Despite her pounding head, Maddie was in the Alpha’s office, and standing before her father’s desk, five minutes before he strode in from the morning training session. With a bit of makeup and luck on her side, she could cover most of the effects of her late night drinking, but she knew he would know anyway. His warriors had been on her for a reason, and she had done her best not to disappoint his low expectations of her. When the door to the office opened, her back pulled straighter and her shoulders squared, as she waited for his scrutiny.
The Alpha barely gave her a cursory glance, as he passed by and pulled the curtains behind his desk wide to let the morning sunlight pierce into the room. Maddie winced as the bright light cut across her vision, but she resisted turning away from its glare. The darkness had been a comfort against the storm in her head, but she hadn’t expected it to last.
A thick silence held in the air. She supposed most families would greet each other with hugs and share stories of their time apart, but instead she was to stand there and wait for him to address her. Maddie hadn’t expected anything less, and spent that time taking in the small differences of her father. Though she had seen him a few times over the past few years, when he had visited the Red Dawn pack, his visits had been brief and had never been for her. She couldn’t help but notice the new greys in his hair and beard, and her eyes raised at the glasses he took from a draw when he turned to his paperwork.
Maddie sucked her teeth, knowing he was purposefully taking his time and turned her gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window behind him. It looked out over the entire pack, and they were even high enough to see the beginnings of the docks that laid at the east of their island. Beaches laid either side of the docks, but the terrain soon steepened to cliffs, which built to their highest point in the west where the packhouse stood proud, looking over its territory. The round island wasn’t far from the mainland but was large enough to house the 1500 Silver Moon wolves. They were easily the largest pack in the kingdom and had proved in their history that they could live off the island resources if they came under siege.
“You stand like a warrior, did the lessons with Eleanor do nothing?”
Her hands were behind her back, opening her stance wide as she faced him. At his disapproval, Maddie brought her hands before her and clasped them lightly, resting them on her thighs. She hated standing like that. It urged the shoulders to curl in and the gaze to drop. It was submissive and went against everything she had grown up believing as the Alpha’s daughter. Still, with the look on her father’s face, she didn’t want to piss him off further and just forced herself to stand tall despite the demure stance.
“Better.” He grumbled, eyes returning to his papers. “Do you know how much work you’ve caused me? All the agreements with Red Dawn are being dissolved and questions from all our allies are flooding in now that the news is out. They’re demanding to know what’s going on and are questioning your...” He peered over his glasses, his gaze as sharp as his words. “Suitability for leadership.”
Maddie had to grit her teeth against the tidal wave of anger that surged within her. Despite her training, her father always knew the right words to say to try and make her break her composure. However, she had grown in the last three years and swallowed the unwise comments that wanted to bubble free. “My suitability shouldn’t be in question when I stopped a person unfit to be an Alpha from leading the pack. Leaving Daniel was the best for Silver Moon, and for me.”
Her father hummed, but she couldn’t tell if it was in agreement or not. Though he might act as her Alpha first, and father second, even he couldn’t deny Daniel’s behaviour was not befitting an Alpha who should value loyalty.
“And you had to drown your sorrows at The White Wolf? You racked up quite the tab I hear.”
“I paid for my own drinks and shared the company of many Silver Moon wolves, all of whom were happy to see me home.” Her jaw tightened as she countered. “And I was celebrating my birthday. Nothing more.” Her tone was clipped, and she saw his eyebrow raise before adding, “Alpha.”
“Perhaps you should go to an establishment better suited to your future title from now on.” He mused in that voice that was less of a suggestion and more like an order.
“There’s nothing wrong with a Luna being among her wolves.”
Maddie held her head high as her words echoed to silence. It was a sore topic between them that had always been there. Her father was of the opinion that separation brewed respect, but she believed being among the people would make her a better leader. Maybe not when she was plastered, but showing the trust and familiarity to do that among civilians was a respect in itself. There weren’t many areas she pushed back on, but that would always be one of them.
He sighed. “You’re twenty-five now, Madeline.” She had to bite back the surprise that he had remembered, not that he had wished her a happy birthday. “Your new status is unacceptable and must be changed.”
The Alpha dropped his eyes to the paperwork piled before him, and she narrowed her gaze. Her skin crawled waiting for his next words, like they would hold the weight of her future. Maddie knew her father. He was an honourable Alpha who would look a wolf in the eye when he gave an order, to show the respect he held for them. The only time he couldn’t was when he had to give an order he didn’t want to give.
His reluctance made a lump thicken in her throat, but she forced it away. “My new status?”
“As single, Madeline.” He sighed. “You are to take over the pack this year, you must have an Alpha to do it with.” Her stomach tightened. She couldn’t deny that she had wondered what would happen; maybe delay her accession until she found her match, or maybe a tour of all their allies to see if there were any compatible suitors. With the way her father’s features tightened she knew it would be worse than anything like that. “The Alpha Games.”
“No.” The word slipped from her lips so quiet that her father continued as if he hadn’t been heard.
“It's been many years since the last one was required, but the invitations have been sent to all our allies this morning and registration shall begin in a week.”
A heavy weight dropped like lead in her stomach and a white noise filled her ears, drowning out the Alpha as he continued to explain the process. Maddie didn’t hear a word.
The Alpha Games were a myth more than a practise that packs still followed. Future Lunas of the bigger packs actively searched out a compatible partner before their twenty-fifth birthday to avoid the games from ever happening, because they stole almost all the choice from the Luna. Being in a strong pack and not having a compatible partner by twenty-five was so rare that Maddie didn’t know when the last Alpha Games had been held, let alone seen one. All she knew was it would take away her right to choose her mate, and all their allies would be allowed to submit candidates to compete for her.
That included Red Dawn; which included Daniel.
Bile clawed up her throat at the thought of being forced to mate the man who had so publicly defiled their promises to each other.
“No.” She shouted sharply.
Suddenly, a deep, growl erupted from her father. The sound rang with the authority he had held for twenty-three years and pierced through to the marrow of her bones, make them shake with the force of it. She cowed, her gaze dropping to the floor, though her eyes were wide, and tears dripped freely to the carpet, silencing their presence.
Her father marched towards her, stopping so she could see his boots, but she didn’t dare to lift her gaze. Daughter or not, he was her Alpha and her leader.
“This isn’t the choice any of us want, but you will not disrespect me like that.” A quiet fury held in his voice, making her tremble and she screwed her fists tight in an attempt to keep them still. Her chest felt hollow with the words she wasn’t allowed to say, as her lips pressed tight together. “There’s no other option now, Madeline. Silver Moon must uphold our traditions and you will be mated and ascend to Luna before the year is out.”
It was an order. An order which stripped her of all her choices and would serve her up on a platter for whichever man was strong enough to beat the others back. Whether he was twice her age, cruel, unfit to rule or even her ex. If they won, she was the prize. Maddie bit her lip to stop a whimper from escaping.
“Madeline!” Her father growled again, expecting an answer.
“Yes, Alpha.” The words burned like acid on her tongue, but she had learned long ago that there was no running from a birth right, whether she wanted it or not.
She could feel the pressure of his scrutiny and her muscles tensed as if waiting for a physical blow to accompany the devastating decree he had made on her life. But it never came. Instead, he took pity on her, and in some ways that felt worse.
“Go get cleaned up. I know this isn’t what you want, but you will accept it with the grace of a Luna.”
Maddie’s fingernails bit into her palms as she accepted his order and then fled the office.
Her eyes were closed to the rough wind whipping around her, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Stood at the cliff’s edge, on the highest point of the island, Maddie was home. Those rocks were as familiar to her as her childhood bedroom and, if she wanted to, she could walk the edge blindfolded without a single stumble. Many times, those cliffs had wiped away her tears and that day was no different. Below her, she could hear the swells and breaks of the sea against the rocks, churning up white foam that skittered across the surface before the next wave lapped again. The sea was relatively calm, its movement a gentle shimmer in her ears. The salty air was bitter on her lips, and she inhaled it like a life force. Too long she had been away from its comfort. Too long she had been on the mainland and away from home. The sharp drop, a mere step before her, was one of the many reasons for Silver Moon’s long lasting strength. It was a thirty metre climb for whoever dared to approach from the
“Come on, Mads.” Lewis chuckled, his breath even. “Did you completely stop training at Red Dawn?” “For your. Information. I worked out. Every. Day.” She panted, keeled over with her hands planted on her knees. “It’s not. My fault. That you warriors. Are freakishly. Fit.” Maddie tried to growl her frustrations, but her lungs wheezed instead. They had only been sparring for thirty minutes and she was already buggered. Every muscle ached like she had been running for hours, and everywhere he had landed a hit already hurt and she knew she’d be covered in bruises. Despite her best efforts, she could see that he was barely trying. Not only was he fit enough to run circles around her, but he was taking it easy on her; slowing down his movements and reducing the force behind his hits. It's no wonder he had struggled when he first joined the warriors. Back then he was the same level she was, but there was a vast change in him now. The difference was staggering and made her reluctant to cont
The weight of the finery she had been dressed in, before being thrust into a room off the grand hall, held Maddie in place. It made her shoulders ache to wear so much jewellery and she struggled to keep the distaste of it off her heavily painted face. It had taken a group of three women all morning to make sure that she looked like the perfect Luna. However, Maddie couldn’t help but wonder how any of the game entrants were supposed to know what she truly looked like beneath it all. It would be a shame for the winner to change his mind once he saw the real her. With her corset too tight, her heels too high, her hair too straight and every blemish on her face covered, she’d barely recognise herself either. It was all a part of the games though and she had been thoroughly prepared for it by her father. Maddie was to attend each event, dressed in the same finery and be on her best behaviour. Outside of each trial, she was to stay in the packhouse or with a guard. That empty room was the c
A trail of wolves came and went. Some she was definitely compatible with, giving her a modicum of relief against the dread Daniel’s presence had planted in her stomach, and some she definitely wasn’t. There were more entrants than Maddie expected, but she did her duty each time; acting exactly as she was required, befitting her future role and her father’s expectations. The only times she had broken her steadfast composure was when Lewis and Jess came into the room. Lewis was first, early on in the process. Immediately, she recognised his scent and gave him a smile, or at least she tried to aim it in his general direction. Knowing her friend was with her gave Maddie a rare moment to relax as she released her pheromones. Growing up together it was inevitable that they had smelled each other's over the years. Before wolves matured, pheromone release was difficult, leading to more than a few embarrassing stories for both of them. Once a wolf turned eighteen, everything became easier. Unl
Maddie jumped. She tumbled forward to get away from the sudden voice behind her. Adrenaline spiked in her veins, but her body wasn't used to wearing heels when trying to escape a threat and she felt herself tipping. Before she could fall, a hand wrapped around her arm, keeping her steady until she found her balance again. It’s palm was warm, and she noticed its rough callouses against her skin, though his hold was gentle. “You’re jumpy.” Amusement rolled around the word, bringing Maddie back from her shock. She snatched her arm from his grip and glared, her fingers twitching to remove her blindfold. “Of course I’m jumpy, you just scared the crap out of me.” She hissed. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn’t you answer me?” There was no reply for a few seconds and her eyes narrowed further at the presence before her. “Did you just fucking shrug? I can’t see dip shit.” “Sorry.” He rumbled, but she could hear the smile in his voice. “For which part?” She growled through gritted
All Maddie wanted to do was retire for the day. Her soft bed was calling to her, promising to make the stress of the day melt away as she sunk into a restful sleep. It was so tempting to simply slip away from the grand hall and the mass of wolves who had come to celebrate the start of the Alpha Games. However, her disappearance would be quickly noticed, and she’d be dragged back to face a sea of disappointed faces. It was better to face the crowd now that they were smiling at her. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t leave until she followed through with her plan. Only her and Jess knew what was to happen, and despite knowing it would work, her stomach rolled with waves that would rival the sea at their borders. The room was full of the higher up wolves of Silver Moon with a few guests spread among them. Maddie chose to focus on the strangers, trying to guess where they were from. There were only a few she recognised from the days her and her father would visit their allies, but others
Jess was at the front of the line. She had likely shouldered past the larger contestants to be first, and crossed the hall quickly to stand before the head table. Maddie had to bite her lip to stop a smile from breaking free as her friend dipped into a low, gracious bow before her. To anyone else it was deeply respectful, but to her it was making a mockery of the performance they were putting on. By the way her father stiffened beside her, she wondered if he realised the same. “Jessica Thompson, daughter of the Silver Moon Beta.” She introduced herself like a stranger but threw Maddie a wink as she straightened. It was hidden with her back to the audience, who were dissecting every interaction and flicker on her expression. Maddie dipped her head, hiding her own smile, before she straightened to welcome the next contestant. Nineteen wolves, and one among them would be her mate. Each of them gave their name and link to their strong family, but most had the build to justify their posi
The uproar from the crowd was to be expected. Silver Moon wolves and guest alike called out against her announcement after a single moment of hesitation. Many rose to their feet, some shouting their concern, some disregarding her words like that of a naïve pup, and others pleading with the Alpha to tame her tongue. Maddie bared it all, her jaw set in a stubborn line as she faced them with her head raised high. Her lack of a reaction dismissed those calling her immature and her composure unnerved those who thought she could be tamed. 'Got the reaction you wanted?' Jess giggled through a mindlink. Maddie threw her a discrete wink. When the very wolves who called her naïve couldn’t control themselves, their outbursts were void. When enough wolves had quietened down to hear the one voice in the room who mattered, she turned to her father with the same anticipation of his response hovering over her chest. Maddie waited for him to challenge her words, a hundred rehearsed responses at the