1.

E S T E L L E ‘ S P O V

The car hummed along the winding road, the low growl of the engine filling the silence. My Alpha, Darius, sat beside me in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone, his expression unreadable. He had insisted that his Beta, Cavil, stayed behind in case there was an attack on the pack. I knew how difficult it was for him to leave his pack like this.

Darius had been the closest thing to a friend and a brother that I had and it hurt me to see him in such discomfort. Apparently, there has been some incessant attacks on other packs and since the packs here in the western parts have gotten into an aliiance— it demanded that Alphas were to be present when a pack get attacked.

That was why we were heading for the Alphas Summit.

The other two warriors in the back spoke in hushed tones, their voices blurring into background noise. Darius had insisted that he didn't need them but Cavil refused to let his Alpha go to a pack that had just been attacked alone and with me… I certainly do not know how throw a punch not to talk of fighting.

My phone pinged, distracting me slightly.

I reached for it absently, expecting a routine message from the clinic about supplies for the injured wolves. Instead, Brielle’s name lit up the screen.

My best friend. She must have some gist she didn't want to me to miss. That girl.

I tapped the notification—and froze.

The air in the car shifted. Or maybe I was the one who couldn't breathe. My heart slammed against my ribs, my stomach hollowing out. The image stared back at me, bright and ugly in the glow of the screen… Mike, my fiancé, half-naked, tangled in the sheets with another woman. Her head thrown back in a smile I’d seen too many times in the mirror. Her face was very familiar… in fact, I see this face every day at the hospital.

Lina. Lina who was supposed to be on duty on my behalf. Lina who was supposed to tending to the patients at the hospital. Lina whom I had trusted to take the lead after me. Lina who was sleeping with my fiancé right behind my back and three months to my fucking wedding!

I'm sorry.~ Brielle’s text read.

The pain in my chest was palpable and excruciating. How could he do this to me?

The car screeched to a halt and I jerked forward. Darius in his haze reached out to hold me in place, his eyes flickering with concern. “Are you fine, Estelle?”

I wanted to tell him no. I wanted to yell at him for being a man. Why didn't they ever beat the allegations against them?

Whoever said men were scum was totally right because men were really scum.

I blinked hard, forcing my throat to loosen. Not here. Not in front of Darius. I slid my phone face down in my lap and clenched my jaw so tight it ached.

I swallowed hard, moving away from him. “Y-Yes… I am. Just motion sickness.” I managed to tell him.

He let out a curse. “Maybe I shouldn't have let you come with me.” His face scrunched in a frown.

I bit down a scoff. “It is mandatory that each Alpha come with a pack healer, Darius. I told you that I am glad that you chose me.” I tried to hide the pain squeezing my heart in my chest but one of the warriors cut in.

“Alpha, we are there already.”

He was about to say something but he closed his mouth and stepped out. I swallowed hard, willing myself not to show any hint of pain.

For now… maybe… I could... I squeezed my phone in my hand.

“Estelle,” I heard Darius call my name and I stepped out of the car. The scorching sun bit made me narrow my eyes and bit into my skin as I walked up to the Darius at the booth of the truck we had brought. He handed the medical supplies and I followed him into the pack house. From my peripheral, I saw other Alphas around as well. Warriors rushed in and out of the gates, their movements brisk, urgent.

The air smelled of blood.

“Rogue attack,” one of the guards muttered as we passed. “Half their patrol’s down.”

I knew this sort of unity was fought for and whoever brought this change… was a hero.

I shoved my personal disaster to the back of my mind and followed my Alpha further. We stepped into the pack house and met the Alpha of the pack speaking to a tall man who had his back turned towards us. The way the black shirt hugged his upper body and his sleeves were rolled to show his veiny hands.

I was inclined to see who this man was but Darius’s voice snapped me out of whatever delirium that was. “You should join the other pack healers.” He suggested pointedly. “Fato will go with you.”

I wanted to refuse but the way he eyed me hard made me swallow my words.

“Okay,” With that, I left him and Fato followed after me. We started toward the pack infirmary and I met the person in charge. Relief coursed through her face and she introduced herself, “I am Grace. What pack are you from?”

“Crimson Fang,” I told her.

“Oh, Alpha Darius, right?”

I nodded, not bothering to know how she knew him. She led the way and continued to speak. “You must be the infamous pack healer in his pack, Estelle Frost. He's told me a lot about you and if the circumstances were better, I would have loved for us to learn from each other.” She said with a small smile on her face.

I didn't know whether I should be shocked that Darius had talked about with her or… happy that she would like to exchange knowledge.

We got to where most of the people who suffered the causalty were and I wasted no time as I began working. My hands moved automatically—checking wounds, applying pressure, giving orders to the other healers who Grace had placed with me. The copper tang of blood clung to my nose, drowning out the phantom scent of my fiancé’s cologne that still lingered in my head.

No. Not now. I am not going to think of a stupid man who didn't know my worth.

Focus, Estelle.

I stitched, bandaged, cleaned. I forced my voice to be steady, my breathing even as I spoke with the patients. It wasn’t until the last injured wolf was settled into a recovery bed that I realized how badly my own hands were shaking.

By the time we were done, Grace offered to take me to dinner but I refused. Darius was still buried in closed-door meetings with other Alphas. And with Fato on my heels, I returned to the pack house and heard some laughter and chattering.

Despite what had happened in this pack, they still didn't lose their joy. I couldn’t face it. Couldn’t face smiling, pretending, making polite small talk while my chest still felt like it had been carved open. There was no way I could laugh when the truth was laid bare before my very own eyes.

So I left, making sure Fato didn't see me.

I need some sort of way to let out the pain and hurt in my chest. What was the better to forget your sorrows if not to drink them away?

I found a bar that was small enough to promise anonymity. No watchful eyes. No gossip. Just dim lights, cheap liquor, and a stool in the far corner where I could drink until my thoughts stopped spinning.

One glass turned into two. Then three. Then more. My head was pleasantly light, my body warm, and for the first time in hours, I wasn’t thinking about Brielle’s message.

I needed to get out of here. Rising to my feet, my pounding head spun as I staggered through the bar. I needed to use the toilet. I let out a belch. If the pack healer that was in me saw me in this state, she must be shaking her head in disappointment.

I opened a door and stepped in.

“Who are you?”

The voice slid through me like silk over bare skin—smooth, deep, edged with something dangerous.

I looked up. And nearly forgot how to breathe.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in black like it was his birthright. His hair was dark, falling in messy waves, his eyes a sharp, cold grey that pinned me to the spot. He looked oddly familiar but in my drunk haze I could not… He wasn’t just handsome—he was… other. The kind of man you didn’t meet by accident.

He took long strides towards me, every step as intimidating as his gaze. His scent was intoxicating and driving me crazy.“What are you doing here? Have you been sent to—”

I didn't let him let speak as I leaned closer and slammed my chest against his, then claimed his soft lips in mine. As if he was not expecting it, he gripped my hips and responded to the kiss as well.

A tiny whimper escaped my mouth as he nipped on my bottom lip. We separated, breathing heavily and he looked into my eyes.

Lust clouded his eyes and he looked down to my breasts that were pushed up. “Tell me to stop now... Or I’m not going to.”

“No,” I whimpered.

The last thing I remembered was how he dove down and carried me against his hips, my throbbing core writhing against him.

He laid me in the bed and whispered into my ears. “You are mine for tonight,”