Page 4 of Alpha Scorned

Stone snarled. “No. You don’t.” He took a slow step forward, his head jutting forward threateningly. I moved back despite my normal disposition to fight. This half-fae, half-wolf shifter, was as tough as they came—and loyal enough to defend his brother against all enemies who caused them pain; even soulmates.

Regardless, I needed to get out of that door and follow Owen’s scent before the wind took it.

“I do. You don’t understand. He’s my soulmate…I have to find him.”

Stone’s cold gaze was unwavering. “You rejected him, Selina. You have no rights to him at all. Not any more. And I will not allow you to cause him further pain.”

“What?” My words were whispered. I shook my head, not sure how he knew. “No, you don't understand…”

“What is there to understand, Selina? Did he just ask you to spend your life with him? Did he just offer himself as your soulmate?”

I swallowed the dread building in my chest. I wouldn’t explain to this shifter without talking to Owen first. I owed him that much. “This is between Owen and me—”

“Not any more. You rejected him.”

The interruption wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

“No!” I wiped my sweaty palms on the skirt of my dress.

“You did. And now you will leave him be. You’ve done enough.”

I blinked. “But you don’t understand.Hedoesn’t understand.”

“Did you reject him!?” he roared, his eyes full of fury.

I swallowed hard, lowering my gaze from the hate and sheer power in the amber and purple gaze of his wolf. And he was right to be angry. Rejecting a potential mate, especially a soulmate, was the worst sin a shifter could commit against another.Gods, what have I done?

Stone growled. “You heartless bitch, after everything he’s done for you and your son, you rejected him, yoursoulmate…”

“Enough!” growled another voice.

My breath froze in my chest. Shane’s face was hard, his wolf clear and present in his eyes. He strode forward, placing himself between Stone and me. “Get away from her, Stone.”

Stone leaned sideways, keeping me in his sight, disgust evident in his expression. “Is that why you did it? For him?” He gestured between me and Shane, ignoring Shane completely. “Youknowhe’s nowhere near the male my brother is.” His stare fixed back on Shane’s face. “So? Are you happy now you’ve destroyed one of us? Does it make you feel stronger than him, more powerful?” he sneered.

“Fuck off, Stone. This is none of your godsdamned business.”

Stone growled, his fingers flexing into fists at the same time as Shane’s.

I shook my head. This was getting out of hand. “Please. You can’t fight over this. Please, stop.” The chance of two alphas in a pissing contest listening to me were little to none. Though… I eyed the door again. If they fought, I could get out and hunt down Owen. Although I couldn’t be his mate, I could at least make him understand.

“Step away from each other, right now.”

The command was thrown out with a wave of dominance so strong, it drove me to my knees. I wasn’t naturally submissive, not by any means. In fact, I was totally the opposite. My wolf might be in hiding, but I was still an alpha clear through to my soul. I’d fought, and triumphed against some nasty males for my position as Shane’s Beta, but this wave of power was meant to subdue two powerful alphas. Its effect on me was massive. My knees bent under the weight of my King’s strength.

Stone and Shane both stiffened. Their faces told me they wanted to fight, even if their bodies couldn’t go against their Prime.

“What the fuck’s going on? Where’s Owen? I can feel he’s in pain.” Connor’s voice was low, his features tight.

My face heated, and I lowered my head further, wanting to disappear into the floor. I’d hurt them all by rejecting their brother. Gods, what could I say? Nothing. Not until I spoke with Owen. I could only hope Connor would allow me that courtesy before he threw me out of his house. Though the possibility that he could throw me out of the Canadian pack altogether if I told the truth scared me almost as much. I’d grown up on the streets, and I didn’t want to go back there, not with Devon. I’d do anything to protect him from the life I’d had as a child. Even if Connor didn’t throw me out, Shane could.

Shane was a good man, but he had a pack to lead. I’d hidden my failure to shift from everyone, including Shane, for nearly two years. I’d lied through my teeth, only the fact that I’d won the position of Beta had staved off any questions about why I never shifted in public. I guessed everyone thought I was just too traumatised by my past to want to be seen naked, other than by my lover. I would have snorted at that thought except for the weight of my King’s gaze on me. Shane was a friend, and had been since we’d decided not to become lovers. I’d asked if being my fake lover bothered him, but he’d just said our relationship was no one else’s damned business.

Only now, this whole thing, the lies and half-truths, was getting out of hand. I should stop it. And I would, but I needed to find Owen first.

I peeked up through my eyelashes to see if I could escape through the door. I could see Owen’s motorbike outside, which meant he’d either gone on foot, or he’d shifted. Pulling air into my nose, I sifted through all the scents around me and latched onto his.

“Forget it, Selina. I won’t let you leave.”

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