Vivian tried to grab hold of him again, but Donovan stepped away from her. She pouted up at him. “What was that for? Upset that I knocked into your newest toy? Please, Don. Don’t be ridiculous. You know you’ll get bored of her and be back in my bed by the end of the week.”

By the end of the week? Yeah. That wasn’t happening.

“Meredith Molloney is my true mate, and I’ll not have you insulting her.”

The bitch laughed, and this time when she looked at me, there was madness in her eyes.

I’d never forget the first time I saw madness in a Were. I’d just turned thirteen when the Wayfarers were called to Washington State. I’d been allowed to go because it was supposed to be an easy trip. A fight between two pack members had escalated into a rift in the pack, and the Alpha needed help figuring out what was going on. When we got there, Dad had set a meeting with one of the men in question. Somewhere in the middle of the conversation it was like a switch had flipped. The madness had been visible—radiating out of him—and it’d made my skin crawl. He took out four of our wolves before Miles had finally snapped his neck.

Dealing with Vivian was going to be so much worse.

I fought a shudder as I kept staring her in the eyes. I wasn’t going to look away. Not a chance in hell. Power plays with mad wolves were dangerous, but this was our first encounter. I had to be strong now or she’d always have the upper hand.

“Back down. Or we will have a problem.” I tried to keep a calm facade going as we stared down each other.

It took what felt like a good ten minutes—but it was probably only seconds—before Vivian finally glanced down.

“True mate? Really, Don. I thought you were too old for such silly fantasies. We all know they don’t exist.”

“It would be better for you if they didn’t exist, but they do,” I said. “I know of two other true matches, and Donovan and I are a third. If you can’t get over that then you should think about leaving this pack.” Despite what I said, I knew she wouldn’t leave on her own, and even if she did, I couldn’t let her become another pack’s problem.

“She’s my true mate. You’ll respect her as such.” Donovan’s words cracked like a whip.

“You haven’t finished the bond.” Vivian’s glare sent a shiver down my spine “So, I’ll treat her as I do any newbie who has to earn her place in my pack.”

I started to lunge toward her, but Donovan stopped me.