Kane’s POVThree pairs of eyes swivelled my way when I entered without knocking. Gamma Darius moved quickly to put the females behind him. He was well-trained and loyal, to Francis, to Amy – and he had looked out for my best interests, if only at the last minute, cutting short his run.Beta Francis told me he had assumed Amy would head for Lisa’s room and that Noah would keep her safe. He’d primed them to receive her, though no-one knew which night her ‘parade of shame’ was due to take place.Being the watchful man he was, once he saw on the monitor that it was “game on” – he uttered that phrase with distaste – Francis had relayed the message to my sister and her mate. On hearing that she never turned up he sent word out to the remaining ranking warrior who rushed to answer his call.I owed him more than mere words could convey. Better quarters, perhaps? I would have to ask him, no matter the outcome. Name it, and it’s yours.Anything it was within my power to bestow would be worth it
Amy’s POV You would not believe the Alpha’s gall in trying to blame his recent crass actions on his Lycan heritage. “CC rising to the fore. I don’t buy it,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “Let’s discuss your pleasure room and its future, or lack of it.” “See sense, Luna,” he barked. “Omegas need disciplining. It’s all they know.” “Precisely. There are going to be some big changes around here.” “You’re no fun.” Kane sulked for at least an hour, but I managed to talk him round. It was agreed I would be the one to chastise the Omega females in future. Like Selene used to do for an all too brief time. Either that, or I wanted my own ‘pleasure’ room in order to punish the males. “It’s only fair.” I really hoped he wouldn't go for it. He didn't let me down. “Jake will love that,” he said. The Alpha had a point. It was the last thing I wanted anyway. So we reached a compromise. It would be used only sparingly and under my supervision. I neglected to mention the cupboard of
Amy’s POVI really hoped no-one was eavesdropping as I used every choice expletive I could think of to tell the asshole what I thought of him. When he admitted it was Lisa who had come up with the idea, I finally realised I’d made an enemy there. That was such a pity.It wouldn’t stop me seeing Kayleigh, though.Glancing up, I saw a figure dodge behind a billowing white curtain. Always the purist, our Lisa. I couldn’t work out how things had turned so sour between us, or when.That explained the ‘picnic’ with heater on the largest balcony in the pack, which led off one of the bigger meeting rooms. The sugary treats were a bonus; I reckoned I’d earned them.The Alpha was sweating and I knew why. I was the one with a strange inability to warm up quickly after being exposed to cold temperatures. This was a concession too far for him. He must want me to agree to this very badly.Still shaking, though not from the cold, I bit into a muffin. The taste of it took away some of my shock. Perha
Amy’s POV I didn’t realise how prolonged proceedings were going to be, how uncertain my own position in the interim. So I contented myself with spending more time in the nursery. I had a responsibility to Selene’s pups, as well. Dan still hated me, I felt sure. Yet, asking around discreetly, I discovered he was no better with the pack’s nursemaids. Did he have a down on anyone lower in rank, even at this tender age? Maybe it was a Lycan thing. If so, I would have to keep an eye on Dora. It was Lisa who broke the news to me. Lycan Faro was coming for the “festivities” – her word, not mine. I watched Kayleigh interacting with the pups and couldn’t fault Kane’s sister for bringing her here regularly. Lisa probably had an ulterior motive. I saw how often her eyes were fixed on Dan. Lycan blood. Would it affect Dora like this when she came of age? Her twin seemed to be an exception. What if she developed his tendencies; what if he wanted her to? I shuddered. My own pups might be at ris
Amy’s POVI was based in a room with a tastefully laminated sign which read: ‘Songbird’. Grinding my teeth wasn’t good for me but it was turning into an unfortunate – or should that be fortunate? – habit. Toothache may not be such a bad thing in these circumstances.If I had to plead illness, so be it.The door was permanently open and I kept trying to guess which of my visitors was the important one in terms of impressing. Not the giggly teenager who hadn’t found her wolf yet, surely? Hopefully not the warrior with the watchful eyes who kept scoping the environment, usually coming back to rest on my cleavage.I wasn’t wearing a gown, though the dress was lower cut than I had realised.“Trying to influence your peers?” Kane mocked me, earlier. “But which ones?”I took no notice and slapped his hand away.We’d shared the same Suite, just not the same bed, and now he was ogling me in the full length mirror. I never liked being in the pleasure room for long. It held so many bad memories.
Amy’s POVMy weakness is spiders. I don’t like killing them, yet I can’t bear the sight of them running. When I was unmated I used to check my bedding every night in case one of them was lurking beneath, waiting to wander over my body in the night.Kane was likely to have placed me in a roomful had I been honest. Imagine being rescued from a particularly hairy one by a leering Lycan while Jake grinned and cracked his knuckles.The Alpha was keeping tight-lipped about the activity for the second day. Apparently, we would each be based in the same three rooms – minus the tacky signs, of course – while fascinated bystanders ogled us. We were no better than goldfish or zoo animals.And how could we be competitive when we didn’t know each other’s score to date?I didn’t even have to ask about that one. Once we were gathered in his office, we each received a slip of paper. I had scored a seven, Zena a six and Sharon an infuriating eight.“Day two will be a lesson in endurance,” he announced
Kane’s POVI grabbed a handful of salted caramel popcorn. I really should be working, but this was a big part of it. Or so I tried to convince myself. Having a Luna to share my burden … Wait, who was I kidding? Amy always did more.My workload hadn’t doubled as I’d claimed. It just meant the buck stopped with me again, as it should do.We didn’t have time for this. Fuck my stupid sister and her little ploy.See how she liked this one.I caught my breath when I saw Amy bending over the table, compliant for once.I couldn’t resist. “What a view.”“How much longer, asshole?”“Until your visitor arrives? Expected imminently. Or did you mean, can you change position?”“Pretty please?”“No,” I said.“Jerk,” she muttered.“You really don’t want to greet him topless, do you?”“Him? Kane you promised me. Everyone will start thinking I’m a slut again. Do you know what Sharon had the nerve to say to me yesterday? She asked if I’d had a request for that song by Wheatus. I pretended not to underst
Lisa’s POVIt was all going wrong. At least my mate had the decency to tell me he would be with her, Amy.I burst into Kane’s office without knocking.“How could you?” I cried.“Sit down, Lisa. I’ve been expecting you,” he said.“I prefer to stand.”He shrugged. “Suit yourself. This could take a while. I have calls to make.”I flopped onto the couch, wondering if I would ever feel happy again.“So, who’s in the lead after two days?” I asked.“Guess.”“What a farce!”“That’s what Amy said about the whole thing.”“Who are you phoning?”“Alpha Philip.”“What about?”“He called me.”This was getting me nowhere but I wasn’t about to let him off the hook.The conversation was boring at first, but I pricked up my ears at the mention of a new “vampire menace” in the area. Alpha Philip was old enough to be our father and used some odd expressions. Still, it was kind of him to call and could prove useful.I often thought of Mina. If I left a window open tonight, maybe she would find her way to