Page 203 of Kingdoms of Night

Come out, come out, wherever you are,I thought, scanning the area by the water’s edge.

My wolf could sense her nearby. She hadn’t continued moving. She’d stayed by the water, perhaps even in it, to mask her scent.

Which meant she was hiding somewhere.

Such a smart little wolf,I mused. My beast seemed pleased as well, his instincts inspired by the hunt.

He saw this as a test. A way to prove his worth as a potential mate.

Our animals never allowed emotions or external factors to play into a decision. When my wolf wanted something, he took it.

And right now, he wanted Riley.

I wouldn’t let him outright claim her, but I’d give him some freedom to seduce her wolf.

Then I’d purr for her when she accepted my beast.

Assuming Riley’s penchant for disobedience didn’t interfere with the courting ritual.

It’s Riley. Of course she’ll rebel.

I almost snorted.

But then another thought occurred to me.

One that soured my stomach.

Is this why she’s always been rude to me? Because I’m an X-Clan Alpha? Has it all been her way of telling me she doesn’t consider me worthy of her?

My wolf snorted in disagreement, clearly aware of the doubt trickling through my mind. He didn’t doubt a damn thing. He could smell the interest coming from her animal.

She wants us, he was saying.Now let’s find her and knot her.

I gave him the reins, allowing him to drive the hunt.

If Riley found me unworthy, it was because she hadn’t given me a chance to prove myself. So I’d let my wolf do the speaking for me through actions rather than words.

I’d never actively pursued a mate before. I’d been too busy acting as an enforcer for hire. Which had eventually led me to my position as Riley’s guard.

Was it fate? Maybe.

Or just a happenstance of our paths crossing.

Regardless, we would be discussing a future. Even if that future simply included me helping her through this estrus. Because she would need a knot soon and mine was the only one readily available.

No Kieran here to play with, little one,I thought, satisfied. Because I’d seen their little flirtatious smiles and the way he’d made her laugh.

Fucking Alpha Prince.

That title didn’t make him royalty. It was just a formal designation the V-Clan wolves used for their Sector Alpha positions.

Icould be a Sector Alpha for an X-Clan pack. I was old enough. Strong enough. Fast enough.Smartenough.

But I’d never attempted to join a sector or a clan because I preferred my calling as an enforcer.

If Riley wanted aprince, then maybe Kieran was the better choice. He certainly had the arrogance of a royal.

Thinking about Kieran and how Riley might prefer his knot to mine made my wolf growl, his irritation both at me and at the Omega hiding from him.

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