Stolen by the Rival Alpha

PrologueConnor tilted his head, crooking a knuckle under my chin to examine my face. "You're pretty, Gemma, I suppose. Just don't look at me while we do it. Blue eyes unnerve me."I contemplated snapping at his fingers stroking my cheek. But no, I had to bide my time. I knew why Raisa had given me her knife and offered me up to Connor. Be a wolf. Be an actor. The last thing I saw as the double doors closed behind me was Raisa's terrified face and her lips mouthing the words, 'Do it.'Do it. Kill him."Remember," Connor murmured, eyes raking me up and down as if I was already naked, "this is what you are here for. It's why you came. To protect your… cousin, was it?"I swallowed hard. How did he know?"Very selfless of you." Connor started to lower himself, his face coming closer until I went cross-eyed. "Close your eyes, she-wolf. Whatever I do to you, it will be a pleasant surprise."Could I do it? Could I try to kill Connor Herrick, the Beast of the West, the w

*Gemma*Out of all the things that could happen to me in my life, I never expected to be kidnapped.My kidnapper refused to call it that. He lounged on the couch opposite mine, the picture of ease with legs crossed and a short glass of whiskey in one hand. "Retrieving, picking up, acquiring… choose your synonym, Springs.""Captured," I snapped, the opposite of at ease. Two days into the trip, the Galiot sailing a smooth path toward the West, any hope I'd had of the excitement of adventure was dashed by the constant annoyance that was Gralyn. Despite his hostile appearance, he was never short of a smart remark. He lifted a shoulder, unaffected by my bad attitude that had been my consistent response to his snarky personality. "I follow orders, no feelings attached."Gralyn's hazel eyes were sharper than a chipped shell, dusky brown hair slicked back and shaved on the sides, looking far too crisp and neat of a male to terrify someone when he smiled so charmingly, even if it

*Gemma*The Hazel Coast and Sun Mountain packs had been at war for twelve years over what started as a simple land dispute. One year into that, Connor Herrick, only twenty-one at that time, killed his own father to claim the Alpha title to dictate the war against Alpha Syrus Morven. For a dozen years, they brought ruin to the West, decimating or conquering smaller packs, expanding their own borders for selfish, power-hungry reasons. I'd heard them be described as psycho or sociopaths who loved sacking villages and stealing females and pups from their homes just for fun. They made usurpers slaves or killed them in public executions.As far as I knew, Oceantide only sided with Sun and aided with Epsilon warriors because they were the lesser of two evils, which was really saying something. That was what little I was aware of. There were probably a hundred more issues and stories and sides. But the gist was that I'd just arrived in the household of the most sadistic Alpha to e

*Gemma*"I'll send for you when I want to know what you taste like."Connor's rough purr sent ice down my veins, but I was so disgusted that I said, "I won't let you lick me."His laugh was deep with amusement. "I didn't say I would, but that's a brilliant idea. Your skin may be infused with sand and salt. I might enjoy that."You're sick, I wanted to snap at him, but I kept my lips sealed. I belatedly realized what he actually wanted to taste when his gaze traveled downward. Mortified and furious, I crossed my legs tighter.Connor laughed again. "Maybe I won't have to break you. Just pry you open."The door banged against the wall, and Raisa's voice saved me. "Alpha," she said, and her voice was a remarkable mix of sultriness and assertiveness with an edge of warning, implying there would be a consequence if he ignored her. "Cillian requires your superior war intellect.""I'm busy with a new toy, Raisa," he growled, his face now inches from mine. "She's not what I was

*Gemma*Connor left me with the feeling that he'd dunked a bucket of cold water over my head.Aeryn?I closed and locked the door, resting the back of my head on it. I'd never prayed to the Moon Goddess as much as I did in the past few hours, but damn, did I need her luck.***I stood on the shore, white sand between my toes, eyes closed to the midnight breeze, breathing in the brine. The lapping of the sea lulled my restless heart. The ocean was where I belonged. A lonely, bored she-wolf who longed for the freedom of the rest of the world.I sensed a presence behind me. I whirled around.Above him was the silky blue sky dotted with dim stars. The moon was huge and full, blindingly bright. It limned his leanly muscular frame in a halo of white as he padded toward me. But I wasn't afraid of the stranger. I waited for him, waiting to see his face as he came closer. He stopped a foot away; he was a foot taller, too, so I tipped my chin up while he tipped his down. I ma