SLOANE’S ANGER

SLOANE’S ANGER

CHAPTER 2

Nova Sterling Point Of View.

“Are you going somewhere?” Keiran Mercer fills the doorway. His low and possessive voice echoes through me, and the necklace pendant burns hotter against my palm. His golden eyes glow fierce and unyielding. 

The Mercer heir's navy suit was perfectly tailored, laying smooth on his shoulders. “You're wearing that death warrant to the ceremony?” His gaze is locked onto my pendant as if it offended him personally. 

“Problem, Your Highness?” I smashed my teeth. 

His jaw dropped in shock. "The Sterlings were traitors. That jewellery is—

“A family heirloom,” Gideon interrupts, appearing silently behind Kieran. The Cross security heir wears all black; his military posture makes the room feel smaller. “Leave it be.”

I gripped my necklace, its heat pulsing against my palm. “I'm not pledging to any pack.” My fingers curled around the necklace pendant burning against my chest. “I'd rather eat grass than pledge to your packs.”

Jace leans against the wall, flipping his silver coin. “Tell that to the bond mark lighting up your wrist.” His emerald eyes drop to where Kieran's silver moon mark glows beneath my sleeve. “That's not just a love bite, sweetheart. It's a bold declaration of ownership.”

Vaughn sighs dramatically. “As touching as this reunion is, we have precisely seven minutes before my father declares Nova a rebel.” He unzips the garment bag to reveal a blood-red dress. “Wear this. My family’s design will buy us time.”

Jace huffs a laugh. “Or get her killed faster.”

Kieran grabs the dress and throws it aside. “She wears Mercer's family blue design.”

The room erupts in arguments. 

Jace's coin freezes mid-flip. “Let her wear Wilder's family green design.”

“Enough.” Gideon's voice cuts through the argument. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a simple black fitted dress. “This one is Neutral. Plane. Let her wear this.”

Callan's rough fingers brush mine as he passes me a folded grey hoodie with a folded sheet of paper under it. I turned my back against the five Alphas and stylishly read the content in the paper —Run Fast! Run Now!. 

My lungs squeeze, and my hands tremble in fear. This is a silent offer I cannot accept. I'd rather face my mountains than run. I hid the paper as I watched the five alphas—my five choices.

Then I turned to my front and sighted Vaughn, checking his platinum watch. “Four minutes more. Decide, or I'll drag you there naked.”

Kieran shouts, “Try it.” as he steps between us. The bond mark on my wrist vibrates in time, and the heart monitor also spikes as my heartbeat spikes.

Jace's pupils dilate, and his wolf fangs peek out. He’s getting impatient.

Gideon's hand stretches toward his concealed knife.

Callan tenses, ready to move, waiting for me to move first.

And Vaughn? He smiles like he's already won. 

The overhead speakers crackle to life. “All unmarried wolves should come to the ceremonial hall immediately.”

I stand, letting the hospital gown pool at my feet. Four sets of eyes track the movement. Only Callan looked away; he pressed his teeth against each other, showing disgust at the other four.

“I will be wearing None of the above.” Then I reach for my discarded combat pants and leather jacket. “I'd rather go as myself.”

Kieran's eyes go black as pitch. “That's not how this works.”

I push my jacket zipper up as the pendant in my necklace glows red inside the fabric. Heat sears my chest, and I bare my teeth, daring him to come closer. “Try and stop me.”

Then, somewhere in the building, a window shatters with a resounding crack. Everyone freezes. No one moves. No one breathes. 

…

Inside the ceremony hall, a voice echoes beyond the shattered window. “Don't step on the glasses,” Cold air enters and pierces my skin.

My boots crunch over broken glass as I move towards the window. Each step sounds too loud, and the bond mark on my wrist pulse like a heart—a reminder of Kieran’s claim. 

“Does Daddy Mercer know you’re playing with his Heir?” Sloane steps from the shadows. She digs her fingertip nails into my bonding mark. 

A sudden sharp pain spread across my hand. I moved back and bit my tongue hard, attempting to resist the tears about to fall down and not letting her get the satisfaction of my pain. 

Then I looked at her designer dress and smooth plastic skin. She appeared to be the perfect Mercer bride. But my leather jacket still smelled like my foster home. 

The penthouse lights reflected upon her diamond bracelet, making it glitter. The cost is worth more than everything I have ever owned, while my reflection on the black marble floors showed a girl who didn't belong. 

I force my lips into a smile. “Jealousy makes your nose look crooked, Sloane.” 

Her rose perfume chokes as she bends closer to me. “Daddy Mercer wants Kieran mated to me by the Blood Moon. You’re just a distraction.”

Suddenly, the elevator dings and Sloane's muscles stand tense. 

Kieran steps out, his golden wolf eyes piercing the site where she grips my wrist. “Problem?” His voice is calm but laced with anger.

Sloane drops my arm as it burns. “Just welcoming our new student.”

“She was leaving,” I said, rubbing my wrist where her bracelet had cut me. 

“Leave immediately, “ he told Sloane, tracing the silver moon mark tattooed on me during the chase. The touch sends weird tingles up my arm, and my feelings spiked.

“You're picking a nobody over me?” Her voice cracked in shock. Then she laughs. The sound stings like Apple perfume and venom. “The Sterlings didn’t just die.” She says as her eyes glint. “They were—”

“Erased.” The word escapes my lips as my necklace burns.

Kieran’s grip my arm tight. His cedar and whiskey scent floods my senses. “I said leave Sloane.” A growl rumbled from Kieran's chest - not human at all. 

So Sloane grabbed her designer bag and fled to the elevator. “Bye, we'll meet later.” The door closes.

While alone in the penthouse, Kieran watched me with an untold interest, as if I were a puzzle. “You bit me.” He picks up the necklace, and the pendant's eyes glow. “Now you're mine.”

I shoved him. "In your dreams, rich boy." 

He laughs, picks me up, and pushes my back against the window as Toronto's lights glitter behind me. "Your heartbeat says otherwise." 

My face burns with embarrassment as the stupid bond mark on my wrist pulses like a second heartbeat. Agreeing to his claim.

Then his phone buzzed. 

A message flashed: NOVA STERLING DNA MATCH 97.7 %. Kieran's grip on my necklace tightens. “Who are you? Are you truly the real Sterling Heir?” 

The necklace scorches my skin more as footsteps echo towards us. Then I headbutted him and replied. “I am your worst nightmare!”

He stumbles back, and the necklace pendant splits apart. Red light explodes everywhere. My bones ache, and goosebumps rise on my skin. 

The footsteps stormed in. Black-uniformed guards surrounded Kieran, pointing their guns at him.