The journey with Briss had been productive enough. Seeing all the traps and devious little schemes going on at the human border just showed how much he has to contend with. I saw the truck tracks about an hour away from Tange’s, where the exchanges must be taking place. As Briss suggests, there is no way to know when it is happening, but there is something afoot. I don’t believe Tange could know this area as well as he does, having farmed it for so many years and not know. “I want them under your command, not Tange.”“I’m not sure how that will work, Alpha,” he had replied cautiously as we rumbled back up the driveway. “There is change coming Briss. I don’t think Tange is going to be the Beta of this area for very long. I want you to consider your options. I can always bring a guy in from Cragstone, there are long-standing Beta’s who we can depend on but I know we need to give younger men a chance too. Like yourself.”“Well, the first thing I would do is post a permanent watch on th
It has been just under a month since I chose to stay. The cells are cold and miserable yet every night I am grateful to not have Tange try and force himself on me. It would appear he doesn’t particularly want me for a mate either.It looks like I am just the unfortunate result of having stolen Cillian’s wolf, he didn’t bank on getting his mate too. Nina is inconsolable. Apologies and whining in the back of my mind for endless days. I haven’t really spoken to her. I have forgiven her but I don’t want to speak to her. She was following the call of the mate bond but the fact she would have happily had me sleep with Tange, give my heart and forget Cillian doesn’t sit well with me. I am uneasy around her voice, the trust is broken.I sit numbly. I eat and drink as required. I bathe, change my clothes as expected to prevent myself turning feral. Apart from that I sit and stare at the walls and wonder just how I have fallen into this trap.The shock of the revelations as they landed on me.
Three weeks. I’m getting by. I’m surviving. If I ignore the fact that I can’t sleep without seeing her face, the way every single task seems so utterly pointless then I’m doing just fine. I haven't abdicated and gone to wallow in self-pity just yet, so I consider myself as almost winning. I have done as I swore. I am being the dedicated, committed Alpha. I sit in that damned bookcase-lined study and I read document after document. I am involved in every pack matter. I have recruited another dozen Beta warriors after reviewing training records. Bianca, Jackson’s widow is reporting to me on other matters such as the female fighters training. “We need another employee for the packhouse Bakery, Alpha,” she opened with today. Her jet black hair swept into a high style, a floor length forest green dress. “I was hoping perhaps Diane might be able to take over?” I clenched my jaw. Of course Matilda’s position needed filling. Everyone was moving on. “I trust your judgement on that.” “Oh th
Having a terrified Genevieve dive into my arms was an unexpected entrance to the Ceremony. Observing how her and Nikolai bounce back and forth so miserably just confuses me. Surely the mate bond should be easier than how they make it. How is it love when they clash so readily?Her green eyes were flashing with anxiety, her cheeks red from embarrassment as she clung onto me and then realised Nikolai was right behind her. Nikolai's eyes flashed red with frustration. I was happy to make my excuses and watched the Ceremony with the rest of the Shadowlands. We took up two full rows down the back end. I could feel the daggers from Kharkov sitting behind me as a wide-smiling Zena took a seat next to me.Her black hair was coiled and curled dramatically. Her dress was a deep royal purple with sparkling crystals, a low, revealing back on display. I noticed her grey eyes were scanning the room constantly."What is making you nervous?" I whispered, leaning over to whisper in her ear. Freya made
I seriously should have stolen some food. I could have planned this whole thing better to be honest. Shifting and sprinting a full day and night has left me wrecked. I think I’m heading south. To be honest, every half hour, I curse and wish I had Leona or Naomi with me. Those two are just so skilled at reading the stars, the drift of the wind. I just found a river and kept on running, knowing that a river runs past Cragstone. It might not be the same source, I could be heading north for all I know, but I am getting away from Tange.Tange, Phillipe, and the tangled web of secrets that I need to get to Cillian as soon as possible.If it was possible to remove Vez from Cillian, there must equally be a way to return him. Tange will be searching for me. I wonder if Briss would turn me in. After damaging his own career in protecting me and giving me his room, would he try to restore his fortunes if we were to meet alone on a dirt covered road?After running all day and night, the dawn brok
Chatting to Phillipe was an entirely different experience to Nikolai. A broad smile, compliments on my Betas, cigars, and throat-scorching brandy on tap. Unnervingly, his eyes kept changing colour. Blue, green, purple swirls left me feeling unsure of just who I was talking to. Like a boa constrictor dazzling its prey, was all this extravagance to distract me? Am I missing the big picture?I could feel the back of my neck burning, for not only was Zeke glaring at me the whole time, but so was Beta Patrick. All clipped dark hair, green eyes, and a slender, wiry frame, he stood out among the bulky muscle surrounding him. Lurking on the fringes of the white marquee at opposite ends, neither men were subtle in their interest."So Alpha Cillian," he drawled, pouring another slug of brandy into our glasses. "How's the life of an Alpha?"Well, what a fucking question. "It's been a tough start. Could do without some idiotic lunatic armed with wolfsbane trying to wipe everyone out."I kept my
I perform as required. I help with Genevieve after she collapsed, placing her unconscious body into the tent. I am a calm, steadying presence despite the chaos in my head. When Nikolai angrily remarked about making sure anyone, I love was properly protected by bodyguards my mind immediately flew to Matilda.Was she safe with Tange? But then, would she really be safe with me. Seeing as death appeared to be stalking me at every turn, I was hardly a good bet right now. Even so I knew I would defend her with my life before a single hair on her head was harmed. Would the smirking Tange feel the same?Despite knowing she had chosen Tange over me, I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. I have to be the one to tell her beloved father being murdered. Even if she turns to Tange for comfort, I owe it to her to be there. Tonight proves I can’t pretend she doesn’t exist any longer. The failure and guilt washing over me steals my strength. How many more women must I tell I faile
The acrid, chemical smell of lemons is the first thing that hits me.Then the fact I cannot move my hands. Rough, painfully sticking tape clamp them together.Blinking, the room is miserably dark and from the soft cushioning underneath me I realise I am on a mattress. As my vision gradually adjusts, I recognise the grey walls, the dark, almost charred wood of the four-poster bed. I am back at Beta Tange’s.I am back in the room I shared with Cillian. The same bed I fell apart in his arms with, heard his pained confession and felt love. My head is pounding like I’ve taken a beating. I can barely make out Nina's presence. In a panic, I wonder if she has been taken from me like Vez. My bound hands struggle towards my neck, checking for cuts. After a few minutes of wriggling, I realise I can sense her faintly, just enough to quell my panic. I still have a wolf, albeit a completely tranquillised one.Whatever the hell that woman, Ruth, did to me has left me eerily alone with my thoughts.