LOGINALPHA COLE'S P.O.V The cars were arranged by the time I got out of the palace. Evan was notably missing, but that little insect, Alan was standing closest to my personal car, his hands folded in front of him.I stopped, taking him in. He had changed into a full suit, his eyes thin as he met mine.I gave a small smile, then walked the two steps it took to cover the distance between us. He took half a step back, and my smile only widened.Without a word, I gently fixed his tie, my hand tightening it just enough till he turned a bright red."Your eyes down," I whispered. "There is a hierarchy here, and you are beneath my shoe."He maintained his gaze for a second longer. I could see the moment realisation kicked in, and whatever nonsense had been drilled into him by the seer and Isaac came to mind."Yes, Alpha," he said, then lowered his gaze.I let him go, then turned and got into the car, the door closing after me.The drive to the massive troop barracks was a slightly long journey. T
ALPHA COLE'S P.O.V I watched the slow rise and dip of Selena's chest as she slept, her fingers wrapped tight around my hand. She was adorable even in sleep, and still somehow, every inch, the fighter I know.My phone started to ring somewhere, and I turned. I grabbed it before it could wake Selena, then brought it to my ear."Hello?""Alpha," said Evan, his voice low. I closed my eyes. My hand still stung from where I had hit him, and even though I knew he wasn't the kind of person to betray me, I half expected it to happen."Evan."He gave a small sigh. "The troops are close. They are more than enthusiastic about joining. As far as we know, they are the troops Alpha Rhys occasionally loans to Isaac to hold over your head, and... well, they are willing to finally be let out of that."I nodded. "You know where to take them.""I do. Will you come see them?""In an hour.""Yes, Alpha."Silence fell between us. For a long moment, I thought of everything I could use to bridge the gap. An
SELENA'S P.O.V The door closed behind us, and the last bit of my dress dropped to the floor. Alpha Cole said nothing as he pushed it away, then opened the massive shower cubicle.I looked around, then back at him, my chest lightly heaving. I covered the tiny distance to him, my hands resting on the warm skin of his chest.He said nothing to me as he turned on the shower. The water was warm, and I gave a s.all gasp as my hair immediately flattened against my back, and he broke into a small laugh."Still a bit scared?"I rolled my eyes. "Surprised. Not scared."He simply smiled but said nothing. Gently, he turned me around, one arm wrapping srojnd my place, keeping my back solidly pinned against his chest.I sighed as I leaned back, letting him trace small, pretty kisses down the edge of my neck. The scent of lavender hit me, and I didn't have to open my eyes to see what it was.A warm, slightly heavier liquid than the water came to a slow rest on my hair, followed almost immediately b
SELENA'S P.O.V "Are you okay?" I asked Alpha Cole the minute the doors closed behind us.He let out a small sigh, and I could see the hint of fatigue in his eyes. Something we both knew he would hide from me. He didn't reply, and he took off his shirt instead.I watched as the muscles of his back flexed, and the skin carrying the tattoo stretched a little."I think I am," he said finally, turning to me. "I reek of blood."He covered the distance to me, his hand resting delicately on my waist before they tightened and he pulled me even closer. He leaned down, cupping my chin gently. "You on the other hand...""I reek of blood too," I said, laughing, but my hands came to rest on his shoulders before slowly running up to cup each sides of his neck. His skin was warm, and I leaned up, my face brushing his lightly."I don't think you do," he whispered, turning us a little. One of his hands ran up my waist till his fingers wrapped around the zipper of my dress."Care to join me in there?
SELENA'S P.O.V Alpha Cole leaned back on the car seat and grabbed a napkin from the compartment. I watched as he wiped his face carefully, then pushed his hair back, his chest slightly heaving still."Let me help," I said, leaning over to grab another napkin. I turned to him and took his hand.He met my eyes but said nothing as I gently cleared off the blood on his fingers till they were clean. I gently set that hand down and brought the other one to my lap. He had several cuts on this hand, like he had hit something hard or was cut with a knife. I leaned forward and kissed the spot right above his wounds. He sucked in a breath but said nothing, his eyes darting across both of mine."You did so well," I said, gently cleaning off the blood on his hand.He had cuts on his shoulder, and his arm looked wounded. I grabbed the first aid box we had left in the car, the same one he had gotten to treat my wounds. I leaned away, then tapped my thigh. He didn't protest. He simply leaned for
SELENA'S P.O.V "That bastard!" Alpha Rhys yelled as he stood up, his chest heaving hard. "Where is my son? Where is Brandon?!"I heard the silence as Alpha Rhys started to pace around the room. "Answer me!""We rushed him to the healer, but his neck looks..."Alpha Rhys lost control of his feet and fell straight to the floor, managing to hold himself to the edge of the bed with one hand."He... he killed my son? He killed Brandon?!"The call quenched. I watched him from where I was lying, my hands already loosened, and alert. Most of the weakness I felt had been replaced by the pure adrenaline in my blood. If Alpha Cole already knew about this, then he would be on his way here soon enough.The last thing I intended for him to see was me lying helpless."That bastard..." Alpha Rhys muttered, tears shining in his eyes as he looked up to me. For a second, I saw the calculation hit his eyes. He already lost his son. It would only make sense to take the only thing he could.He slowly stoo
SELENA'S P.O.V.I blinked up, my chest heaving hard. I could smell a bit of smoke and an accompanying woody scent, very far from the exotic scents that I was used to around Alpha Cole and his palace. Alpha Cole.The thought came back unbidden. The night of passion that we had shared, the way he ha
There was a moment of stunned silence that descended on the hall, following my announcement. I kept my eyes straight ahead, my gaze holding Alpha Cole's, unwavering.And then it erupted. Chaos. I could hear the names they called me, the scandalized gasps of wolves who couldn't believe that an escap
I woke up to an empty bed, and the evidence of last night's passion strewn all around the room. My clothes were on the floor, and Alpha Cole's white shirt was standing out amongst the black ensemble.My legs trembled, and my body felt used, and ached everywhere, in the best way possible. My brows
ALPHA COLE'S P.O.V.The rest of the ceremony passed by in a blur of... nothing. I tried my best to look the part of the man who believed he was making the right choice. But there was no right or wrong when Selena had looked at me like that. Like I was the enemy. Like I had broken her.And maybe I h







