Chapter 6

Alpha Bruno

 “Your father, the former Alpha before you, betrayed the pack and caused a disaster years ago. That is why your pack suffers now. This will not end unless you renew your allegiance with the Dark Silver Pack.”

 The Alpha King’s Beta delivered the words with a cruel smile after I refused to leave without an answer.

 “We lost many soldiers and servants during the war,” I replied tightly. “Our resources are nearly gone. What do you want in exchange for this alliance?”

 “Your daughter,” he said — then laughed hysterically.

 My fists clenched. The air around me trembled with my rage.

 “You—” I growled.

 “Alpha, don’t,” my Beta warned, gripping my arm.

 I said nothing for the rest of the journey home. They had struck where it would hurt most.

 When we returned, I locked myself inside the privacy chamber.

 I knew I could not afford another war. Our soldiers were wounded, our numbers reduced, and our supplies dangerously low. One more battle would wipe the Scarred Red Pack from existence.

 I sensed my Luna approaching.

 She opened the door quietly. “Bruno…”

 She came closer and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

 “They want Ariana,” I said.

 “I know,” she whispered. “The Beta told me.”

“She is our only daughter,” I said hoarsely, gripping my mate’s hand. “I cannot give her up.”

 “And that is why I have a plan,” she said.

 I looked at her sharply. “What plan?”

 “The Alpha King has never attended pack gatherings. He has never laid eyes on Ariana. We can replace her.”

 My heart skipped. “Replace her?”

 “With Hazel,” she said. “She was raised alongside Ariana. She is noble, calm, and strong. They will never know.”

 we reached our decision---- Hazel would replace Ariana.

 * Adrian*

 “That is not possible, Father!” I shouted. “She has done nothing to deserve this!”

 “Nobody asked for your opinion,” my father snapped. “Would you rather send your sister to that monster? And besides — this is her punishment for attempting to escape.”

 “That is not punishment,” I argued. “You are only saying that because you cannot sacrifice your own daughter.”

 Smack.

 “You do not raise your voice at me,” he roared. “Hazel will take her place. That is final.”

 * Orion — The Alpha King

 “Why did you demand his daughter in exchange?” I asked my Beta, my eyes fixed on the night sky.

 “It is the only wound deep enough to break the Alpha of the Scarred Red Pack. He treasures his family.”

 “You are dismissed,” I said, uninterested in further conversation.

 Darkness is not the devil.

 It is my light.

 My mother’s death burned every trace of mercy from me. I became ruthless. Brutal. Sometimes the urge to destroy overwhelms me. My wolf is the strongest of its kind.

 I abandoned the search for my mate long ago. I am convinced I was never created with one.

 That is why I moved away from my pack into the woods — afraid I would hurt them when the darkness inside me surfaced. My Beta manages most of the pack’s affairs. He has been my closest friend since childhood. He never questions my authority… except when it comes to this ridiculous talk of mates.

 I cannot be with females without the urge to harm them afterward. So I stopped trying, no matter how strong the hunger becomes.

 The full moon is approaching.

 Wolves feel everything ten times stronger when it draws near. Tonight the restlessness is unbearable.

 “What’s wrong, Ray?” I asked through the mind link.

 “I can sense my mate,” he replied. “She is getting closer. I know it.”

 I smirked. “Forget it.”

 He did not respond.

 He only continued pacing