The Feral Alpha(2)

“Work? What kind of work?”



“Kissing?” One of the girls made loud, obscene kissing sounds with her lips.



The other girls giggled and snickered in amusement. However, after a quick glare from Kristi, they tore off through the bushes. Their playful shrieks echoed through the forest, disrupting birds from their nests and frightening resting deer.



Once the pups' shrill delight died down, Kristi scuffed closer to Jay. “Sorry about that.”



“They're kids, nothing to be sorry about.” Jay shrugged. Memories concerning the kids at Goldbridge danced through his thoughts. Up until they reached a certain age in adolescence, most pups were pleasant, if overly curious and innocently rude. He saw no difference with the feral pups. “We'll have some of our own, one day.”



Kristi's heart skittered, caught off-guard. Pleasant heat curled around her heart, bleeding across her face. Having pups was always part of her plan, but Kristi's subconscious had scribbled over the milestone. With Jay as her Mate, death was more likely than a long, happy, normal life.



She stared at Jay as he crashed through the underbrush, growling exaggeratedly. The girls renewed their ecstatic squeals as he playfully chased them back toward the cave. A sudden lump developed in her throat. Maybe their union   wasn't going to be tragic, after all.



Distress tainted her minute hope as they neared the cave. As Jay chased the girls to the maw of the cavern, a brunette pack member stormed up to him. She placed her stout body very pointedly between him and the kids. “Get away from them!”



Jay stopped immediately, hands up in a placating gesture.



“What are you doing?” Kristi demanded, eyebrows furrowed as she approached the scene.



The other female cringed before remembering Kristi wasn't a Beta anymore. She pointed a savage finger at Jay's chest as she snarled, “This Sentinel was attacking the pups!”



“No, he wasn't. We were playing a game!” The children clambered back, swarming around the spoilsport's legs. They were waved off and shooed back into the cave.



Anger roiled through Kristi. She took a step forward, unable to clamp down on her frustration as she growled, “They were having fun!”



“He's a Sentinel! We don't have fun with them,” shrieked the stout member, sneering, “Maybe you should remember that, Kristi.”



Kristi scowled as the member spat her name out. The lack of her title was emphasized with the scorn and despise in the other woman's voice. She clenched her hands, her nails digging into her palm. Oh, what she would give to show this whelp that – with or without a title – she could wipe the floor with almost anyone in the pack.



“And you,” the woman, ignorantly unaware of Kristi's rage, turned sharply to Jay. Before he could even reply, the shock of pain and a loud smack rang through the air. Hot prickles bit across his cheek where the stout brunette slapped him.



He raised his cool fingertips to his stinging cheek, blinking blankly.



Intense, red-hot rage flared through Kristi. She loomed forward, her muscles tense as she snarled, “What the hell was that, Brienne?”



The stout brunette squeaked, her shoulders hunched to her ears. She backed away. Had she been in canine form, her tail would have found sanctuary between her legs as she cowered before a bristling, slathering Kristi.



“It's fine, Kristi.” Jay's somber voice sliced through her fury.



Kristi's gaze flickered to him, realizing he radiated no anger, no frustration. He expected this; this was his normality. She barely concealed her growl as she eyed the brunette. Brienne cringed, backing away from her before finally scurrying back into the cave.



As Kristi watched her disappear into the shadows of the cavern, she glanced to Jay. His whitened scars seemed brighter, more livid, against his flesh in the light of the sun. Her gaze followed them down his torso, mingling feelings of despair and disgust infesting her thoughts. No one should accept such hostile treatment as their fate. No matter how weak or “useless.” Her nails bit harsher into the pads of her palms. Their happy ending was still a faraway hope.



“Hey, Sentinel?” The girls from before edged out of the shadows. All three of them held abashed, shameful expressions as they approached him. Jay instantly fell into a crouch as they approached. The other two shoved Hazel forward and she bashfully murmured, “We're sorry we got you in trouble.”



“Don't worry about it,” Jay grinned. Relief dotted his thoughts as he realized the kids could have suffered the consequences of his antics. Plus, a small part of him realized he needed the pack to accept him. The best place to start was with the kids. “Also, my name is Jay. Sentinel is in the past.”