Page 55 of Defiance
Thinking about Michael in any way wasn’t going to help, so Cole focused on Logan, on the heat of his body, his smell, and most of all, the reason they were all doing this. By the time they reached the edge of the mat, he had himself under control.
He hoped.
Everyone quieted immediately, the group of shifters parting like the red sea to give Michael an unimpeded view.
“Hello, Cole.” Michael didn’t walk towards them and didn’t offer any other greeting. Cole mentally rolled his eyes.
What was I expecting? A handshake?
And what the hell am I supposed to call him?
Alpha?
He couldn’t force himself to say it.
“Hello.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, maybe at the lack of honorific or maybe at whatever emotions Cole was giving off. Who knew? But he didn’t comment on it. Instead he beckoned Cole forward, and knowing he had no choice, Cole went.
Logan and Aaron stayed where they were and Cole felt their absence acutely, even though he was surrounded by shifters.
Michael regarded him curiously, head cocked to one side, as though Cole were a lab specimen. His gaze dropped to the tattoo on his arm, lingering as he took in the colours and detail of West’s work.
It had healed far quicker than if he’d still been human. What would normally take two or three weeks reduced to a few hours.
“It looks good on you,” Michael said, finally.
The words made Cole’s skin prickle.
Michael’s gaze swept upwards to the bite mark on Cole’s neck. The mark Max had left when she bit him had all but disappeared, only a very faint scar remaining, but Michael saw it as clear as day if his frown was anything to go by.
He laid a hand over it, and Cole fought not to flinch. Closing his eyes and drawing in slow, measured breaths, he quashed the part inside him, theanimalpart that rebelled at Michael touching him.
You’re not my alpha.
The words hit him hard, more tangible than a thought because he knew it deep inside. No matter what connection he felt with Logan, this didn’t feel like his pack because it wasn’t.
“It feels wrong, doesn’t it?” Michael’s voice, coaxing in its softness, lulled Cole into speaking without thinking.
“Yes.” He heard Logan’s short intake of breath, but all his focus was on Michael in front of him. He might not feel like Cole’s alpha, but the aura of power he exuded was impossible to ignore.
“Because you’re not mine.” He stroked his fingers over Cole’s skin, tracing Max’s mark. “You’re conflicted because your wolf knows. This—” He waved a hand at the shifters watching. “—is never going to work because our instincts won’t let it.” He sighed and tsked. “It’s my fault. I should’ve realised.” He laughed softly, but Cole felt more than heard the hard edge to it. “But then we’ve never had to deal with something like this before.”
It happened so fast.
Cole barely processed Michael moving before he’d grabbed Cole’s hair, yanked his head to one side, and sunk his fangs into the base of his throat.
His feral growl reverberated around the room, and Cole felt it in his bones.
Oh God, it hurt.
Pain lanced through his neck, his pulse throbbing in his ears. But instead of reaching up to push Michael off, Cole went limp, his wolf howling in submission as something inside him slotted into place.
He didn’t want it, didn’t want to accept what was happening, but was helpless to stop it. Max’s bite hadn’t had this effect on him, but then, she wasn’t an alpha.
It was over as quickly as it had begun.
Michael retracted his teeth, wiping a hand across his mouth to get rid of the blood.
