Filed to story: Owned by the Alphas Novel
Maybe he was, and the chaos in him that I sensed was him trying not to be on his sister’s side?
I wasn’t convinced of that though; something felt off. Like they had met us to amuse themselves and had no intention of helping.
Lori looked at him, a pain in her eyes that killed me before she sat back down.
“We need to take this seriously, Silas. No more games. This affects both of us,” Kai said, breaking the tension and trying to play Derik, but Silas stood up with a death glare in his red eyes.
“Yes. Well, let’s take this seriously then, shall we?
“Last time we met, we were on the Summit, and I warned you of your actions and the consequences. I warned you that I would not help you, and I told you the vampires would not assist you.
“Unless you have changed your mind and are willing to hand me over your winter born, I suggest you figure out a way to control your wolves through winter and through Fractum,” Silas said, then stepped away from the table.
Kai stood up as Lucas followed Silas to the door.
“Silas,” Kai warned, and Silas shook his head.
“Pity, wolves. I have enjoyed this camaraderie we’ve had for the last decade or so, but I guess that time has come to an end.
“Enjoy your war with the humans. We’ll avenge you, of course, but by then I assume it’ll be too late.” He snickered before leaving with a dark laugh on his lips.
Lori rushed to Lucas before he could leave and hugged him again.
“Don’t disappear again. Write me,” she begged, and he smiled tightly, giving her a single nod that we all knew was a lie.
“See you, sister. Stay safe,” he said, and his eyes flicked to her stomach before he left after Silas.
I shuddered at the coldness that went with them, my shadows warring inside me, whispering things that made me think that despite the humans being at our doorstep, the vampires had foresight and had always been way too good at the long game.
I didn’t trust them, and Lucas being close to Lori made me even more sure that there was a reason Silas had helped her save her brother. I just had no proof.
Kai was currently losing his shit, throwing furniture, so he was going to be no help in talking to.
Spitfire went to him, soothing him, calming him down, and then apologizing to Tabby, excusing us.
I gave Tabby and Cain a grateful nod and left with Kai, who was dragging Lori into the carriage. I climbed in, unsurprised that Kai was taking liberties with her.
He needed her now, and I wasn’t going to interrupt them. I was too busy feeling the taste of Lucas and Silas my shadows had collected.
They were up to something, I knew it. I just couldn’t prove it. And even if I could, they hadn’t attacked, only the humans had, so we couldn’t do shit about it.
16. The City
LORELAI
“Check.” Anetta grinned, and I rolled my eyes, looking over the courtyard we were playing chess in out the back of the mansion.
I sucked at chess, and I didn’t care for it. Anetta made me play it all the time, and she always won, so I didn’t see why I had to keep suffering just to boost her ego.
Her grin was wide as she waited for me to make my move. I looked over the board, finding a piece that could make a move without being stolen, then leaned back in my chair.
Everything this side of the mansion was boxed in by trees and foliage that I wanted to explore but was apparently not allowed to.
At least it was warm today. With winter coming fast, it was rare to get a morning that didn’t try to freeze my limbs.
Anetta moved again. “Check. You suck at this game.”
She chuckled, and I nodded.
“I told you that when you insisted we play it. But I know when I’m being babysat, so I’m not going to take it out on you. I’ll save my irritation for my alphas,” I huffed.
She laughed. “They have a council meeting. Not exactly something you can gate-crash.”
“Maybe not, but I want to be there. They already tried to ditch me when they went to the vampires, and now they go to this without me?”
“The council is a little…old school. They’re not fully convinced this new winter born heir thing is as good for the pack as we think it is.
“They appreciate the border magic, of course, but from the whispers I’ve heard?
The alphas have had to do a lot of convincing on your behalf,” she said, moving more chess pieces in an aggressive way meant to dominate.
It was working. I knocked over my king and smirked.
“Boom, game over, you win. Congrats.”
Anetta gave me a droll stare. “You’re a sore loser, you know that? You took away half the fun of winning by doing that,” she said grimly, starting to pack away the pieces.
I shrugged. “I just gave myself the power. If I lose on my terms then I steal half the power in my dignity. Knowing when to forfeit, that’s a skill,” I teased, and she laughed.
“Wow, you could talk your way out of the fucking noose, girl.” She shook her head, snickering.
I grinned at that, then looked around the courtyard, at the enclosed space. It made me feel clammy and claustrophobic.
I shrugged out of my coat and blew out a breath, wishing I had decided on some less wintery fabric. The wool of my dress was heavy, and I dabbed my face with the back of my hand, a hot flush making me grab some of the waiting water and gulp.
“Are you okay?” Anetta frowned, and I nodded, putting the cup down.
“Yeah, just warm. And I’m sick of being in this mansion. Can we go for a walk?” I asked.
Anetta chewed her lip, looking over her shoulder toward the mansion before standing up.
She was in leather pants, a muslin shirt, and a leather vest, the same as the men wore but more fitted, and she had a sword strapped to her.
Not sure why she needed a sword with the werewolf in her, but I wasn’t going to question her about it. She was probably as good with that thing as she was at chess.
“We’re not meant to. You’re meant to stay close to the mansion so the alphas can keep an eye on you.”
“Isn’t that your job for today?” I taunted, and she shrugged.
“Maybe.”
“Then maybe you could babysit me as we walked through the city?” I tried again, and she sighed.
“Fine. I don’t know why they want to keep you locked up here anyway. After what the pack saw at the border, they’re very much on your side,” Anetta said, and I smiled.
That made me even warmer, and I rubbed my stomach as I stood up, the flutters in there making me a little breathless.
I wondered whether I should change into something lighter first but didn’t want to risk one of my overbearing alphas finding me trying to sneak out of the mansion.
Instead, I tugged off the woolen overlay dress I had put on to come outside. Anetta frowned at me as I dumped it on the back of my chair, taking a deep breath as the flowing white underdress blew lightly against my skin.
“I can’t take you into the city like that if I value anything in my life, and you know it,” Anetta scolded.
I rubbed the soreness out of the bottom of my stomach and smiled.
“Well, when they have to carry around an extra life and feel how hot and clammy it gets, they can have a tantrum. Until that time, they can shut up and let me be comfortable,” I said, but Anetta folded her arms, not budging.
“They don’t have a problem with you being comfortable, Lorelai. They will have a problem with you wearing your undergarments in the city.”
“It’s a light dress, and I don’t think they can have a problem when I let them get their giant cocks out all over the damn place whenever they shift,” I snapped, not meaning to get annoyed with her, but it was too hot.
My body felt like it was getting slowly baked.
The life that I carried came with many other inconvenient symptoms, like frequent peeing that was much easier without the overcoat, and I didn’t want the heavy fabric on my stomach when I felt like I was suffocating already.
Not to mention the constant ache attached to the fact that they rammed themselves inside me every other hour of the day.
I wasn’t complaining about that one so much though. For the last few days, I had been the one demanding sating, they just obliged.
“You like driving them insane, don’t you?” She snickered, and I nodded. She shook her head. “Fine. Let’s go, but if they ask about it, I’m throwing you under the bus.”
“I’ll throw myself there.” I grinned, knowing they wouldn’t be angry at me for long when I saw them again. Not if I could help it.
Anetta led me around the side gate of the mansion, across the lawns, and down onto the neat cobblestone path that made its way through the city, spreading off in random directions everywhere.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?