Mine!

I push the lingering pain in my back into the deepest corner of my mind and focus on the prep counters. A rare, unexpected spark of energy carries me through the massive kitchen. I power through the dinner preparations. I chop, sear, and plate a lavish four-course feast. Caesar salads sit crisp and ready in large bowls. Bacon-wrapped shrimp sizzle on the hot pans. I carefully pull the beef wellington from the oven, pairing the heavy meat with roasted, braised Brussels sprouts. For dessert, I line up rows of delicate key lime pies.

I do not stop there. The formal gathering requires party snacks. I whip up platters of bruschetta, crispy crostinis, and tomato fritters. I arrange mini calzones, assorted veggie trays with thick dip, and rich chocolate truffles on silver serving dishes. I finished the desserts and veggie trays earlier today between the breakfast and lunch shifts, leaving me with less stress now.

Nix stretches in my mind. "You are actually smiling," she says. "I told you finding happiness in cooking would help."

"Maybe," I reply, wiping sweat from my forehead. "I think I just enjoy cooking real food for people, instead of the basic slop I usually make for the pack."

Whatever the reason, I do not mind the heavy workload tonight. A strange sense of pride swells in my chest as I look at the pristine plates.

Since it is a formal event, the pack hired actual servers for the dinner service. I stay hidden in the sweltering kitchen, making sure every plate looks perfect before it goes out the swinging doors. I am in the zone.

I peek through the small window of the kitchen doors after the servers clear each course. The guests seem to devour the food. Relief washes over me. As I scan the grand dining room, I spot Alpha Kaelen. He is getting progressively drunker. He knocks back glass after glass of amber liquor. His face is flushed red. Luna Helena keeps snatching his glass away from him, her face tight with annoyance, but he ignores her. He just barks rough orders at the trembling omegas to bring him more liquor.

The dining room is packed shoulder to shoulder. The crowd is too thick for me to get a better look at Alpha Gaelen Thorne. I scan the tables, but I cannot spot his towering frame. Near the front, Beta Roanna catches me peeking out from the kitchen. She flashes me a quick wink and gives me a thumbs-up. I manage a small smile and give her a little wave before pulling my head back into the kitchen.

Dinner ends, and the night transitions into a full-blown party. I help the servers haul the massive trays of party food to the long tables at the edges of the ballroom. I double-check the bars in the corners, ensuring they are fully stocked with ice and liquor. The DJ finishes setting up his massive speakers. Colorful neon lights slide across the polished dance floor. Helium party balloons and metallic streamers hang from the high ceiling. The first few guests start wandering in from the dining room.

That is my cue. I duck out the back door and leave the party behind.

Luckily, the hired servers will clean up the dining room tonight. That gives me extra time to restock the pantries and handle the guest rooms. I head upstairs to the cramped stockroom. My feet ache, and the fresh scabs on my back throb with a dull, burning rhythm. I ignore the pain and load up the heavy metal housekeeping cart.

I grab stacks of fresh towels, toiletries, and pantry snacks. I lean my weight against the heavy cart and push it down the quiet corridors. I hum a low tune to myself as I move from room to room. Despite the physical agony radiating through my body, an odd, quiet peace settles over me. The heavy bass from the ballroom downstairs is just a distant, muffled thud.

"You are in a good mood," Nix murmurs.

"I guess I am," I say, organizing a stack of tiny soap bars on the top shelf of the cart. "I am not sure why, though. My back is killing me, and my feet feel like they are going to fall off."

"Well, I am happy that you are happy for once," Nix says. "This version of you is pretty cool."

"Thanks, Nix. You are not half bad yourself."

I tackle the third and fourth floors first. I restock the rooms belonging to the ranked pack members. I work fast, keeping my head down. Finally, I drag the heavy metal cart down to the second floor. The guest suites. Housekeeping already scrubbed the rooms and cleaned the bathrooms earlier today. My job is just the finishing touches. I need to restock the toiletries, the small pantry items, and the mini refrigerators.

I make quick work of the large rooms. I push the cart into the Betas' suite. I restock their small kitchenette, making sure to leave extra bottles of San Pellegrino sparkling water on the counter. I swap out the wilting flowers in the vase for fresh ones. I prop up a little tent card with a handwritten smiley face next to the water bottles.

It is almost midnight now. Downstairs, the pack is still partying the night away. I pull the heavy door to the Betas' suite shut.

I turn and push my cart toward the final door at the end of the hall. The Alpha's suite. It is the last room left on my list. He has to be downstairs at the party with the rest of his pack, but survival instinct kicks in. I step up to the door and knock lightly.

I lean my ear against the thick wood. Silence. I hear no movement inside. I am not sure if he has even been in the room yet today, but I have to check the pantry and restock it just in case. I pull the plastic key card from my apron. I slip it into the electronic slot. The lock clicks, and a green light flashes.

Before I can push the handle down, heavy boots pound against the carpet down the hall.

"Hey, you! What are you doing there?" a gruff, deep voice barks.

I freeze. I assume he is a security guard doing rounds. I turn around, opening my mouth to explain that I am part of housekeeping. I mean, I am standing next to a giant metal cart full of snacks, towels, and drinks. I am only five feet tall. I do not even weigh eighty pounds. I do not know how much of a threat this guy thinks I could possibly be.

I peek out from under the brim of my worn hat. Two security guards march quickly down the hall toward me. But as they step into the overhead light, I realize one of them is massive. He is dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit, far too nice for a standard security guard.

He is the most handsome werewolf I have ever seen in my life.

He towers over the other guard, standing at least six foot six. He carries close to two hundred eighty pounds of solid, unyielding muscle. Broad, thick shoulders stretch the fabric of his suit. Dark, intricate tattoos crawl up his thick neck and cover the backs of his large hands. His black hair is slicked back, emphasizing a sharp olive complexion. He has a single eye the color of a crisp Granny Smith apple. A black leather eye patch covers his other eye.

The air shifts. A heavy scent hits my nose, rolling over me like a physical wave. Roasted coffee beans mixed with the sweet, rich bite of dark chocolate. The exact same intoxicating aroma from the courtyard.

My lungs lock up. My boots glue themselves to the carpet. I slowly push the brim of my hat up just a fraction to get a better look at his face.

Inside my head, Nix goes feral. She jumps wildly against the confines of my mind, pushing past the pain. "It's him! It's him!"

The word leaves both of our mouths at the exact same second. "Mate."

He does not hesitate. Alpha Gaelen Thorne closes the distance between us in three massive strides. A deep, guttural growl rips from his chest. He lunges at me. His massive hands grab my shoulders, and he shoves me backward. He does not realize how light I am. He slams me hard against the solid oak door.

The impact is devastating. The scabs on my back tear open in an instant. Agony explodes down my spine.

He traps me there. He plants his giant, tattooed hands flat against the wood on either side of my head, caging me in. I cannot escape. He drops his head, burying his face directly into the crook of my neck. He inhales deeply, dragging my scent into his lungs. My heart hammers a frantic, terrifying rhythm against my ribs. Total sensory overload crashes over me. Panic floods my veins. I feel weak, small, and trapped. He senses my weakness. He is going to kill me right here before his Alpha even gets the chance. Shit.

"Alpha Gaelen," the other guard says, hesitating a few feet away. "Is this omega trying to steal something?"

Gaelen's head snaps up. He bares massive, lethal fangs at the guard.

"Get BACK!" he snarls.

The guard stumbles backward, stopping dead in his tracks. His eyes go wide. "Alpha?" the guard stammers, a confused look crossing his face.

Alpha? Wait, what? Alpha. This cannot be right. The giant man pinning me to the door is the Alpha?

"MINE!" Alpha Gaelen roars, the sound vibrating through the floorboards.

The initial rush of adrenaline starts to fade. The burning sting in my back escalates into agonizing torture. I feel a sickening, wet warmth spreading across my skin. Oh crap. I am bleeding a lot now. When he shoved me against the door, the force pulled open almost all of the unhealed lash wounds. My shirt grows heavy and wet. The back of my clothes sticks to the slick surface of the oak door.

I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting back a whimper. I refuse to show him that I am weak. I do not want him to murder me right after I just found him. But who am I kidding? He can smell the fresh blood. There is no way he does not already know I am a wimp.

"Cal, I can't heal you fast enough," Nix whimpers in my head. Her voice sounds distorted, fading away into the distance. "Hang in there! The scars make it harder. I'm trying, but I feel so weak! We are losing too much blood."

Over Alpha Gaelen's broad shoulder, I see movement at the end of the hall. Luna Helena and Alpha Kaelen sprint toward us. Well, Alpha Kaelen is stumbling more than running, his face twisted in a drunken rage. Beta Vance, Beta Silas, and Beta Roanna are right on their heels.

My vision blurs. The hallway tilts. A wave of severe dizziness and nausea hits my stomach.

"Cal, what did you do?" Luna Helena screeches. She stands right in front of me now, but her shrill voice sounds like it is coming from underwater. "You insolent child!"

She raises her hand, pulling her arm back to slap me across the face.

She never makes contact.

Alpha Gaelen snarls, a sound of pure, terrifying violence. He shoots his hand out, catching Helena's wrist mid-air. He twists his grip. A loud, sickening crack echoes down the hallway.

Helena shrieks in agony. Alpha Kaelen lets out a furious roar and lunges.

The edges of my vision turn black. My knees turn to liquid. I watch the chaos unfold as if I am trapped inside a slow-motion dream. I cannot hear the specific words anymore, even though their mouths are open, yelling and screaming.

Alpha Kaelen drunkenly yanks Luna Helena's arm, pulling his screaming mate backward away from Alpha Gaelen. Gaelen stands over me, still snarling and bearing his fangs at them. The security guard shoves himself into the middle, trying to separate the raging Alphas. Beta Vance grabs Kaelen, trying to haul him back. Betas Silas and Roanna immediately drop into lethal, defensive stances, guarding Alpha Gaelen from the front.

A Crimson River guard named Judd materializes behind Alpha Kaelen just as Kaelen yanks on Luna Helena again. She cries out in fresh pain. Judd hauls his arm back and punches Alpha Kaelen directly in the jaw as hard as he can.

The sharp, metallic smell of fresh blood overpowers the scent of coffee and chocolate. I am shaking all over. My teeth chatter. I cannot tell if I am shivering from the sheer terror of the brawl or from the rapid blood loss. I reach inward, searching for my wolf. Nothing. I cannot feel Nyxia anymore.

I look around, wondering if anyone else notices the smell of blood filling the corridor. But they are all too busy arguing and throwing punches.

I look down. Thick, dark blood runs down the back of my legs. It streaks down the slick oak door and pools on the carpet, splashing in heavy, rapid drips. I feel the warm stickiness in my hair where it presses against the wood.

My legs finally give out. I start to slide down the door. I throw my hand out, my small, trembling fingers gripping Gaelen's thick, tattooed forearm.

The touch breaks his focus. He turns his head, looking back down at me. His single green eye snaps wide in shock as he registers the massive pool of blood forming at my feet.

"Help," I whisper, my voice cracking.

My legs collapse completely. I slip from his grasp, sliding down the slick wood. Before my body even hits the floor, the world plunges into total, suffocating darkness.