Page 9 of Primal

“Why would you?” Talis snaps, sharp features pulling as she deepens her scowl. “You’re not a member of this pack anymore.”

The petite woman’s jaw tics and her hands ball into fists at her sides. “Yes, I’m very aware of this, Talis, but thank you so very much for the reminder.”

Member of this pack…This has my spine snapping straight and my intense interest in this situation taking on a suspicious edge.

Advancing another step toward the trio with a series of questions on the tip of my tongue, the beta female who’s become my unwanted shadow these past months cuts my train of thought off.

“I find it’s good to be reminded of one’s place,” Talis snips, chin tilting up. “Just so there isn’t any room for confusion.”

“Talis!” The bark comes from somewhere deep in my chest, my wolf’s dominance flaring. “That’s enough.”

She is at least smart enough to fold into herself and tilt her head to the side, baring her throat to me in a show of submission. Canaan, a strong alpha male himself, also takes a step back, his gaze dropping to my feet. The mystery girl flinches and her chin dips to her chest, making the layered pieces of dark hair conceal more of her face from me. It’s not a customary show of deference, but it’s enough to appease my beastly side.

Behind her, Canaan shifts restlessly and his lips press into a tight line. Between the two of them, it’s his mate who’s been most vocal about her dislike for Talis McNamara, but I know my second’s filter on the matter is about to break. He’s forced himself to hold his tongue far too long.

“Forgive me, Alpha,” the redhead whispers, her placating tone grating on my nerves.

Even if she didn’t have her Alpha father’s authority to back her, she would continue to carry this unwarranted air of superiority. Whether Cathal is present or not to back her, Talis will always believe she is owned more leniency and respect than she’s earned. A character trait I find incredibly fucking aggravating.

I keep my eyes narrowed at her, my alpha aura pulsing, until she shrinks further into herself. Once my wolf is satisfied enough with her display of surrender, I turn my focus back to the person still beckoning me to her with nothing more than her scent and presence.

I don’t understand this.

“Not a member of this packanymore,” I repeat Talis’s cold words. “Explain.”

Unlike me, my second shows no signs of confusion, making it clear I’m the only one left in the dark about this woman, and I really don’t fucking like that they know more about her than I do.

Her head apprehensively lifts. That puffy lip is back between her straight white teeth as she stares me. From my place across the deck, I can pick up on the bitter scent of anxiety.Why is she so nervous?

“I can’t decide if I’m happy or upset that I’m so easily forgotten.” Her quiet musing seems to be mainly for herself. Rocking back on her heels, she exhales softly before saying, “I’m Noa Alderwood. I was— My mother and I were members of the Fallamhain Pack many years ago.”

Noa Alderwood.

The name brings forward memories I had no idea were locked away somewhere deep in my mind. I can’t recall the last time I thought about the Alderwoods. Thalassa—this is her mother’s name, I remember that now, too—was the pack’s healer for over two decades until…Oh, shit.

The way Thalassa left this pack battles to the forefront of my resurfacing memories, making my wolf’s aggravation multiply tenfold. In his defense, my human side also isn’t thrilled.

Molars grinding and muscles taut with newfound fury, I manage to grit out, “Alderwood?”

Chapter 4

Rennick

Irealize my mistake before the final syllable of her surname passes my lips. The female—no, not female,Noa. Sweet Noa—stumbles back a step and accidentally collides with Canaan’s chest in the process. My wolf snaps at me, demanding I separate her from the other male, but I’m too fixated on the way I’ve startled the poor girl to act on his wishes. The nervous scent in the air transforms into something acrid, almost metallic. Fear. Noa is scared. Ofme.

Fix this!my wolf demands with a swipe of his claws.

In a move that is incredibly atypical of a pack Alpha, I lift my hands in a show of placation and take another tentative step toward the skittish female. My animal half isn’t thrilled when I make no move to bring myself closer. I don’t know if it’s because we now know Noa is in fact a fellow wolf and as an Alpha, he wants to sooth her, or if it’s something else entirely, but he relentlessly urges me to bring her closer. To take her into my arms where she’ll be safer.

Protect,he insists.

“I’m not angry at you,” I reassure her, but the skeptical flat line of her mouth tells me she doesn’t believe me as far as shecan throw me. Which wouldn’t be very far. I have about a foot and half on her and I’m well over double her body weight. “I promise, I’m angry on your behalf.”

An unhappy grumble comes from Talis’s direction, something I purposely ignore, at the same time Noa murmurs, “I don’t understand.”

Canaan, clearly over the redhead’s shitty attitude, whips his attention in her direction and matches her objection with a warning snarl that is all wolf. “Your beta and I are going to give you some space, Nick,” he continues when Talis attempts to speak over him. “Stay out here and talk with Noa. I’ll come tap on the window when the council starts to arrive for their meeting with you.”

My second gives Noa’s upper arm a brief squeeze of what I assume is reassurance, something she shrinks away from, before he turns. Talis, who stands in the open doorway, has no choice but to back up and go inside as Canaan pushes through. She starts to whine at him, but it’s quickly muffled by the sliding glass door closing behind them.

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