Chapter 1

Keiran’s POV

Tonight is shaping up to be a disaster of epic proportions, nothing at all like how I pictured the day I’d become an official pack member.

A pack welcoming ceremony is supposed to be a celebration, but any celebratory feeling is lost in the shadow of last night’s violence and bloodshed. Everyone is already nervous and on edge, and the gruesome sight of a head mounted on a spike in the center of the compound certainly

doesn’t help matters.

But Alpha Randy insisted we go through with the ceremony anyway.

The decision makes sense, I suppose. The challenge last night didn’t result in a shift of power since Randy won, but he probably wants to give the impression that doing so was so easy that everything is already back to normal. He wants to show how unaffected he is by the whole thing which—unfortunately for me—means performing this welcoming ceremony as scheduled.

And as soon as I shift, I’m as good as dead.

This might be my first time shifting with the pack, but it’s not actually my first shift. That happened about a month ago when I escaped into the woods after an alpha from another pack almost got me killed over something he did. I should have run as soon as I found my wolf form that night, but I was so upset over the betrayal of someone I thought cared about me that the

truth of what I am seemed inconsequential.

I’ve always been a little different, but I didn’t know exactly how different until after that first shift. And it wasn’t until I read about wolves like me in a book I stole from the pack cleric’s office that I realized my differences would likely end in my death if anyone found out the truth.

If I were smart, I would’ve run then. If nothing else, I should’ve taken off yesterday in all the commotion after the failed challenge.

But I didn’t.

I have no money, no car, and nowhere to go. My pack lives in the backwoods of Alabama and is the only family I’ve ever known—even if it’s kind of a shitty one. I have no clue how to navigate the world on my own.

My instincts are screaming at me to run now, but it’s too late. I can’t sneak away without anyone noticing when I’m already standing in front of the entire pack with the other five wolves being welcomed into the pack tonight. At this point, there’s nothing I can do but cross my fingers and

hope I can slip away before anyone gets a good sniff of my wolf form.

I’m the oldest one up here at seventeen, not that anyone could tell by looking at me. The only other male participating in the ceremony tonight—Alpha Randy’s son, Lucas—is three years younger than me, but he’s at least a full foot taller and as wide as two of me put together. He’s an alpha, so it’s not really surprising that he’s bigger, but I’ve always been smaller than even the other male betas.

I guess I know the reason for that now…

I’m more slender than bulky with androgynous features bordering on pretty. Big blue eyes, small upturned nose, and shiny black hair with a tendency toward natural waves. I chalked my appearance up to taking after my mom. She was a small, sickly beta who died in childbirth—something my dad never forgave me for, just like he never forgave me for not being born an alpha.

Not that being an alpha himself ever made my dad happy. He spent his whole life in his older brother’s shadow and never actually became the leader of a pack, the thing that would have earned him the actual title of “Alpha” with a capital A.

Well, after spending my entire life not living up to his expectations, at least I won’t have to deal with Dad’s disappointment in me tonight.

One less thing to worry about…

I brush my hair away from my face and try to focus on what Alpha Randy is saying.

“… proud to have these fine young people join us on their first pack run.”

He motions the beta girl closest to him forward, then moves to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Please welcome Nancy.”

“Welcome, Nancy.”

Randy moves on down the line, doing the whole call and repeat thing for each wolf. When he reaches me, his fingers dig into my collarbone painfully and I have to fight back a wince. He has never liked me, whether that’s just because he’s a bit of an asshole or he knew my dad was never happy as his second, I don’t know. I suppose it might not really matter soon anyway.

“My nephew, Keiran,” he says in a flat voice.

There’s a slight pause before the pack says, “Welcome, Keiran.”

Awkward.

“And finally, my son, Lucas.” A proud smile curls at his lips. “Welcome.”

The crowd is more enthusiastic this time, yelling out, “Welcome, Lucas!”

Lucas gives the gathered shifters a tight smile, then shifts his gaze to the ground, seemingly uncomfortable with the attention.

Randy moves back to where he started, blathering on about history, pack, and traditions—the same nonsense he talks about at all of these kinds of things. Eventually, the moon rises over the trees and everyone strips out of their clothes.

Nudity isn’t a big deal among wolves, but I still keep my eyes fixed on the ground. No point in making things worse by drawing attention to myself.

Once I’ve removed all my clothes, I cup my hands in front of my groin and wait. By tradition, the pack shifts only on the Alpha’s command tonight.

The pull of the moon buzzes through my limbs and I clench my teeth to hold back my shift until the proper time. Maybe I can just run into the woods before anyone catches the scent of my wolf…

“Shift!” roars Randy.

The command rolls through my body and through the entire pack, twisting limbs, bending backs, cracking bones. Unlike my prior shifts, this one, called up unwillingly by the Alpha, feels unnatural—and really fucking painful. By the time I’m finished, it’s all I can do to stay on my feet

and not curl into a whimpering ball. Dizziness runs through me and I stumble to the side, shaking my head, now on four legs. I can’t focus, my stomach twisting and roiling as I fight to hold my dinner in. All I can concentrate on is the pain in my limbs and this horrid feeling of wrongness.

I shake my head again, as if trying to clear away the mental fog. There’s something I’m forgetting, something I meant to do…what was it?

Too disoriented to pull my thoughts together, I stand there with the others, wobbling on my feet, and hoping this awful feeling passes quickly.

None of my other shifts—

Oh shit.

I need to run. That’s what I was supposed to do as soon as I shifted. I glance around at the rest of the pack. Everyone else seems just as disoriented—because of the command?—so I might still have a chance.

Spinning around, I start toward the edge of the clearing. Before I can make it even three yards, someone growls and a furry shoulder slams into my side, pushing me to the ground.

Lucas’ large reddish brown wolf looms over me, as close to a suspicious look as a wolf can manage on his face. This is likely nothing more than a show of dominance, but I really don’t have time for it. I whimper loudly and submissively bare my neck, giving him what he wants.

Yes, you’re a big bad alpha and I’m just little old me. I don’t want any trouble. Please, please, please…

He makes a dismissive noise and turns away. As soon as he moves, I jump to my feet and race toward the woods like my tail’s on fire. But it’s too late.