Page 5 of Walking in Darkness

“Lynx. Eurasian lynx, actually.”

“Okay, I know what a lynx is, but I’ve never heard of a Eurasian—whoa!”

Another lynx, this one much bigger, came barreling out of the bush and launched itself at the other feline, landing on its back. They went down in a tangle of angry hisses and claws. Kit expected the two cats to fight, but the bigger one pinned the smaller one, then snarled at it.

Then they shifted.

“Shit. They’re shifters.” Both men were nude after shifting, but nudity didn’t bother Kit.

They looked to be around his age and in good physical shape. He and Gaura were far enough away he couldn’t make out their features, but they definitely had the typical Mediterraneanskin tones and long dark hair. The bigger man still had the smaller one trapped under him.

“You do not run from me!”

“Get off me. Now.”

Kit stiffened.

“You also do not tellmewhat to do. I am an Alpha. You are just an Omega. I am the one who will assume leadership of our people when Alcaeus steps down.”

“Who is Alcaeus?” Kit asked.

“The current Alpha of their group. I’m not sure what felines call their groups,” Gaura said.

“May the gods help us when that happens,” the smaller one snapped.

Kit jerked in shock when the bigger man slapped the other one. “Dammit. That asshole just hit that guy, and we’re going to do nothing?”

“This has already happened, remember, Kit?”

Kit gritted his teeth. He had forgotten, but that didn’t make it any easier to watch. Plus, there was something about that bigger guy that made Kit’s hair stand on end.

“Do not disrespect your Alpha that way.”

“You’re not my Alpha. You will never be my Alpha.”

“Not only will I be your Alpha, you will also warm my furs. You are mine. You will always be mine.”

“But you will never be mine! You say I am yours, and you use my body, but you will mate a female.Shewill be your mate. I am nothing more than your whore.”

“I have no choice, and you know it. I have to mate with a female because I must have heirs. You cannot give me that.”

“Then mate her and leave me be.”

“I will not. I cannot. You are the one I want. She is nothing more than a necessity. A chore that must be done. I will not let you go.”

“And I will not be second best.”

The bigger man slapped the smaller man again. “You will be what I say you will be. You will stay by my side and will warm my furs, even if I must chain you there. And I will. Once I am Alpha, no one will gainsay me.”

“Those furs are going to get rather crowded, don’t you think?”

“That tongue of yours cuts like a knife. You are fortunate I enjoy what you can do with it, otherwise I would be tempted to remove it. Still, there are other ways to punish you for your disrespect, aren’t there?”

Kit gulped. That bigger man was nothing more than an asshole, an asshole with power. Or he would soon have power. The smaller man stilled at the threat, and Kit didn’t blame him. There was just something about that bigger guy that made Kit’s stomach roll threateningly. And why did his voice sound so familiar? Why did both of their voices sound familiar?

“No. I’m sorry. Please, please don’t.”

“Then you know what to do to make me happy.”

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