Page 107 of The Alpha’s Heir

They were breathing statues, all except for the man who stood by the decorative fireplace.

I sniffed.

Not a man. The fur on my wolf’s hackles raised. A god.

The smirk on his chiseled face spoke of hidden promises, and not the kind you’d want him to keep. My heart started racing as I wondered whom I’d come across this time. Gods really should come with regalia or some kind of distinct markers.

His skin was bronzed and hair a dark black that swept the side of his handsome face. The romance books I’d read so far got that much right. I hadn’t seen a god yet that was less than perfect.

Like Hades and Persephone back in Cerberus, this god wore almost human clothing. It was all black and dressier than the business attire the council was wearing, with silken slacks and button-down shirt suited more for a fancy event.

I thought of the wedding gown hanging in the closet upstairs and instantly felt sick.

“Who are you?” I asked softly, hoping he’d be more reasonable than any god I’d been introduced to so far.

The god’s smile widened as he assessed me with that cool and calculating gaze. “Did the Morrigan not teach you anything, wolf?”

Great. Another asshole.

He snapped his fingers and my wolf let out a frustrated howl, fighting against the compulsion that made my knees buckle and hit the floor.

“That’s better,” the god said. “Your kind used to know when to kneel.”

He’s either lying, or he doesn’t know I’m an alpha. My wolf thrashed within.

Since when do the gods tell the truth?

“My apologies,” I gritted out through clenched teeth, buying time as I tried to think how to get us out of here. “What we know of your kind is lost to the ancient history books.”

“Don’t bore me with your mortal excuses.” He waved his hand in the air, dragging the high-backed velvet chair closer with the magic of his will, and took a seat.

I used the time to look around again at the frozen faces of the council. “Are they okay?”

“They bored me too.” His sharp tone implied the rest of that threat. “Now, you… You were fun.”

He curled his finger and Justus jerked forward as if pulled on a marionette string. “Tell me, human. Why didn’t you marry your intended wolf bride?”

Sweat beaded on his skin as Justus twisted and jerked, moving each foot a painful inch until he stood at my side.

“Let him go. It wasn’t his fault.” Panic squeezed my chest when I realized I couldn’t crawl off my knees.

The god’s eyes narrowed at me. “It’s rude to speak out of turn. Should I silence you too?”

Threat taken.

Let me out. I’ll try and kill him.

When has that ever worked?

The god snapped his fingers.

Justus’s frantic voice filled the room. “We can still get married. Like I told Mom, that was always the plan. Just give us a second chance.”

“Silence.” The god waved his hand again, and Justus’s mouth shut.

He turned to me, sneering. “Has he always been this much of a coward?”

I licked my dry lips, refusing to answer.