Page 17 of Guardians of the Assassins
They wanted something from her and set up the whole interview to keep her off balance.
And if she’d learned one thing from living with a bunch of men, it was never allow them to get away with that shit or they would walk all over her.
“What do you want?” She crossed her arms, refusing to lower her eyes, refusing to show herself as anything else but equal to these assholes.
Scowls darkened their faces, and a growl, more felt than heard, vibrated through the room. She didn’t think it was possible, but both men at her side stiffened even more. Ryder flexed his claws, as if he were already plotting on how to take out the threat, but otherwise, he didn’t move.
The man in the center of the bench leaned forward, his face severe with its intensity, not an ounce of softness to him. “Maybe you don’t understand your precarious position. You don’t have the authority here, we do. And frankly, you’re not making a great impression.”
He leaned back after that smackdown, smugness oozing from him.
Morgan couldn’t help herself—she tipped her head back and laughed.
The reaction from the alphas varied. While some were intrigued, more than half of them took offense. Power flooded the room, the pressure making her ears pop. The void magic that rested at her core sparked to life, the universe slowly swirling as the magic gathered force. The tiny solar systems painted across her fingernails shimmered and awakened, eager for the challenge.
When she didn’t drop to her knees before them, the alphas unleashed the full weight of their beasts. Ryder grunted under the force, even a muscle bunched in Caedmon’s jaw. They each reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, and the effects faded. It poured around them like a rock in a stream, going over and around them but not touching.
The alphas didn’t back down. The bones of their faces changed slowly, like their wolves were pushing themselves out from under their skin.
Fangs descended.
Brows were more pronounced.
Some of the ears on two even stretched and became pointed.
Frankly, she wasn’t impressed that they couldn’t hold their wolves, and she rolled her eyes. “You are alphas. You should have perfect control. So you are either changing to try to intimidate me, which is rather pathetic, or you’re a lot weaker than you want people to know.”
“You insolent child.” The one in the center slammed his fist on the table and rose, leaning forward to glare, seething with outrage. “How dare you!”
She studied the pulsing vein on his forehead, wondering if she pushed him enough, if an alien would actually pop out. When she would’ve asked it out loud, curious now, Ryder tightened his grip then shook his head, and she sighed mournfully.
Despite the fact that she’d kept her mouth shut, the alpha saw her defiance, and his blue eyes began to glow, spittle flying as he raged. “You are going to learn your place in this pack, and I’m going to enjoy teaching you to show respect to your elders.”
Her eyebrows shot up at his audacity, her patience fading the longer he spoke. Every word out of his mouth only put her hackles up more.
Like the douchebag actually thought he had the right to tell her what to do.
Ryder wolfed out at the threat, releasing a massive growl, tugging her back until he was standing in front of her. Partially shifted, he was massive, towering over the rest. Two more alphas shoved to their feet, their own wolves rising.
Tensions in the room escalated, and her annoyance at this whole proceeding turned to anger. Magic began to crackle around her, danger thickening the air, and she did nothing to curb it, not when her men were at risk.
Before either side could take action, Caedmon chuckled.
It was so unexpected, so startling, she turned and gaped at him. The chuckle was husky, heating something lower in her gut that made her core tighten, and an unexpected blush climbed up her neck.
What the absolute fuck?!
Morgan didn’t react, almost afraid to move.
This wasn’t supposed to happen!
She already had five mates.
More than enough.
She must be reading things wrong.
There was no way that Caedmon could be her mate…right?
