Chapter 9: Playing with Fire

(Leo Bloodstone POV)

A year. Blue Ridge Pack and its moron future alpha have kept me away from Piper for a whole f&&king year.

My patience is running thin.

During the past twelve months, I have personally interrogated almost every single member of Blue Ridge. It is clear that Piper is absolutely loved and adored by her family, friends, and pack members.

And that is what confuses me the most. They must know that their efforts —or rather, their future alpha’s efforts— to keep Piper away from me are in vain. Indeed, given the time that has passed, they must realize that I am not giving up.

One way or the other, Piper will be mine. The only question is whether Piper becomes mine the easy way, or the hard way.

I have a hard time believing that her family and friends want her to become mine the hard way. But time is running out. If I do not get to Piper before her 20th birthday, the “hard way” may be the only option left. I have only seen Piper once through a window, and yet I