Chapter 2

SYLVIA

I watched horrified as Hunter shoved Drake away from me. Drake’s incisors lengthened immediately. He roared his displeasure. Several howls followed. I covered my ears at the sound. The unmated wolves of the Black Crescent Moon began shifting. So did Hunter’s pack members. Most of the women fled the banquet hall. I wished I could as well.

“Alpha Drake, I warn you for the last time. Step away from my mate. She no longer belongs to you.” Hunter’s muscles bulged underneath his suit. He ripped his jacket off and flung it away. His shirt followed and his trousers as well. He kicked off his shoes, one by one.

Drake howl-laughed at him. The sound sent waves of terror coursing through me.

“She’s your mate? My little bitch? You try and take her, I dare you.” Drake spat in contempt at Hunter.

I needed to get away from them. I felt trapped. Hunter growled in response to the taunt. He was about to shift.

“Ignorant pup!” Drake sneered at Hunter, “Do you know who I am?” His wolf Lycus started surfacing, black hair forming on his scarred face. Those scary red eyes glowing with insanity. I feared for Hunter.

“I do, you murderous coward.” Hunter snarled back at him, slowly circling the enraged Alpha. He moved lightly, like an athlete or a dancer. I stared, mesmerized. He was magnificent. Every muscle on his body was strung taught, ready to unleash.

The opposing packs snarled and yapped at each other, watching their alphas for a command. All the wolves felt the effects of the rising full moon. Its ochre rays were magnified through the floor length windows spanning the banquet hall. Tension so tangible in the air you could taste it, taking only one movement, one spark to set everything aflame.

Some of the other packs shifted, ripping through their clothes. Then all hell broke loose. Packs stormed each other, blood and fur flying as they collided. Howls of fury and pain echoed through the vast hall. Tables were overthrown, chairs broken. Pieces of broken glass flew past me. Scattered food littered the once pristine marble floor.

I huddled into a corner, trying to get away from the fray. Hugging my knees close to my chest I watched as Hunter and Drake shifted.

Hunter’s enormous grey and white wolf towered over Drake before he even finished his shift. I observed, holding my breath. Drake’s wolf seemed small compared to Hunter’s. His beautiful wolf stomped the floor with one giant paw. I could feel the floor beneath me quiver. The sound of his growl made the glass panels vibrate. He emitted such a powerful aura that the fight between the packs stopped and everyone submitted, baring their necks.

Except Drake.

The black wolf lunged at Hunter’s side, trying to knock him down. But he didn’t succeed. Hunter jumped away, out of reach. He circled the black wolf again, hackles raised, ears drawn back, tail tight to his body. Again, Drake charged, snarling furiously.  Hunter side-stepped him.

The incensed black wolf howled his fury to the ceiling. Hunter saw the opening and sprang. He

grabbed Drake by the throat. He bit down just hard enough to inflict pain and draw blood. Drake yelped in agony. Hunter let go and shifted back, effortlessly.

“Shift!” he commanded.

I could only stare enraptured at Hunter’s perfect naked form. He was a work of art.

Drake shifted back, neck bleeding. Crouching on all fours on the floor, he still snarled at Hunter, a ferocious glint in his red eyes. Without warning he sprang toward me, claws extended. I screamed out my horror as his claws missed my face by inches.

Hunter grabbed him by the hair, pulling him back from me. One arm encircled Drake’s neck, the other around his head. He was ready to snap his neck when King Lucien intervened.

“Stop this insanity now!” King Lucien shouted. “I will not tolerate this behavior in my palace. You have disgraced this sacred event, all of you.” He glared daggers at the crowd.

Every wolf stopped what they were doing and stood with bowed heads. Hunter shoved Drake away from him and stepped over to me. He held out his hand to me and helped me up.

“Are you hurt?” His eyes looked me over. I shook my head. Scared out of my mind, but otherwise unharmed. Thanks to Hunter’s quick reaction.

Holding me close to him with his nose in my hair I could feel his heartbeat under my cheek. My whole body shook.

Hunter whispered in my ear; “It’s over, Angel.”

I shot a quick glance at Drake. His eyes met mine and I hid my face against Hunter’s chest. His eyes held a promise. He would not let me go this easily.

“You!” King Lucien pointed at Drake, “You dare come between an Alpha and his mate? Take your pack members and get the hell off my property. Before I kill you myself.”

“She belongs to me.” Drake roared.

King Lucien stepped forward threateningly, arms out to the side. He was tall and broad. His face looked like thunder.

“Do you have a death wish, Alpha Drake?” he said calmly, eyes narrowed.

Drake moved back a step, avoiding King Lucien’s gaze. He licked the blood off his fingers, smiling. “I’m leaving, Alpha, for now.”

Drake turned to me. “This isn’t over, little mouse. You will never be rid of me. I had you first, remember that.” He glowered at Hunter who held me even tighter against his chest. “You mark my words, Sylvia; I will always be right there in your head.” He tapped the side of his head with one finger, his lips curled back in a wicked grin.  “She will be mine again, pup.”

“GET. OUT.” King Lucien’s voice thundered through the banquet hall. His warriors started moving forward, ready to attack at the king’s command.

Drake motioned to his pack and they piled out into the night, leaving me in Hunter’s embrace.