Page 31 of Betrayed Mate

The hair on the nape of my neck stood up. Someonewaswatching me.

My heart began to race, and I snapped my head in the direction of a sudden noise, searching for the culprit.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ididn’t see anything out of place, but my blood swirled with a sensation I couldn’t quite understand. Even though my wolf didn’t sense anything, I knew, without a doubt, that I was being watched.

Xander’s hurried footsteps stopped behind me, and he stilled. He whispered so faintly only I could hear. “What’s wrong?”

For half a second, I wished the two of us could pack-link, but then I remembered that would mean Ryker was my alpha.

Aw,hellno.

I’d rather be jumped than join a pack where I would be forced to do the alpha’s bidding every time I disagreed with him.

“Something’s in the woods,” I muttered.

Xander came to my side and stared in the same direction. I knew what he was doing—using his wolf senses to see what I was talking about—so I wasn’t surprised when he glanced at me and shook his head. “There’s nothing there.”

“Yes, there is.” My legs began moving of their own accord, even though my wolf whimpered inside me, agreeing with Xander that there was absolutely no reason I should believe anyone was there.

And yet, something inside me that I could only describe as awareness sparked. I couldn’t get myself to stop heading toward the thicker trees, searching for answers.

“Dammit, Ember. Do youwantto push Ryker over the edge? He’s already livid, and your only saving grace is—”

“You act as if I’m not aware.” Anger flashed through me. “Hell, ‘livid’ is probably an understatement for the rage and hatred he must be feeling toward me now.” Still, I continued forward without hesitation.

“Then you know we should be heading back to the vehicle now. If they get back there before we do…”

I tuned him out as each step closer caused my heart to race. The most concerning problem was that I didn’t know if it was from anticipation or dread.

A hand gripped my wrist, tugging me back and forcing me into a hard, muscular chest.

My blood boiled, and I spun around and punched Xander in the jaw. His head jerked to the side, and his eyes widened, but his grip didn’t slacken.

“What the actual fuck?” he gritted out while narrowing his eyes. Even as his jaw turned red where I’d hit him, he didn’t release his hold on me. Instead, he grabbed my other wrist too.

I growled, trying to wrench myself out of his grip, but he was too strong, and I was weak at the moment. I needed to recover quickly because I wouldn’t be dominated by anyone…especially not men like them.

I did the only other thing I could think of—I spat on the ground, making my displeasure apparent. “I understand that your pack is callous and arrogant, but donottouch me like this again.” My breath caught as the wind swirled through the branches, causing twigs to drop onto the mulchy ground. The air seemed to wrap around me like a blanket, warm and comforting despite the chill in the air.

He dropped his hands and took a step back. I exhaled. I hadn’t expected him to release me that easily, especially when he’d just taken a blow to the jaw and I’d spat at him.

My awareness of the other presence vanished, leaving behind a faint coldness that reminded me of the way Briar’s link felt.

It didn't make any sense. Something had to be wrong.

The wind eased, and the woods became eerily silent. My wolf’s agitation churned uneasily inside me and urged me in the same direction now that the weird sensation had disappeared.

I took a deep breath, searching for any signs of a presence, but I heard only faint howling in the distance—Ryker and the others hunting down Simon.

“What the hell was that?” Xander muttered, stepping up to my side. His wrinkled forehead and the strained skin around his eyes screamed that something was wrong. He scanned the area I’d felt tugged toward.

A knot formed in my stomach. “What do you mean?”

“Did you not feel that gust of power?” His eyes glowed as his wolf surged forward, using its magic. “The wind wasn’t natural.”

I bit my bottom lip. “Are you sure?” It had felt natural to me.

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