Amber’s POV Janine leaned into me, her shoulder grazing mine. I had no idea how she appeared at my side, and we all had no idea that there was another presence in the room with us. We had all been engrossed with getting answers out of the Alpha. “Who are you?” Alpha Dale growled, and the girl flinched. Her eyes shifted to my face before lowering to the floor in submission. “Isn’t that the girl who came to get us earlier?” Janine whispered into my ears. Her breath fanned my face, tickling me. “Do you know her?” “Yes.” I whispered back. “She’s one of Celia’s minions.” “Who’s Celia?” Before I could respond, the girl spoke up. “My— My name is Yeti. Yeti Albert.” “Why are you in here?” Alpha Marcus demanded, his eyes glowing with fury. If I were the one in her shoes, I would be anticipating my punishment. I’d have almost peed in my pants with fear of what would happen later, but I knew she did not have to fear that. At most, she would be admonished by the Alpha—verbally—and th
Amber’s POV I went straight to the room that was assigned after dinner. Although Moonstone pack house did not have lots of rooms—compared to the Lycan King’s mansion—they managed to assign each of us to a room. My room was sandwiched between Janine and Beta Trent, while Alpha Dale’s room was opposite ours, but I did not mind. I wasn’t going anywhere anyway, although I wanted with everything in me to be out of here. I lay on my bed, going over the events of the day in my head. Alpha Derrick had been sneaking into my home. Why? At first, it had been hard to believe—he always treated me like a plague, one he wouldn’t touch with a pole—and he was sneaking into my room? With the priestess nonetheless, was the deal with a witch?I had no idea what to make of it. What was he doing in my home without my knowledge? If Yeti was telling the truth, then I was usually home when he came, yet I still knew nothing. How clueless was I? How much of what was actually going on in this place was I
Dale’s POV I was exhausted. We all were after all the revelations. The answers did not really lead anywhere. I needed a drink to help calm my nerves, and thankfully, Moonstone Pack had a fully furnished bar. I could not recall how many bottles we had burned through, but I knew I needed to hit the bed. My wolf wanted to check on Amber one more time before we slept off, but I knew she would already be sleeping by now, and I was trying to keep my wolf away from her. Somehow, our bond was getting stronger even with her wolf bound, and it was affecting my senses. I did not want my wolf losing control one day while we were with her… “What are you thinking about?” My head snapped up to meet Beta Trent’s face, which was looking up at me in concern. With his eyes, he gestured to the hand, which was gripping the wine glass a little too tight. I shrugged., releasing my grip. “Do you believe him?” I asked. “The new Alpha, I mean. I don’t think he really knows anything, like he’s trying to
Dale’s POV The dungeon was dimly lit. During the day, I was sure light streamed in through the little cracks in the wall, but now, only a few hours after midnight, our night vision was all we had. And through it, I could see that one of the men was clinging to the iron bars of the cell, and his eyes were wide with concern. He regarded Alpha Marcus first before casting me a quick glance. Thankfully, Alpha Marcus had been decent enough to put them in clothes, covering up their nakedness.The other man stayed huddled in the shadows, preferring to stay out of sight. “Who are you and why did you attack a member of my pack?” Alpha Marcus, he asked, keeping his tone flat. “How is she?” the man clutching the bars asked. “I just want to be sure she is fine. ”My brows furrowed. “You attacked her, and now you are asking if she is fine?” My wolf growled. “Who sent you here? Why are they after Amber? Was it Derrick?” His head snapped up. “I don’t know any Derrick. I just want to make
Dale’s POV Amber was awake when I came to check up on her, but she was too dazed to notice that I was in the room with her or that I was now sitting beside her. It wasn’t until I held her hand that she startled back to reality. “What were you thinking?” I asked. The need to pull her to my body and close my lips around hers was becoming too intense for me to ignore, and my wolf was not helping matters. The fact that she was becoming even more beautiful as the days passed and her sleek curves were coming into focus also did not help. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I was so scared, I thought…” she trailed away, focusing on something behind my head. Suddenly, her eyes snapped up to my face. “Yeti? Is she alright? She came to warn me but the werewolf attacked out of nowhere. Is she okay? ”The words tumbled out of her mouth so quick that I had to squeeze her fingers to keep her from speaking more. “Yeti is fine.” I assured her, not feeling the need to add that she was in custo
Dale’s POV “The Yuletide pack did burn down nineteen years ago, and there was recorded to be no survivors.” Trent said as we both walked back to Alpha Morgan’s office. “Well, that means we just found two survivors—if Gregg is telling the truth. If that’s the bad news, what’s the good news?” “I called Whitestone’s pack Alpha, and he corroborated Gregg’s story. According to him, Gregg arrived there about nineteen years ago but would not say what pack he was from. They later came to an understanding; Gregg could live in his pack if he provided them his services.”My brows shot up. “His services? And what was that?” “Here’s where it gets interesting, Alpha. From what he said, Gregg was one of the best trackers he ever met and thought his skills were going to be useful since they had quite hostile enemies and a high rate of abduction cases.”Trent was right. How was it that a tracker who was said to be one of the best took so much time to find someone he claimed to be his nie
Amber’s POV All through the ride back to Alpha Dale’s mansion, none of us said a word to each other. The only time I heard his voice was when he had something to say to beta Trent or our driver, and it was few and far between. The tension between us was suffocating, and although he said nothing to me, I could feel his stares burning my neck from time to time. I sat rigid, keeping my gaze on the window, pretending to be fascinated by the world outside, when in reality I wanted to lock myself in a room and cry. Was he upset with me?I could not help but feel that way. The way he had stormed out of the infirmary room a few hours ago spoke volumes. Janine said not to mind him, but she was not the one who had to sit in the same car with him for almost twelve hours. I tried to think back to what had gotten him upset. Was it my question about the marking? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. I should have kept quiet. Did he regret bringing me back with him now? Does he regret eve
Amber’s POV A sharp knock on the bedroom door jolted me awake. I groaned, blinking against the bright light that streamed in from the open window. I glanced at the side of the bed where Alpha Dale should have been, but there was no one there or any evidence that someone had slept in it. Since he announced that we were going to be sleeping in the same room, I could count how many times he slept here. Does he even sleep? Memories of last night seeped into my mind, and color stained my cheek. My finger traced my lips as if I could touch the outline of his lips on mine. He had invaded my dreams the same way his lips had invaded me, and I couldn’t decide whether I liked it or not. The second knock made me jump. Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled towards the door, cracking it open wide enough to see Alpha Dale’s massive frame standing in front of my door. My heart kept to my chest, and my eyes widened before I could realize it myself. “A-Alpha Dale.” I stuttered, cringing as his
Amber’s POV Yeti was the person who kept me going when everyone hated me even in Moonstone pack. I realized that a long time ago even though I hadn’t known her identity then. Although she had been going through a lot herself, she still tried to help me with medical supplies not caring about what would happen to her if she had been caught. If I lost her, I won’t be okay. The panicked flutter in my chest started up again, stealing my breath. It only took a minute for everything to fall apart and the little bit of peace I found gone with one swipe from the council. They were always the problem. Yeti was my goddamn best friend, and if she’d been a spy this whole time, I would have known. Besides, no spy would give their life to save the person they were spying on. All I wanted was hot shower and a bed to hide in for the rest of the day after the way I dealt with that councilman. After I put my powers under control – the best I could – we fell into an uncomfortable silence, but it’s
Amber’s POV My chest was on fire. My lungs screamed for air and my heart thumped inside my ribcage at a frenzied pace, but I couldn’t force myself to be calm as I stared across the room at Janine. I couldn’t bring myself to look Yeti in the eye, not with the sight of her being slammed and strangled by Derrick still fresh in my head. Janine’s eyes bored into mine, her own anger at Donn’s betrayal simmering just below the surface. I didn’t think things could escalate so freaking quickly. One minute I was happy my friend was out of danger and was no longer under the threat of losing her wolf and in the other, I was finding out her fated mate was one of the men who could have killed us had the order been given some nights ago. “It’s true…” Janine said, ducking her head to concentrate on the scrapes and bruises she was healing over Yeti’s skin. “Fabian is her Fated mate. I saw his wolf choose her during the Culling,” Although Fabian was highly trained with more skills than me, Yeti
Amber’s POV I woke up as early as 3:30am the next morning to take another shower and get ready for the day. I had a lot to do and one of them was seeing Yeti and finding a way to clear her name even if the issue hadn’t been raised yet. I didn’t want it to be raised at all. I was done dressing by the time Alpha Dale’s alarm sounded at four. He groaned like he was being murdered, shoved a pillow over his head and grumbled under his breath like he was plotting a murder for whoever it was that woke him up early. He reached out with one arm to find me once he was done grumbling and when he came up empty, he threw the pillow over his head away, sitting up with a scowl. I tried not to laugh because he looked like a child missing his mother. I smirked and waved at him because it was good seeing him off-kilter for once and not the usual composed and straight man that he was. “Stop that,” he growled. “Stop looking smug and get over here. Trent will be here any minute and I need another
Amber’s POV When I woke up, it was long after dark. Alpha Dale was right beside me and instead of distracting himself by getting busy with something, he was watching me sleep. Seeing him beside me, looking at me like I meant everything in the world to him was deliciously tempting. I sat up slowly. There was a nervous energy surrounding me now that I knew I was going to be a mother. I wasn’t worried about my wolf anymore; she had proven herself many times in the last few weeks that I was sure it was time to spare her the benefit of doubt. “You’re awake,” Alpha Dale said drowsily. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on my lips. “You looked really peaceful, I didn’t have the mind to wake you up.” I smiled, thanking him silently for allowing me sleep. My body needed all the sleep it could get. Glancing around, I saw that I was still in Janine’s office where I had fallen asleep earlier and suddenly recalled why I was here. Yeti. “How is she?” I asked. “But first, how did the council m
Amber’s POV I paced the length of Janine’s small office space for what felt like the hundredth time and my arms wrapped tightly around myself. I shouldn’t be here. Alpha Dale was going to be furious – maybe – when he returned and didn’t find me. But I didn’t just want to seat and wait, like everyone was telling me. I wanted to see my friends. I needed to see for myself that Yeti was alive and well. But even after several hours of waiting in here, Janine still won’t let me see her. I tried not to think that she was punishing me for not looking after her well. Maybe she was punishing herself for ever doubting her… I ran a hand through my long hair which was now a scattered mess the same way Alpha Dale always did when he was frustrated with something that wasn’t going his way, and heaved a long sigh. Speaking of Alpha Dale, I felt him like a second person under my skin. Ever since the incident at the red moon when I tried to save him – I wasn’t even sure if that worked – I could fe
Dale’s POV The conference hall was colder and quieter than a grave. As soon as I stepped foot inside, their murmurings ceased and they lowered their heads to the ground like disobedient kids caught by their parents. The thoughts of kids made me think about Amber and the children we were expecting. With everything in me, I wanted to run back to her and never leave her side. But with everything that had happened, there was a lot I needed to do and the first thing was confronting a bunch of old men and women. Beta Trent was speaking to them, as was tradition. A formality that I had heard thousands of times. “This is the nine hundred and fifty-fifth meeting since…” it was almost the same, every time. The only things that changed, were the numbers and reasons for gathering, This time, I wanted to let them know they had no power above me. the council could be manipulated. We all knew that now. Donn had managed and succeeded to get in all of our heads – “Alpha…” my head snapped up as
Amber’s POV My eyes snapped open, blinking as light flooded my vision. My heart rate soared and panic welled up fast inside me. For a minute, all I saw was blurry shapes and figures. I groaned, trying and failing to push myself off the bed… I was in a bed? Why was I in a bed? Where was I? what – “Amber?” A voice called, halting my racing thoughts. There was an edge of desperation and familiarity in his voice that I recognized, but my brain was still booting and taking al the time in the world to respond. Through my blurry vision, a shape moved and warm skin touched my hand. “You’re awake.” His voice carried excitement and a hint of something I knew but I couldn’t place. I closed my eyes tight, waited for three seconds then snapped them open again. This times, I saw more than shapes. The silhouette of a person sat beside me and in a minute, my vision cleared enough for me to recognize the silhouette as Alpha Dale. “Alpha Dale,” I rasped, coughing to clear my dry throat. He shov
Amber’s POV It was settled. Derrick was insane and not only that, he was delusional as well. I clamped my mouth shut, biting the inside of my cheeks to keep me from laughing out loud. Was this his plan all along? To become our supreme Alpha? Was it just me or did he or his other followers not realize how ridiculous he sounded? I yanked my hand away from him and he growled, giving me the stink eye. “Do you not see it?” he asked. “The promise of a better life I am dangling in your face. Think of all the things we could accomplish together.” I gritted my teeth. “I’d rather die…” I spat out. “Than do anything with a killer such as yourself.” Shock and anger flickered across his features but he quickly masked with an amused expression. “Suit yourself then,” he laughed. “I gave you a choice, call it an olive branch but you’re slapping my hand away. Well, you no longer have a choice. You will do what I want else, they’ll be consequences.” I raised my brows. “Yes? Like what?” “Alpha D
Amber’s POV I couldn’t reach anyone through the mind link. I needed to reach Janine and Beta Trent to let them know the plan fell to pieces. We failed. No matter how hard it was for me to admit it. I wasn’t sure if I had been able to reach Alpha Dale, or even pull him out of that spell. I didn’t want to give up hope, but what else was there? I had seen what she did to Eric with my own eyes. His battered body as she dragged him in like a rag doll. His wolf was going to heal him, sure enough, but how long was that going to take? What were they even doing to him? Anger mingled with determination inside and a plan began to take shape in my head. I pressed my back on the cold stone, keeping my eyes trained on the cell bars that were keeping me in. Its been a while since Derrick dumped me in here. I heard nothing outside, I saw nothing past the darkness and had to rely on my sense of smell and hearing. Two things which had never failed me before. Maybe I was overestimating myself, b