Alpha

“She said step back, Jake.” The man’s voice was low, but, to my ears, it was a roar, the power it contained almost tangible.

Zane?

“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know she was yours —” But before he could get another word out, Zane’s fist smashed into his jaw. Blood splattered, some of it getting on me as Zane let him drop.

“Get out of here, Jake. You’re drunk.”

Jake stumbled up onto his feet, muttering something sounding like a sort of apology. He pulled his keys out of his pocket, but Zane took them. “Walk. Pick up your keys tomorrow.”

“It’s five miles to my house!”

“Fresh air will do you good.”

All this time, I watched his back, saw how much bigger he’d gotten, how the T-shirt he wore stretched tight over thick shoulders and arms. He’d always been big, built well, but now, tattooed flesh covered hard muscle, his clothes hugging him tight as if trying to contain an insuppressible energy.

Once Jake was far enough away, Zane slowly turned to me. My breath caught as angry black eyes met mine, the almost animal-like frenzy glowing in their depths making me shudder.

I wasn’t the only one who had changed.

His face remained tense as he looked me over from head to toe, his black eyes burning into mine just like they used to do. Except one thing was different. There wasn’t anything playful left in them, not anymore. Not a trace of the man — the boy — I’d known.

“You okay?” His voice came low, and if I’d expected tenderness, I’d have been disappointed.

I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry, and it took me a minute to speak. “Fine.” I hadn’t thought about what I’d feel once I found him, once I saw him again for the first time. It surprised me that my primary emotion following the initial shock of seeing how he’d changed was anger.

“Then please explain to me what you think you’re doing here, Aria.”

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