Her voice hardened. “Let me assure you that if at any point I do decide to leave here, that’s exactly what I’ll do. But I won’t run. I’ll walk right on out of here while you watch.”

“I’d stop you before you got anywhere near the border.”

Ally knew her smile was a little feral. “You could try.”

Derren’s mouth curved. “You should know better than to challenge a Beta.” With that, he spun on his heel and strode away, taking Bruce with him.

Once he was out of sight, Ally exhaled a heavy sigh. Being so close to Derren was hard on her composure. Not just because his emotions battered at her, but because he pulled sexual reactions from her body that alarmed her.

She hadn’t realized that he assumed Cain was her mate, though she supposed it was an easy leap for him to make since Cain was so protective. For a single moment, she’d thought of correcting him. But instinct had made her stop. While the Mercury wolves thought Cain was her mate, they would be more inclined to let her be. After all, shifters would launch full-scale wars over their mates.

She didn’t like to lie, but this was just a teeny-weeny lie of omission that wouldn’t hurt anyone but might keep her safe from these people who didn’t like outsiders, didn’t like Seers, and didn’t want her here.

Sure, it was hiding behind Cain, in a sense. Her pride—as strong as that of any dominant female wolf—bristled at that. But her pride had also balked when she’d considered leaving the Collingwood Pack months ago, and look where that had gotten her. So if hiding behind Cain’s reputation would keep her safe, so be it.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ally kept her head held high as she walked into the main lodge the next morning. Any other time, she would have had a small breakfast in her own lodge. For one, she was very far from a morning person. And two, if the shifters were as unwelcoming as Derren predicted, it was going to be physically uncomfortable to be around them all. However, to turn down Shaya’s invitation would not only be seen as rude but as if she was scared to face the pack. Although Ally wasn’t interested in pointlessly striving to earn their approval or respect, she wasn’t going to have them thinking she was spineless. Shifters pounced on weaknesses.

In the kitchen, Shaya, Eli, and two males were seated at the long table, while Kathy was at the stove. Shaya beamed. “Morning! Come sit!” She patted the seat beside hers. “Guys, this is Ally.”

Instantly, Ally sensed that the two submissive males were mates. “Nice to meet you,” she said as she sat, wincing internally at her gruff tone. “I’ll seem friendlier when I’ve had coffee.” Reaching for the coffeepot on the table, she then poured some into the mug that had been left on a coaster in front of her.

The dark wolf tipped his chin, a slight curve to his mouth. “I’m Caleb. This is Kent.” Neither exuded any unwelcoming vibes. Instead, they appeared to be neutral on the subject of her presence.

The spiky-haired male’s words were unexpected. “I love all that long, silky hair.”

“Um, thanks.” Feeling something rub against her legs, she peeked under the table. Bruce. He’d settled at her feet, chewing on a slice of bacon.

“Like me, Kent used to be a hairstylist. Seeing such healthy, gorgeous hair is like a stroke to his senses.” Shaya took a sip of her own coffee. “How do you like your lodge?”

Ally smiled, knowing her delight was evident. “I love it.” After unpacking the night before, she had shifted forms and done a quick scout of the area to assure and calm her wolf, who had been going crazy at all the new scents and had wanted to explore. After that, both Ally and her wolf had felt calmer, lighter. And Ally knew that for as long as she stayed here—unwelcome or not—the lodge would be her haven.

Shaya’s next words were low. “Has Derren been okay with you?”

Apart from the fact that he made her want to do wicked things to his body? “Yeah, why?”

“He doesn’t always make the best first impression.”

Recalling his pushy, tenacious behavior, she said, “You’re right, he doesn’t.”

Shaya chuckled. “He’s a good guy. One of the most decent guys I’ve ever met, even if he is hard in many ways. Nick would never have chosen him as Willow’s godfather if that wasn’t the case. Derren adores her, just as she adores him. And he looks out for his pack, dutifully fills a role he doesn’t even want. But . . . he has a thing about Seers. It’s a blind spot for him. What I’m trying to say is: don’t take his sullenness personally.”

But how could Ally not take it personally? The Seer side of her nature wasn’t separate. If he had something against what she was, then it was most certainly personal. Instead of voicing that thought, she said, “Thanks for letting me stay here.”

Kathy plonked an empty plate in front of Ally, snatching her attention. “So . . . you’re a Seer.” Kathy had said “Seer” in the same tone one might use for “serial killer.” Again, the woman’s antipathy was like the slash of a razor.

And so it begins. “I am.”

A haughty sniff from Kathy. “You don’t get a lot of dominant Seers. They’re mostly submissive.”

“Are dominant Seers more powerful than submissive ones?” Eli spooned some cereal into his mouth. His dubiousness and distrust hadn’t left him, making her scalp prickle again.

“Not that I know of.” Ally piled some food onto her plate. “I think it just depends on the individual.” She hadn’t spent enough time around other Seers to really know for sure. It was difficult for two Seers to exist in one pack unless one of those Seers was a child. Adult Seers tended to clash and battle for the position, much like two alpha males would fight for the position of pack Alpha.