Page 69 of Claiming Xan
“Sky…” I warned.
Sky stepped closer with a growl, flashing his fangs. “I don’t know who you think you are,” he said darkly. “But River is mine.”
The words sparked through me, a shock to the system. River washis?“What?”
Sky’s face darkened, growing colder. “River is mine,” he repeated. “Mytwin.MyAlpha.Mine.I won’t warn you again.”
I stared at him, my jaw going slack, unable to form words. What the hell? HisAlpha?Did he really think that about his own brother? My stomach churned and I got this vibe, all of a sudden, that maybe Sky was a little off his rocker.
The other Omega shifted into his wolf form and my breath caught—fuck, was he going to attack me?—but instead, Sky snapped at the air in my direction, then darted off into the surrounding woods and disappeared.
I didn’t dare stay out there another minute. I hurried back inside, my heart hammering against my chest, but I didn’t tell anyone what had happened. Honestly? I wasn’t quite sure it was real.
That night, I held onto River while Sky’s strange warning replayed in my mind, over and over again.River is mine.Did Sky really think about his brother like that? That their bond transcended what was morally acceptable?
Unable to sleep, I got up and snacked on some leftover turkey. That’s where River found me, silhouetted by the refrigerator light.
“Xan?” he mumbled. “Why’re you up?”
“Can’t sleep,” I told him.
River yawned, then ran his big hand up and down my back. “C’mon, baby. Come back to bed.”
“Okay.” I closed the fridge and washed the turkey grease from my hands, then followed my mate back to our room. Icurled up next to him and let him spoon me, and soon, he was fast asleep once more.
But I was still awake, unable to get Sky’s warning growl shaken loose from my mind.
39
XAN
Work had picked up.The holidays were always our busiest season at The Candy Jar, and I’d been working extra hours, trying to save so I could buy last-minute Christmas gifts.
Not to mention, River had passed his driver’s test this week and I wanted to get him something special to celebrate. I was so damn proud of him.
It’d been a long-ass day. My lower back and feet were killing me, but besides a bit of flirting from TJ, which I’d fended off, it’d been a good day.
I was excited for tonight. River was picking me up and we were going to see a movie in anactualtheatre. No funny business, just enjoyment.
Dumping the dirty mop water, I finished up my paperwork for the day and clocked out. My keys jangled as I pulled down the security shutters and locked the shop up, then headed for the exit.
I began walking through the parking lot. Tiny snowflakes blustered about, bringing with them a bitter chill to the air. I shivered and tugged my hood up, tucking my hands deeper into my pockets.
Something felt…off though. I paused and looked behind me, but there was nothing there. I sniffed, but all I smelled was crisp air and the coming snowstorm the forecast was calling for.
Weird. Still… I got this uneasy feeling, and immediately, my thoughts landed on Sky. Sky, whose eerie warning had lingered with me for weeks. Sky, whose tongue had dripped with jealousy and venom.
A tendril of fear coiled around my heart as I glanced around. I scented again, but again, nothing.
“Hello?” I called out to the mostly-empty parking lot. No one answered, of course. Why would they? If Sky was a wolf, he wouldn’t have words, anyway.
I turned back around—and screamed when someone grabbed my arm—but it wasn’t Sky.
“TJ? You scared the shit out of me, you asshole!” I slapped his chest, but he didn’t even have the good grace to flinch. “What are you even doing here? You got off hours ago!”
He stared at me, an unreadable expression on his face. His grip on my arm was firm, his fingers digging in. Another quiver shook through me. Had he been waiting for me?
“TJ? Let me go,” I said softly, but he didn’t. His expression turned clouded, then almost angry as he jerked me closer to him. I gasped. “TJ!”
