Page 14 of Psycho Shifters

Little jewels were embedded in the fingers, and my skin burned where they pressed into my neck.

Cobra’s skin was warm, but his diamonds were cold.

I didn’t let men touch me. Ever.

“Release me.” I slammed my heel down as hard as I could atop the bridge of his foot and shoved my elbow back into his solar plexus.

Instead of releasing me, or even grunting in pain, Cobra laughed. A silky chuckle.

The hand around my neck tightened, and I saw stars behind my eyes. My elbow burned with pain where it had collided with his abs.

“What is it, Zed?” Jax asked the boy, who was keeled over and panting like he had been sprinting as fast as he could.

“The oligarchy just sent urgent word. The girl is an alpha. She is the next alpha. They have confirmed it. Don’t hurt her!” The boy, Zed, pointed at me and looked terrified, like he expected Cobra to snap my neck.

I wouldn’t put it past him.

“My name is Sadie, not girl.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest and tried to look intimidating, which was hard with a hand still wrapped around my neck.

“Bullshit.” Cobra released my neck and shoved me away like I burned.

It took me a moment to realize he wasn’t talking about my name, but that Zed had said I was an alpha.

“There is no fucking way this princess is an alpha. There are no female alphas. They made a mistake.” Ascher stomped his foot with frustration and ran a hand along one of his horns.

From the fire in his amber eyes, it was clear he was a hothead.

I was used to his type: big babies who took their anger out on everyone else.

“Are you sure?” Jax tilted his head to the side and inspected me, like he was searching for some sign that I was a psychotic alpha that could shift into a beast.

“Yes, the oligarchy has confirmed it!” Zed said, gesturing at me like I was a busted fork he was trying to sell. It was hard to watch.

Jax nodded like he had come to a conclusion. “We need all the help we can get. Fine, we’ll bring her in and test her mettle.”

“No fucking way,” Ascher said.

At the same time, Cobra laughed. “We’re gonna kill her.”

All three alphas stomped toward the fortress, not bothering to make sure I followed.

They didn’t view me as a threat.

Zed came up to me. His big brown eyes were sincere, and when he smiled at me, he seemed genuinely kind. A rare trait in the shifter realm.

He said, “Sorry about that. We’re honored to have another alpha at portal three, since it has been many years since another was found. I’m a null shifter. It’s a big deal that you’re an alpha. Congrats.”

“I think the sacred lake made a mistake,” I said and rubbed the back of my neck as we followed the alphas.

I didn’t feel like celebrating.

An alpha wouldn’t be covered in scars; they would be strong enough to protect themselves.

“The lake never makes mistakes. I feel good about having you here.” Zed patted my back, and I tried not to wince when he hit one of the still-healing belt wounds.

I shifted away from his touch, and he quickly dropped his hand.

The boy was terrible at reading situations.