Amber’s POV The temperature in the room dropped. A chill raced through my spine. Tension around the room was palpable, but Eric was still oblivious to what was happening, or was it just me reading meaning into things?Who was Mallory? And why was everyone reacting the way they did to her name?Breakfast was quiet after that. No one said a word about Mallory, but I did notice that Alpha Dale pulled his brother to one side after breakfast. Their exchange was too low for me to make out the words they said, but Alpha Dale’s eyes narrowed every now and then, and Eric maintained his smug grin. Janine was busy with the beta, and I had no idea what to do. I paused at the door, wondering if I should return to my room or wander aimlessly. What else was there that I could do? Glancing back, I caught Janine waving at me, and then she began walking my way.“Are you okay?” her eyes flashed as she stopped in front of me. Maintaining eyes contact was still hard for me so I lowered my head.“I
Amber’s POV When Alpha Dale returned to the room, he was positively furious. His eyes softened when he saw me—it seemed as though he had completely forgotten I was here—but I still could see past the mask he was struggling to put on. Taking a seat next to me on the couch, he placed his head on my thighs and closed his eyes. I wanted to take care of him the way he took care of me, and probably this was the only way I could do it. Besides, I did not feel the need to push him away or complain. Was Mallory still here? I glanced at the door, wondering how their conversation had gone after that. Did Eric finally realize what was going on? Was anyone going to tell him? Did they already tell him? What was his reaction? Was Mallory really here because she wanted to get back with Alpha Dale? Could I fight for Alpha Dale?I had so many questions, but I knew I wasn’t getting any answers anytime soon. Alpha Dale was sleeping faster than I could say Jack, but while he slept, pain ricoc
Dale’s POV Leaving our shared bedroom, I found Janine hovering just outside the door. Concern was etched on her face, and her eyes widened when she saw me. Beta Trent was with me, but as usual, he was relaxed and composed, only standing straight as he saw me come out. “How is she?” Janine demanded. “Asleep.” I answered. “If she keeps being in pain like this…” I trailed off, unable to make myself say the words. Amber’s health was quickly declining, and if something was not done about it soon, I hated to think what would happen.A puzzled expression crossed her face. “What is it, Alpha?”I took a deep breath in. “Amber’s health is deteriorating quickly.We have to find a way to unbind her wolf before it’s too late.”I scratched my quickly growing stubble. I knew I should shave soon, but I could just find the time to do it, not with all that was going on. I couldn’t sleep, and although we were still getting to know each other, being away from her while she slept felt odd.“What
Dale’s POV Mallory leaned against the wall outside my room with a suggestive smirk on her face. One look at her and I could tell what she was thinking, but it was never going to happen. Her smile widened, and she tilted her head back. “Is this any way to treat an old fling, Alpha Dale? ”I scoffed. “You and I were a mistake. One I regret making. ”Her smile did not falter, but her stance did, and suddenly she was standing too close to me that was acceptable. My wolf growled his warning, pushing her back with a warning glare. “You seem awfully protective of that weak girl. She’s so weak; are you sure she really is your mate? ”I stiffened, clenching my fist to keep my wolf from breaking through my control. “If you know how close I am to losing control of my wolf, who isn’t fond of you, you will stay out of my business and keep my mate’s name out of your mouth. ”Mallory chuckled. It was not a reaction I was expecting, but this was Mallory, and I should not be surprised. “I mean
Amber’s POV The scent of smoke overwhelmed my respiratory organs, suffocating me from the inside. A smaller version of me stood in the middle of a burning city. My tiny hands trembled at my sides. The sky was colored with red and orange, a mirror of the horror that was going on around me. Fear and tears closed my vision as I stared at the fire, which was destroying everything in its path. Bodies were scattered everywhere in the street. Someone was calling my name, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. I knew I needed to move, but I couldn’t look away from the horror I had caused. Yes, I knew this was my doing. Yes, I did this. I did this, and I was going to do more. I heard the woman’s voice before I saw her. Her screams pierced through my ears and heart, pulling my attention to the people who were running towards me. Somehow, I knew what would happen if they came any closer. My wolf—at that young age, I already had my wolf—recognized them as a threat.Slowly, I raised my hands
Amber’s POV The next days and weeks that followed were mostly uneventful, save for the bouts of pain that were becoming more and more severe and my constant run-ins with Mallory. I had no idea what she wanted from me or what her qualm was with me, but it was beginning to unnerve me. Alpha Dale was always busy running pack business that I barely got to see him, and when I did see him, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was avoiding me. Did I do something wrong? Was this whole inaccessible mate thing beginning to piss him off?Janine mentioned on multiple occasions that he was trying to find a way to break the binding without hurting me, and he kept hitting walls. Was that why? Maybe he finally realized I was a lost cause and was trying to let me off. Crossing the foyer, I waited ten seconds before I began a slow walk through the hallway that led to Alpha Dale’s office. Since my arrival here, I could count how many times I had visited this wing of the mansion. I never came
Amber’s POV I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at nothing in particular. My mind was everywhere, although I had tried to assure myself and Alpha Dale had tried to assure me as well; I was not sure I was ready to face my former pack. Still, it was too late to take back my words. Why had I just blurted those words out without thinking? The soft knock on the door barely registered through the haze of my thoughts. Glancing out my window, I noted that it was almost sunset and we would be leaving soon. Alpha Derrick was gone, I reminded myself. He gave up his Alpha title and fled after I left. Lydia and Celia were gone as well. So, why the hell was I scared? The knock sounded again, followed by the sound of the door creaking open. Janine popped her head through the small space, followed by the rest of her body. “You good?” she asked, settling into the space beside me. I shrugged, lowering my head to stare at my hands.“I still think this is a bad idea, though,” she said, pulli
Amber’s POV My heart raced. Blood pounded in my ears, and I couldn’t stop glancing around and waiting for Alpha Dale to announce that this was a prank and he was actually here to return me. Although he had reassured me countless times that he would let nothing harm me, I still couldn’t help the thoughts that slipped into my head. While Alpha Dale and Beta Trent had gone inside the study with Alpha Marcus, Janine and I had to wait impatiently in the lobby. After about ten minutes, a girl whom I recognized as one of Celia’s friends came scurrying out of the study. Had she been in there all this time? Her eyes scanned the lobby—which wasn’t very big—dramatically before landing on Janine and me. “The Lycan King requests to see you.”Janine’s eyes flickered to me. “Let’s go?” Taking a deep breath in, I nodded and stood to my feet at the same time that Janine did. The girl led us back to the study, which was even smaller than I recalled it to be, before disappearing from the room a
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
Dale’s POV … Mallory was dead. Her limp body crumpled on the ground under me, her neck bent to a sickening angle, revealing a gash where my wolf tore through her. He had torn through every part of her like paper in his pure act of rage and anger. Without permission, he had initiated a shift, tearing through me like a tornado. Blood dripped from his fur. Blood was everywhere in the room. His head snapped up as the wind carried the scent of magic to our nose. He sniffed, growled and snarled. The wolf turned sharply to the closed door, as a deathly snarl ripped from his throat. Just then, the heavy oak door blasted open, crashing hard against the wall. My wolf growled at the intruder and rage rose inside me like bile. Witch, I hissed inside. Outside, my wolf growled. I knew he wanted to say that this was my fault as well. I had trusted her and brought her into the home I shared with my mate, but I didn’t want to hear it. Guilt was already eating through me. the people attacking my
Dale’s POV Everything was peaceful and warm and I was wishing it would remain this way forever. I smiled down at the figure beside me, grateful to the goddess that I got to share this moment with her. Amber was barefoot on the grass, her hands in mine and on her face, a smile that was as radiant as the sun. Mine. I told myself. She was mine and will always be mine. I frowned as her smile faltered, my eyes darting to her feet. “Maybe we should get you some shoes,” I said, my smile snapping back in place. When I looked up at her, she was trembling. My smiled fell as I saw blood pooling into her white dress. Her hands clutched mine desperately and she fell to the floor. I fell with her, holding her face with both my hands to keep her focused on me. Panic and pain burned through me and I began to feel hollow and empty. What was this feeling? “Wake up,” she whispered, placing gentle a hand on top my own. “Wake up, Alpha Dale.” My frown deepened and I struggled to understand what
Amber’s POV I saw only red. Athena wanted to charge at Derrick, pour all our powers into him but this was the only chance I got to save Alpha Dale till who knew when again? Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off Yeti’s lifeless form on the ground. I felt a pang of pain in my chest. She was here because of me. “What did you do?” I cried, my fingers digging into Alpha Dale’s skin unconsciously. “What did you do to her? Do you have no conscience?” The smile that formed on his lips made me froze. He looked like someone who had lost their senses. But then, that made complete sense. Only someone who was insane would be capable of the things this man did. “Now, you have seen the kind of person that I am,” he said softly as if we were on a date and he was trying to convince me to accept his heart. “Even my daughter cannot get in-between me and what I want.” I was momentarily stunned that I did not know my jaw was hanging open. Did he say… “What do you mean by that, you bastard?” I fired. “
Amber’s POV The last thing I wanted was to meet Alpha Derrick, but that was exactly what Celia intended to achieve. Panic flooded my chest as she led us through the wide hallways. Even with the loud music blasting through the walls, I could hear my own heartbeat and Yeti’s. There was no getting out of this without looking suspicious. Besides, Celia wasn’t the kind of person who backed down once she had set her sights on something. I could only hope our glamour was enough to see us through meeting Alpha Dale. My heart stuttered the closer we got to the ballroom and as soon as we crossed the door, time seemed to stop. My mind ignored the swirling ballgowns, laughter and glittering chandeliers and immediately focused on the man in the middle of it all. Even with his back to us, I still recognized him. My panic metamorphosed to full-blown fear but this time, I was desperate to maintain my control and composure, although those words sounded very foreign to me. As if hearing my thoug
Amber’s POV I stared at her. For too long than was considered appropriate. Celia. Saying her name in my head stroked chords of fear and anger. I still dreamt of her, and I hated to admit that a part of me still felt that tremor of fear. I dreamt of all the punishments she made me endure. The strikes of whip that tore my flesh. For a minute, I forgot to breathe. My lungs were frozen and no matter how much I tried, my nose just wouldn’t take in any air. She was here. In front of me and I was the weak, vulnerable and frightened girl that was left for dead in a well. Once again, I was trapped in that suffocating cell and starving because they refused to feed a prisoner like me. I heard her laugh and it felt as though a knife was scraping down the inside of my skull. Rage bubbled through me. My hands began to tremble and my vision became blurry. Athena surged to the surface and her fury seeped into my bones. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to regain control and push the memorie
Amber’s POV As Yeti predicted, her glamour was sloppy but the bad work wasn’t that noticeable. Except someone was standing too close and then they’d definitely see the glitches. So, including rule number one which Yeti had spent at least fifteen minutes drumming into me, I now had to add a second rule. Don’t go too close to anyone. We left the hotel an hour later. The anxiety that I was feeling kept me from noticing how beautiful Free City had become with all the decorations for the Culling. Although, I didn’t fail to notice that the city was packed with people three times the usual. “Free City is hosting the Culling this year,” Eric supplied. “It’s been almost seven years since we hosted the Culling. Too bad it had to be this way.” I glanced out the window, thinking about Derrick and the fact that he might be here. Alpha Dale and I were supposed to be enjoying this day, instead, we were being forced to fight to be together. “The pack house is only a mile away,” Eric said, glan
Amber’s POV Days and nights blurred together and before I knew it, a week went by. Beta Trent and Eric spent the one week before the Culling training me even harder than Alpha Dale used to train me. and not just physically, my abilities were tested as well – as best as they could which wasn’t even scratch the surface deep, but at least I got to know that my abilities had something to do with manipulating emotions and elements. While Beta Trent and Eric spent the day sharpening my senses and helping me be more in tune with my wolf, I spent the night trying to suppress the growing ache in my chest whenever I thought of Alpha Dale – which was always. I found little consolation in talking to Athena – who I was getting to know more and more – and talking to the life forming inside me. On the seventh day, I didn’t feel the least ready but I still dressed in a black hoodie – Eric was sure would hide my face and Janine had gotten me a cream which would mask my scent – I pulled my long,