Mated To The Alpha Bully

26

When I woke, it was to mountains. We were out in the middle of nowhere, in the forest, but not one that I knew. All the trees were different, and the mountains didn’t look like the ones I was used to.

“Where are we?” I asked as I jumped out of the van. My body was almost fully healed, and I felt more like myself again.

“Outside Pueblo, Colorado,” the shifter said, surprising me with the specificity. “We’re in the middle of the San Isabel National Forest, and you won’t be getting anywhere if you decide to run. Nearest town is over fifty miles away and it’s bear country here. I hear they’re a bit hungry this year since winter ran long.” He shoved a tent into my hands. “Happy camping.”

“You think I’d be dumb enough to run in the middle of a forest I don’t know? Also, why would I run?” I glared at him. “Tell me where Kaden is. I need to talk to him.”

The shifter’s lip curled, and he looked ready to say something back when another car came barreling toward us on the dirt road, kicking up dust. It stopped, and Kaden got out. I perked up, but when he saw me, his moody expression didn’t change, and he immediately walked into the trees.

I sighed and turned to Mira. “Let's set up the tent.”

It only took us a few minutes, since we'd had some experience with camping back in the Cancer pack lands. The tent was barely big enough for the two of us, but another shifter left us some sleeping bags, and I found myself excited to sleep out under the stars after being held under lock and key for so long.

The sun was setting over the mountains, casting a deep shadow into the valley, when Harper brought back firewood that she’d foraged for around the campsite. I cornered her as she was putting it down.

"What's going on?" I asked her. "Why is everyone treating me like an enemy?"

She looked around, like she wasn't sure if she was allowed to speak to me, and then gestured for me to head behind a thick tree with her. Once out of sight, she grabbed me in a hug. "I'm so glad you're all right."

That was more like the greeting I'd been expecting from my pack. I hugged her tight, relieved someone didn't hate me. "I'm okay, thanks to all of you for rescuing me. But why won't anyone talk to me?"

"Kaden thinks you've allied yourself with the Leo pack. We're not even supposed to talk to you."

I rolled my eyes. "i***t male. I'm still an Ophiuchus."

Her face turned sympathetic. "I know. Once you talk to him, he'll see that too."

"Yeah, if I can find him," I muttered.

Dane poked his head around the tree and gestured for Harper to come out. She gave my arm a quick squeeze and then headed back into camp. I waited a few minutes before following.

Kaden returned after the sun had set and did a quick patrol of the perimeter of the camp, and I hurried to reach him. I wouldn’t let him get away from me this time.

“I need to talk to you,” I said, blocking his path. "Why am I being treated like an outcast again?"

Kaden’s eyes finally met mine, and I felt a spark light between us. “You’re an enemy of the pack now, like all Leos."

I pointed to the Ophiuchus mark on my arm. “I’m not a Leo. Obviously.”

“What’s that, then?” Kaden's eyes dipped to my torso, where the huge Leo symbol was emblazoned on my dress. They lingered a bit longer than necessary as if he couldn't help but stare at what the sheer fabric revealed of my body.

I put my hands on my hips, my anger flaring. “Do you think I had a choice in putting this on?”

His gaze hardened. “I thought you were one of us, but I was wrong. If I could wipe the Ophiuchus symbol off your skin, I would.”

That hurt. I gritted my teeth. “Why did you rescue me, if you feel that way about me?”

"Because even if you have turned to the Leo side, we can still you use as leverage. As bait."

“Great, I’m back to being bait,” I muttered.

Kaden raised his eyebrows. “You went to Jordan of your own free will, why should you expect anything better?"

“I did what I did to protect the pack,” I snapped. “The Sun Witches had Stella and the cubs surrounded, and the only way they’d back down was if I agreed to go with Jordan. He didn’t give me a choice. I wasn’t going to let anyone get hurt or killed for me.”

Kaden stared at me for some time, as if trying to gauge if I was lying or not. Finally, he said, "I know."

I blinked at him. "You know?"

"Dane saw a vision in the moonlight with his gift a few days after you left. He was able to show me what happened. But I wanted to hear it from you too." Kaden c****d his head. "Consider it a test."

I wanted to scream in frustration. "Another f*****g test? Haven't I proven myself a hundred times over by now?"

He shrugged. "I had to be sure."

I huffed. "Fine, I've passed your test. But you still don't trust me, do you?"

"No, because I don't know what happened after you went with Jordan," Kaden growled. "For all I know, you're one of them now. Their alpha female." “I would never ally myself with the Leos,” I ground out. “I hate them more than anything. Did you forget that when you found me, I'd been beaten and tied to a sacrificial altar?”