Touched My Alpha King

Chapter 4

My vision darkened, and my power funneled through my feet and pushed into the ground. The earth began to quake right underneath her.

Her attention flicked to me, and her eyes widened, telling me everything I needed to know. She feared me as much as I did myself.

Keith lunged and bit the hand holding the gun. Octavia cried out. Keeping his teeth in her flesh, he jerked, and the gun dropped to the ground. Keith released her, blood coating his chest.

It wasn’t enough. She’d tried to take my mate from me. She deserved a worse punishment.

“Skylar, let me take her,” Lucy whispered in a shaky voice, taking the brunt of Josie’s weight and freeing me as my power ravaged me.

Now, I could get closer. The ground shook harder beneath Octavia with my every step as my anger at her attempt to kill my mate took control.

The ground cracked underneath her feet, and Raffe linked, Babe, you need to calm down. He pushed calmness toward me. I don’t want you to implode. I’m okay.

He was right. If I used too much power, it could kill me, and she’d dropped her weapon. But my rage clung to me. My wolf was angry. Not only had she threatened Raffe but my pack as well.

Raffe took my hand. His touch ebbed my power back to a high fizz, and my head became clearer. The ground stopped shaking, and Octavia raised her uninjured left hand as she held her right one close to her chest.

“Skylar, I’m sorry. You need to calm down before anyone realizes you’re out here.” Her voice shook.

Now she was acting like she cared? “You tried to kill my mate. Why should I believe you?”

“You don’t understand.” Her eyes widened, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I wouldn’t have come here if I’d realized you completed the mate bond to the wolf prince. I thought you were in trouble. I came here to take you back with me, but he can always find you now, and I can’t stay.”

I laughed, though I could read she was speaking the truth. “Why come? It’s not like you know me. You don’t owe me anything.”

“But … I do.” Her body quivered from shock, fear, and pain. “I’m the person who did this to you. There’s a reason your power recognizes me. I can’t abandon you again, knowing that my decision made you this vulnerable. I thought it would keep us safe, but I was so wrong, and I’m sorry. Either way, I have to go.”

My heart panged as I sensed her true sorrow, but we couldn’t let her leave.

I shook my head. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Adam, take her to the extra room with Dave,” Raffe commanded. “She’ll stay there until we figure out what the hell to do with them.”

“If you’re forcing me to stay, I want to be with Di—Skylar.” Octavia’s shoulders slumped. “We need to talk alone. There are things I’m not comfortable with everyone hearing.”

I arched a brow, feigning indifference. The nagging questions I’d had throughout my childhood appeared, but I pushed them away.

“No.” Raffe’s fingers dug into my side. “You don’t get to make demands. You held a gun on me. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Maybe, but I have answers that no Book of Twilight or history book contains,” Octavia countered, lifting her chin high once again. “So … if you’re willing to take a little risk in exchange for the help I can give to your mate, let me go with her. But let me guess—that doesn’t matter to you.” Her irises turned damn near black. She tilted her head at me as if to send me a message.

I wasn’t sure what she was getting at. Raffe was an amazing mate. Let’s bring her back to our apartment. We can get Slade or Hecate or someone to spell the perimeter so she can’t leave.

He cut his eyes at me and frowned. I don’t like this.

Me neither. Before tonight, if anyone had asked me if I would love to meet someone like me, I would’ve said yes without a second thought. But I was with Raffe. I didn’t trust Octavia, and the timing was suspicious. If she doesn’t follow through on her promise, we move her to the guys’ apartment.

“Fine, you can stay with us unless you don’t follow through on your promise,” Raffe said and turned to Keith. “Watch us until we’re out of the woods. Once we’re on campus, shift and join Adam at the apartment.”

Octavia’s mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything. Keith shook out his fur, and spatters of Octavia’s blood hit the forest floor. He linked, Got it.

With things settled, I hurried over to help Josie and our group. Raffe stayed close to Octavia, never taking his gaze off her.

I remembered how I’d felt the first time I saw him.

He was intense, sexy, and had a dangerous edge. Even then, he’d saved me multiple times, showing me there was more to him than his careless demeanor, and boy, had I been right. Once someone earned his trust and loyalty, he was the most amazing person anyone could know.

Do you think that’s your mom? Lucy linked with me as we tried to walk in sync so we didn’t jostle Josie too much. Her head bounced with each step we took, and there was no doubt that she and Dave would have sore necks when this was over and done.