Stay the fuck away from me

RIVER

With the Alpha gone, I had changed into my pair of old jeans, and a t-shirt, wincing a bit as the rough fabric brushed against the healing scratches on parts of my body.

Well, all of the wounds were healing except the one on the neck. That one pulsed... part pain, and part heat.

A reminder, and punishment.

A claim.

My hands trembled a bit as I adjusted the neck of my shirt to hide it.

The trees swayed gently with the wind, but I couldn't stop pacing around. My wolf kept circling inside me, all restless and agitated, whispering the same word over and over again.

Mate.

Bullshit.

"No," I muttered aloud, dragging my nails through my damp curls. "No, we're not. That wasn't a choice at all. That was a fucking ambush."

My wolf whined deep inside me, more conflicted than when we started. Longing.

"Don't you get it? That Alpha marked us like we were nothing to him. Like we were some sort of prey. Like... like some prize to be bitten and bagged." My voice cracked at the last word. "And you want him?"

Was my wolf sick or something?

A sharp pain bloomed behind my eyes as my wolf pushed forward, desperate to return. To go back, and find the one whom the goddess gave to us.

To belong.

Well, fat chance for that happening.

I would rather swallow my own tongue than find that guy. I gritted my teeth and held the shift down, digging my heels into the earth like this was what would anchor me down.

"I am not some helpless omega." I spat.

And yet, no matter how many times I whispered the sentence to myself, the wound burned hotter under my fingertips, pulsing like it had a heartbeat of its own. I needed to leave. Now. Before I lost the will to.

With time, the pain will stop.

But the second I took a step toward the border, a rustle of movement to the side stopped me.

Two wolves stepped out of the trees, having shifted moments before. One of them was tall, with broad shoulders and messy brown hair. The other was dark-skinned, lean, and alert, their eyes scanning me like I was some throat and a puzzle all at once.

Maybe I was.

I immediately raised my hands in mock surrender. "I didn't mean to trespass," I said quickly, keeping my tone calm but firm. "I had no idea I was so close to your territory line. Just passing through, though. I'll leave now."

The brown-haired one tilted his head slightly. “You sure you’re okay?”

"Fantastic," I lied through clenched teeth. I kept my posture loose, but ready, in case they try any nonsense. "You don't need to worry, guys. I'm not here to cause trouble."

The dark-skinned man narrowed his eyes. “You’re bleeding.”

My hand instinctively reached for my neck, then dropped. "Scratched myself on a branch."

Neither of them looked convinced, but neither of them called me out on the lie either. That meant their Alpha hadn't told them what he had done to me.

Of course he hadn't.

I was many things, but stupid wasn't one of them. Whatever that Alpha was, he clearly did not want anyone knowing he'd partially marked a male omega. He wouldn't want to sully his name with my likes.

The brown-haired man finally shrugged. “You look like you’ve had a rough night. We’ve set up camp a few miles east. You can rest there before you go.”

Well... I hesitated. My wolf didn't. It surged with a very pleased sound.

Traitor.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

The dark-skinned man gave a half-smile. “Too late for that.”

Well, I let out a soft sigh. "Fine."

As we walked, introductions passed with low voices and half-curious glances. The brown-haired one was named Corwin. The other, Faris. I gave my name in return, short and clipped.

I never told them who I really was.

By the end of the week, I had spent five days with them. Just combing through the forest, and coming up with scent trails that were twisted and some were already dead. Whatever they were looking for was long gone by now.

The Alpha, Kael as they called him, remained a shadow for some reason.

I barely saw the guy except in glimpses between the trees or the edge of campfire light. The Alpha avoided me with terrifying precision, never lingering for too long, and never speaking a word to me.

Did I care about it? No.

It was way better this way.

"Liar." My wolf snarled at me.

I was not a liar.

And yet, my eyes always found Kael first. Such a lovely name. My wolf sat alert whenever the Alpha came close, my heart clawing against my ribs with the need, even when my human part burned with anger.

I didn't want this. I had not chosen this. No one had asked me if I wanted to be claimed.

And Kael, apparently, had no intention of talking about it.

Until we were paired for patrol.

It was a very stupid decision, that was so random. Brant, one of the older males, had assigned us the southwest quadrant, where the woods grew dense and quiet. This was the last patrol we would have before they went back to their pack.

And I went on my way.

For nearly an hour, we didn't speak.

The silence was thick.

I kept my eyes ahead, though I felt the Alpha’s gaze burning into the side of my face like sunlight through glass.

Finally, Kael broke the silence.

"Don't tell anyone."

"What?"

Kael stepped in front of me, cutting me off. When he spoke, his voice was low and sharp. "About what happened that day close to the river. About the mark and whatnot. Keep your damned mouth shut."

Woah. Woah.

I narrowed my eyes at him, letting a slow, bitter smile pull at my lips. "Bit late to have shame, don't you think, Alpha?"

Kael’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t a joke.”

"And I am not laughing," I told him, cocking my head to the side. "But you know what's funny? You didn't seem so worried about secrecy when you were sinking your pretty teeth into me."

Kael’s nostrils flared. “That was a mistake.”

I let out a soft laugh. "Right. Of course, it was. The big bad Alpha accidentally marked a male omega. I am pretty sure that happens all the time here."

“Watch yourself.”

Oh, my body burned brighter.

I took a step closer to him. "Or what? You'll pin me to the ground again, and finish the job?"

The words struck too close. Kael’s eyes darkened.

In a flash, he had me slammed against the nearest tree. I was ready for it this time. The bark dug into my spine as Kael loomed over me, all hot and ragged, the fury carved into every tense line of his body.

Absolutely delicious.

"In case you haven't heard, I have someone waiting for me already," Kael growled, his voice like gravel. "A mate. A female one, at that. So whatever you're trying to do..."

Yeah, it was safe to say that my wolf and I did not like that. I cut him off with a sharp bite at the corner of his mouth. Not enough to break skin, just enough to sting.

And enough to count as an almost kiss.

Kael went rigid.

Oh, this was so much fun.

Kael’s hand tightened on my arms, his lips parting immediately like he wanted to say something... anything at all, but nothing came out.

And me? Well, I finally shoved him back.

My heart was thundering, and my wolf was howling from the lack of physical contact again.

When I spoke again, there was no more warmth in my tone.

"You're the only one who cannot help yourself, Alpha Kael. I am fine, so stay the fuck away from me."