Page 17 of Psycho Shifters

Use the element of surprise.

Straightening up, I widened my stance and bent my knees.

Cracking my neck back and forth, I let a small smile curl the edges of my mouth.

“Who the fuck is the little girl?” the large beta with the bushy brown beard said loudly from across the room. His words echoed.

I slowly backed away.

“Stay where you are, Sadie.” Jax’s head whipped around, and he stared at me with his gray eyes.

The only thing that stopped me from snapping back, or running away, was the fact that his voice wasn’t angry.

Strong alpha. Obey.

My subconscious acquiesced to Jax, and I obeyed mostly because I was shocked.

I didn’t bow to anyone, ever, especially not when numb.

Cobra stood at Jax’s side, his glare becoming even more hostile, and Ascher smirked.

It was clear they thought I was a little bitch for heeding to Jax.

I rolled my eyes at their antics.

They might be beasts, but I had known only monsters all my life. Their attempts at intimidation did nothing to me.

“What did you say?” Jax’s attention was fully on the beta who had called me a little girl. His gray eyes were cold and harsh, like the frigid realm outside.

“We were confused. Who’s the new girl?” The beta’s voice was respectful and subdued. He was a good actor.

“We have a new alpha to train,” Jax said calmly.

Instantly, the room erupted into whispers, and all the betas stared at me, some with expressions of awe, most in horror and disgust.

Kill them quickly, before they attack.

I tried to tune out the homicidal numb and focus on the betas in front of me.

I had to fight with them, not against them, in the war against the fae queen.

This was my new servitude.

“Apologies, sir, we had no idea.” The bearded man lowered his head and exposed his neck in a sign of subservience.

There was a long pause, then Jax nodded.

The betas let out audible sighs of relief that their alpha had accepted the apology.

Ascher whipped his head around to grin at me. It wasn’t a nice expression. “Let’s see what our new alpha can do.”

Ascher gestured to me mockingly.

His flame tattoos covered his neck and hands, and I tried not to notice how pretty his gold hair was. It practically gleamed under the skylights.

Cracking my neck back and forth, I grinned back at him.

I showed all my teeth.