Page 21 of Psycho Shifters

My body was broken and covered in blood, yet I was still standing. In contrast, many of the betas were incapacitated by much weaker injuries.

Hold their gazes. Let them see your dominance. You could kill them all.

The numb had accomplished its goal.

No one viewed me as a weak little girl anymore.

I was covered in blood and broken all over, but for every pounding I’d received, I had hit back harder. Now they knew not to underestimate me.

It was a start.

Jax turned to address the betas, many of whom were now looking at me warily. Probably because I was covered in blood and had matching blood-red eyes.

“You have three hours to bathe and eat before strategy classes. We will meet in the black room for class tonight. We are the harbingers of fae death. Death to the queen.” Jax pumped his fist into the air.

“Harbingers of fae death. Death to the queen.” Everyone in the room raised their fists, mimicking him.

I didn’t move.

I turned to leave, but a massive body blocked my way. Jax leaned down so I could see his face without breaking my neck.

The mouthwatering scent of warm chestnuts wafted off him and stroked my senses. He really smelled delicious.

“There is a private bathing room on your wing. Use the pink salts. They help heal bones. And then you will join us in the dining hall, little alpha.” Jax’s voice was silky and his gray eyes warm.

Nodding, I forced myself to back away from him and the wonderful chestnut scent.

Disturbingly, I wanted to get lost in his gaze.

He was dangerous.

Men are monsters.

I wasn’t a little girl anymore, and the scars that mutilated my body were a permanent reminder of who I was and who the true enemy was.

I wasn’t about to get close to Jax, no matter how beautiful or kind he seemed, because no man was ever going to save me.

No one could save me but myself.

Jax stood with his hands fisted at his sides.

He looked like he was torn between wanting to offer me help and wanting to interrogate me.

He reached a massive hand forward but then turned on his heels and stomped away, and the hundreds of gold jewels in his hair jingled as he left.

Back straight. Flex your core.

Alone in the big gym, I rolled my shoulders back, sucked in air through my burning lungs, and began to limp slowly on a broken foot.

If I weren’t numb, I would have collapsed.

Zed stood in the hall, waiting for me. He prattled on about rooms and a healing tub, and I barely listened as I focused all my energy on shuffling behind him.

He didn’t notice my pain as he happily pointed out rooms and the alpha dining hall.

Apparently, the alphas ate and lived separated from the betas. Since I hadn’t transformed yet, I got my own wing with a room, and there was a bathroom down the hall.

Zed motioned to my room and ran off to do work.