On one level, Lee understood Kelsi's reluctance, but he hoped by opening up to her, she would do the same. Apparently, that wasn't in the cards just yet. He never had a problem winning women over, but those efforts didn't have marriage in mind.

As they walked through the zoo, he wondered what else he could do to break down Kelsi's barriers and get her to trust him. There were times he thought he made a breakthrough, but as quickly as those feelings flashed through the bond, they were instantly followed up with stoney resolve. It was as if she was at war with herself.

Lee suspected much of it had to do with their whole omega/alpha dynamic. He couldn't erase her past, especially the traumatic parts, but surely she had to see that once she was his luna things would be different. Maybe he could couch it in terms of the President and First Lady? He'd do his best to combat the bullying and prejudice that came with being of the lower caste and she would have power and influence to mold their society.

All good things, right?

Not to mention he could elevate her daughter to beta status. Riley would never have the strength and dominance of an alpha descendant, since they weren't related, but she'd out-rank her asshole father. He filed both points away to bring up later.

The elephant exhibit was a sprawling five acres of carefully curated grassland and clusters of large, sub-Saharan trees. Lee stood at the railing that overlooked the enclosure, watching as the great beasts lumbered along worn dirt paths.

"Oh, look at the baby!" Riley exclaimed next to him.

Lee glanced down at her and, as a smile curved his lips, a sudden wave of wildness ripped through him. His hands gripped the railing as his back bowed and he threw his head skyward, a snarl bursting from his straining throat. Gasps echoed in his ears, but they were distant and insignificant, like a mosquito's buzzing. A red film washed over his eyes as a low, primal voice coiled in the dark recesses of his mind: Find the alpha, kill the alpha, take his territory.

Lee grimaced, jaw aching as it stretched into a muzzle. No! Blood pounded in his ears as he sought to combat the involuntary transformation. I'm not going to fight Uncle Ryan!

This is city better, the voice argued, phantom claws pricking his skin. It has riches, the other place has dirt. You are younger and stronger. Take it—it's yours.

"NO!" Lee screamed, releasing his grip on the rail to clutch at his head. He dropped to the ground, curling over his knees as he struggled to keep the urges under control.

His wolf howled, darting across the endless trails of his mind to strike at the darkness. It lunged, sinking white fangs into a shifting band of thick coils that sported a pair of red eyes with stars for pupils. The snake hissed, a massive hood unfolding like a sail on its neck.

Out of the darkness, a different primal call trumpeted—wild, dominant, commanding. Lee's eyes snapped open and he found himself staring between the bent and twisted railings of the elephant enclosure. A massive bull stood on the savannah below, ears flapping as he tossed his head and blared a challenge. The snake spat venom and turned, slithering deeper into the void.

Lee sighed in relief and pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his heart thump wildly beneath his palm. Slowly, he reached out and grabbed the railing, distantly noting how the sturdy metal was now crushed in two places—and those indents looked suspiciously like his own fingers. He took a deep breath, then another, ensuring his feet were firmly planted before standing up.

Goddess, he sighed, blinking away the trickle of sweat dripping from his brow down into his eyes. That was a particularly nasty bout. It was evident—now more than ever—he had to leave Hecate City.

Down below, the bull elephant stopped tossing his head. The majestic creature lowered his trunk and turned, ambling away from the overlook as if nothing had happened. Lee raised his hand, silently thanking the dominant male for interrupting the episode.

With the spell broken, Lee turned around to find the rest of the patrons at the elephant enclosure staring at him in varying stages of shock. All the humans had fled, leaving the werewolves, faeries, and merfolk standing in a loose semi-circle around him. At the very edge was Kelsi, her face white as she gripped Riley tightly against her chest.

"What the fuck was that?" she spat in a trembling voice.

Ah, shit. Lee held up his hands as a group of zoo attendants raced up to them, drawn by the trumpeting of the bull elephant and a psychotic alpha werewolf. "Everything's fine," he attempted to assure them. "I had a little ... episode. I'm fine now."

It was then that he noticed that two of the employees held guns—and not of the tranquilizing sort. Lee glanced over his shoulder at the elephant, but the bull had moved away and disappeared behind a series of trees.

"Alpha Lee," one of the employees, a female beta, began cautiously. "Is everything all right?"

Latent pain spiked on one side of his jaw, no doubt from clenching and snarling. Lee rubbed his chin, working his jaw back and forth to assuage the discomfort. "Yes," he told them.

"It's the alpha rage," another beta explained, leaning over to his coworker—the one with a gun.

The woman nodded and asked Lee, "Are you certain you are fit to continue with your day?"

Please go home, you mean, he thought wryly. Not that he blamed them. He almost busted a guardrail and nearly caused a pachyderm stampede. Lee glanced at Kelsi and Riley. "I'm fine," he repeated, a pulse of Authority slipping out.

He saw the effects of the Authority in the zoo employees' change of posture. They straightened and nodded. "Of course, Alpha. Let's go," one of the men said, waving his hand. Although it wasn't a signal, the zoo patrons took it as one and also departed the platform.

When they were gone, Lee walked over to Kelsi and Riley. The omega loosened her grip on her daughter but kept her within the circle of her arms. "What was that?" she asked tightly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

He sighed. "It's what happens when two alphas are in the same territory for an extended time. It'll go away when we leave for Silver Rush." He looked at Riley; the kid's eyes flickered between her mother and Lee. "I promise, Kelsi, I'm fine. I'm not going to hurt or kill anyone." As long as I'm around Uncle Ryan, that is, he thought. "Search the bond," he pled as she remained silent. "Please?"

"Mommy?" Riley asked. "Can you let me go now?"

Other zoo patrons began to wander up to the elephant exhibit, blissfully unaware of what just transpired. Lee watched as families walked around them to get to the railing, a few people commenting on the crimped metal. He stood still and let them pass, hoping Kelsi could see that he wasn't going to reach out and rip someone's head off.

"Promise me," Kelsi said, her voice strained. "Promise me you have this under control."

He couldn't lie to her. "I do—for now. But I can't stay here much longer."

"Mommy," Riley said. "Can we see the rhinos now?"

Kelsi visibly swallowed and looked down at her daughter. "Yeah, we can, kiddo." She slowly straightened and released her hold on the girl.

"Yay!" Riley cheered.

Lee moved forward, but Kelsi reached out and grabbed him by the upper arm as he walked past. "Alpha or no," she whispered, glancing at Riley, "I will kill you if you hurt her." Releasing Lee, she pivoted and hurried to catch up with her daughter.

Lee stood there and gritted his teeth. Fuck. Just when he thought he was getting somewhere. Now he had more work to do. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he lengthened his stride to catch up with them.