I knew she’d been sleeping with my now-mate back then. I could smell Ramos on her and knew she was trying to reach for a station higher than me, a pure-blooded alpha. So, I thought it would be fun to take away what was hers and turn it into mine. I knew Lucas and I were to marry, yet I still went and seduced Ramos—to secure Oak Fur for my father and to push that little whore Pearl back down to her rightful place.
Now I realize how stupid I’d been. I carry a pup inside me that I pretend to want. I allow Ramos to have his way with me, letting him believe he’s in control. I can’t wait for the day I slit his throat, and he realizes my love and obedience were just a facade to give myself a better life than I would have had if I’d stayed in Blood Oath.
“I see Leonard couldn’t resist some fresh, supple flesh,” a cold voice calls from my right. Raising a brow, I find Alpha Nox watching Pearl with intrigue as she grinds her ass against Leonard, and I scoff. She’s doing everything she can to get that pervert inside her.
“We all know that plaything of his will be gone soon. She reeks of having given birth just days ago,” I muse. Alpha Nox chuckles, his emerald eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I blush. Goddess, I wish I had met him three years earlier. I would have thrown my body at him like Pearl was throwing herself at Leonard.
“So, what is your role in this little battle that is to come?” he asks, accepting a flute of champagne as an omega walks by.
“To be a supportive mate for Ramos,” I answer automatically as my mate approaches us.
“Alpha Nox, I see you have met my Luna,” Ramos says, standing beside me with a grin. “Isn’t she just radiant?” he asks.
I can feel his arm wrap around me, but not fully. His hand finds my ass and gives it a rough squeeze. It’s been two hours since the party started, and I know from how Ramos is getting handsy that he’s becoming impatient. I can sense his lust for me through themate bond and fight the disgust rising in me. All this man does is spend money and fuck me like a breeding mule. I’m sick of it.
“She is, Alpha Ramos,” Alpha Nox agrees, his eyes scanning me in a predatory manner. For a moment, I wonder if he’s truly on our side in destroying Kaylee, Lucas, and Amelia, but I keep the thought to myself. If I start doubting our allies now, Ramos will blame me for anything that goes wrong.
“Anyway, my beta has scented his mate while here. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to see him and meet my new Beta Female.”
Without another word, Alpha Nox turns on his heels and walks away. The power radiating off him follows, and I feel like I can breathe again. I’m glad that no one has disrespected him—I sense that we wouldn’t want to be on his bad side.
“Did he hurt you?” Ramos asks as soon as Alpha Nox is gone. I shake my head no, pressing closer to my mate’s side.
“He’s just an intimidating man,” I answer once I find my voice.
“That he is,” Ramos agrees quietly, kissing my forehead roughly.
Deciding to ignore my instincts about Alpha Nox, I pull Ramos towards our guests. Just because one of them makes my animalistic alarm bells ring doesn’t mean I can neglect the others in the room.
One thing is certain—I can’t wait until tomorrow morning when Alpha Nox and his beta are gone from Oak Fur.
63
Kaylee
Watching the familiar scenery we drove past weeks ago, my mind wanders back to the ten days we’d spent sleeping in motels while putting as much distance as possible between us and Oak Fur. Amelia was the one who always chose what motels or hotels to stay at, making sure that we would be safe from any pack wolf we stumbled across. Now, we ignore our safety in favor of making it to Oak Fur before Ramos and his men can leave to attack Ivory Fangs.
I never thought that in the span of a few months, I would be turned rogue twice. I never thought I would be unable to link my friends and loved ones all over again. Yet here I am in a van with Lucas beside me and Simon and Evette behind us while two omegas sit in the front seats. The only wolves I can link are those in my familial bond—Lucas, David, Amelia, their pups, and, surprisingly, Kurt. It surprised me when I woke up this morning after two days on the road to hear Kurt’s voice pop into my head.
It turned out that Lucas called Kurt to talk about another vision he had at our first motel stop. The two had a heart-to-heart moment. Lucas confessed to Kurt that he felt more like a father to him than Ramos ever had, and the familial bond was formed. All this while I slept like a log on the hotel mattress.
“I can’t believe Ramos and Marilyn threw a party last night welcoming in their allies,” Simon mutters in irritation, a small growl escaping his lips. Turning around in my seat, I look at him to see Simon staring at his phone, the email he reads reflecting in his sunglasses.
“I can. Marilyn is an attention-seeking whore,” Lucas replies with a scoff, the two omegas in front snorting out a laugh at this. They were a mated pair who came from Oak Fur to join Ivory Fangs in search of a better life and escape Ramos and Marilyn. When Alexander informed everyone about our plans to take Oak Fur for ourselves, this pair—Sebastion and Carrie—volunteered immediately to be part of the driving team and said they would gladly rejoin Oak Fur if Lucas and I were in charge.
“Honestly, I’m shocked she even mated Ramos. He fucked every one of her friends after they turned sixteen, and we all thought Pearl would become his second Luna,” Carrie says from the passenger chair. Surprised by this new information, I motion for her to tell us more.
It turns out that before Ramos and Marilyn became a thing, Pearl was doing everything she could to seduce Ramos, wearing clothes that became more revealing by the day in front of him. One day, it worked, and the two were caught fucking in the packhouse. Carrie only knows about this because she was one of four omegas who’d caught them in the act.
“I’m willing to bet money on the fact Marilyn got pissed that Pearl, a warrior’s daughter, was trying to raise her status and decided to seduce Ramos for fun in her goal of becoming a Luna,” Sebastion says with a chuckle, making my eyes wide.
If this is true, it would make sense, considering Marilyn was obsessed with Lucas for years. If one of her minions stepped out of line trying to improve their own status, I can see Marilyn doing everything she could to put them back in their place.
“That would explain why she would fuck Ramos behind my back,” Lucas agrees with a shrug, pulling me closer. “But in the end, they did me a favor since I’m now with the most amazing woman in the world.”
I blush at this comment and try my best to hide it. Simon fake gags, telling us to take our lovey-dovey attitude to a hotel room while Carrie chuckles from the front seat.
“Alpha Amelia said the next hotel stop will be in two days, so get used to your alphas being romantic in front of us, Simon,” Sebastion teases, his words making my face heat up a few more degrees from the raging blush on my face.
