Brenna That man is so infuriating! Why does he think he can order me around? Keep me under lock and key? Sure, he paid for me, but that doesn’t mean that he owns me. Slavery has been outlawed in the United States for a long time. But then I realized that slavery still happens, or else the auction where he bought me wouldn’t have happened. As a wolf, I rarely grew tired, but I was mentally exhausted. So, maybe a shower wouldn’t be so bad. Then I would try and get some sleep. I had no desire to have dinner with the brute. I wanted nothing from him but my freedom. But as I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the shower, I knew that was a lie. My wolf wanted to claim him, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to claim him, too. The pull was strong, even though I didn’t want it to be. I didn’t want to desire him, to claim him as mine. As the hot water rushed over me, I leaned against the shower wall, wanting it to wash away the memories, but they would never go away. Tears ra

Brenna As I splashed water on my face, I heard Adan speak with someone outside my door. I sighed, wondering what he was up to. But I couldn’t get the last night out of my head. He had come to me, comforting me in my time of need, but he had shown me a world I had never known was possible. It was strange. This morning I had been asleep, dreaming of when I was little, playing cars with my brother at the Compound. Then I felt Adan watching me. In my dream, I looked over at him, and he smiled, watching me as he leaned against the door frame between our rooms. But somehow, I knew it wasn’t a dream. Even though he said nothing, I felt his pull, as if he were calling to me, as if he needed me this time. When I pulled myself out of my dream, I turned over and there he was, watching me, smiling as he leaned against the doorframe of our adjoining rooms, just as he was in my dream. Pulling a fluffy towel off the rack, I dried my face, and ran a brush through my hair that was lying on the coun

Brenna I huffed. “And I have no say in the matter?” “No,” he said matter-of-factly. I pushed away from the table and pointed toward our adjoining door. “Then get out!” He stared at me in disbelief as if I were the last crazy woman on Earth. “What? I am the Alpha of this Pack, and you will not order me—” “I said, Get… Out!” I yelled, stomping my foot. “Get out!” Quicker than I would have thought possible, he pushed me against the wall, his body against mine, causing my breath to quicken, bringing back memories of the night before. “You, My Queen, will not give me orders. Ever.” He bit his lower lip and then released it. “You will do well to remember that. Although I’m resisting the urge to make you submit to me as your Mate and Alpha right this moment doesn’t mean I won’t do it.” I squared my shoulders, looking directly into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you, Adan.” “Good, I don’t want you afraid... but you should be.” Then he released me roughly and walked out, slamming the door

Brenna My head snapped up. “Doesn’t this Pack already have a Luna?” Magenta slowly shook her head. “No. This Pack has never had a Luna. Adan never wanted nor needed one.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Then he won’t like it if I become one.” “No, you misunderstood,” she replied, leaning forward on her crossed knees. “Adan never wanted a Luna because he was waiting for you, his Mate.” “But the Alpha’s Mate is not always a Luna.” Magenta let out a deep breath. “No, they aren’t. Lunas are separate from the Alpha’s Mates. Rarely are they one and the same.” “Then, why did he wait... for me?” The more I learned, the more confused I became. This was definitely not the world I thought it was, even though it was my world, too. A kind smile curled her lips. “Because I knew you were coming.” I nodded. “You’re a seer.” A seer can foretell the future. I knew enough about witches to know that not all of them were seers. “Yes, I am.” She arched an eyebrow, giving me a knowing smile. “Would y

Adan After a while, I got dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, not wanting to shred anything expensive, just in case. I had time for a run before I met Fletcher. But then again, he could wait. I walked out of my suite a moment later, locking the door behind me. I looked over, and two new guards stood outside Brenna’s door. They straightened when I approached. “See that your Queen is protected and that no one enters. If anything happens to her, I shall have your heads.” “Aye!” they both said in unison, their eyes wide. I headed down the hallway and the seven flights of stairs to the first floor, needing to work off some steam. The guards by the entrance stepped aside as I passed. “Alpha,” they both nodded. I returned their nod but pushed through the door, having no desire for chitchat. Not now. I ran toward the forest and stopped at the hollow tree where I hid my clothes. Shifters always have hiding places in the forest for their clothes. But there are also maids that hand out Pack r