CHAPTER NINE: D SMELL OF JEALOUSY

Denric POV

We came out of the dark woods at a different place than we’d gone in. Somehow, we had managed to get miles off-course, even though we followed our own trail back. There was evil magic in that place, making things all twisted up. How else did it take so long to find Jessa when we’d run in practically the moment she’d disappeared into the trees?

I elected to stay in my wolf form as we headed toward town. Jarek carried Jessa in his arms, grunting every so often as he adjusted the way his arms were around her.

I hated how fucking jealous I was that she was letting him touch her. With the scent of her blood in the air, I wanted nothing more than to have her in my arms, to be the one comforting her. It was fucking insane how much I wanted it. My lip curled back over my teeth as I forced away that feeling, instead focusing on how unfair this whole situation was. Sure, I’d had the occasional wet dream about Jessa Malraux—okay, maybe more than occasional—but I didn’t want to be bound to her.

“We should go to my house,” Jarek said. “We have to discuss what just happened and how to move forward.”

“Why your place?” Cassian asked, sounding almost bored. “Denric’s place is closer.”

“I live in neutral territory,” Jarek answered.

Townsfolk were starting to step out onto their porches as we passed. With the streetlights blazing overhead, they saw three Alphas with the Omega that was meant to spend the night in the dark woods. Whispers, gasps, and confusion followed after us.

We had to get out of sight. Reluctantly, I shifted to human form. “My place. She needs medical care,” I grunted, jerking my chin in Jessa.

Jessa’s eyes met mine. The resentment in her gaze was just as powerful as mine. Good. If I was going to be fucking miserable with this arrangement, so could she. Why my wolf decided to change my entire life in the blink of an eye was beyond me. Even now, it growled in my chest, wanting me to get closer to her. It had always wanted her, but I’d always been able to hold it at bay.

Jessa Malraux was nothing but trouble. I’d known that from the time we were kids. She had been talking about seeing spirits lingering around my father. Saying it wasn’t his fault that he beat me and my mother, it was the spirits.

Nobody knew about that. Nobody. But somehow, she did. The humiliation of having a father, the man who was supposed to protect me, use his fists against me. My mother watched it happen and did nothing to stop it. And me, the son who should protect her, being unable to stop his fury from being turned on her.

The day he died was the best of my life. And today? Today was the worst.

Why would my wolf choose her of all people? She was untrustworthy. She used your secrets against you. She lied and schemed and was bound to betray us. For all I knew, she had cast some sort of magic spell on me and the others to trick our wolves into wanting her. She wasn’t what I wanted, and yet here I was. I want her.

Jarek adjusted his hold on her again. After carrying her through the forest, his arms must be getting tired. I grunted as I reached to take her from him.

“I can walk,” Jessa said quickly, cringing away from me. She squirmed in Jarek’s arms, forcing him to put her down.

I dropped my arms, narrowing my eyes at her. She stared back, searching my face with an unexpected, raw vulnerability. I opened my mouth to tell her she shouldn’t be walking in her condition, and she inhaled sharply, bracing herself. It drew me up short. She was looking at me as though she expected me to jump her and start beating her at any moment.

My hands clenched into fists, and I instantly relaxed them.

I would never lay a finger on her. I’d never touched her, and I would never touch her. She had no reason to think I would harm her, unless she thought I was the same sort of man my father was. Maybe she did. Or perhaps it was all a trick, meant to make me feel sympathetic for her. Maybe.

Or maybe she had been through a fucking terrifying situation, being sent to die by the Elders. Maybe she was in shock from being attacked by an evil spirit that wanted her blood. That forced her to be our mate just as much as it forced us to be her mate. Did it force the bond, though? We all raced in after her. The bond was already there, otherwise, why would I have felt so protective of her?

And why did I feel so goddamn guilty on the way to the dark woods, watching her shoulders shake as she walked beside her brother? Why had I wanted to protest the moment the Elders decreed she would be the sacrifice?

I’d been silently leading the group all this time, and we arrived at my house. It was a big, empty thing. Unlike the other Alphas, I didn’t have Omegas or anyone else taking care of my place for me. I spent as much time as possible away from the house, my memories full of danger, hate, and terror. My mother had lived with me for a while after my dad died, until she moved in with her new mate. She was happy now, leaving the house even emptier.

If it were up to me, I’d burn the house to the ground and start over. Once we were inside, I let out a breath of resentment and relief.