I stretch as the morning light hits my face, feeling well-rested for the first time in what feels like ages, and jump, nearly falling off the bed, when I see the Alpha sitting near my feet, intently watching me. The corners of his mouth turn up slightly, nearly a smile.“Good morning,” he says, not moving. I shrink away from him, pulling the covers up to my chest as if their soft down filling will act as a shield from whatever he’s here for. He just continues to stare, and it’s too awkward to stay like this, so I stand up, grabbing a glass of juice he’s left on the side table beside a tray of fruit, eggs, and sausage. His eyes follow me.“Whose room is this?” I ask to break the silence. The faint smile on his face fades. “Your predecessor. You actually look quite like her asleep,” he says softly. There’s a longing in his tone. I want to get away from him, yet I also want to talk to him, know more about the girl whose ring I found, and maybe it’s just the good night’s sleep talking, bu
We walk through the grounds, past the fencing, and along a path into a quaint little town. The buildings are all brick just like the packhouse. The streets are immaculate and lined with well-trimmed trees. If you stumbled on it in your travels, you’d likely think it picturesque, a simple country place with kind down-home folks—but I know better of the things that lurk here. My heart sinks as we approach the town center and the stage the Alpha had them build comes into view. A crowd surrounds it. The Alpha stands on the platform looking out over them, down on them. I don’t see the girls, but I’ve got a sick feeling in my gut that I will soon. A row of stockades sits to Darius’—I mean the Alpha’s— left side. A mummer falls over the crowd as they notice me. Some begin to boo and jeer. Others just whisper about the beast from cell six. It seems I’ve earned myself quite the reputation. William stops at the base of a makeshift set of stairs up to the stage and directs me to ascend. The Al
By the time we ascend the stairs towards the Alpha’s quarters, it’s no longer shame I feel—it’s rage. So few things are sacred to our kind, and Darius tramples over them all with blatant indifference. Family, honor, unity, the purity of our wolf form—they mean nothing to him. He’s just another power-hungry asshole coasting on his birthright and inherited strength. He closes the door softly after we enter his home, suddenly kneeling beside me before even removing his coat. A feral growl slips from me, and I can’t help but snap at his hand as he reaches for the collar around my neck. He laughs. “Easy now, unless you want me to leave it on.” I’m surprised when he grabs hold of it undoing the clasp without gloves. His skin doesn’t burn. “Perks of being part vampire,” he comments, as if reading my mind. My anger is momentarily surpassed by the panic that he may actually be able to read my mind, invade what privacy I have left. “No, I can’t read your mind,” he again replies without me say
I tear through another blood sucker’s throat as my wolf is slammed to the floor. A dark elf smiles from the doorway, his purple eyes gleaming, bony fingers extended toward me. I feel my joints stretch as his spell threatens to rip me apart.This is it. This is how I die. I accept it. I can finally be with my sweet Amalea. I close my eyes, giving myself over to his power, and whisper thanks to the moon goddess—and then the pressure is gone. I open my eyes to see one of my fellow warriors eating the dark elf’s entrails.I lurch forward off the ground sinking my teeth into the nearest enemy I can find, before looking for more. Another day. Another battle. We’ve spent nearly a year trying to reclaim Cold Bay, but every time we push them back, they redouble their efforts.At this rate, we’ll never leave this goddess-forsaken frozen wasteland, unless it’s on a funeral pyre. Not that I care. Suicide by sacrifice. That’s what Marcus said when I left. I thought he’d command me to stay at first
I run through the night, arriving half frozen at the transport depot just as the sun breaches the snow line. I don’t want to stop, but it’s faster to go through the mountain than over it. The wolves at the gate scramble to let me in. “Beta,” one of them stammers, “has Cold Bay fallen? What are you doing here?” I try to get a handle on the rage still burning inside me and struggle to retake my human form, accepting the clothes offered to me. “The Bay stands. I need transport through the mountain now,” I say pushing past the men toward the train log. I angrily flip through the schedule, looking for the next transport. “The bucket won’t be back for at least a few hours. It’s on a supply run,” one of the warriors tells me, setting his hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you come on into the guard station? We’ll get you something to eat, you can fill us all in.” I jerk away from him, slamming the log down on the table. “I need to go now. Get me the radio.” He starts to question me, but wisel
Hurry up and wait. That’s the situation I’ve put myself in. When I saw my mate on that video, all I wanted to do was get to her as quickly as possible—fuck the consequences—but the trip here gave me time to think, painful as it was.Rash decisions made in the name of love rarely work out outside of fairy tales. This is reality. I can’t just run all the way to the Blood Moon pack house, waving howdy to pack border patrols as I go with an “oh, hey, just passing through to kill the Blood Moon Alpha! See ya later!” I might be willing to fight our entire species to get to my love, but I’d die doing it. What good would that do her?So here I am, waiting for preparations for the Alpha challenge to be complete, trying to formulate a plan through my rage. If—when—I beat Marcus, I can petition the council for her return from a position of power. I’ll get a copy of the video from Paul and show them just what Darius considers “punishment.” Even prisoners have rights. I don’t doubt more is going o
“Beta? Jackson breaks through the mind link waking me. “James? Where are you?” “I’m out at Amalea’s house,” I reply groggily. “What? You better get back fast! The fight is set to start in less than an hour! I've been looking everywhere for you.” Shit. I didn’t mean to sleep so long. I sit up, slip on my shoes, wrap the flower chain neatly around my wrist for luck, and head for town. I’m surprised by the turnout when I get there. Every member of the pack and then some seems to have gathered overnight. The streets are lined with cars, and there are people everywhere. It’s overwhelming after being so isolated in Cold Bay, almost suffocating, especially because people keep trying to talk to me. Whether wishing me luck, offering me guidance, or sarcastically saying their goodbyes, they just won’t leave me alone. I just want to get to the arena. As my anger rises, a path begins to part for me until I run into Jackson. “You’re clearly already in the right head space,” he laughs, “your ener
A moan slips from my lips as he sucks gently at my neck, the pressure of his body atop mine leading my mind to places I never thought it would go for him. I pull my hand from his hair, and push his shirt up, tracing the firm muscles of his abs. He pulls his teeth from my neck, hovering there, his lips just grazing the skin. I press closer to him, opening my legs more so that he can slip between them. He lifts his head and looks me in the eye when I do. I hate him. What am I doing? I lean forward off the bed, suddenly kissing him, tasting my coppery blood on his lips. He doesn’t kiss me back at first, seemingly surprised for a moment, before he does, deeply, his tongue mingling with mine. I feel him pull closer to me as his hand trails down my neck, and then lower, grazing my nipple, before sliding down to my hip. He grips it, his kiss growing hungry as I reach to undo his belt. He lifts himself slightly, letting me, as he breaks the kiss to pull my nightshirt over my head before smas