Shifting had accelerated my healing, and my nose was no longer swollen. It sat small and pert on my face. The black circles under my eyes were gone, and my tan skin practically shone with health.
You’re a predator. Show the alphas your strength.
Images of me mounting the alphas flashed in my mind. The numb had never been remotely sexual before. Usually it was all death and stabbing.
Ignoring the numb, I pulled back on Ascher’s pine-scented sweatshirt and shorts. I told myself I was only wearing them because they were clean and there was no reason to change.
Slowly, I stepped back into the room.
All the alphas lay on their beds, but the scent of sex still lingered.
Jax and Cobra sat writing out battle reports. In contrast, Ascher was lying on his back with a fancy phone in his hand, tapping his thumbs and leaning it back and forth. Fancy phones were from the human realm, and they were so rare that only the wealthiest shifters could afford them.
When I closed the bathroom door, all three stopped what they were doing to stare at me.
Mount them. Assert your dominance. I stared back but ignored the numb that was urging me to sexually assault them. Highly concerning.
There was a line of books and notebooks above the fireplace mantel, and I took an empty notebook. Sauntering across the room with my prize, I stared at Jax, then leaned forward and grabbed an extra pen off his bed.
The big alpha arched his eyebrows at my hubris, and I stared back. The numb kept all emotion off of my face, and I could tell he was confused.
Keep the upper hand. Assert yourself.
After stealing the pen and notebook, I crawled into my bed, which was warmed by the roaring fireplace. The flames kept the howling cold at bay.
My bed was furthest from the fire, and it was a little drafty compared to the rest of the room, but in contrast to my room at Dick’s, it was a sauna of warmth and comfort.
Outside the window above my bed, thick white snowflakes gathered on the windowsill and framed the white mountains.
As I wrapped the fur blanket around my shoulders, even in the numb state, warmth spread through me, and I curled my toes.
In the notebook, I began to write out every single thing that had happened during the battle, down to every last detail. My numb brain cataloged patterns and events, meticulously noting everything.
A few hours later, Zed stuck his head through the door.
“Sadie, how are you doing?” Concern was etched in deep grooves across his face.
Even though I was numb, a smile split across my cheeks at the sight of the scrawny null shifter. His black hair was shaggy on his head, like he had been running his hands through it.
I gestured him forward.
He hurried past the three alpha shifters, who were now staring him down like he was a tasty deer and they were starving.
“How are you doing? I heard you transformed into a cat. Everyone in the fortress is freaking out. The first female alpha. The sun god has surely blessed us. The entire realm is going to know soon.” He perched on the edge of my bed and looked at me like I was some type of divine savior.
Jax growled deep and low, and Zed jumped off the bed like it was on fire.
Assert yourself.
I whipped my head around to stare at Jax. “Don’t threaten my friend.” A soft grumble started in my chest. I rubbed my palm across my sternum, and vibrations shook through my hand. This was new.
“Easy there, tiger,” Zed joked as he settled on the edge of my bed, and I smiled at him. Maybe I was becoming more of an alpha?
“Thanks for the support. I’m just glad I didn’t die in battle. So, what’s your job in the compound?” Surprisingly, even though the numb was coursing through my veins, it settled down around Zed. It wasn’t telling me to slit his throat or mount him, which was nice.
“I do odd jobs around the compound. I’m a servant,” Zed said softly, and his dark eyes clouded.
My chest tightened, and I made a note to look into his situation. I had a feeling he was here against his will. I could relate.