LOGINCatriona’s POVThe arena quietens and the air thickens with anticipation. Hela and Nyra size each other up and then like an invisible sign was dropped, the two of them shift and their wolves attack each other. Nyra is a Blood-bound warrior and it shows. Her wolf looks even more powerful than I remember, huge with a sleek brown coat, her blue eyes flashing with bloodlust as she leaps for Hela’s wolf. She is fast and vicious, holding back nothing as she attacks again and again. But Hela has never been a pushover. I always thought that Hela’s wolf reflects more of her temperament than her human self. Her coat is closer to ginger than brown, a large missile of fiery violence that neutralizes each of Nyra’s attack with uncanny ease and attacks right back, forcing Nyra’s smaller brown wolf back. Their snarls shakes the arena and I breathe through the tension in my gut. The other wolves watch with rapt attention, everyone committed to the outcome of this duel. After a few strikes and coun
Catriona’s POVThe official countdown to the one month of doom has begun. As usual, I head to the arena early in the morning but I’m on my way to the farthest one which is more exclusive when I hear loud cheering and applause from thr closer ones. I stop on the way and decide to indulge my curiosity with a quick peep. I wish I didn’t. In the middle of the arena is Nyra, sweat beaded on her chest, her forehead as she throws a male three times her size across the room. The arena explodes with loud cheers again and she runs after the stunned man. He quickly recovers and tries to hold his ground against her but she shows no mercy, easily breaking down the defence of the male. My lips press into a grim line as I watch. She is way more powerful than I expected, it is to be expected if her family is as powerful as she says. In a few more seconds, the man taps out in surrender and the duel ends in her victory. “Nyra! Nyra! Nyra!!” The gathered werewolves yell. She throws her arms up and s
Catriona’s POVThe hall empties, everyone except Nyra who lingers at the door, looking between Alpha Kael and I, visibly reluctant to leave the both of us alone. “Now, Nyra!” Alpha Kael commands, his voice layered with his wolf’s and Nyra startles and leaves with one last condescending look thrown my way. I almost wish she hadn’t, I don’t want to be alone with Alpha Kael when he is so close to losing control. I watch him warily, keeping the table between us. “What do you want?” I ask and he moves around the table, heading straight for me. I jerk upright, fighting the urge to run screaming aa he stops in front of me, oppressing me with his Alpha aura, basically shoving it down my throat. “You will take Lucian?” He asks in a low dangerous voice. “That is what got your panties in a twist?” I ask him with a roll of my eyes. “It was the best solution, he’s your beta, he’s good-looking-“Before I can finish, he grabs my waist and I squeal as my ass lands on the high table. He presses c
Catriona’s POVMy stomach bunches up in nerves as I approach the huge double doors that leads to the meeting hall. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.” Peony says. “Mattie baked some delightful muffins and I can have them delivered to you while you relax in the gardens.”“No, I have to do this.” I say and take a deep breath. “Don’t miss me.” I wiggle my fingers in farewell and she huffs and leaves, no doubt thinking that I am the most impulsive, recalcitrant child ever but my mind has been set. I smooth a hand down the fabric of my black tunic. I settled for the tunic and pants rather than wear the gowns that Peony pulled from my wardrobe because those gowns were highly decorated, more suitable for fancy events than a council meeting. The truth is I don’t wear gowns at all, a habit I adopted from my fighter sisters, so the tunic is just fine. I approach the doors where there are two wolves guarding it and I wonder what for, it’s not like anyone is going to attack them in t
Catriona’s POVIf feels like I have not seen my sister in ages. I started avoiding her after our last altercation and she must have been doing the same. “Yes. I’m sorry about last time.” She says finally. “I shouldn’t have slapped you, it was tactless and immature of me.”I shrug, relieved that we are finally addressing that. “I mean, it won’t be the first time you beat the shit out of me.” I reply, trying to make light of the situation and she winces. “Last time was different, I lost control and… said alot of things that I didn’t mean.”“It’s fine.” I reply. “Everyone knows what a temper you have.”“Even though, it won’t happen again.” She says and I nod. “Is that what you wanted to say?” I ask. “No there’s more.” Hela replies and takes a deep breath. “You need to forfeit the duel.”I suck in a sharp breath. “I should what?” I ask, feeling an instant souring of my stomach. “This is important, Cat.” Hela says. “You know about the Redhound alpha now, you know how important this
Carriona’s POV“Alpha Kael!!! I’ve missed you so much.” Nyra sighs, wrapped around my mate and my hands slowly curl into fists. Everything about this grates, especially the over-familiarity in their tone. Didn’t Peony say that it was basically an arranged marriage? If he was forced into it, why do they look like long-lost lovers? My fingers groan and I see red. “Nyra.” He says her name ever-so-gently, like he’s talking to a delicate flower, a tone I wouldn’t dare dream of him using with me even in my wildest dreams. Oh, isn’t this situation a peach?I clear my throat loudly, pointedly but the sound is lost on her. Her face is still buried in his neck as she hangs on to him tightly. Oh for fuck’s sake!I stomp forward and grab her arm, yanking it off Alpha Kael and she rounds on me with a hiss. I paste a smile on my face and extend a hand. “Hello, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m-“The sound of the slap echoes first before the pain of it blooms on my cheek. My hand flies







