Chapter 5

MISTY

“Fuck,” Perry, Dawn, and Fallon chorused.

Time slowed, and I stood frozen in shock. Lloyd had snatched the arrow out of the air just before it hit his butt. His head snapped around, and sea-green eyes found mine, eyes that shone with hostility.

I took an involuntary step back and knew instantly he would never claim me. Dropping the bow, I ran just to avoid his rejection.

I didn’t get very far before Uncle Zack shouted, “Stop and on your knees, Misty.”

A hush came over the training grounds, and everyone stopped to look. I dropped to my knees and kept my head down.

Two pairs of jean-clad legs came into view, one much more muscular than the other. Feet encased in trainers the size of a sasquatch. The scent of freshly cut oak and allspice trickled into my nose.

Why couldn’t I smell him before?

“Did you do that on purpose?” Uncle Zack yelled. Goddess, why did he always have to shout?

“N-no, Alpha,” I stuttered, my heart pounding.

“I don’t believe you. Such blatant disrespect means punishment,” Uncle Zack said harshly, and I had the feeling he’d been waiting for just such an opportunity.

“Alpha? I think I should be the one to administer punishment. She targeted me,” a deep raspy voice said.

I closed my eyes in pain. I just knew I was about to be rejected, but I wouldn’t take punishment lying down.

“This was my first time shooting a bow. It wasn’t intentional, and besides, I only have one mark against me, and you said three before punishment,” I said defiantly.

Fuck him. I would get over his rejection.

~“I want him,”~ Cammy whispered, shocked at my thoughts.

Uncle Zack ignored my outburst. “What did you have in mind?”

“Every evening for two weeks. That should teach her some respect.”

What the hell? Was he planning on torturing me before or after his rejection?

~“It’s my fault,”~ Cammy wailed. “~I shouldn’t have broken your concentration. I’m so sorry.”~

“Sounds good,” Alpha agreed. “You will report to Beta Lloyd at seven o’clock every evening starting today. Hopefully, he can whip you into shape.”

I pursed my lips and looked at their shoes as a large hand gripped my chin. Unexpected tingles shot through me, and my eyes met Beta Lloyd’s.

“Confirm,” he gritted through a clenched jaw.

“Yes, ~Beta~,” I said, my lips curling into a sneer.

He let go instantly, and they walked off. Getting to my feet, I stared daggers at his back. I’d heard she-wolves go on and on about the mate bond and its power, but I never believed them until now. It was true; the compulsion to be close to him threatened to overwhelm me.

Besides the sea-green eyes and slate-gray hair, he had a square face with a slight cleft in his chin and a straight nose, but the eyes captivated me the most, even though they were filled with malice.

He was taller than Alpha and had wickedly sharp reflexes. His broad shoulders tapered to a slim waist, and he was muscular but not burly, graceful.

I wondered how old he was, considering his hair color, but judging from his behavior, I knew it was just a matter of time before he rejected me…

Once I got home Dad agreed the punishment was unfair, but I would have to abide by Uncle ~asshole ~Zack’s decision.

I knew my parents would freak out if they knew Beta Lloyd was my mate and he hadn’t claimed or rejected me, and I hadn’t gotten over the shock myself.

“Misty? You’d better get going. You’ll be late. It’s quite a way to the eastern training grounds,” my dad said.

“Can’t you drive me?” I asked. I was tired and moody, primarily because of Beta Lloyd. Who wanted a mate that was an asshole anyway?

~“Don’t say that. Maybe there is a reason for this?”~ Cammy said.

I snorted. ~“He doesn’t want us, Cammy. Didn’t you see the hate in his eyes?”~

“Sorry, I can’t. Your mother has an appointment at the clinic,” my dad responded.

I forgot, and my dad always accompanied her. She grabbed my arm and smiled consolingly. “I’m sure it will be fine, sweetheart.”

“Sure it will,” I snapped. Pushing the plate away, I got to my feet and trudged out the door. I had no intention of running and didn’t care if I was late. A smile crept over my face. Let’s see if Beta Lloyd could handle Misty Ross.

It took me half an hour to reach the eastern training grounds, where a solitary cottage stood, and a Jeep Wrangler was parked under a maple tree.

My heart missed a beat when I saw him leaning against the door frame, watching, green eyes narrowed in disapproval.

I didn’t quicken my pace, casually walking across the training grounds and studying him.

He wore loose jeans that hung on his hips most deliciously and a black T-shirt that outlined every muscle. His face had a five-o’clock shadow, making him look rugged and hot.

Stopping before him in a hand-on-hip stance and feigned courage, I said, “Misty Ross, reporting for unfair punishment.”

“You’re late,” he rasped.

“Oh dear. Take it out of my going to the toilet time,” I suggested.

His mouth quirked, but he quickly caught himself and motioned me inside. Was he going to reject me now? I steeled myself and walked in.

He closed the door and leaned against it, watching me intently. A shiver ran down my back at his scrutiny.

The cottage was all in one and nothing special. There was a bed in the corner, one armchair, and a door leading to a bathroom. A small square table littered with papers, a couple of thick old books which looked most uninteresting, and two chairs.

Facing him, I bit the inside of my cheeks and raised my eyebrows.

“Get undressed,” he commanded, still leaning against the door, one ankle crossed over the other.

What? I gaped at him. Did he want to claim me? There’s no way I was getting undressed and letting him have his way with me.

“Never going to happen. You might be my mate, but that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of me.”

He pushed off the door and crowded me. “Believe me when I say I don’t want to fuck you. Ever,” he said derisively, his eyes flicking up and down.

“Well, then, why do I need to get undressed?” I asked, ignoring the pain in my chest.

“Because I said so,” he said brusquely.

And then I felt his power and almost fell to my knees in supplication. Who the hell was he?

I pushed back as much as possible but ended up baring my neck. Sending him furious looks, I pulled my T-shirt over my head and dropped it on the floor. Shaking hands snaked to the bra clasp.

“You can leave your underclothes on,” he instructed.

I sighed in relief, pulled my shorts down, and stepped out of them. I forgot I was wearing Mickey and Minnie Mouse motif underwear and colored in embarrassment.

He didn’t laugh. Instead, he pulled me to the middle of the room. “Stand up straight and lift your arms above your head.”

As much as I wanted to protest, his power kept me complicit, my tongue atypically frozen. A smidgeon of fear pooled deep in my stomach at the realization that he could make anyone do whatever he wanted, including Alpha. Why was he beta?

Facing me, his eyes scanned every inch of my body. He took my arm and turned it as though he was looking for something, then my other arm. Crouching down, he inspected my legs.

“Lift each foot in turn so I can see the soles of your feet,” he ordered. A large hand grasped my ankle, and I shivered as tingles raced up my leg while he pulled my shoes and socks off.

A frown formed on his face as he checked the soles of my feet. Was he a weirdo with fetishes?

He moved behind me and pulled the bra strap down slightly. What was he looking for? I jerked when I felt his fingers slip under the waistband of my panties and pull them down, exposing my ass.

He huffed in irritation before moving to face me. “Remove the brassiere.”

Brassiere? Underclothes? Where did he grow up? In bumfuck nowhere?

It was so demeaning, but again, I had no choice but to follow his instructions and undid my bra, letting it fall to the floor in acute embarrassment as he focused on my breasts.

He cupped one in a calloused palm and lifted it, bending down with narrowed eyes.

I couldn’t help my body’s reaction and clenched my jaw in fury as moisture pooled between my legs. He cupped my other breast, his nostrils flaring. Fuck, this was beyond humiliating.

Straightening up, he turned his back and snapped, “Get dressed.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. In record time, I pulled my shorts up and put my bra and T-shirt back on.

“Tell me which coven you belong to,” he asked, his eyes burning into mine, a noticeable tick in his jaw.

My jaw dropped—that was the last question I expected. The power around me lessened, and I glared at him.

“Are you ~insane~? What the hell were you looking for? How dare you debase me like this? Make no mistake, I will report you,” I spat furiously and turned to the door, but before I could, he yanked me back.

“Sit. You smell like a witch. Now tell me which coven you belong to,” he demanded.

I sat on the edge of the chair and shook my head in disbelief. “I am not a witch, you imbecile.” I quickly grabbed my sneakers and socks and put them on.

“Yes, you are. You might not have a brand, but your blood tells the true story,” he insisted.

Branded? What a crock of shit. Witches only existed in movies. But he obviously didn’t know that, and he thought he’d find a brand on my body… Or was he just inspecting me before rejecting me?

“Witches don’t exist, you asshole. I’m a wolf, or can’t your nose detect that?” I snarled. “And why do you have so much power? Who the fuck are you?”

With a growl, he grabbed my elbow. “You will not speak one word of this to anyone,” he commanded, and my heart sank. I couldn’t resist his commands and was at his mercy. A mate who might be deranged…

But his order didn’t include texting…