He tilted his head grudgingly. “Already you’ve great potential for a Beta.” “Who’s your Beta now?” “Fury. He’s the most tactical. But he knew when I took a mate his status would change. He’ll still be my commander if he wishes.” Just hearing the name made me grimace. Most all of us veered away from Fury when he walked. Aside from his scars, he was also remarkably quiet and very gruff. We’d all learned better than to stay in his path unless you wanted a sound tongue lashing. “Fury is clever?” “Remarkably so.” Draven said flatly. “He’s gruff because he doesn’t want anyone close to him.” “Why!” “Because they usually die.” *** Without meaning to, I’d fallen asleep on his shoulder. I don’t know how long he let me sleep but when he woke, he was ravenous. Animalistic and his instinct to mate was screaming loud enough, I could sense his arousal before I even opened my eyes. He’d gone from sweet and sooth

Rebekah gave him a nod and closed the door. Turning the locks with one hand and balancing me with her other. Once it was secured, she set me on a long wooden table in the center of the room. Moving jars and stirring through weeds and herbs, she ground up bits in a mortar and pestle until she’d created a paste. Then she ladled a bit of boiling water from the cauldron over the fire. “Eat this, Hun.” She told me. Bringing spoonfuls of it to my lips. “It’ll soothe the mating pains.” I nodded. Taking large bites. “If you support Draven’s need for heirs for the pack don’t drink Marta’s tea. She’ll offer it to you in a few hours.” “Why not.” “It prevents any seed from taking. But she often neglects to tell the she-wolves that come to her that. She tries to give it to them within days of the Mating Moon.” “Why?” “To help it be the choice of the she-wolves and not of the males.” Rebekah explained. Stirring in more water and spoo

“Run, Girl! Run!” Marta’s voice was echoing in my ears. Her urgency. She had shown me the break in the border wall.Where I can get through. And I needed out.I never wanted to be part of this pack. But Edrick, the Asara Pack Alpha, had made me at the get. Despite that I was residing amongst humans. Nearly invisible as what I was. He’d known me as a wolf.He had his two vicious sons drag me into Asara territory and I was forced to join their pack and become fated to be prey of one of the unbred males because I was considered one of the few ‘breedables.’Females of mating age.And in this ferocious pack, breedable she-wolves were easy prey for the males that became fiercely lustful under the Mating Moon. Willing to throwdown the nearest she-wolf and rut her into submission to sate their insane drive.Like the malevolent wolves they are. I had never quite fit in w

So, when chaos ensued as they came through the huge swinging door, bearing the body of our dead alpha, I’d taken advantage of the shouts and clattering and panicked shouts… I got out. Through the trees and through that crack behind the tree, and out to freedom. Evening light cast pink and orange hues along the horizon. Signaling that dark would soon be here. And this close to the Mating Moon, my smell would be more potent. Easier to follow. But I was counting on the fact that everyone would be too busy mourning the alpha and honoring Draven’s ascension, to pursue me. And the wolf I was the most worried about hunting me down would be in the thick of the mourning. Alaric. This is the only chance I’ll have. I reminded myself. As I wove to the back of the hunts. So, I took it. *** “Run, girl. Run!” Marta urged from behind me. Her words echoing in my ear as I did my

LARA I’d cowered behind the king. Wondering if that door would hold. Willing to let that pack of nights stand between me and the vicious brother of the Alpha hunting me. I’d let anything stand between him and I. As long as it kept him from getting me. “You poor thing…” The king rubbed my hair down around my tearstained cheeks. Brushing away the dampness with old fingertips. He had a kindly face. Gentle eyes but a hard jaw beyond that white beard, that told me that his hand could be as brutal as nice. I was going to work for nice. I looked at him and wondered how far I could take this. How far will I go to avoid the wolves? Any distance. I decided. Steadying myself to what might come. I clung helplessly to the old king’s arms like a lost child. Forcing my face as vulnerable as I could make it. “Please, please help me. I’ll do anything…” “Of course, Dear. Of course we w