“But Chad...he was so damn desperate to make a name for himself. He didn’t care that they wanted to surrender, that they were ready to talk terms. He went in with his betas and killed every last male in the pack, and did it in front of the women and children.”
“Holy shit,” said Shana. “How did you hear about this?”
“Because he bragged about it to me, obviously. He told me like he expected me to be impressed that he murdered a bunch of beaten bears when they were ready to surrender.”
“That’s fucked up,” said Lexi.
“Totally fucked up. And you know the worst part? The elder alphas were beyond impressed.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I feel like I’m surrounded by a bunch of barbarians.”
Shana gave her a sympathetic nod. “It sounds wrong, but you know that’s what it takes to stand out in shifter packs. You don’t exactly get people singing songs about alphas who graciously accept surrender terms.”
“And I’m going to be imprinted by him. You know what that means, right? I’m going to be joined to him for the rest of our lives—just like the good little omega I am.”
“It’s nature, Lexi,” said Shana. “I know it doesn’t seem fair. But that’s the way of things, right? Alphas lead the pack, conquer other clans, take new territory.”
“And omegas stay home like obedient little housewives, making sure the cabin looks nice for when her alpha comes home covered in blood. Oh, and crank out kids—lots and lots and lots of kids,” she said, echoing Shana’s words.
“It won’t be all bad,” said Shana. “I mean, if you’re going to be stuck with an alpha, isn’t it nice you’re at least stuck with the best? I mean, Chad’s going to be leading this pack one day. And you’re going to be right there at his side. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to, I don’t know, balance out his, uh, less civilized impulses.”
Lexi shook her head. “Not likely. Guys like him don’t exactly listen to women. In fact, it’s a sign of weakness for alphas. I’d make a suggestion and he’d laugh right in my face, tell me if we ran the pack like I wanted we’d get stomped on as soon as the nearest pack smelled weakness.”
She took a sip of her beer and shook her head.
“And maybe he’s right. It doesn’t matter. Whatever I want, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to be imprinted on by Chad, and that’s effectively going to make me his property.” But though she said the words to calm herself down and come to terms with her situation, they had the opposite effect. “It’s bullshit! It’s freaking twenty-twenty, but with shifters, it’s more like ten-twenty. Women are supposed to be property?”
Shana gave her a sympathetic look. “I know it sucks. And speaking of which, did you get another chance to try to make your case to your parents?”
Lexi scoffed. “About going off to Seattle for college? I talked to them again about it last night, and they were just as stubborn as ever. And it’s crazy, right? It’s not like I’m asking for anything too far-fetched. All I want is a few years to live on my own and study English. Then when I come back, I’ll be the perfect omega that Chad wants.”
“And what do they say?”
“The same thing they always say: that four years at college is four years that I won’t be having kids. And worse, in their eyes, it’s four years that I’ll be exposed to the ‘temptations’ of the human world.” She rolled her eyes at the word, saying it with a mock scary tone. “It’s like they’ve never considered the possibility that maybe going out into the world would let me bring back some actual modern ideas.”
“That’s probably what they’re afraid of. The elders are fearful of change.”
Before the two of them could go on, Chad locked eyes again with Lexi from across the bar. But this time, he didn’t only stare for a moment before turning his attention back to his drink. Instead, he pointed right at Lexi with his thick index finger and spoke.
“Everyone!” he said, his deep voice booming. “I want everyone’s fucking attention.”
Marley’s was a shifter bar, and that meant they all silenced, giving the alpha the attention he demanded. He stepped over to Lexi, his black boots thumping on the wood floor. When he reached Lexi’s side, he stared down at her, animal hunger in his eyes.