 of Alpha Scorned

In the weeks after they’d left, the women and I had suffered even more abuse at the hands of Shane’s chosen Beta. That fucker had been clever enough never to mistreat us when Shane was around, so there was little we could do. But he’d gone too far when he’d attacked Becca. I’d challenged him, not because I’d wanted to be Beta, but because allowing Becca to be abused ever again was not an option. I’d grown up on the streets, but it was being an inmate in a supernatural prison that had taught me the most, not the least of which was how to be ruthless when I needed to be. Even without my wolf, I’d won.

My top lip curled a little at the memory of that slimy fucker, though I turned away to hide it from Becca. That bastard had hurt my friend. I struck hard and fast. It had taken a metal bar and less than a minute to defeat him. It hadn’t been my prowess as a fighter, or my strength, even though I was an alpha, but his own arrogance and belief that a woman could never be as strong as him that was his downfall. No one else had challenged me when he took his last breath, and Shane had accepted me as his Beta. Before I’d become Beta, I’d had to beg Shane, or listen in the shadows, for any information about Owen. After, information on the man who filled my heart and mind with thoughts of his beautiful eyes and ocean scent had been easier to gain.

Becoming Shane’s lover, or at least pretending to, had been a desperate move on my part to keep Owen away from me. I’d realised my wolf wasn’t going to reappear, and that meant I was a poor match for an alpha as strong as Owen Brady. I thrust away the image of Owen cradling and kissing my baby boy, right before he named him. Only to remember the way he’d gently cradled his body and kissed him right before I’d begged him not to leave me. Now my heart drummed against my ribs for an entirely different reason, not fear but lust. Desire ripped through me as my mind replayed him slamming me up against the wall and setting my body on fire with his kisses and his touch. I’d never been touched or kissed like that. Sure, I’d fumbled and messed around as a teenager before Doherty had dragged me kicking and screaming off the streets. After, though, I’d been pushed into Berith’s breeding programme, still kicking and screaming, but it hadn’t changed the outcome. I was powerless against the strength of the demons who’d strapped me to the metal table in my room and laughed as they stole my innocence.

I shoved my chair back, sweat trickling down my spine and soaking into my waistband. Mother Wolf, I needed a break, not just from my desk but from my dark memories and thoughts. I’d had a handle on them until recently. Now they hit me with the force of a freight train and I couldn’t seem to stop them. I took a deep and steadying breath.

Coffee. I needed coffee…

Marching into the little staff kitchen, I poured some of the strong black liquid into a mug and cradled it. I had to stop thinking about my past and what Owen, and only Owen, had ever made me feel if I was going to move on.

Heading back to my desk, I picked up the file Becca had left and set about reading the background information about my next appointment. Work, that’s what I’d do. I’d finish my online counselling qualification and build up my business, helping all those in the pack who needed it, and then I’d think about what was most important; what was best for the future of my half-shifter, half-demon son, even if it meant leaving the pack behind.

Chapter 4

Owen

One year later.

My fist slammedinto the demon’s face. He went down. In the blink of an eye my wolf was free. Without hesitation, we clamped down on the demon. With a sharp tug and a crack, his head came free of his body. The coppery tang of blood filled my mouth. I released the head and watched as the demon slithered from its human vessel and disappeared into the shadows.

A snarl curled my lip, blood and saliva dripping from my mouth. The need to destroy the evil that had hurt so many of those I loved burned in my soul, easing some of the emptiness that had consumed me since Selina had torn me apart. Through narrowed eyes, I watched Stone take down another three demons. My brother was one badass motherfucker now that his wolf could use his fae magic, too. He ripped the throat from one demon while he sent his magic spearing into the chests of the other human vessels. Deprived of their flesh suits, the demons slithered off, their evil escaping into the inky shadows.

Our group, formed just after the demon war, was named The Shadow Sentinels. All of us were alpha strength shifters, and all of us were more powerful now than we’d ever been. Fighting alongside our Shifter King had enhanced our strength, but it wasn’t just that which made me an efficient hunter and killer. No, it was the void in my soul where my soulmate should be. I relished the kill, the way it made me feel in control of a small part of my life, but the yearning for her never dimmed. No matter how much distance I put between us, our fractured mate connection was always there, tearing at my heart. With each kill I made, more ice invaded my soul, filling that void. I hardly recognised myself, anymore. I was surly, hard, and a pain in everyone’s arse. I knew it and couldn’t seem to care. I took every hunting job that came through from Walker, the banished Fae King who ran the Supernatural Bureau of Investigation, and Connor let me. It pained me to know that he wanted me out of the compound. But he knew as well as I did that I was a fuse ready to explode and let my wolf loose on the next person who pissed me off. He always sent at least two of our brothers hunting with me, mainly to ensure I didn’t kill anyone other than demons. I was being a shit Beta and I knew it. But that didn’t mean I wanted to change my course of self-destruction.

I urged my wolf forward, and we padded across to Lionel, who was still in human form.

“They were the last,” he informed me, his amber eyes glinting, his lion near the surface.

Disappointment dragged at my chest. Killing demons was the only thing that dimmed the agony of Selina’s rejection. Fighting and losing myself in mindless sex, were close seconds. I couldn’t get drunk on human alcohol so that was out, though I could dim the ache if I drank a shitload of Balthazar’s special brew.Rose water,the supernatural community called it. Its name had nothing to do with roses and everything to do with its pink hue, and the fact that despite its innocent appearance, it had a vicious effect if you drank too much, especially the morning after.

Count Balthazar Rossi was the owner of the Gambit, the hottest and most dangerous supernatural club in London. He was also the leader of the UK vampire population, but even he had given up trying to stop me fighting in the ring at his club. I wasn’t stupid enough to think he was concerned about my welfare, but he had a tenuous peace with Connor, and I guessed if I died in his club that might cause a shit storm of trouble on both sides. Problem was, I was all out of fucks to give. Balthazar had eventually gotten the message. Now he just sat back and took the money I brought in from the bets others placed on me.

My wolf receded with a thought from me. He carried a whole heap of anger and hurt of his own since our mate had rejected us. I knew his anguish was affecting my behaviour, only I just plain didn’t give a shit. The only males who might understand were Stone and Rawson. They had both lost their mates, but even they hadn’t suffered being scorned. This, well, this was a whole different kind of pain. It might almost be better if one of ushaddied, No, not one of us,me,then I wouldn’t have to live with the knowledge that Lina was in the world and had decided that I wasn’t good enough for her and Devon.

Ever since I’d been caught in the web of supernatural deceit that Doherty had weaved, my life had turned upside down. I’d lost my position as an SBI agent and been locked away with Connor in that fucking prison. But there had been a light at the end of it all. I’d met my brothers, and we’d fought side-by-side to stay alive. We’d finally escaped and I’d even met my soulmate. Even as I’d fought the demons beside my King and brothers, I’d clung onto the possibility of a future with Selina and Devon, one where I protected them and loved them, but I guess Fate had other ideas for me.

Bitch.

Pulling the molecules of my clothes from the air came as naturally as breathing now. Our blood bond with Connor allowed part of his power to filter into us, allowing us to use skills like molecule displacement and realignment so dressing after a shift was simple.

Rawson strode into the warehouse, his large body clad in dark combats, black boots, and a long sleeve black top. We all wore the same outfit, lightweight fae armour. It was thin, moulded to our bodies, and almost impenetrable.

Zander and Rawson had both stayed out of the fighting, waiting outside and guarding the doors to the warehouse. They’d known I’d needed to release my anger. I grimaced. Not that they’d had a choice but to stand back, not when I’d ordered them to.

Not for the first time, I thanked the Mother Wolf that Walker had ended up as director of the SBI. That crafty fae motherfucker was a cold-hearted bastard, but he was determined to clean up the demons and evil supernaturals who walked the surface of this world. The cursed King ensured we had enough weaponry and armour from Faerie to integrate with our own supplies, and that had given us all an advantage. The Shadow Sentinels worked for the SBI, and no one but our closest allies and Walker knew it. We took the jobs that the SBI couldn’t take, not while all human eyes were on that organisation.

A phone pinged and Rawson pulled it from his pocket. He looked at the message. “Connor.” His brown eyes met mine, his angular face harsh. “We’re heading home.” He turned and walked out. My brother had become a hard bastard since we'd escaped the prison. His mind had been shredded when he came face to face with his mutilated mate, back when Doherty had been running the show. Doherty had ruined us all in one way or another. While the rest of us were imprisoned, Rawson had been forced into his Were-bear half form and had a demon compulsion placed on him to turn him into their pet assassin. So I understood his dark attitude. I really did. That didn't mean I'd forego a fight with him if he pushed me too far. I turned and walked out, Stone and Lionel at my back.

“Took you long enough,” Zander rumbled, raising his brows, impatience in the hard lines of his face. He looked at me. “You need to play with your food less, and get your asses moving. Or there’ll be a time we get overrun. These missions are supposed to be in and out. Quick hits to clean up the streets.”

The half-demon was Connor’s brother. We’d all forgiven him for working for Berith. He’d had no choice, after all. Well, most of us had forgiven him, Rawson hadn’t, but that was his beef. Mine was a lot less complicated; I was out for blood, all of the time, and it didn’t matter whose it was. I cracked my neck side to side, loosening my shoulders and met his gaze head on. I knew I was about to antagonize him enough to possibly cause a fight, which was my goal.

“I like playing with my food. Particularly when it means those demon fuckers go right back to Hell where they came from. They shouldn’t be walking this Earth, any of them.” I deliberately held his stare.

Tension zapped the air. Zander’s top lip curled into a sneer. “Yeah? Careful, wolf. Beta or not, push me too far and I’ll give you exactly what you want.” He leaned in, a menacing glint in his now burning red eyes. “And you won’t survive it.”

I shrugged and smirked. I knew I was tearing our brotherhood apart, but that desperate need for violence had already made me curl my fists. “Bring it on, demon bastard…”

---