Page 35 of The Tracker's Revenge
“Do you yield?” the wiry man demanded.
The large man growled and slapped his open palm against the floor, and he was released. I was so taken by the display, that I didn’t notice people were starting to pause and glance in my direction. Noses twitched. Eyebrows furrowed, and, this time, I didn’t have to smell myself to know I was giving off heavy alpha vibes.
Great, Toni. Just great! Way to make friends. Just show up and signal that you mean to control everyone.The only thing that needed controlling here was my messed-upalphaness.
I scanned the crowd and, to my dismay, discovered that Allison Blackridge was there. She looked like Fitness Barbie in a baby blue bodysuit and matching headband holding back her blond hair. She struck a pose and gave me a raised eyebrow. I dug half-moons into my palms, using the pain to refocus my indignation and anger at my own stupidity. I should’ve figured she would be here.
A woman dressed in black lycra pants and sports bra peeled away from the group and approached us. Her professionally highlighted blond hair swung behind her in a tight ponytail. She was about my height, 5’7”, and moved with a confident air.
“You’re late,” she told Marcus, then eyed me distrustfully.
Marcus shrugged. “Sorry, Olivia. I tried to be here early, but Dad kept me.”
Wait, what?I glanced between them and quickly saw the resemblance. I’d read online that Travis also had a daughter, and here she was.
“Friend of yours?” Olivia asked, inclining her head in my direction.
My instincts flared with hostility. I tried to fight them back, but it seemed the harder I tried, the worse they got. How the hell was I supposed to function among my kind? And why, all of a sudden, was this happening? It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been among werewolves before. I’d been all right at Wolfskeep. Except... my wolf was still settling, and maybe I was too used to being around other alphas.
Shit! When will all these changes be over?!
Marcus shook his head and stepped away, sidling toward his sister. “Nope, I just met her outside.” He didn’t look intimidated anymore, not the way he had in the elevator. On the contrary, he was standing straighter and looking rather cocky.
My gaze roved around the room, noticing how all the others were slowly inching closer. I took a trembling breath, willing myself to calm down, begging my human side to prevail over my wilder instincts.
Like a fool, I waved the access card in front of me. “The Pack Rule said I should come.”
They all looked at me as if I’d sprouted an extra eye. I resisted the urge to touch my forehead to check if I’d shifted into a cyclops. I glanced toward the exit, wondering if I should run. My wolf bristled at the idea, informing me that no self-respecting alpha would do such a thing. Human Toni disagreed.
“She’s not in the Erickson pack.” The wiry guy who had tackled the giant to the floor stepped forward. “That I know of.”
“Or the Blackridge pack,” Allison said, her gaze assessing me with care.
I opened my mouth to say something, but Olivia beat me to it.
“Are you Toni Sunder?”
Hearing my name on her lips surprised me enough to give me pause.
Marcus answered for me. “Yeah, that’s how she introduced herself.”
Olivia’s demeanor suddenly changed and she moved closer, offering her hand. “My father told me about you. My name is Olivia Hillworth. I forgot he mentioned you might come today.”
Shocked into speechlessness, I shook her hand with the agility of a trained robot. A jolt of something seemed to pass through me as I touched her, my half-sister. After meeting Travis and feeling nothing but utter indifference toward him, it never occurred to me that it might be different with other members of his family. My family?
I shuddered with disgust.
No! I only had one family. And it certainly didn’t include these two.
“I’m glad to have you here,” Olivia said, shocking me further with her civility. “Father said you’ve seen the hybrids.”
Murmurs ran through all those present, their faces turning curious.
“I have.” I took a step back, doing my best to compose myself.
“Please,” she entreated me, “you have to tell us about them.” She waved a hand to usher me further into the room. “Line up everyone,” she instructed.
Quickly, everyone formed rows like good little students ready for a lesson—Allison in the front, still evaluating me.
