Page 15 of Guardians of the Assassins
The metal felt alive, the bronze eyes swirling like they could actually see.
Gasps and hushed whispers echoed around them as more and more shifters appeared, pouring out of the buildings and woods. Their eyes gleamed when their wolves rose to the surface, the pack careful to keep a respectable distance when they neared.
Some even going so far as to take a knee and bow.
Louis didn’t kneel or lower his eyes, but he did tip his head to the side to offer his throat. Awe shimmered in his green eyes, then he flicked them toward the alpha in silent warning.
Oh, yeah, Carrington did not like her display, nor the adoration of the pack one bit.
When the alpha took a step toward them, no doubt wanting to take control of the scene, the metal wolf stiffened and glared at the alpha, a tiny snarl of disgust curling his snout, like he wasn’t impressed either, and she nearly laughed when the alpha looked ready to shift at the offense.
Caedmon gave her a warning squeeze, and she knew she couldn’t push the alpha further without paying a price for her defiance.
She snapped her fingers, and the beast’s massive head lifted to her, adoration in his eyes. He gave her a regal bow, then spun around and leapt back up on his pedestal, his tail flicking, his ears swiveling as he overlooked his kingdom.
The magic left him slowly, and she was suddenly sad when the last bit of life drained out of him.
Sure, she knew he really wasn’t alive in any sense, but he’d seemed…so real.
Now that she had everyone’s attention, she turned to Carrington and lifted a single eyebrow, not giving a shit that she’d just made an enemy by making a fool out of him in front of his pack. “It seems you already know who I am, since I’ve been summoned to the Assembly like some stray.”
Ryder muttered a curse, crowding close to her back, preparing to yank her away and defend her. She waited for a rebuke from one of her companions, but they remained mute. She’d almost swear that there was a twinkle of amusement in Caedmon’s eyes before he could cover it.
Carrington looked ready to come to blows at her not so subtle rebuke, his hands clenched at his sides as if already imagining them wrapped around her throat.
Morgan wasn’t intimidated—she was used to it.
She had that effect on a lot of people.
Before he could utter a word, the doors of the ranch house were thrown wide. Power broiled out, sweeping over the patio area, and any who weren’t kneeling before dropped to their knees and bared their throat.
“That’s enough, Carrington.” Two men stepped out of the house—no, not men. Even in their two-legged form, there was nothing human about them. As they swept the area, pure wolf shone out through their eyes. Their attention lingered on the wolf statues for a moment before their gaze locked on her—as if they’d been aware of what was happening the whole time. “Follow us.”
They didn’t wait for a response, just turned and disappeared back inside the building.
Not that they had to worry about being disobeyed.
Power thrummed in the order, one that would not be denied. It wrapped around something inside her and tugged. She shookher head, able to push off the cords until they slinked away, but apparently, Carrington wasn’t so lucky.
He sent them a death glare and stormed after the alphas, steam practically rising out of his ears. The wolves that had gathered ducked their heads and scattered, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.
“Just how old do wolves get?” Morgan murmured to the guys when she turned to follow, because the power the alphas were throwing around felt ancient, shivering against her skin before it slid away.
When the guys didn’t answer, she glanced back and saw that they were frozen much like the statues they passed. As she drew closer, the smell of smoke and magic rose from their skin, and her heart sank.
They’d walked into a fucking trap.
A spell had caught hold of them and wouldn’t let them go.
They were fighting whatever had ensnared them, their eyes glowing bright, but it did no good. Caedmon gritted his teeth and snarled, “They’re trying to separate us, they want you alone and powerless, susceptible to their tender mercies.”
Fury burned through her veins, pissed not only that they would use her—she was used to that—but that they’d dared to use her mates to get what they wanted. Her hands shook as she struggled to control her rage. She gazed at her men, determined not to be separated and let the alphas win. “You’re bait.”
“They’re trying to force us to shift.” Ryder panted under the strain of holding his form.
Thankfully, the guys were stronger than normal wolves, alphas in their own rights, or she suspected that they would’ve shifted under the pressure. “But why?”
“It’s against the law to shift on their property without their permission. It’s seen as an act of aggression. A challenge.” Stress made Caedmon’s voice rough, and she’d swear she saw fangs when he spoke.
