Chapter 36: Chapter 35

Xander “Alice, it’s not “I tried to explain, but she cut me off.

“| don’t want to hear it, Xander!”

Her pale face was turning redder by the second.

F uck Why did she have to come in right now?

It wasn’t like we could keep the news about Lanie a secret forever, but this was the worst possible way for her to find out.

“It's bad enough you already slept with that bit ch once! If | have to share you all the time, ...”

Her eyes flashed and her fists clenched at her sides.

Til go back to Gregory and Lucas” she shrieked.

| scoffed.

No way in hell was she doing that.

She stepped closer to me, her eyes wide and murderous. She thought | was making fun of her, and maybe | was. She was being ridiculous And there was no need for her to drag Lanie down just because she was feeling jealous. A hot bubble of rage rose in my chest on Lanie’s behalf “We can explain, Alice.” Zane must've felt the surge of my anger too because he stepped between us before | could say something I'd actually regret. “The High Elder has commanded us to impregnate Lanie, too.”

“So?” Alice threw her hands in the air before turning back to me. “You're the Alpha, Xander. Don’t listen to him!”

Agrowl rumbled low in my chest.

She was really irritating me now, I “You're out of your go dd amn mind, Alice,” | snapped. “If we defy the command of an Elder, we will be put to trial in front of the Council. Do you know what they could do?”

Her breathing was heavy, but she didn’t speak.

“They could strip my Alpha title and take this whole f u cking pack away from me.” | leaned down closer, my voice a chilling whisper in her ear. “And then you'll have no choice but to mate with Gregory and Lucas,”

Her lip quivered, but she didn’t back down.

“| don’t care,” she said. “I should be the most important thing to you both.”

Zane held out his hands. “Alice don't be like that”

A full-on roar ripped from my chest, and Alice stumbled backward.

What the f uck was she thinking talking to us like this?

| knew she could be sensitive sometimes, and for good reason, but | never thought of her as selfish.

| didn’t like seeing this side of her.

“You're a Luna now, Alice, and you better behave like one. The deep rasp of my voice seemed to cut through her like a silver blade. “Rule number one: Pack before self...And you better learn that real f ucking fast.”

She shrank back, her blue eyes glassy with tears.

She gets it, Xander, Zane said.

But I wasn’t done.

“Lunas don’t argue with their Alphas and put their entire pack at risk. Lunas don’t cry when they don’t get their way. Lunas.

support their Alpha and they ab ide by the rules of the Elders. They do their duties and they don’t complain.” There was no warmth left in my voice and no pity for her in my eyes. “Do you understand?”

Alice’s lip trembled as she gazed up at me.

“| said do you understand?!”

Before | could stop it, a wave of fury swept over me and Hunter sprang to the surface, my claws shooting forth, my canines flashing pointy and white while Alice shook beneath me.

Zane “Xander!” | yelled, forcing myself between him and Alice.

He’d never threatened Alice with his wolf before, and | never thought he would.

| pressed a hand to his chest. “Calm down before the whole pack knows there’s trouble in paradise.”

Xander was losing control, and if that happened, everyone would feel his rage.

“F uck,” he whispered pressing his palms to his eyes. His breathing finally steadied and his claws and canines retracted | reached out to Alice, wanting to comfort her, but she flinched.

My heart dropped to my stomach.

Xander’s little outburst was making her lose trust in us.

“Alice, you know it’s Xander’s job to keep everyone in this pack safe...including you. We just want what's best-

She cut me off. “I don’t believe anything either of you says now!

Suddenly Blade was pawing at my insides.

Why was she still arguing?

“Are you f ucking kidding me, Alice? | couldn’t hold back, either, | moved closer and closer to her until her back was pressed up against the wall. “You just received direct orders from your mates, your Alpha and Beta. No more arguing.”

Asick feeling stirred in my stomach You made a mistake, Blade seemed to be saying Did we choose the wrong mate?

No self-respecting she wolf, especially one mated to an Alpha and Beta, should ever pull the s hit she was pulling now Alice took a deep breath and stood up tall, her back still pushed against the wall “I'm not listening to you,” she said defiantly. “And I’m not your Luna, either”

| gritted my teeth, prepared to let Blade break through the surface and teach her a real lesson. But then she spoke, and my mind went blank.

“| know the mate bond didn’t work.”