Chapter 3

“’Cause I know how the Boulders operate.” One side of his mouth curled in a sneer. “And I’d really enjoy bringing these two to their knees.” All three Morgans surveyed Justin. I glanced up at my Alpha, whose lips had arched into a smile. I sensed the turn of events pleased him. Was it because he felt like he knew how Justin operated? “What happened to your nose?” Cassandra asked. Justin locked eyes with me. “Like I said, I know how the Boulders operate.” Did you do that? I didn’t answer Liam’s question, busy pondering what Justin was hinting at. Was he saying he knew about the mating link? That he would go after August to get to me? My navel tightened from this conclusion, or maybe my navel tightened because August was contemplating wringing Justin’s thick neck. Cassandra licked her lips, removing some of Julian Matz’s blood. “Mr. Summix, a duel isn’t a settlin’ of scores.” I blinked. Was she turning him down? Justin’s yellow-brown eyes widened. “However,” she continued, “I’m willin’ to accept your candidature.” Of course she was. “Are we good, Kolane?” Liam nodded. She extended her hand again. Liam looked at it, then looked back up at her. “Keep your phone on, Morgan.” And then he whirled around and yelled into our minds with such authority that my forehead spasmed. We’re done here! On our way back toward the deck’s staircase, he added, Ness, you’re coming home with me. I stumbled, just managing to catch myself on the handrail. He’d said those exact words to me a month ago. Our work starts today. I swallowed. August started down the stairs, but Liam stepped into his path and said, “I said we were done here.” “Get out of my way, Liam.” Liam must’ve spoken directly into August’s mind, because my intended’s jaw turned as hard as bark, and then his gaze fell on me, narrowed on me. He backed away, before stalking into the inn, stretching the tether so violently that, for a second, I feared it would snap. But it didn’t. It simply thinned and weakened until all that was left behind was a dull hollowness. To spare Liam’s heart, I’d maimed August’s.

I didn’t speak to Liam during the ride over to his house, because I was angry at how he’d dealt with August. I was also mad at myself for not having put up more of a fight. Then again, I’d been trying to get Liam to calm down and leave the inn with his heart still locked in his chest. I propped my elbow on the door handle and my forehead on my fingertips. A headache was blooming against my temples. Too much stress and too little sleep. I didn’t regret the too little sleep part, though. Spending the night with August had been . . . well, it had been something I would never regret. My lips still tingled from the heat of his mouth, and my heart still pounded from the memory of his beating against mine. Would I ever get another night with him? What if he left Boulder until the Winter Solstice? Or what if he stayed but shunned my existence? That made my heart start twisting. Before being my intended mate, he was my friend, the boy who’d taught me to climb trees and read stars, the boy who’d picked me up from school when my parents couldn’t, the boy who’d sat in my darkened room so the monsters under my bed couldn’t reach out and harm me. When the mating link clicked into place between us on the night of Liam’s swearing-in as Alpha, I’d been desperate to break it. After all, Liam was still my boyfriend then. But that relationship lasted a whopping four days. The rain-soaked afternoon Liam called me a traitor was the end of him and me. However much he’d groveled once he figured out I hadn’t backstabbed my own pack, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive him for his rushed and erroneous judgment. And then last week, he’d slept with his gorgeous, red-headed ex, Tamara, which hurt, but the pain of losing him was nothing compared to the fear of losing August. The black Mercedes SUV bumped along the short dirt driveway, jostling me out of my morose deliberations. Once we were parked, I reached for the door handle. “I know you hate my guts right now, but I didn’t force you and August apart to annoy you, Ness. My life’s on the line, and I need a hundred percent of your attention.” I side-eyed my Alpha. Like I would believe that. He’d been willing to give up his life minutes ago. “Do you have any food?” I asked, forcing the topic away from August. Liam’s tense expression stuttered. “Yeah. Matt’s mom sent me lots of stuff a couple days ago.” “Good. Because I’m starving.”