Page 27 of Mated
“Look, I have a good eye. The alpha has given me permission to stick around and check out the pack. So either I can do it where you know about it, or I can do it behind your back. Which would you prefer?”
His growl deepens and the first hint of that silver light threads back into his irises. “Fine,” he snaps. “Stay. But stay away from the inner circle.”
I blink. “Inner circle?”
“Did you pay any attention in high school?” His voice is incredulous, harsh.
The fact that supernaturals now have their own month of recognition like African Americans means that somewhere along the line I dropped the ball when it comes to learning about their cultures and traditions. But as a mixed race child, I kind of had my hands full already.
When I don't answer, he scrubs a hand over his face. “Okay, tonight you get a lesson on pack hierarchy,” he says. “For now, suffice it to say that you don't want to tangle with anyone of alpha status. That includes Daisy, Rosa, and Ebony—wherever she is.”
I glance past him to Daisy and the dark-haired woman who are embroiled in a heated conversation yards away. “Chicana over there must be Rosa.”
He nods. “Rosa has already challenged Daisy for female alpha of the pack. And since the Alpha has not chosen a mate, that battle is going to be one for the ages.”
“You’ll know Ebony by the bands on her arms. She’s the pack enforcer. You fuck up, she brings her thetas and they fuck you up. Got it?” he adds.
I nod, heart hammering.
Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.
“The best thing you can do is stay far away from Caine too.” I blink at him. “The fucking infernal demon eavesdropper creeping on my back is no help right now.”
The demon male blows a kiss at the back of his head.
Tanner rolls his eyes. “He invites drama like an episode of Jersey Shore. So wide berth, true?” The almost southern twang to his words makes my stomach light up.
“Yeah. I track.”
His lips twitch. “Walk around, but stay to the crowds. Don't go anywhere alone, and when you’re ready to go, we all leave.”
“Why?” I ask.
He looks at me. “You know what your attacker looks like.”
“And?” I snap. “So do you.”
His smile is all teeth. “Yeah, but I've kicked his ass once. You nearly died. Which one do you think he will try to pick off first? Me or you?”
Chapter 12
Tanner
Nisha's eyes widen, and the slam of her heart lets me know she got the point. She is exceptionally cunning. Smart. Made even more so by the fact she tracked us here on her fucking own.
But she was already welcomed by the committee of arrogance and dickheadedness.
Callus' scent flows out from her; the large male cat's pheromones taint her smoky fragrance. I'm not surprised. Her human fertility cycle is near, and the spike in hormones is easily detectable to shifters.
Hell, she may see her first heat not long after her initial change. And she is going to change. The first thread of light already gleams in her irises. But her very aura screams alpha. It’s why Rosa is giving her so much hell.
Here is a woman in the peak of life, changed during a time when she is not only capable of breeding, but has the body to make even the highest ranking shifter male take notice. She isn’t flashy about it like Rosa. Her body is too lean, too strong. But she screams power, virility. And those are two of the things shifters mate for.
Territory being the fucking other.
The cat in me wants to strip her now, to lay her over the soil in theciorcaland spread her muscular legs. I want to seat myself inside her until are bodies are as close as they can fucking be, until her little human nails scratch in my skin and those white teeth bite into my shoulders as I plow through her silken heat.
I want to fucking mark her.
