Traded to the Ruthless Alpha

Reya “Stand tall, Reya. You look like a hunchback when you stand next to your sister,” My mother, Eleanor, hisses in my ear. She might’ve been speaking to me, but she was looking at my little sister, Bernice. She’s preening in front of a massive mirror, looking the perfect way that our mother desires. I sigh as I shift my shoulders back a fraction of an inch, “I am standing straight, Mother; perhaps you just see the weight of your insane expectations bending my spine.”Eleanor sharply inhales, her face turning a light shade of pink; her forehead crinkles with her anger as she snaps, “Do not use that tone with me, young lady. This is the most important night of our lives. Your sister is a pure white wolf.” She puts emphasis on those last three words. Idolizing my sister ever since she discovered what she is. She breathes out, “She represents the future of the Oakwood Pack, and you exist to help make her look flawless.”I open my mouth to argue, but it’s no use. Arguing with my mother

ReyaBeing stuck in a carriage for three days is agonizing. I’ve never experienced such dull torture and meanwhile, it hangs over my head how horrible my life could be at the Blackwood Pack. It makes me wish the journey was longer.Or that maybe I could’ve escaped this fate all together.I really thought I found my happily ever after, but even my mate betrayed me. I look towards the ceiling of the wooden carriage and murmur to the moon goddess, “You picked a real good one for me, huh?”The carriage grinds to a halt and my whole body lurches from it. I look out the window, the warm green fields from the south are gone, now there’s nothing but dark pine trees and a freezing mountain rainstorm that looks horrid.The driver doesn’t open my door, he just shouts from his high seat, “We do not move closer, Lady Reya. The Blackwood border guards told us to drop you right here at the outer iron gates. We must leave immediately, good luck.”I grab the handle of my small suitcase and I push the d

KillianIt’s been hours, and no matter what I do, nothing can take away the scent of burnt pine and blood that seems to be stuck to my very being. Three men are dead; the wall that had been standing since my grandfather’s time has been turned to kindling, and I am left sitting here, staring at a door. Cormac, one of my most trusted friends, speaks up, “You are going to burn a hole through the wood if you keep staring like that.”I glance toward him, and he also looks like hell, his jacket torn at the shoulder, and dried blood is crusted around his face and hands.He hasn’t left to wash up yet; he's standing here watching this door while I get myself cleaned up. Guilt builds up in my throat, but I can’t allow her to go unwatched, especially after that attack and after learning who she is.My voice is flat, “She’s sleeping.”“Good for her. Meanwhile, we still have work to be done.” He drops a stack of papers at my desk, and the thud makes my temples throb.Cormac’s voice is tense as he

KillianThe maps spread across the huge table are supposed to be important. My three commanders point toward the eastern border, arguing over numbers and debating whether we need six or eight men on the midnight patrol rotation.Their voices are dull and fade into background noise.My mind is trapped in the memory of being in the dining room with Reya last night. The image of her in that midnight blue dress, standing in the candlelight as if she belonged in this fortress rather than being a prisoner. Why did I touch her?It was an illogical impulse. I don’t do things like that! I never reach out.But I did.And when my fingers brushed that stand of hair behind her ear, she did not flinch. She did not cower or recoil as if I were a monster. And that terrifies me.If she snapped at me or pulled away, I could’ve handled that; that was expected. It would fit the script of this relationship. But she stood there, staring at me, and the air between us felt thin.I haven’t had a gentle touch

KillianReya’s fingers tighten on my arm as the carriages flood the courtyard. The thought of someone coming here angers me more than I wanted, especially when I catch his scent. Skylar Raver steps out like he expected an audience waiting for him. A gold crest at his lapel catches the light with every small movement. He looks like a man who has never had to fight for anything he wanted.Then his eyes landed on Reya.His hand tightens into a fist, his shoulder stiffen. He sees her hand resting on my arm and he looks at her like he threw something valuable away and only realized it in this moment.My wolf snarls at the sight. He’s looking at my mate right in front of me like this and it angers me even more.I cover Reya’s hand with mine before I can second guess myself. This touch isn’t gentle, it’s a claim, and I want everyone hear to understand it.Reya does not pull away. Skylar smiles with the practiced ease of a man who has never been denied. “Alpha Blackwood, thank you for receiv