5

I gave it a taste, it was pretty good. Booze metabolized pretty quickly in a werewolf, so we weren't going to get drunk, but if we drank fast enough we could get a little buzzed. I took a long drink, then grabbed a handful of Oreos from the package on the cooler. "Thanks for this girls, I'm so glad we're not stuck with the boys back at the Pack House. I was starting to feel like the meat on display at the market."

"They aren't THAT bad," said Carol. "My brother isn't that bad. He just comes off a little strong sometimes. I think he's trying to show he's just as tough as his older brothers."

"Overprotective older brothers at that," Olivia said. "I wish they'd just find their mates, then maybe they'd leave me alone."

Carol nodded. "Yeah, you're lucky. You don't have older brothers watching over you your whole life." She looked around. "I'm sure if you wanted some company, you'd find someone willing."

"Yeah, I think not." I laid back on the blanket, letting the sun warm my skin. "I don't want to deal with a possessive, horny male." I relaxed into the blanket, suddenly feeling tired. More tired than I should be. My wolf raised the alarm first, she could feel her power being sucked away.

I'd been poisoned.

I reached out over the bond again. "Dad, something's wrong. I'm getting weaker by the minute, my wolf thinks I've been poisoned."

"SHIT! We're leaving now, can you get somewhere safe?"

"I'm not sure. I'm trying not to let on, I think Carol slipped something into my drink. I can't feel my fingers or toes."

I opened my eyes, Carol was standing over me. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, Ella."

"What the hell did you do to me?" I was furious, but mostly scared. My friend was setting me up, and whatever plan she had wasn't good.

"Just a little muscle relaxant. We don't want you running off, or doing something stupid. You are too selfish to see things clearly, Ella. Get your head out of the clouds and quit chasing fairy tales. You need to think of more than just yourself, think of your Pack. This is good for them."

Olivia came up behind us. "Did you really think that an unmated Alpha heiress could travel outside her territory without consequence? Hell, if I was worth everything David gave up, I can only imagine what you are worth. Not just Alpha blood, but the chance for a male to become Alpha of a Pack? You went to the highest bidder. With all the money your family is worth, he had to promise the others a nice cut to get them to cooperate. He's been waiting for months for this chance, and you are stupid enough to walk right into the trap."

Carol kneeled next to me. "Several Alphas wanted you for their sons. You got lucky, if you ask me. He'll be a good Alpha for your Pack and a good mate for you. Your parents are being informed now, they can't stop it. They will just have to accept it, accept that it is the best thing for you and them."

I heard footsteps approaching, our three fishermen were coming, their scents on the air. They must have landed on the other side of the island.

"Dad, David, Curtis and Nathan are here. They were waiting for us. They have been planning this for a long time, the girls are in on it along with their families. They've auctioned off rights to me, they're going to force mate me to one of the sons."

Dad didn't respond, but Mom did. "We can't let that happen. They aren't letting us leave, we're trying to fight our way out. Get out of there, get somewhere safe. I love you baby." She cut the link.

I sat up, I was dizzy and I knew I didn't have much time. I swept Carol's leg, knocking her on her butt as I jumped to my feet. I kicked her in the ribs, causing her to cry out in pain and roll on the ground. I ran past her the best I could, heading for the boat. I was too slow, and before I left the sand I was tripped up by Olivia. I couldn't catch my balance, it was like my legs and arms were many times heavier than normal. I faceplanted in the shallow water just off the beach. I tried to get up, but Carol jumped on my back.

I was trying to roll her off me when it felt like my chest was being ripped in two. My wolf howled out in pain, and I couldn't breathe for a few moments. I reached out for my father, but there wasn't anything there anymore. The link was gone.

My Dad was dead.

I screamed in pain and anger, now desperate to get away. I twisted my upper body, aiming my elbow at Carol's face. There was a satisfying crunch as I knocked out a few teeth. She fell unconscious at my side.

I put my hands down and tried to push myself upright again, but things just weren't working. The poison was moving faster through my system now, and I struggled to get to my hands and knees. I crawled into the water, reaching up for the rail of the boat

and coming up short.

Olivia grabbed my left ankle and started to pull me back, dropping my face back into the water. I tried to kick myself free, but the motions were weak and ineffective. I pushed myself up to take a breath, but was immediately pulled back down as my arms could no longer support me.

My face was scraping against the sand when the second bond broke. My mother.

"MOM!" I screamed through the bond, but it was gone too. My wolf howled her loss in my head, the pain ripping through my soul once more. I felt the Alpha power of my parents flow into me, I cried as it happened, not wanting to believe they were both gone and I was now leader of my Pack.

The headache I had was incredibly painful. My eyes were squeezed tightly closed and my teeth were clenched. My wolf was trying to push forward, she wanted blood. My teeth started to shift and some fur started to emerge, but the drugs were stronger. My wolf gave up, panting in exhaustion as she whined in grief.

I didn't have the strength to scream any more, the tears were coming fast. I closed my eyes as Olivia dropped my leg and the boys surrounded me.