Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(58)

I’ll kill you, and Ayla will kill your mate. Do you really want that? Kaden asked. He snapped his jaws at Tanner’s throat in warning.

I looked down at Lindsey, who didn’t look ready to die. She looked scared, eyes wide. She wasn’t even fighting against me anymore. I didn’t want to kill her. This was supposed to be my pack sister, someone I could rely on to have my back when things got tough. But she was challenging Kaden as alpha, and as such, she was challenging me. If it came down to it, I would sink my teeth into her neck and watch the light fade from her eyes.

Lindsey must have seen that reflected in my face because she began struggling again. Not to fight, this time, but to free herself. Please, she sent out, but it was directed at Tanner, not at me.

Tanner’s eyes flicked over to Lindsey, and then he dropped his head. I concede.

Kaden immediately let go of Tanner, who leaped up out of biting distance. I let Lindsey wriggle out from under me a final time. Tanner waited for her to join him, and then the circle of Ophiuchus pack members parted to let them through. They ran into the woods without shifting back to human form.

“Kaden remains alpha,” Clayton said, sounding relieved.

Kaden raised his dark head and let out a long howl that seeped right through my skin, into my bones, down all the way to my soul. On instinct, I lifted my snout and released my own howl, which joined in harmony with his, a song of both triumph and relief, along with a dash of sorrow. A few seconds later, other members of the pack, both human and wolf, began to howl with us too.

When the howls died down, Kaden shifted back to human form, and I did the same. We were both naked and covered in blood, but it didn’t matter. A roar went up around the circle of Ophiuchus pack members. Most of them cheered, looking happy to see their alpha triumph. Stella was one of the loudest, jumping up and down.

Not everyone looked overjoyed to see Kaden win though. Some of them turned away and followed after Tanner and Lindsey. Clearly, Tanner hadn’t been the only one who thought that Kaden was taking the Ophiuchus pack in the wrong direction.

Kaden looked around, surveying the remaining members of his pack. His eyes burned with fire, the kind that came from the victory he’d just won, and that same feeling poured into me. “Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?”

The Ophiuchus pack grew silent, and I saw a few of the shifters look down, as if ashamed. No one stepped forward to challenge Kaden. I wouldn’t have wanted to either. Every line of his body sang with the power he held, and just from standing next to him, I knew he was a force to be reckoned with.

Kaden spread his arms wide. "Everything I do is for you, for this pack, and I will always lead us as I see best. If you have an issue with what I'm doing, you're welcome to speak with me about your concerns. And as for Ayla..." He grabbed my hand, and a shock went through me at the contact. “She is my alpha female. She proved herself worthy of that tonight. Together, we will take down the Leos, rejoin the Zodiac Wolves, and lead our pack into the future."

I gazed across the gathered shifters, trying to steady my racing heart and trembling hands. One by one, they lowered their heads in a sign of submission. I was being accepted as alpha female. I could hardly believe it. I hadn't wanted the job and had never imagined I would ever have a shot at it, yet when the time came to fight for my place, I'd taken it. And I'd have done it a thousand times over, to keep Kaden safe.

I looked up at Kaden, the victory resounding in my blood. This was right. This was what I’d been looking for my entire life. I was Kaden’s mate, and I was the alpha female of the Ophiuchus pack.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Kaden and I left the crowd behind, our hearts still pounding, the battle still fresh in the air. Adrenaline raced through my veins, making me borderline jittery. I looked over at Kaden and opened my mouth to ask him what do I do with this feeling?

The resounding lust I saw echoed in his eyes made me realize what I was feeling wasn’t entirely the aftermath of the fight. We’d battled together, won together, and we both felt the need to experience that victory together, to reaffirm to each other that we were still truly alive.

As I looked at Kaden's naked body, covered with sweat and blood, rippling with pure masculine alpha power, desire poured over me. It was so strong I very nearly staggered on the spot. I needed Kaden close to me now. I wanted as much of our skin touching as was humanly possible. My wolf had tasted blood, and now she demanded sex too.

I surged toward Kaden, and he let me come, reaching for me as well. Our lips crashed together and Kaden gripped my naked ass tight enough that it was almost painful. He kissed me thoroughly, tongue demanding entrance. I gave it to him, throwing myself into the kiss with just as much vigor. Our wolves were still close to the surface, and we were barely human as we came together like animals in heat, except there was no full moon urging us on now.

Kaden kissed me like he wanted to devour me. I melded my body against his and felt the hot throb of his cock against my thigh, already primed and ready. I wanted to take him inside of me, right here, right now. I didn’t care who saw. The overwhelming energy boiling inside of me now had an outlet, and I’d be damned if anyone got in the way of that.

Kaden made a noise, half growl, half groan, and then pushed me back. I blinked at the sudden distance between us, trying to get my brain to move on from the pounding need.