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
As per the traditions of the Alpha Games, each participant was to stay in the packhouse, even those who were from the pack hosting the games. It was to show respect and hospitality to each wolf, but Maddie also thought it was a good way to keep an eye on the foreign wolves on the territory. Her suspicion was confirmed by the guards placed on the stairs. The Silver Moon packhouse was four floors. The grand hall was on ground floor and the upper most floor was the Alpha and his family’s personal quarters. Her father’s office and her bedroom were on that level. The remaining two floors held a variety of spaces including a myriad of guest rooms. There were so many wolves who had made it through the compatibility test that every available room was needed. It didn’t matter where each wolf was placed but Maddie was strategic as she organised them. She relished the grimace on Daniel’s face when she directed him to the smallest guest room they had. It was by no means a bad room, but he had sta
“Where's your guard?” Jess scoured the pub as she downed the rest of her drink. “That’s the best part.” Maddie grinned. “Now I’m a contestant, father can’t show any favouritism, even to me. The only thing he’s been allowed is for me to stay in my own bedroom, and that was only because we ran out of guest rooms.” “So, no more guards until the games are over?” “Nope.” The pair shared a mischievous smile, remembering days gone by when their plans had been foiled by the Silver Moon warriors that the Alpha had placed to watch her. With them gone for at least a month, there would be no limit to what they could get up to. “So...” A gleam filled her friend’s eyes, immediately putting Maddie on her guard. “Did you find anyone special at the scent trial?” Her eyebrows wiggled as if Maddie needed any help to understand her meaning. “Nope, you were the best one there.” “I knew it.” Jess grinned, before jumping up to get another round. Maddie took a long sip of her lemonade. She wasn’t sure
The morning sun brushed across the sky in faded oranges and pinks, gently coaxing the day to wake up. Maddie’s arms stretched high above her as she convinced her body to do the same. It had been difficult tearing herself from her bed so early, but she was reminded of the crisp refreshing air that the morning gifted her. It rushed her lungs, making her hum as its chill spread throughout her form, chasing away any lingering fatigue. The usual thrum of life from the pack was subdued and she quietly wondered if the other contestants were still in bed as she continued to warm up her muscles. She had expected more to be up and about, but she hadn’t seen any on her way downstairs. Behind you. A voice sung in her mind. A smile curled the corners of Maddie’s lips as she turned to find Jess walking towards her. She was dressed in haphazardly thrown on joggers and a crinkled t-shirt, her hair pulled into a rushed ponytail. Her chest warmed at the sight. “You don’t have to do this. It’s against
Maddie had never showered faster in her life. She didn’t bother with her hair and simply scrubbed her skin of the morning’s jog. She was in and out in moments, before she was throwing on whatever clothes were in the top of her drawers and rushing from her room. She threw a look at the clock, seeing she had ten minutes before her father was due to get to his office. In the mornings, he usually had some area of the pack to visit, whether he supervised the warrior training or inspected the docks, but he was always at his desk by eight o’clock. The warrior training would have wrapped up too, but they would head to breakfast before getting changed for the day. Nothing as small as being a bit sweaty would get in the way of a hungry warrior and their breakfast. That gave Maddie a small window where her father’s office would be empty with no chance of one of the warriors coming in to surprise her. Before she could rethink her hastily scrambled together plan, she flew out of her room and acro