Page 60 of Bitten Shifter

“We done?” I growl.

The kid nods, his face pale and sweaty.

I drop his head and walk away, leaving him crumpled and humiliated on the mat.

“That idiot asked her for a sandwich, and she turned him into a mop and cleaned the floor with his face!”

Riker steps forward, his voice a low, menacing snarl as he addresses the room. “Next time you so much as look at the Alpha Prime’s mate, boy, I will kill you. That goes for the rest of you.”

The room falls silent, tension crackling like static.

I don’t look back as I walk out.

Let them whisper. Let them fear me.

Right now, I need a shower and a cup of coffee.

I don’t belong here.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I shower and change,trying to shake off the lingering adrenaline. The rooms here are fine—basic, clean, and functional. They remind me of student accommodation. Not exactly cosy, but it will do. I hope Riker is comfortable in his space.

Anger churns inside me as I towel off my hair. How could I have let my guard down so easily? Never again. I need to remember that shifters don’t abide by human rules.

In the mirror, I regard the alien face staring back at me. Even with a puffy nose, swelling, and bruises blossoming beneath her eyes, she still looks exquisite.

I hate her.

Lark, a mirror can’t show your worth. It does not reflect your soul and the person you truly are inside.

She is still me. I am still me.

When I step out, Riker is leaning against the hallway wall, his damp hair curling slightly, his ever-watchful gaze sweeping the corridor.

“You all right, Rocky?” he teases.

“Yeah.” I touch my nose gingerly, wincing at the tenderness. “At least a crooked nose will add character.”

Riker’s laugh echoes along the hallway, his good mood is annoyingly infectious.

“I’d stick to not getting punched in the face again. But don’t be surprised if someone tries to rope you into another challenge. Some of these kids will be vying for dominance the moment they shift.”

“Great,” I mutter. “More idiots trying to prove themselves at my expense.”

“I suspect they will be more worried about you after today. That throw was a thing of beauty.”

I roll my eyes. “It was pure self-defence.”

We head to the mess hall, the enticing aroma of food wafting down the corridor. I take a plate of spaghetti topped with cheese chunks and add some garlic bread, while Riker piles his tray high as though he has not eaten in weeks.

“You sure that’s enough?” I tease.

“Barely,” he replies with a grin, balancing a salad bowl precariously on the edge of his tray. “This is only round one.”

We choose a table against the wall, instinctively securing a spot with a clear view of the mess. I take a tentative bite of garlic bread and glance around. Across the room, Alice’s bright laughter catches my attention. She is seated at a nearby table, animatedly chatting with a small group of trainees.

I lift a hand to wave; she spots me immediately, her grin widening as she waves back enthusiastically, her curls bouncing with the motion.

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