Zaine’s POVI have always felt a kind of disconnect with my beast. I thought it was because of the pressures of leading the pack from such a young age but I didn’t become Alpha until I was twenty-one, and I had had my beast for three years by then, so I guess I have been kidding myself this whole time.The walk back to the pack house is cold and long but not a single one of us feels like shifting to shorten the journey. The icy nip in the air stings my skin and I’m grateful for the mildly painful distraction. The mental block keeping Tryon from my thoughts is still up, and I have no intentions of letting him back in any time soon.“What do you think about all of this?” Sophia slows her pace until she is walking beside me at the back of the group. She has had a sceptical attitude about everything ever since I told her who she was. Things seemed complicated back then, if only they had remained so simple in hindsight.“Honestly? I think a part of me always knew there was something amiss.

Zaine’s POVWalking through the lavishly decorated grand hall did nothing to lift any of our moods. Usually the annual coalition dinner and dance would be the perfect thing to take our minds off the shit that seems to happen every other day around here. As a pack, we don’t usually need much of an excuse for a party. Drinking, feasting, playing foolish games and running through the pack lands until the sun rises, those are the things that lighten the burdens we all carry, even if only for the night.The guards need that time most of all, and until tonight they had been high on the anticipation and promise of the visiting packs and the females they would bring with them. It’s not uncommon for mates to find one another when so many packs come together. And even if mates are not found, company for the night usually is.Not shitting on ones own doorstep is common sense, and I have to say that I haven’t had to deal with mate and mistress dramas since letting go of the reins a little when vi

Zaine’s POVI could have told her she had nothing to apologise for, but she never would have accepted that. Despite her blocking our emotional tether I know her well enough to know that she is doubting everything, and I cannot stand by whilst she doubts us. I know I had a moment of weakness earlier. I should never have allowed such a ridiculous thought to enter my mind.“We have a long day tomorrow and an even longer evening. Let’s make the most of tonight.” The wet head of my cock slides easily between her folds and into the heat he has been craving. Our bodies move as one, her hips coming up to meet each of my thrusts. Her arms snake around mine, pulling me closer, her fingers sink into my flesh as I bury deeper and deeper inside her.Our noses barely touch and our long shallow breaths mix in the vacant space between us. The feint moonlight from the window shines through a gap in the curtains and highlights her glistening eyes. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She

Zaine’s POV I have walked, run and been dragged into battle more times than I can possibly count. Usually it is just another fuck wit who has gotten too big for their boots, or a new Alpha looking to make a name for himself by challenging me or encroaching on my land. It never ends well for them, and contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy taking the lives of the morons lacking in basic survival instinct.My own survival instinct is on high alert right now and Tryon hasn’t stopped talking about the herb and the dagger since we started chasing Alcmene. Sophia gave the ancient body snatcher control, and Alcmene erupted out of her, leapt straight through the bedroom window and has been running towards the southern border for the last few minutes. Yet again we are running into danger and what’s worse is that Sophia seems to be revelling in it. I get it. That rush of battle and the feeling of victory can be the most intense high, but there are also the lows of losing your men and the

Sophia’s POV Zaine turned back halfway to the border. I felt the shift of energy in the pack bond but didn’t think much of it. I was more concerned with Alcmene and her short temper. Every footfall as she hurtles towards the southern forest she repeats something under her breath which I can’t quite make out.It isn’t until I see the backs of my guard on the ridge before the trees, that Zaine’s anxiety hits me in the chest. Whatever he turned back for has got to be worse than Blue Blade, or he would never have left me alone.“You aren’t alone. These men are all here for you, for us. Zaine and Tryon can take care of the pretender without us.” Alcmene’s voice leaks into my mind between thoughts of what Zaine could be facing.“The pretender?” I ask, but she gives me no answer. Her eyes are trained on one man who is stood amongst a dozen rogues. That must be him. Blue Blade. “Where is your Alpha, bitch?” the grotesque figure spits out the words like they are poison.In a sarcastic displ