Mine To Claim: The Alpha's Silent Mate

edy's

er-a metallic tang carried by the wind. I didn't need to smell it to know it was blood. Faint traces lingere

g at invisible dangers. The stillness of the woods was unnatural; it felt

right as he flanked me. "Signs of movement ahead. Incon

e us. "Scattered patterns," I said, my voice listless. "They're rogues.

a low chuckle. "Toward their grave

Silence followed forthwith, the men mov

her like a jagged ceiling. My senses came alive, my wolf alert but steady.

r territory, was a pain in my butt. And

soft beneath my boots, the undergrowth thick with vines and brambles. I moved ahea

shed deeper into the forest. "Alpha, it's weird. These trac

re erratic, some barely visible while others were too obviou

ing to my full height. My voice carried no conc

d we keep going, Alp

n, icy, "then let them sp

barely fighting its way through the thick canopy high above. The tr

the hilt of his axe.

ng the clearing. "They're watching us. Hid

ow in his thr

head around. My hand went to the hilt

rough the silence like a blade. A demand, no

gures emerged from the darkness. Rogues. At least

l grin. "Well, well," he sneered, his voice dripping with mo

d, my gaze cold

ecovered quickly. "You've got quite the reputation, you kno

ng around my territory?" I aske

to a snarl. "You're cocky, aren't you?

osed the space between us in a heartbeat. His words ended

ng erupted

th finesse, my every strike calculated and deadly. Around me, my men held t

as I cut down another rogue. "This is

ng until the last moment, dodging his attack with a little sidestep that sent h

off, burst out laughing. "Y

ng the blood off my blade as

as riddled with bodies. My men closed in around

ean said, furrowing his br

ng from the woods. "They wan

stration hard in his voi

ng to find out," I sai

by the rogues. It took us deeper into the forest, t

r feet gave a strange lurch. Inst

lled, but it

n like an open-mouthed chasm. I jumped back in time, my hea

ed, scrambling to t

d disgust at the sight of the men below them. They were al

tting bold," I

ow?" Dean asked,

d the woods around us. "We go. They think

t sound of laughter echoed through the trees. It

in a low tone, laced with quiet fury. "Let the

for vengeance that fitted my own.