Chapter 1

"Have I ever told you how good you taste?" Carlo purred.

I rested my head on his toned stomach and traced my fingers over the muscles outlined there.

It was no surprise to me that he had such rock hard abs. With how long he had spent training to become one of the soldiers in my army. It would be even more shocking if he didn't have them.

"Only a million times." I teased as I sat up to look at him.

I couldn't help but appreciate how good Carlo looked half naked in my bed. His red hair caught the light making the colour look even more pronounced. His green eyes were the prettiest shade of green I had ever seen. So clear and so pure.

I let out a sigh wondering how I had gone from being childhood bestfriends with Carlo to having him in my bed twice a week for hot makeout sessions.

"This is the last time." I told him sternly.

Of course even I didn't believe myself. It always happened this way. I would tell myself that I would never end up in this position again and next thing I know Carlo is pressing me up against the wall in the training room.

"So you say." He spoke obviously cocky and confident that I would probably be sending for him in the next forty eight hours so that his arms could be around me.

I swept my legs off the bed and picked up a hand held mirror examining my neck and collar bone to make sure Carlo hadn't left any love bites like he tended to do.

'Claiming what's mine.' He liked to say.

"I mean it." I told him before placing the mirror down and getting up and turning to face him. I placed my hands on my hips giving him a serious look.

He looked up at me. His green eyes probing my face as if searching for the truth.

"Is this about today? The mating ceremony?"

I almost snarled at the sound of that word. Today, fourteen eligible bachelors would show up to fight for my hand so that they could be crowned my king and rule the werewolf factions alongside me.

Was I looking forward to pretty much being auctioned off to a bunch of men I didn't know like I was some cow?

Of course not.

But I had grown up knowing my place in this world as an oldest child and daughter. I was born to be the Eclipse pack heir.

"After today, I'm to be a married woman." I told him in a teasing tone as I tied up my long dark hair. "And quite frankly, I'm not interested in having a mistress."

I saw Carlo's face darken. He obviously didn't find that funny.

He jumped out of bed landing in front of me. He took a step forward until he was only inches in front of me and I could feel his breath on my face.

He reached forward to hold my neck and placed the other hand on my lower back.

He lowered his hand slowly and my breath caught as it went lower.

"No one can touch you like I touch you, Harper." He dipped his head so that it was in between the crook of my neck.

I felt his lips engulf the spot he knew too well that made all the blood rush to one area. "No one can kiss you like I can." He whispered in a low voice taking breaks in between kisses.

"And no one can sure as hell protect you like I can."

For a second I closed my eyes and pictured a quiet life with Carlo, my best friend, my chief protector. Just living somewhere by a stream where no one could find us. No responsibilities. Just us enjoying each other's company and living in peace.

But that bubble soon popped when images of bloodshed and chaos in my pack flashed through my mind.

I immediately pulled Carlo away, my breathing getting heavier.

He frowned in concern. "Harper? Are you okay?"

Flashback images came racing through my mind of the events that had happened only a month ago.

Carlo frowned. He stepped forward and placed his hands on my arms before pulling me in for a hug.

He stroked my hair gently. "You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened Harp." He whispered soothingly.

I felt myself calming down with his arms around me. But forgetting was another story entirely.

I pulled away from Carlo and forced myself to pull myself together.

"You need to go." I told him in a more level voice adding as nuch authority as I could in them. "I need to start getting ready for the ceremony."

Carlo gave me a slight frown but he must have known there was no point in arguing now.

"Okay Harp. But remember what I said. None of them will ever come close to caring about you like I do."

I didn't so much as turn as Carlo gathered his clothing and walked off.

The door shut behind him.

Little did he know that the last thing I needed was a mate to care for me.

I walked over to my dresser and took out the list I kept stashed in the top drawer.

My eyes scanned it intently.

All fourteen of the men from different packs who would be here fighting for my hand tonight.

They all believed they had been selected because they were the best the packs had to offer. But only I knew the real reason. One of them had killed my father.

I traced the scar on my hand before taking a dagger out of the drawer and placing it right next to the list.

And I wasn't going to rest until I found out who.