younger than the girls were. In small towns, age didn’t matter. The kids were lumped together to assemble a sizeable enough class, and they’d all learned together. Now, as adults, their meager four-person pack didn’t draw much attention, and that’s how they liked it.
Thinking of her pack, Bethany quickened her pace as she handed the phone to the clerk without acknowledging his curious gaze. “Thanks!” She hurried from the store.
Walking swiftly to the trees just behind the store, she trekked deeper into the forest and tried to force a shift. Nothing! If it was going to happen for her, now was the time. She needed the aid of her wolf to get as much distance between herself and Evander as possible, and still her wolf wouldn’t come forth.
Closing her eyes, she tried again, urging her body to morph. She knew it hadn’t worked before her eyes opened. Tilting her head back she looked up at the overcast sky and screamed, “COME ON!”
And just like that, a loud crack of thunder rumbled overhead and a fat drop splattered on her upturned chin.
Of course! Why the fuck not? She let her head fall forward dejectedly as tears threatened. Her whole life, nothing had ever gone her way. Why should things change now? Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself to move lest she give in to her urge to drop to her knees and wallow in self-pity. Cramming her hands into her stolen jacket, she set off through the woods, intentionally shadowing the highway from the cover of the forest. The last thing she needed was Evander finding her. Yeah, like he cares!
Part of her hoped he was searching for her, but a bigger part of her believed what he’d said. He was an elitist, and went to great lengths to surround himself with shifters, which she wasn’t. Hell, he hadn’t even been able to remain in the same room as her.
As the rain began to pour down, she kicked herself for picking Silverthorne over Georgetown. Her intention had been to go to the further city in the event that, if Evander came after her, she knew he’d assume she’d go to the nearest town and not the furthest. Now, with her wolf still failing to cooperate, it was going to be a long and torturous nine-mile walk.
Chapter 17
Evander paced the large living room. He was livid, enraged both with himself and with Beth. He should have consoled her before going after Royce, but she should’ve stayed put! Worse, she couldn’t have picked a shittier time to run off. He’d been charging out of the house to find her when Clay stopped him. Evander’s brother, Barron, had arrived and, in typical Alpha fashion, had challenged Weston after Evander’s Beta had refused to permit him near the compound.
Barron was a lone wolf, but still an Alpha, and didn’t take orders from anyone, especially a mere Beta.
Crashing through the trees on the southern-most end of their property, Evander snarled impatiently at the sight that met him. His brother, Barron, was staring Weston down while Lincoln paced agitatedly behind his pack mate with Raina’s fear-filled eyes watching from a few feet behind Lincoln.
A flash of pride bubbled forth at the fact that his Beta—while not outright attacking—wasn’t lowering his eyes or head in submission either.
His pride was short tempered though, his impatience to go after Bethany overwhelming. He knew it couldn’t happen now. An Alpha didn’t run from his territory for any reason, and he most especially didn’t do it upon the arrival of another Alpha. It would be considered relinquishment of his title, his pack, and his lands.
“Barron!” Evander hissed impatiently. He should have known. The scentless footprints near the creek were typical Barron. “What in the fuck are you doing here now ?” He’d known his brother was coming, and in typical Barron style, he arrived at the most inopportune moment.
Barron kept his eyes pinned on Weston. “Brother. Tell this pup
Thinking of her pack, Bethany quickened her pace as she handed the phone to the clerk without acknowledging his curious gaze. “Thanks!” She hurried from the store.
Walking swiftly to the trees just behind the store, she trekked deeper into the forest and tried to force a shift. Nothing! If it was going to happen for her, now was the time. She needed the aid of her wolf to get as much distance between herself and Evander as possible, and still her wolf wouldn’t come forth.
Closing her eyes, she tried again, urging her body to morph. She knew it hadn’t worked before her eyes opened. Tilting her head back she looked up at the overcast sky and screamed, “COME ON!”
And just like that, a loud crack of thunder rumbled overhead and a fat drop splattered on her upturned chin.
Of course! Why the fuck not? She let her head fall forward dejectedly as tears threatened. Her whole life, nothing had ever gone her way. Why should things change now? Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself to move lest she give in to her urge to drop to her knees and wallow in self-pity. Cramming her hands into her stolen jacket, she set off through the woods, intentionally shadowing the highway from the cover of the forest. The last thing she needed was Evander finding her. Yeah, like he cares!
Part of her hoped he was searching for her, but a bigger part of her believed what he’d said. He was an elitist, and went to great lengths to surround himself with shifters, which she wasn’t. Hell, he hadn’t even been able to remain in the same room as her.
As the rain began to pour down, she kicked herself for picking Silverthorne over Georgetown. Her intention had been to go to the further city in the event that, if Evander came after her, she knew he’d assume she’d go to the nearest town and not the furthest. Now, with her wolf still failing to cooperate, it was going to be a long and torturous nine-mile walk.
Chapter 17
Evander paced the large living room. He was livid, enraged both with himself and with Beth. He should have consoled her before going after Royce, but she should’ve stayed put! Worse, she couldn’t have picked a shittier time to run off. He’d been charging out of the house to find her when Clay stopped him. Evander’s brother, Barron, had arrived and, in typical Alpha fashion, had challenged Weston after Evander’s Beta had refused to permit him near the compound.
Barron was a lone wolf, but still an Alpha, and didn’t take orders from anyone, especially a mere Beta.
Crashing through the trees on the southern-most end of their property, Evander snarled impatiently at the sight that met him. His brother, Barron, was staring Weston down while Lincoln paced agitatedly behind his pack mate with Raina’s fear-filled eyes watching from a few feet behind Lincoln.
A flash of pride bubbled forth at the fact that his Beta—while not outright attacking—wasn’t lowering his eyes or head in submission either.
His pride was short tempered though, his impatience to go after Bethany overwhelming. He knew it couldn’t happen now. An Alpha didn’t run from his territory for any reason, and he most especially didn’t do it upon the arrival of another Alpha. It would be considered relinquishment of his title, his pack, and his lands.
“Barron!” Evander hissed impatiently. He should have known. The scentless footprints near the creek were typical Barron. “What in the fuck are you doing here now ?” He’d known his brother was coming, and in typical Barron style, he arrived at the most inopportune moment.
Barron kept his eyes pinned on Weston. “Brother. Tell this pup
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