Sophia’s POVI stand in silent shock in the centre of the locked room for what must be a good hour or so. My eyes scan the opulent surroundings that hold me captive. The walls are adorned with intricate patterns of vines and leaves, bringing a touch of the outside world into this gilded prison. Soft sunlight filters through the pale green voile curtains, casting a warm orange glow over the room. In any other circumstance it would be the kind of room I would enjoy.No amount of luxurious decor can mask the fact that this is still a prison, a luxurious cage designed to keep me under Zaine’s control and within his reach. This room is usually reserved for visiting alphas and their Luna, only the best for the best. I have cleaned it on a handful of occasions and often daydreamed that I would have had a room something like this. In another life perhaps.The pack must be seen as one of power and influence, and this display of wealth and comfort is all part of the show. It is the polar opposi

Sophia’s POVThe bathroom shares a wall with his room and as the cool water rains down on me, forcing my tired body to wake up, I hear his door click closed. There must be two, maybe three feet between us, physically at least. Mentally and emotionally, we are separated by a giant, bottomless chasm.Physically, the mate bond is screwing me over. The whole time he was stood in front of me I had my legs tightly crossed at the knees and my arms folded over my chest in some ridiculous attempt to hide my body’s reaction to him.I have spent years daydreaming and fantasising about the day I found my mate. I didn’t really think it would ever happen, the only men I ever see are Mr Fulch, who is happily mated, Luca, let’s just say I’m not his type and he has a colourful reputation amongst some of the unmated men in the pack, and Zaine’s other Beta, George. George is a dick.The only times we see either of the betas is when they come into the kitchen every morning to give us our orders for the d

Zaine’s POVThere is a shadow side to running a pack, things an Alpha needs to do for the greater good. If I back down from a challenge or refuse, my title would automatically pass to my challenger, I would have shown myself to be weak and unworthy. That will never happen. As much as I piss and moan about the shit I deal with on the daily, I would never give up my pack. My people depend on me, and I am the only one who can look after them the way I do.I am bound by moon magic, rituals and laws, as all of us are, maybe even more so. Sometimes it benefits me greatly, but with the light comes the dark. I have killed to keep us safe, lied and deceived to gain power and land and turned my back on those who needed me out of ignorance, choosing to focus my effort and attention where I stand to gain the most.I have the power to change only one of those things, and by doing so I am stirring up a pot which has sat undisturbed and calm for far too long. When the shit undoubtedly bubbles to the

Zaine’s POV This morning I had planned on taking Sophia to the southern border and showing her what is left of the rogues after they were stupid enough to attempt another breach. My intent was not to scare her, but to show her the very real threat that prowls the forest waiting for any opportunity to strike. I thought if she saw them, she might understand what drove me to that heinous act which solidified her opinion of me. It doesn’t make it right, but she might somehow see it from my side. After hearing the way she spoke of death when she asked about Quincy, I’m glad I thought better of my stupid plan. Even if she wasn’t averse to death, I would likely have made myself even more of a monster in her eyes. I will only show her the good from now on, she has seen enough of the darkness, felt it when her parents died. I had only had my wolf for a few years when they were killed. I don’t remember them specifically, but I do remember that winter. We lost dozens in one of the biggest assa

Sophia’s POVI’m drowning, fighting for every breath as his lips stray ever closer to my marking spot. He could do it. I wouldn’t stand a chance of stopping him or fighting him off. Would I even want to? I know I should but what he is doing right now feels so… so… good.He did keep his promise to free the omegas. He went above and beyond what he had vowed in my room. He said he would wait for me to be ready, that he wouldn’t do anything I didn’t ask for.I did nod my approval when he caught my eye in the mirror. What was I agreeing to? I had no idea. I did feel something deep inside me, a niggling sensation, a shard of trust digging at my better sense. How can he earn my trust if I don’t give him enough rope to hang himself?He has given me all of the control and I have three options. Keep us here in purgatory, neither of us making a move in either direction. Reject him, try to move on and not reopen old wounds. Or, I could accept him and resign myself to whatever the fates have in st