Page 191 of The Demon's Pet

I blinked. “They tried to stone me. They abused me.”

Os looked at Bran. “Is that true?”

“She hit me in the balls,” Bran said. “I told you.”

Os cocked his head, his braid falling to one side. “Then we will deal with it in a pack court, and I will oversee it to ensure a fair outcome. But either way, you’ll have to come with me, Cleo. Rules are rules. Do you want everyone here to get hurt?”

I glanced around me. “What did you do to them?”

“Don’t worry. I put a layer between them and the ice. They’ll be fine for now. Long enough for you to come with me and Gabe.”

“Gabe is here?” I asked. “That conceited jerk from the prison?”

“Don’t talk about him like that,” Os said. “This isn’t his fault. He raised me, so don’t act like you know him.” He closed his eyes to gather his composure. “Cleo, I like you. You know this. But this is out of my hands. If you don’t go back with him, the ninth realm is going to send someone else to take you back anyway.”

I shook my head. “I’m just an omega. I’m part demon!”

“You’re still the property of our haven,” Bran spat. “And we want you back.”

“There is one other option,” Os said, looking pensive. “If you take it, and win, you’re free to stay, and your friends won’t be in any danger.”

Os folded his arms, waiting for my reply.

“What option is that?”

“You could issue him an alpha challenge,” Os said. “If you win, you become alpha and can make new rules for the haven. That’s what alphas do.”

I thought about it a second, afraid for my friends, afraid for the animals across the street.

Afraid to leave and not be here when Sam came back.

“I’ll do it,” I said. “Come on. Let’s move somewhere out front. I won’t fight at Sam’s home and damage it.”

Os’s eyes darkened. “He would deserve it after lying to me. But fine. We will go see Gabe, who is waiting out front, and tell him you’ve accepted the challenge.”

I eyed Bran, who slid a mocking look at me as we all walked to the front of the cathedral.

But deep inside, I was more excited than scared, despite the stakes here.

I finally got to fight an alpha from my haven, no holds barred. My inner demon was more than ready.

46

As we trudged through the cathedral, I tried to remember what Sam had told me.

To believe in myself. To remember how strong I was.

But it was harder without him there.

When we walked out into the cold air again, I saw Gabe standing there in a crusader outfit.

He wore a loose white tunic with a blue lion on the front over silver armor beneath. His ashy-blond hair matched the gray of the sky, and his light-brown eyes had no sparkle.

He eyed me like I was something beneath his notice. “We meet again, demon.”

I lifted my chin. “Fuck you.”

His mouth tightened. “Not even with someone else’s dick.”

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