Kerrigan was about to ask the stupid jerk what he meant by that, but she was distracted by the other two wolves shifting. Her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw the white wolf was a woman. A naked woman. Perfectly proportioned. Smooth skin. Tiny waist. Voluptuous breasts that sat high on her chest, and hips that flared. Legs that went on for decades, nevermind days.
Kerrigan glanced at her wolf, but he wasn’t looking at the lovely specimen of nudity.
“She’s mine,” Trager said, “And I want an audience with the alpha.”
“Prove it. Where’s her mark?”
“She isn’t marked yet.”
The man laughed, a cruel and mocking sound that gave Kerrigan chills. “Of course she isn’t.” His gaze became heated as he stared at her. She resisted the urge to cross her arms so he couldn’t ogle her breasts. “And why is that, little kitten?” he asked her. “Is Trager not wolf enough for you?”
“Don’t talk to her like that.”
“Oh, you’re not in the position to tell me what to do, now are you, straggler?” He stepped closer to Kerrigan. Tilted his head to the side, measuring her up. His scrutiny made her feel exposed. Bile rose in her throat.
“I could show you what a real wolf can do, little kitten.” His words were deep and velvety. “Mmm. A body like yours? We’d go all night. Make you come so hard.”
Ew. Was he for real? What, did he think she was going to swoon with a little dirty talk, and then run into the woods with him to boink?
She looked at Trager. He was seething. Beads of sweat rolled down his temple, and his face was the color of the sky before sunset. She’d only seen him like this when Farrow the wolf was in his cabin. Except this was worse. Was he about to turn?
She had to do something, fast. Think like an animal. Follow his lead. Seemed like the wolves were all about claiming what was theirs. Their land, their lovers. And they talked dirty, fought dirty.
“Nice offer, really.” She infused her voice with as much sarcasm as she could muster. Stepping into Trager’s arms, she plastered her body to his. Hands on his neck, she kissed him hard on the lips. His tongue dove in, tangling with hers for a second, before she pulled away enough to look over her shoulder. “But I’ve already got my wolf, and he’s already made me come. Hard.”
God, she couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud to three perfect strangers. To cover her blush, she turned her face into Trager’s neck. His arms tightened around her waist. His breath was ragged, but he managed to speak.
“She isn’t marked yet, because we’re waiting until after the human ceremony.” The words came through clenched teeth. “She’s…”—he swallowed, twice— “… claimed me, publicly. That should be enough to gain an audience with the alpha.”
There was a long silence.
“Alpha will want to see this, Vesh.” The voice was low and sultry. And female.
More silence. Trager ran his hand over her back, as if to soothe her. Or perhaps to soothe himself.
“Very well,” Vesh said, his voice absent of its seductive ring. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirteen
Trager held Kerrigan’s hand in an iron grip. He kept reminding himself to loosen it, but it didn’t stay that way. He took a deep, steadying breath. She’d claimed him. Damn it, she’d done that. In front of his enemies. She probably didn’t know what she’d done, and probably didn’t mean it anyway. But in the eyes of the shifters, there was no going back.
She’d accepted him.
He was the only one who knew it wasn’t true. Not in her heart, where it mattered.
The Ozarka camp had grown exponentially since Trager last saw it. Twelve years away, and it was almost unrecognizable. Cabins had become lodges. And there were so many of them. The pack must be twice what it was when he was a wolfling.
As they walked through the camp, Trager saw people he recognized. People he’d been friends with long ago. He’d thought maybe they would treat him with indifference if he ever came back. Instead, everyone they passed glared at him. Accusing, as if he’d brought some harm upon the pack by being tossed out. It was unfair, but ultimately, he didn’t care. He wasn’t planning on staying.
He glanced at his mate. She had her eye on a group of kids, chasing fireflies. Her eyes were bright, like she’d forgotten where they were.
Farrow, Avan, and Vesh lead them to a secluded area of camp, where the trees came together forming a cover. Behind them was a lodge, bigger than the others Trager had seen. Farrow climbed the wrap-around porch and knocked on the door.