Chapter 15: Chapter 15

MYRA

~What?~

Through her fog of lust, Myra tried desperately to understand what Sloan was saying.

“A-a secret?” she panted as he straightened up above her, his pelvis grinding slowly against her core.

Sloan nodded, and his eyes glinted dangerously.

What secret could he have that she didn’t know? A feeling of foreboding settled in her stomach.

“What is it?” she asked, not sure she wanted to find out.

Something about the smile spreading across her mate’s face was like a bucket of icy water on her arousal.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” laughed Sloan.

And then, suddenly, he stood up, backing away from her.

Myra tried to sit up, but when she looked back at her arms, she found them shackled to the bed.

~What’s going on?~

“Sloan,” she called out. But he was gone. In fact, everything was gone.

She wasn’t in Sloan’s bedroom anymore. Instead, she was chained to the bed in the middle of the forest.

Tall, eerie trees rose up around her on all sides, disappearing into the black void above.

Forest noises pressed in around her. She’d always liked the sounds of nature, but not now.

Every snap of a twig was a predator coming to claim her.

Every call of a bird was a vulture just waiting to feast.

“Slo-oan?” she called again, her voice breaking.

But at that moment, a different sound broke through the forest, quiet at first, but growing louder with every passing second.

It was the sound of laughter. Drunken. Ecstatic. And it was coming closer.

And then, all of a sudden, people began to appear through the trees, all dressed to impress.

She recognized faces in the crowd, members of Sloan’s pack. None of them paid her any mind.

~What the hell?~ she thought, but she was interrupted by someone clinking a glass.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, shifters of all species…” She saw Sloan’s father standing proudly in the center of the crowd.

“Today is a great day, when an alpha lays claim to his omega, and my family gains a new member. So please raise your glasses to the newly mated pair, to Sloan and Elizabeth!”

“To Sloan and Elizabeth!” the room echoed, raising their glasses toward a couple who had just stepped out of the darkness.

“What?!”

Shock washed over Myra as she saw long dark hair and sparkling gray eyes. Sloan was arm in arm with Elizabeth, and they were both wearing simpering, horrifying smiles.

Myra tried to call out, but her voice didn’t make a sound.

Sloan cleared his throat to silence the group as tears streamed silently down Myra’s face.

“Thank you, everyone, for attending our claiming ceremony and then joining us on the hunt.”

~Hunt? What hunt?~

Myra’s head shot around at the assembled party, and she saw different shifters turning into their animal forms.

~Wait a minute? Am I the prey?~ Myra tried to move, but the chains held her in place.

She whimpered in fear as her flight instinct kicked in. She heard different growls and barks aimed at her.

She tried shifting, but she couldn’t. It was either the flood of fear racing through her body or her inability to concentrate.

But she knew she was a sitting duck.

“The kill is mine,” Elizabeth growled, and she lunged at Myra with her canines exposed.

“NOOO!”

***

Myra gasped as she awoke from her vivid dream. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest, and sweat coated her body. Her eyes frantically danced around the room.

~This isn’t ~Sloan’s~ room. Oh, right. Megan and I are sharing Dad’s room. ~Sloan was kicked out last night.

She wiped the sweat from her brow as she tried to remember the previous evening.

Sian had basically kicked Sloan out at about 9 p.m. and ushered Myra and Megan to join the others inside the house to load up on junk food and drink wine.

They spent the evening laughing, and she learned some more about Sloan from his mother and sister. Even Pearl provided stories about the boys’ childhood antics.

Myra noticed Megan tensing whenever Declan’s name was mentioned, but she listened attentively to each word.

Around three in the morning, exhaustion got the better of them, and they retreated to their beds.

Sian was in Myra’s soon-to-be old bedroom with Bryn and Pearl, while Myrielle and the baby took her old room, which left Myra and Megan to share her father’s room.

“No, Mr. Thatcher, I don’t have my homework,” Megan mumbled in her sleep as she rolled over and settled back into slumber.

Myra giggled and quietly climbed out of bed. She picked up her phone and eased out of the bedroom.

According to her phone, it was just past seven in the morning. However, Myra was still troubled by her dream, so she made her way down to the kitchen.

She loaded up the coffee maker, flipped on the kettle, and took down the teapot. She groaned as she passed her hand over her face and gazed out the kitchen window.

She saw movement and knew it was the pack security patrolling the surroundings, so she signaled for someone to come over.

The woods were still for a moment, and then a woman came out and made her way toward the house.

Myra opened the French doors and stepped out, gazing at the woman. She was dressed in all black, which complemented her flawless light brown skin.

She was braiding her hair into a single French braid, but her hazel eyes were looking about the yard as she approached Myra.

“Good morning, Omega,” she greeted.

“Myra’s just fine. You’re Leanne, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m making coffee. Would you all want some? Also, there are lots of leftovers,” Myra offered. A flash of surprise crossed Leanne’s face before she schooled her expression.

“We wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“I insist. How many pack members does Sloan have patrolling this house? I will be placing everything on the gazebo so they can help themselves.” Myra smiled.

“Thank you, ma’am—um, Myra. There are ten of us.”

“Just coffee? Because there’s also tea.”

“Both would be fine. I may be overstepping my pay grade, but are you okay? It’s quite early.”

“Ceremony jitters. Both excited and nervous about what is to come.” Myra smiled.

Leanne nodded. “May I help with the arrangements?”

“Of course. Do come in.” Myra nodded and stepped aside, but Leanne motioned for Myra to enter first. She chuckled and did as instructed.

“So, how long have you been in this position in the pack?”

“About six months, since Elder Theo retired and the alphaship passed onto Sloan.”

“Busy few months, huh?” Myra stated simply, trying to make conversation with her. She took down the box of teabags and handed it to Leanne. “We have a variety of flavors.”

“We’re not choosy.” Leanne shrugged before continuing. “It’s been rough and frustrating. The rogue problem has been keeping us on our paws.

“It’s like they’re reading our thoughts, always one step ahead. Or just within reach, and then they vanish,” Leanne explained.

Myra moved to the fridge and took out a tray of different meat products and veggies. “That’s frustrating. And I’m sure this ceremony is the last thing on your list of priorities.”

“God no. Our alpha claiming his omega is a proud moment in pack history. I’ve known Sloan for years, and he’s never been this protective of a female.” Leanne suddenly looked embarrassed.

“I know about Elizabeth.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t be this frank with you, but I’m glad she’s not going to be the omega.”

“Did anyone in the pack like this woman?” Myra laughed, and Leanne shook her head, laughing as well.

Myrielle walked into the kitchen with a fussy baby.

“Good morning.” Myrielle handed Brielle to Myra, then started making a bottle.

Myra gently bounced with the baby, and she calmed down.

“What were you ladies talking about?”

Myra and Leanne looked at each other and smiled.

“Sloan.”

“Alpha Sloan.”

“Figures. Myra, why are you awake so early? You should be getting all the rest you can get today,” Myrielle said suggestively, wiggling her eyebrows while shaking the bottle.

Myra blushed and hid her embarrassment by nuzzling her face against the baby’s cheeks. Just then, the coffee machine beeped. They all heard feet shuffling, and they looked up to see Megan entering the room.

“Cups are in the cupboard above the coffee machine,” Myra instructed Leanne, who nodded and proceeded to pour out cups of coffee.

“Coffee,” Megan said in a zombie-like voice, as she made a beeline for the pot.

Leanne handed her a cup and continued placing another pot to brew.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll just take this out. Thank you, Omega,” Leanne teased.

“Hey!”

“I mean thank you, Myra.” She laughed.

“You’re welcome.”

Leanne walked out the French doors and placed the beverages on the gazebo’s table before quickly returning for the food. She then excused herself and joined the other patrol members outside.

“She seems nice,” Myrielle said as she sat down and motioned Myra over for the baby.

“She is.” Myra nodded, gazing out at the security indulging in the meal.

“Also, don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t answer my question.”

Brielle was suckling away at the bottle, making little grunting noises while Megan sat down next to Myrielle and sipped her coffee.

“A nightmare. And I really don’t want to dwell on it.”

“Oh honey, are you still anxious about tonight?” Myrielle cooed.

“I don’t think so. True, everything is happening really fast, and I know the reason for all of it.

“But it was just the stupid dream. Who knows, I could take a short nap today with this sweet pup.” Myra rubbed the baby’s cheeks.

Myrielle smiled brightly as Myra kissed her forehead.

“Okay, I have coffee in my veins. What’s on the plans for today?”

“Besides my ceremony tonight?”

“Aw, no one has time for that.” Megan waved offhandedly with a wink and smirk.

“Good morning, girls,” Sian sang as she entered the kitchen. She was already dressed and ready to conquer the day.

“Good morning, Ms. Sian,” they all parroted.

“Today will be very busy,” she started to explain as she made herself a cup of tea.

“Oh, I see you’ve already taken to the role and responsibilities of pack omega,” she commented, glancing outside the window at the security members enjoying their breakfast under the watchful eye of Leanne.

“They need their strength after watching this house all night.”

“It’s what they’re trained to do. But I would have done the same thing. Anywho, we have some other pack females coming in after lunch. They’ll be doing hair, nails, and makeup.

“Also, Sloan was very adamant that we only use vanilla scents on you.” Sian smiled.

“He once told me that I smell like vanilla. It kind of explains why the soap in his bathroom is vanilla-scented.”

“It’s a scent only mates can smell on each other. I’m sure there’s a signature smell you sense from Sloan.”

“Fresh linens and sea salt,” Myra automatically stated.

“It’s the sea salt. I’ve never smelled that on him. My Theo smells like warm cinnamon.”

“Benji smells like sweet cherries.” Myrielle smiled lovingly, putting the baby on her shoulder and starting to rub her back.

“Mint chocolate,” Megan mumbled, and they all looked at her.

“What did you say?” Myra asked. ~Megan’s human. How could she…?~

“It’s nothing.”

“Interesting. Myra, you should go get some more rest. It’s going to be a long day,” Sian said, shooing Myra from the kitchen and back to bed.

“And night,” Megan smirked into her coffee cup.