Chapter 3 Sworn Loyalty

"You can sit," he says, nodding toward the chair beside me.

I glance at it like it might bite, then slowly perch on the edge, my gaze flicking to the door where my parents wait.

When I look back, he's watching me again. "Your name is Katya?" he asks, his pronunciation perfect. Most people get it wrong the first time.

"Yes, Alpha."

"You can call me Ezra," he says, and I nod silently.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

He scans the papers on his desk-my parents' forms, my birth certificate. He picks it up and studies it.

"You turn eighteen soon," he muses. "You'll be able to find your mate. That's exciting."

I don't respond. No one wants a defective wolf, a girl whose inner beast won't even wake up. I'm barely more than human, just with better hearing and a nose that actually works.

"You go to school?" he asks.

I nod. "Last year."

"You'll finish this year," he says with finality. No room for argument.

"You don't seem to like school" he added

I bite my lip. "Does anyone actually like school?"

He chuckles. "I did. You don't? That's surprising, coming from a Beta's daughter."

I say nothing. School was fine-until they found out. Until the whispers started.

Ezra leans back slightly. "Your parents mentioned a... situation with the previous Alpha's daughter. Said your mother struck her."

I nod, keeping my mouth shut. Technically true. Just not the reason we left. Let them think what they want-anything is better than the real story.

"Good enough for me," he says, his lips twitching with distaste. "I can't stand Alpha Jackson. The prick should've been put down years ago."

He stands. "Come here."

I freeze. My chair scrapes back an inch involuntarily. His eyes narrow slightly, reading my fear.

"I won't hurt you," he says softly. "I would never hurt you."

He holds out his hand.

I place mine in his, and a jolt runs through me-sharp and strange, like a spark under my skin. I yank my hand back, blinking.

"Static," he says casually, though his smirk suggests otherwise.

He takes my hand again, his fingers warm and calloused, tugging me gently toward him. My heart thunders in my chest.

He's tall, solid, his frame radiating restrained power. I barely come up to his chest. His presence is magnetic-calm on the surface, but I can feel the storm beneath.

Ezra lifts his wrist to his mouth and bites down. Blood wells up instantly.

I stare, horrified, as he raises it to me.

"You've got five seconds, little one," he murmurs. "Tick-tock."

He wraps his arm around my waist, drawing me closer. My pulse spikes. The scent of him-pine and storm-wraps around me. Overwhelming.

I hesitate only a second longer, then lean in.

I press my lips to his skin. Warmth. Salt. Iron. His blood tastes... odd. Not foul, not bitter. Almost sweet. I can't tell if it's the blood or the man himself, but it surprises me.

He pulls his wrist away but keeps me against him, chest to back.

"Now pledge," he whispers, breath brushing my ear. His voice vibrates through me.

I swallow.

"I, Katya Hartley, pledge my loyalty and my life to Alpha Ezra..." I pause, faltering. I don't know his last name.

He leans closer, lips nearly brushing mine. "Pierce," he whispers.

I force the words out. "To Alpha Ezra Pierce of Black Creek Pack."

The moment the words leave me, pain detonates in my skull. Blinding, brutal. I drop to my knees, crying out as white-hot agony floods my mind.

Every voice from my old pack screams through me-memories, orders, insults, lies-shattering like glass.

And then, just as suddenly, it stops.

Like a string snapping.

"You're okay," Ezra says softly, still holding me upright. His voice echoes in my head now, inside the pack link.

I look up, disoriented. He's smiling.

"You good for me to let go?" he asks.

I blink, dazed. His arms are around my waist, just under my chest. My face burns with sudden awareness. I'm wrapped in the arms of the man I just pledged my life to, and now I can't stop noticing how warm he is. How solid. How close.

I step back quickly. He releases me without resistance, though his eyes linger.

His gaze goes distant for a second, and then the door bursts open.

My parents rush in.

"You okay?" my father asks, fussing over me.

"See? Told you it wouldn't be that bad," he says.

I bat their hands away, cheeks still warm. "I'm fine. Seriously."

Ezra stands behind his desk again, his attention shifting. "You'll stay in the pack house tonight. Tomorrow, I'll show you to your new home."

He glances at my mother. "Why did you request a place so far out?"

"Kat doesn't get along well with others. She prefers space," my mother answers before I can.

Ezra looks mildly surprised. "Why is that?" he asks, directing the question to me now.

"I just like being alone," I say with a shrug, eyes on the floor.

He presses his lips into a thoughtful line, but doesn't push.

"You'll move in tomorrow. I've already enrolled Katya in school-she starts Monday. Skip the pack run on Friday. Report here Monday morning for work assignments."

"Pack run?" I echo before I can stop myself.

My mother nudges me sharply.

Ezra notices. "Pack runs are mandatory. Problem?"

"No problem," my father answers quickly, giving me a warning look.

Ezra's gaze shifts to my mother. "How are you with training teenagers?"

"I trained Katya," she says. "Mostly older girls, but I can manage."

He nods, considering. "Good. The high school could use another trainer. You can keep an eye on Katya there as well."

My mother lights up. "That would be lovely. Thank you, Alpha."

Ezra's eyes flick to me again, lingering before he turns to my father.

"My Beta will show you to your room for the night," he says, lowering into his chair.

The meeting's over. But something in the air between us lingers.

Something that won't go away.