Page 39 of The Alpha’s Heir

I’ll bite gentle.

No biting your future mother-in-law.

Which reminded me of the very real reason I was even here, marrying someone who wasn’t my own mate. When I glanced back at Roman, there was a spark in his eyes. A look that changed his stone face into something… different.

“Actually, Councilwoman. Can I have a word with you?” Roman asked.

I itched to stick around and hear what he had to say, so I slowed my steps. Though I’d be able to hear them much further away than a human could.

“If this is about the gods thing again, don’t bother,” Helen hissed under her breath. “Our scientists agree that this is the only choice.”

Gods thing? Now I really wanted to know what was going on. I stopped dead in my tracks.

“It can’t be.” Roman was staring at me, but he quickly looked away as I turned back. “Never mind. You all know best.”

With that, he spun on his heel and marched straight out of the house, leaving me standing there wet and confused with a painful tug in my chest.

Let me out. I’ll chase him down.

Helen’s frustrated glare turned to me. “Will you please get dry clothes on? You’re dripping water all over the floors like a…”

She didn’t finish the sentence.

It was probably a good thing, because I was already holding onto my wolf by a thread as another wave of despair washed over me.

13

Roman

“The only reason you were assigned to this mission is that the councilwoman requested you by name.” Colonel Williams seethed, his cheeks red under his mustache, as I stood at attention in front of his desk. “But if you can’t handle this duty, I have no problem throwing you back to candidate school for some reformation.”

“I understand, Colonel.” I stared straight ahead, keeping my stance controlled, giving nothing away.

Like the fact that I hated this fat asshole.

If he thought threatening me with a demotion and schoolyard duty was enough to make me quiver in my boots, he had another think coming.

Unlike him and his pampered career bought by daddy’s money, I’d actually worked my way up the enlisted ranks the past seven years before being commissioned as an officer.

But a niggling voice told me we weren’t so different after all. Hadn’t I accepted the councilwoman’s help to get into officer candidate school?

My reasoning may have been different for putting on these collar devices and new uniform, but we were both in the same chain of command.

And he was still my commanding officer.

“I won’t make another mistake,” I said, even though I’d followed protocol exactly and I’d told the councilwoman—told the colonel—that all this was a bad idea from the beginning.

I guessed it didn’t matter how high up the ranks I made it, I’d still be a nameless no one from the lower levels that nobody listened to.

“I don’t care what the councilwoman says, keep that mutant off the streets and out of the public eye so we don’t start a riot,” he said. “They think science controls this city and will protect them from these god creatures? They forget it’s the iron fist that keeps this wheel turning. You’d do best to remember that, soldier.”

“Aye, Colonel.” My teeth were grinding together as I nodded, unable to say anything else as I watched what I was sure was a sinking ship.

I knew the stories. Knew exactly what we’d face when the gods decided to grace us with their presence again. And I knew how ill-equipped our society was to handle it.

How are you supposed to watch the world fall apart, knowing you’re powerless to stop it, while still showing up to work each day?

“Get out of my sight,” Colonel Williams spat.