His eyes closed a little as his aura increased. Morgan hit his knees, as did Lynn. My mother hit the wall, but was still standing. Brandon dropped to one of his knees and Shannon was almost flat on the ground. “Impressive.” Alpha Vince increased the pressure again, but I was losing my patience.
“Alpha Vince. Is there a reason you are pushing so much power out?” I looked him in the eye and let my voice drop as I stepped up to him. I leaned over and whispered directly into his ear. “I would caution against measuring your power against mine. It would be embarrassing to be dropped on your ass by an Alpha female who just had her first shift, wouldn’t it?” I pulled back and met his eyes again. I let Nix come forward and flash in my eyes. He wasn’t strong enough to make me bow down.
If looks could kill, Vince’s look would have struck me down at that moment. But he wasn’t strong enough to take me on and now he knew it for sure. He stepped back and laughed. “Just a little test. No harm, no fowl.” He clapped me on my shoulder and his face was filled with mirth as he turned back to everyone else.
But I saw his true feelings. He wanted me under his control or dead. But I was safe for now. Everyone got back to their feet and laughed along with him, no one was stupid enough to say what really happened. But from the looks on my mother’s andLynn’s face, they knew exactly what just happened, and they were terrified.
“Alpha, thank you for coming to my home.” Morgan recovered first. He rushed over to the little bar table he had and came back with two whiskeys. He handed one to Vince and took a deep gulp from his own.
Watching the two interact was so jarring after spending the summer with my dad. Ronnie and my father were best friends, and they acted like it. But Vince and Morgan were completely different. Their relationship was superior and subordinate through and through. I couldn’t even tell if they were friends, like they pretended to be.
“Oh Morgan, it’s my pleasure.” Vince turned back to his son and waved his hand. “You know Brandon is sure your girl is his mate.”
I turned to Shannon and smiled and clapped. “Oh yay. You guys are officially mates. When is the mating ceremony?” I played stupid and rushed over to Shannon’s side. I picked her off the ground and grabbed her arm. “I’m so happy for you.” But Shannon glared at me, and the room was dead silent. I turned to face everyone staring at me.
“He meant you, Amy.” My mother’s voice was soft.
I slowly turned away from Shannon, dropping her arm. I let my mouth drop open to keep my ruse going and to show my shock. “Why would he think I’m his mate?” I found Brandon, who was arrogantly staring at me with hunger in his eyes. I wanted to grimace, but I swallowed the need. “We haven’t even talked before.”
“Shannon admitted to wearing your clothes around Brandon.” Vince smirked like that was the missing piece of information that would make me jump at the chance of being Brandon’s mate. But I just lifted my brow.
“So?” I let it hang there. The simple word that held my disbelief.
“Soooo. It means that it was your scent that I liked, that my wolf was attracted to.” Brandon stepped toward me and went to grab my hand, but I pulled away.
“Or…it was our combined scent that you liked.” I lied through my teeth. I felt a pang in my chest and I felt the pain radiating from my wolf. I sent a pulse of love to Megan. This was her mate, after all.
It’s okay.Megan’s words were strong, but tinged with sadness.He doesn’t deserve us.
Nix’s voice floated out to us.During our first life, I felt your bond with this idiot and I was content. You will feel a proper bond if we ever find my mate. Do not despair. This is not your only shot at a bond.
I felt Megan perk up with that thought. So I refocused on the conversation at hand. “Look, Brandon. I can appreciate trying to find your mate, but it’s not me.” I smiled, and I turned to leave.
I couldn’t let him touch me. If he touched me, he would feel the mate bond, and that wasn’t something I wanted to deal with.
Megan pushed forward a little.When we have time, I will reject him so the mate bond severs on my side.
I wanted to do it now, but Nix spoke up.You need to speak the words, and if you do that now, everything would be for nothing. Dodge the touching for now and maybe we can use our power to dull the shocks.
I walked away from everyone gathered in the living room, but Lynn’s eyes widened subtly, and I knew to turn. Brandon, again, had grabbed for me and I barely dodged him. “Wait.” He tried again but I backed up a step.
“I said I could appreciate the search, but don’t press your luck. You have no reason to touch me. And I would ask you not to.”
“Watch yourself.” Vince’s words were sharp, but I just cut my eyes to his.
“I will, once you teach your son not to touch unwilling females.” I lifted my lips and made a big deal of scenting the room. “I have no mate in this room, and I would appreciate it if you respected my space.” I glared at Brandon.
Megan was doing her best to hold herself back, as she was affected by his scent. But Nix moved closer to the forefront and lent me her strength not to react to his scent. The idiot in question froze and finally scented the room. Alpha Vince walked closer to him and grabbed his shoulder.
“Son?” He continued to scent the air, but it was Shannon that caught my eye. Her eyes were mere slits, and she was glaring straight at me, as if she knew exactly what he was going to say.
But Brandon remained silent. He walked closer, and I backed away, keeping the distance. “Amy. I promise I won’t touch you. I just want to smell you.” I scoffed. The look in his eyes told me he was lying. The man never could lie. I ripped my shirt off, leaving me in my sports bra, and tossed it to him. I wasn’t going to let him anywhere near me. His eyes narrowed as I tilted my head at him.
“Nothing against the future Alpha. I just only want to be touched by my family and my mate. You understand, don’t you?” My eyes darted to Shannon. “The bond between wolves is sacred and any relationship or intimate touching before the mate bond diminishes it. My mother taught me to hold true to my mate and just my mate. I hope you can understand.” I gave another polite smile and pointed to the shirt. “That should work for scenting me, right?”
Brandon glared at me for another moment before lifting my shift to his nose. Everyone in the room heard him inhale, and we all froze. Well, I froze. I trusted my power, but my Goddess, I was worried. He inhaled again and then slowly lowered my shirt.
“So?” Vince’s smirk was infuriating.
