“Ryan has other tasks to complete, or have you forgotten your late Alpha was murdered? Your lack of empathy is telling Fred.” I cock a brow in question, the accusation clear in my tone. Honestly, Fred is at the top of my suspect list right now. If he is so willing to continually disrespect me, who knows how he felt towards my father? “Of course. I meant no offense, Alpha,” Fred corrects, inclining his head in a mocking show of respect. I doubt the man has a sincere bone in his body. “Let’s keep it that way.” I stand from my seat and motion towards the door. “You’re dismissed. And remember, I’ll be watching.” “Yes, Alpha,” all three of them say in sync before making their way out the door. “Shane,” I call out just as he’s about to slip out the door. I give him a polite smile, waiting for Sava and fred to clear the hall. “I need you to put together a team of wolves you trust to accompany me to the meeting tonight.” “Of course, Alpha.” He gives me a small smile, polite yet sympatheti
I strap two daggers over my fitted leather pant. The material is soft, allowing me to move freely. With weapons in place, I shrug on my leather jacket, the length covering up the bulge of the gun at my side. The setting sun is visible in the mirror, casting an orange hue over the room in the few remaining moments of golden hour. The last moments of daylight dwindle away, reminding me of what we’re about to face. My eyes focus into a look of determination as I mentally prepare myself for the night ahead and smooth back a few flyaway hairs. Despite the preparations we’ve made during the hours following the meeting, I still can’t shake the creeping sensation of dread curling in my stomach. Nick texted me the details for tonight after hearing from the slith sloth leader. We’ll both be bringing a team of thirty wolves inside the compound and to guard the meeting venue. Shane and I went over the members of the team he had assembled, ensuring he trusted each one of them. None of them were gi
So we should position our packs amongst these rows,” I say, trailing my finger along the lines of containers. “Then we’ll send out groups of three to venture out past the meeting point and report back if there’s any sign of an ambush.” She nods thoughtfully, scanning the drawing, her expression thoughtful rather than outraged. I breathe a silent sigh of relief, glad to have dodged that bullet. Hopefully, if anyone further than the two betas had heard her, they would dismiss the outburst since she’d been so far removed from our society. “That seems like a good plan. For now we’ll all switch over to the same channel and communicate if anything changes when we get there,” she says decisively, folding the map to apparently take with her. This woman never ceases to surprise me. “Right, let’s get our teams together so you can head out,” Marcus says, glancing at his watch. He presses a button at the side, informing the leaders to bring the teams out with them. We both briefed our betas aft
“Sweetie,” Nick whispers, and tendrils of desire move through my body straight to my core at the sound of his voice thick with lust. I tap his arm, pursing my lips as I silently point back to the road, needing him to stay quiet right now. He chuckles, but to my relief, he remains silent, letting me hear sava this time.“We should be pulling up to the compound in a few moments. Are we still a go?” Sava asks, apparently wanting to confirm the second part of our earlier conversation.“yes,” I say, clipping the radio back to my pants.“Is what still a go?” Nick asks curiously, but I notice his playful tone is gone, replaced with an edge of suspicion. I guess the apprehension really does run deep between our two packs.He wants me to stay in the car while our teams do the initial patrol,” I grumble.“Well, I agree,” he says simply, taking the last turn up into the makeshift compound.“You can’t be serious,” I groan, sitting up straight as we approach. I slip my gun from its holster, prepar
Oh, I believe you would, Scarlet, but unfortunately, the damage has already been done. You’ve inherited a pack built on the blood, sweat, and tears of others, and your hands are just as dirty because of it.”I pull in a shuddering breath, knowing this conversation has taken a turn for the worse. There was never truly any way we would appease the bears, not now, not after their years fighting just to survive at the hands of our parents and grandparents.“So make us an offer we can’t refuse, because until then, the attacks will continue. You know what they say, all is fair in love and war, and this, my dear, is war. There was always enough room for us all to succeed, for us all to lead a prosperous life, but your ancestors’ greed will now be your downfall.”He pauses his pacing and his eyes lock on mine. I can see a shred of regret tingeing his light brown eyes. My mouth opens, attempting to take advantage of the brief flicker of humanity I see there to salvage this meeting. But he cuts
“You should have told me. I knew you were in the city, but I had no idea you couldn’t fight as your wolf. I would have done things differently, I would have protected you”“No,” I say sharply, cutting him off this time. “No, I can take care of myself, and you did the right thing. You defended both our packs, even when I couldn’t.” The admission stings like the slice of a blade, but it’s true. I’m not sure what would have happened without him there tonight.“Stop that,” he says, leaning forward. “You saved so many lives by calling us out when you did. You were able to see through the blood lust that would have clouded any other wolf’s judgment.” He pulls in a long breath, pausing for a moment as he scrubs a hand down his face and over his five-o’clock shadow. “There’s just more at play right now, with you being a new Alpha, there might be talk about you not shifting.”My hand itches to slide my fingers over that stubble to reassure him I’m still here. But I push it down as his admissio
His lips curve into a smile, the movement noticeable against the shell of my ear, and I can’t help but mirror it at his observation because that is exactly what it feels like to me too. She comes to the surface, just below my skin, sitting there with me, a partnership, two halves of my soul. And I finally feel right in my own body for the first time in who knows how long. How had I never noticed I was living as half of myself without my wolf with me? She huffs a breath of amusement at me, and my chest shakes with laughter. It really should have been obvious. Perhaps this too is what I’ve needed all this time, to truly heal all of my wounds.“Now it’s time to shift,” he says, taking a step back and letting his arms drop from my waist. I bristle at the lack of contact, not sure I’m ready to look too closely at how comfortable I’d gotten wrapped in his arms. But I know he’s right. Only so much can be done in my human form. To truly fix this connection, I’d need to continue the process an
“Thank goodness,” she sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief. I giggle at the wave of ease that washes over me, knowing now that she won’t be as stiff with me as others are. I need this sense of normalcy right now. “I’m so sorry, Scarlet,” she adds, her face falling as she glances around the office, clearly remembering the sobering circumstances for my return.“Thanks, Semine, but that’s not why I came to speak with you today,” I admit, reaching across the table to clasp her hand in a comforting touch. Although I appreciate her condolences, I can’t focus on that right now, I can’t keep dwelling on the losses and emotional blows. I will never forget, and I will continue to search for his killer and bring the same fate raining down upon them, but I need to live too.“I came to ask you to be one of my betas.” My lips lift up in an excited smile. Despite the hard time we have ahead of us, having someone like Semine on my side puts my mind at ease. I know she’ll tell me like it is, and ev