The Highlands Wolves

LAIKA

Before anyone could ask more questions, I climbed out of the limo. I took a deep breath and gasped at my surroundings. The place was gorgeous. The trees were breathtaking, but the waterfall made the place all the more magnificent, a piece of paradise on earth.

I could see Alaric in the distance, walking fast, Nora right behind him. Her furious gait hinted that there was trouble in paradise.

Despite my hesitance this morning, the hike was specular. The grounds of the alpha compound were enormous with terrific views of the lake. It almost felt like I should never leave, until I reminded myself that I was in the enemy’s territory and needed to be cautious.

We returned to the house hours later. A delicious aroma of cooked food wafted through the air. My stomach tightened in hunger, and Madison let out an excited yelp as she ran toward the dining room.

I followed behind at a much more sedate pace, only to shout, “Wait,” before Madison could take a bite from her full plate.

My nostrils flared trying to find something off with the food. Trust no one, that was my hashtag rule of life.

“Come here.” I called over a man filling the glasses with water. He started toward us; there was something mesmerizing about the way he walked. How his muscles flexed, the strength of his jawline. He should be in the field fighting, not serving food.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said when he was a pace away from me. This close, he was so breathtaking it hurt.

“I’m Laika,” I said.

“I’m Jared.” He extended his hand to me. That manly, veiny hand of his. I clasped it tight, not wanting to let it go.

“I know it’s wrong of me to ask this of you, but I know you would do anything to ease a woman’s worry.”

He nodded with a smile, flashing me his straight, white teeth. “What can I do for you?”

“Taste the food.” I smiled at him. I could feel Madison’s eyes on us, but I didn’t give a damn.

“Ah, you’re worried it’s poisoned?”

“I’m being overly cautious. I don’t want anything to happen to my sweet Madison.”

He nodded and went to the buffet table. He moved with precision. I watched how his hands handled the food before he put it in his mouth. That was a man…a big, perfect man. My wolf broke into a dance, and I couldn’t help but agree with her.

Olivia entered the room. When she saw Jared tasting the food, she rolled her eyes at me. “The food is set out for everyone, Laika. They’re not going to poison us,” she said.

I ignored her, my eyes trained on Jared’s lips. How he chewed, how the muscles in his face moved.

“Are you satisfied?” he asked, coming toward me. More like stalking me, each step taken with power. God, I loved it.

“Partially,” I said smiling.

“We can change that,” he rasped. I could see the desire in his eyes. He felt it too, that need, the burning.

“Oh, I know we can.”

His hand lifted and touched my hair. It was like he touched my skin, the awe in his eyes like he couldn’t see the scar on my face.

An angry, throaty sound had Jared dropping his hand and taking a step away from me.

The loss of contact hit me hard. I turned to find Alaric and Nora in the doorway. If it was possible, Nora looked even more pissed than before. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes cold yet tired. I didn’t want to think about what led to her looking like that.

“Jared, leave.” Alaric snarled, and with a bow, Jared was gone.

I closed my eyes and tried to rein in my anger, but I failed. Without being conscious of my actions, I walked up to Alaric and stared at him, challenging him.

His chest rose up and down. His jaw clenched, but I didn’t give a damn that he was angry or the son of the freaking alpha. I’d had enough of his power trip. I was enjoying myself until he scared away my opportunity to get laid.

“What was that?” I said through gritted teeth.

“Laika,” Olivia warned behind my back, but I paid her no attention. Right now, I had other things to worry about. Like why this damn bastard was acting so strange. How dare he?

“What?” He hissed.

Nora came to push me away, but one look from me and she took a step back. I was prepared to fight her, and she took the fucking hint.

“You don’t own me. If a guy wants me or he slept with me in the past, then it’s none of your business.” I whispered so Olivia and Madison didn’t hear me. I could feel their eyes on me, smell their fear combining with the aroma from the food.

“You sure about that?” He bent and whispered in my ear, his hot breath fanning over me. Ignoring it, I stared into those soulless eyes of his. If he knew how angry I was, he didn’t show it, didn’t take a step back. It was the alpha in him. No mistake about that.

“Very sure. I will be with anyone I want, and you can’t stop me. Just keep your trap shut and watch from the sidelines!” My hand lifted and, for the second time this week, I struck him across the face.

“Laika!” Olivia and Madison shouted, but I didn’t care.

“By the Moon Goddess, I love this version of you.” He was still smiling, even with my handprint on his face.

Nora took a step toward me, but it was Alaric that stopped her this time. “Stay out of this,” he said loudly for everyone to hear.

It was then that I noticed more people had entered the dining room. Lyall stared, a shocked expression on his face, but I ignored him too. I had one mission: to make the bastard understand he didn’t get to control me.

“Stay away from me. You don’t get to have a say in what I do. Do what pleases you, and let me do what I want.”

“That’s not happening,” he said, his eyes leaving mine and finding Lyall’s. “For you, darling, I will kill whoever thinks they own you.”

He smirked, and I narrowed my eyes at him. What was wrong with him? He dismissed me eight years ago. Why the change of heart? He required help, the mental kind, and fast.

“Where’s Jared?” I turned and asked Madison. She pointed down the hall, and I started moving in that direction. I had unfinished business with him, and I was going to fulfill the need burning in my veins.

“Jared!” I called out.

Alaric’s arm grabbed my elbow and he pulled me out of the room. No matter how I tried to wrench my arm free, his grip was ironclad. As he dragged me away, the spectators just watched without doing anything, their faces masks of tangible fear.