"And you're laughing, why?" Andrew asked testily. "You don't seem to understand your situation here. Or have you finally gone senile after the way you've been spiraling all these years?"Wyatt laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. Andrew had always been sharp and clever, more than he had been at his age, but Andrew had one glaring weakness he had never been able to surmount: being humiliated. And laughing in his face while held captive in a dark prison cell normally reserved only for the most scorned of criminals, betraying not one ounce of fear or the respect Andrew craved so badly but giving him disdain instead - weakness, weakness, weakness.And it was well-deserved. Because Andrew had underestimated him. Did he really think the Alpha King of Gold Nation, his father who had come before him and taught him every trick in the book even if not through orthodox means, could be so careless that he would unwittingly fall into a trap as bland as this, without preemptive measures in
"This is dangerous, Daniel. I wish you'd told me about it before you went off and decided your plan for vengeance without me."Beth crossed her arms, face tight with a tired grimace. She hadn't had the heart to argue him down from this reckless plan he had, because she knew why he was being this way: this was a chance to find out once and for all what had really happened to his family. His three brothers whose bodies couldn't even be buried, his father who had become a blank shell of himself and only ever stared out the window or wandered around the pack house, lost in his own home. His mother who had become more distant ever since the tragedy and only continued to drift further away, turning her energy outward. She barely ever sat with her mate anymore, and although everyone still addressed her as Luna if she made an appearance, she kept to herself almost all the day.The Heether pack hadn't survived. It had died that day Warren, Brian, and Carlo fell to the rogues, and it was long
No. This wouldn't do. Beth paced back and forth in her bedroom where she had cooped herself up for hours now. Daniel had left four days ago which meant he and the warriors would only be a quarter of the way to the border by now, but the dark thoughts that swarmed her every night when she tried to sleep warned her that peril could befall them at any moment even from within Silver Nation.She should have gone with him. Strategically speaking, she and Daniel were the only leaders of value worth targeting, and the Heether pack was in unfriendly terrain for any rogue wolves to try to attack. The sister packs that surrounded their territory would make any invasion unlikely without great preparation that the rogues weren't known for. So while that meant she was safe here - she should be with Daniel, because that meant an attack on him was almost imminent. Whether from by rogue wolves or from Andrew's forces that he believed were working with them in the shadows, surely they would be ambus
PRESENT DAY"How about it, Daniel Heether? Should we work together in earnest now? Should I show you the extent of my commitment?"Daniel narrowed his eyes. The extent of his commitment? What was Andrew Troy saying now?"Allow me to explain myself. I sent for her the moment you arrived since I knew you would both want that."On cue, someone knocked on the large, heavy doors of the sitting room, and Andrew and Daniel both looked in their direction as the sounds echoed through the wood. "Come in," said Andrew. "Not a moment too soon or too late."The doors opened with a soundless arc. And there between two Deltas who escorted her - was Beth.He stood up so fast the guards recoiled where they stood, tensing and muscles bunching. So these were real fighters, not the halfling ones that reacted more like humans than werewolves by relying on weapons or other artificial means. These were true Delta guards of the Troy estate, trained to fight the proper way. And that meant they could sense t
She was in her bedroom. Too bad there were so many damn people in this pack house, it was like there was an entire village's worth of residents just on this floor. Not that she and Daniel would have been able to sneakily do anything anyway...The walls were thin enough probably that anyone would be able to hear if they got up to...things.But she was so lonely. Or maybe she was just frightened. She wanted Daniel's touch more than anything, not because of lust, but because she was at a crossroads where she was sure she was supposed to be - the right time, the right place to make a difference. Wasn't that why she was here? It couldn't be a coincidence. An espionage coordination effort to alert the entire nation as soon as the rogue wolves began making their move, she was the first in line to find out if anything happened.And in the future, she had learned things in hindsight, valuable things that she had been too late to utilize. But in this life, she might know it before it even happe
What was he doing? Andrew Troy, heir apparent of the Troy pack, Alpha King of Gold Nation in all but name, bringing her breakfast with his own two hands? It didn't suit him at all, this show of being hospitable and humble, especially when Beth spotted the glint of gold on his fingers as he presented her with the tray. Wearing gold rings inlaid with diamond, jewelry expensive enough to buy out most minor packs' territories outright, but looking at her with that too-kind and pleased smile as he waited for her response...Creepy. There was no other word for it. She especially didn't like the way he placed the tray in her lap over the covers when she had been about to climb out of the bed, effectively stopping her and keeping her in place. And when his hand brushed hers, by no means accidental because Andrew Troy was the kind of man who was deliberate in every action, every word, Beth nearly shuddered with visible disgust. She only stopped herself just in time and disguised the motion
Ha. Andrew Troy, that son of a bastard. So this was the surprise he had been referring to back then, was it?Because before her stood two surprises indeed. One Beta and an Alpha she knew very well. Or, should she say, a Beta and his she-Alpha fiancee."Beth. You look well." Annalise stepped forward at Beth's greeting, but surprisingly, she didn't reach for her hand or grab her for a hug. Even the usual 'Bethie' nickname was missing from her lips. She only stood there with a small smile, far more reserved than Beth had ever seen her. Indeed, she seemed like she had grown so much over the last half year with an inch more to her height, or had it been even longer than that since they last saw each other?She was only a couple of years younger than Beth and yet had always carried herself with falsely innocent childishness. This strange new maturity and calmness that graced Anna's features didn't suit her at all. Beth hardly knew who she was looking at anymore. What a joke."Why don't you
There was no way Anna would apologize. Certainly never verbally, but even this stupid faux apology Beth demanded in the form of a drink from the flask? Definitely not. That had always been Anna's weakness, her vanity and pride. Despite her ability to put on a top-notch performance to fool anyone and everyone of her little vulnerable damsel ways, she had never, ever believed in a sincere apology.Beth knew her sister. She knew her far too well. She knew every little thing about her down to the dark crevices of her mind, because by the end of her first life in that bed, in that godawful, tear-stained, prison-bed where Matthew had kept her when she began to weaken and grow sick, Annalise had made it a point to come in and taunt her by revealing her true self. Every ugly thought, every dark scheme, every evil thing she had hidden away - confessed, gleefully.So she knew well before she ever stuck the flask out at Anna that the girl would only scrunch her nose up, frown, and turn her hea
The rogues won.Andrew smiled as he placed the tattered letter inside his stylish jacket for safekeeping. It would make for a good memento once he did the deed and ended the war for good, branding Daniel as a power-mad despot who had tried to rally the greedy Alpha Kings against the honorable Gold Nation.The rogue leader Karthen had even mentioned it might be possible to frame it as Daniel attacking the combined forces of Iron and Bronze, with Gold Nation coming to the rescue. After all, Alpha Matthew Catii was the only survivor, and he was so weak it would be no trouble bending him to his will.Now all Andrew had to do was meet with Karthen, collect the heads, and this stupid pretend war would be over."I think I'll go in ceremony," he announced to his Beta. "Gather the troops just in case since we might be stabbed in the back by the rogues... Well, either way we would have turned on them next. It's almost over, friend. You've served me well.""It's an honor to be with you at the mo
This was never going to go to Union Court. It was going to go straight to war, and Beth was ready to fight. Andrew Troy had manipulated his way to victory every time but now, he would get what was coming to him.No one knew where his father was so he was all but Alpha King of Gold Nation now, which made him the most influential party in Union Court. Like hell Beth was going to bother bringing up a grievance against the most powerful member there. That was going to be open and shut and he was just going to find a way to punish everyone involved, and with legal backing.Better to just take the fight to his face and show him what was what. Beth already had her sleeves up and claws out.... Except Daniel and everyone else forbid her from leaving the Heether pack house. Completely."I am not an invalid!" she shouted. "I can still fight!""Beth... Please. You're going to stress out the baby.""The baby is stressed out because you're leaving me behind!"Daniel held her tight, stifling her st
Daniel wasted no time in telling his mother the truth that day. That is, that he and Beth had secretly been in a relationship for weeks now, technically months since they had definitely been tip-toeing around each other in poor, secret denial long before they truly pledged themselves to each other.Beth was not ready. She was still adjusting to being back in the Heether territory, still adjusting to the relief and anger and determination to take Andrew down even though she was undoubtedly pregnant. She had only just confessed to Anna about that, and Luna Margaretta already knew? Before Beth had had a chance to ready herself?"It'll be all right. She'll come around." Daniel placed his hands on her belly, which had not yet begun to grow but would soon swell with the life of their growing baby. "It's important that everyone's on alert, keeping them in the dark will only make things more dangerous."She swallowed hard. Daniel was right, but that didn't mean it make it any easier. Anna had
As an Alpha, Beth could throw off sedatives without lasting damage. Whatever Andrew had drugged her with, it wasn't doing permanent physical harm, and the effects were reversing already. Her regenerative ability had only improved over the last year with the constant strain she had put her body through, and she thanked it now as they rolled through the streets past the growing chaos of soldiers searching the streets for their missing prisoner. With any luck, within a few days of having untainted food and drink, she and the baby would be right as rain.Andrew had discovered her absence far sooner than she had hoped, but it couldn't be helped. Someone must have checked in with breakfast earlier than usual. But for the bad luck to strand them all in the city and get them caught up in the manhunt...Matt had prepared everything, at least. She still had misgivings about him that would never go away for as long as she lived -- sounds wounds ran far too deep to ever forgive -- but he had done
The first thing Beth saw when she came to was Daniel's blurred face. Even though her head pounded so fiercely she could hardly breathe, the sight of his face swimming in her swirling vision sent such sheer joy and pleasure through her that tears sprang to her eyes."Daniel...""Shhh, Beth, don't try to get up. Rest. I just brought you to the place where I'm staying, and it's a decent place to hide for now, but we don't have a doctor here yet. You need to be seen, something's wrong." He lifted his head, looked at someone over his shoulder. "Go! Find a--""Wait!" She grasped at his shirt, fingers digging weakly into the fabric. "Wait, don't. Andrew doesn't know I've escaped. When he finds out, he'll start a search and hunt me down, and anyone would figure out that it was me if they see me like this. I'm a mess."Daniel leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Maybe, but I'll get you out of here anyway. But something's not right and we have to fix that first. Did Andrew hurt you? What did h
The Troy pack house ran on routine. Everyone had been careful to keep their mouths shut about even potentially important information around Beth, which made sense since everyone knew she was a prisoner, not a mere guest. But what Andrew Troy had so carelessly forgotten was that she had already stayed here before her imprisonment.When he had entertained her as an actual guest in the span of time she had spent waiting for Daniel to arrive here, back before Andrew requested she go to Tahoe Village to help with the fake 'espionage' mission, she had already been housed here for quite a while. Long enough to learn several important details, and details that she couldn't imagine would have changed since then.Andrew's political wheeling and dealing were unpredictable, but his home life was anything but. That enormous cart of food she always saw wheeled in every morning at four in the dark of night came in every day without fail, and she was willing to stake her escape on the guess that that
They were still talking, but they had moved off the stone path and deeper into the shadows. They were on the other side of the stone half-wall, so close that it took another five steps this way, they would find Beth and she would be discovered. She placed a hand over her mouth and nose to stifle what little sound she might betray, but there was nothing else she could do. Her only choice was to wait and hope they didn't notice her, and as soon as they left, she could make a break for it.But to her chagrin, Andrew's voice became louder -- closer. Oh, Moon Goddess. They were now standing almost on top of her, just on the other side of the wall, and if they leaned over, they would see the top of her head no matter how she tried to squash herself against the stone. Was this it? Had she been too hasty?How could her luck be like this! If she had waited only one more night, Andrew Troy might not be walking the grounds. She could deal with avoiding a measly patrol; most of the time, walkabo
The shift change came every day at nine o' clock in the morning and nine o' clock at night. Morning escape was impossible, because even if she slipped past the changing guard, it would be daylight outside and everyone from here to the outlands would see her running across the estate's grounds. She had to make it a night getaway.The good news was with the frigid weather and the frequent sleet and rough snowfall, her tracks would be covered easily, and her scent hard to follow. She was used to traveling in harsh conditions from the life before, and hadn't she managed that journey to Pandemonium City and back? It had been grueling, but she had done it. And, she thought grimly, she had already conceived by then.Proof her child was already strong. Took after its father, and its mother, too. Beth smiled at the mirror, but it was razor-sharp and vindictive, not sweet.She had no more sweetness left for the enemy. She and her child would get out of here no matter what.***One week of obser
The days were short yet passed in slow misery. Trapped in the Troy pack manor on the third floor with guards posted everywhere to keep her from escaping, Beth was a canary imprisoned in a gilded cage, never allowed a moment alone even to bathe. Andrew Troy pretended it was to pamper her by assigning her female attendants to attend to her every need, but she knew better. Much better.He even had the gal to visit her as if she were just some guest being entertained in his home. How dare he have the fucking nerve? She was a prisoner, and yet when he knocked on her door and let himself in, he was all charming smiles and gentlemanly manners. Except how he never explicitly waited until she gave him permission to enter, but maybe that was because she flatly refused to give it. After five seconds of waiting, he came in, ready or not, and it made her want to punch him in the gut for it all the more.She was fed and well-taken care of, granted, like a captured exotic animal kept for private vie