I stand there and watch in disgust as the neighboring pack's Alpha tours our camp. He walks through the woods and looks us females up and down as if we are something to be bought in a store. How could our leaders sell us out like this?I guess I know how, though I don’t want to admit it. We all knew this was coming. We’ve all been waiting anxiously to see what our leaders would do to protect us from this threat.This is what they’ve chosen.Our pack is weak, or at least weaker than theirs. The neighboring pack had grown too strong, especially since this horrid new Alpha took over. They’ve slaughtered packs around us. We’ve come across bloody encampments, viciously torn apart by these monsters. We know they can kill us any time.So, they struck a deal: the neighboring Alpha won't kill us. But in return, he gets to choose whatever mate he wants. Apparently none of the other women he’s come across so far have been good enough for him. And this is how he’ll maintain his control.He’
He’s dangerous. Our Alpha doesn’t have to warn me of this. I know. Danger radiates off him as I join the Alpha where he waits at the edge of our territory. I was among those who found the last pack he killed. Lily and I had been running through the forest, stretching our legs in the summer sun when we saw them. Or what was left of them anyway.Limbs were strewn over the ground, huge chunks of flesh taken out of them.They are cannibals, that much was clear. It’s a rumor that has been whispered about for some time now, but when I saw what they had done that day, I knew. This pack are cannibals and I can’t imagine what they will do to me and my pack if anything goes wrong. “Glad you finally decided to join me, Katia,” the Alpha says. “Now that I’ve chosen you, it’s time for a proper introduction. My name is Brandon. It’s charming to meet you.”It’s the first time I’ve ever heard his name. He’s only referred to as the Alpha among our pack. It’s just another one of his games he play
By the time we stop for lunch at the side of the lake, I don’t think it’s possible to hate Brandon anymore than I already do. I'm certainly not hungry enough to eat, too sick to my stomach to even consider it. But it seems like they don't have much food with them anyway. I look at them, confused."Time to show you what you're up against," Brandon smiles. "Just in case you ever think of running off."Brandon and his pack shift into their wolf form, then they start to run along the shoreline, following the scent of a nearby deer. Their speed and strength are beyond intimidating. This is what we're all afraid of. I stay in the trees with Lily, watching them go, thankful to get away from them for this moment. I’m not hungry and I’m not in the mood to hunt anything.Once they're out of sight though, my mind sees a chance to escape. I could make a run for it and take my chances in the woods. I could make a break for it and hope I can outrun them. Lily and I could go together.Bran
“Look,” he says. “Your new home!”People come out from various dens to see us as I’m led in front of my new pack. Their territory is much more impressive than ours. But it doesn’t feel like home. And I can tell from the moment I step in front of them that the people in this pack already loathe me. And I already loathe them.“This is Katia and she’s the one I’ve chosen for myself,” Brandon says. “After conquering many packs and sifting through the best, I’ve stumbled across her; someone who’s strong, feisty, yet cares in a way that’s detrimental to her but will be beneficial to us. “She is the one I’m looking for. She’s going to be my mate and your new Luna. I know she’ll make all of our lives better.”There are gasps in the crowd. And it doesn’t sound like they are in support of it.“This is stupid,” a young man says. “What are you thinking? Why would you choose someone from their pack when there are so many better choices here?”“She’s weak,” another says. “We don’t need her
"I want you to watch the preparations," Brandon says, as he looks at me. "As my mate, you'll help host all sorts of these celebrations eventually. I want you to be a vital part in celebrating your pack's destruction. Lily will be doing the work alongside the others, and you will oversee her."I want you to watch as all sorts of wild game are prepared. I want you to watch as all of my pack feasts and gets drunk."Watch them as they let loose and give into the wild. Watch them as they revel in the power they have over others. Watch them as they celebrate their victory. Our victory.”I don't say anything. I bury my anger. I can't let him see any emotions. It will give him too much pleasure."I've brought you here to be my mate,” Brandon says. “But I also brought you here so I can show you who I am and how I'm going to shape the pack. I'm going to shape you as well."You'll come around. You'll learn to love me. You'll learn to love the power that comes with being a mate to a pack lead
"I can't," I say, desperately trying to come up with a good excuse even though I doubt I can find one. "My stomach is hurting.""Just take one sip,” Brandon urges me.I shake my head."Don't disobey me,” he warns. “Don't make me make you drink it.""I'm not thirsty, Brandon. Please. I really don't feel well.""I said one sip!"I'm frozen in place, staring at him. Brandon reaches down, puts his hand on my chest, and forces me to take the wine."Either drink the wine or explain why you won't," Brandon says.By now everyone is staring at us with amusement. No one but Brandon and I know exactly what's going on. But it isn't difficult to tell that it isn't anything good."I will after you do," I say. I'll die, but it'll be worth it to stop Brandon and get my revenge. "I'll try your wine after you do. We can even try it together if you’d like.”"Is that so?" he asks. I nod and he takes the goblet back. I hold my breath as he brings the goblet up to his lips.Then he stops."You
I run through the woods back to my own pack, finally free. Free.I didn't realize how beautiful freedom was until I lost it. Joy returns as my old den comes into sight and...Then, I see them. All the dead bodies.My pack has been slaughtered.Brandon killed them all.I feel my heart freeze up. My soul freezes up. It's my fault.I run to my parents' den. They can't be dead, I don't want to find them…No. My mother's hands are tied with silver rope. My father's body is wrapped in silver chains.All my brothers and sisters are dead.Brandon has taken everyone from me. I'll never be happy again.I won’t rest until I've taken his life.I run outside and that’s when I see Lily on the ground. Foam is coming from her mouth. She gasps and shudders. I run to save her. By the time I get there, her eyes are glazed, wide open. She’s not breathing and I know this is all my fault.I sob and scream and...Wake up in a jail cell.I'm back in the cave. I never left it. It was all
For now, I have no choice. I follow Brandon out of the cell and through the cave. Torches light the walls. Our footsteps echo in the most eerie way. It feels like we’re in our own world, locked away from everything else. No one can hear my screams."We can't go to the mating chamber tonight," I protest. "I just got here. It's not supposed to happen that quickly."Brandon laughs. "You’re a funny one, Katia. You're not in a position to make demands."You poisoned me. You tried to kill me. I'm not about to lose you or give you another chance to escape. We’re getting married tonight.“This is all your fault because you did it in front of my pack. You humiliated me. They'll doubt my choice of mate. So, I must do this to show them and you who's in charge."An image of Brandon and me mating fills my mind. No! No! No! I pushed the image away. "I refuse to mate with you," I said. "Don't think I will. You have nothing to hold over me anymore."Brandon laughs. "Are you sure about that
KALEB’S POV"Is she gone?" Ina asks, as I leave Katia's room.I nod. I'm heartbroken after having to banish Katia, but I didn't have a choice. I shouldn't even be sad about it. She killed Jacob."I don't know that Katia is behind this though," Ina says, horror in her eyes. “I think we have it all wrong.”"What do you mean? I ask."I don't think Katia killed Jacob," Ina says."What?" I ask. "Do you think she's telling the truth?”"She did deny it at first,” Ina reminds me. “So I think she’s lying about some things, but telling the truth about others. I think I’ve grown to know her enough. It’s like our souls know we’re meant to be sisters. So, I know what’s in her heart. I know she didn’t do this.”"What are you saying?" I ask."I think she told the truth when she said she didn’t have anything to do with it," Ina says. "I think it's Brandon. I bet he's the one who killed Jacob.""But maybe Katia told him to," I say, though I’m clinging onto a new hope. I never want to accept
"Katia, we need to talk," Kaleb says. I freeze. Usually, I'd be happy about talking to Kaleb but there's something about the way he looks at me that scares me. It seems like he's about to say something awful. His eyes are narrowed and dark, his tone low and dangerous."What's going on?" I ask. "Is everything okay?""No," Kaleb says. "It's not okay. And I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. You know why things are far from okay.""I'm not sure what you're saying," I reply, as panic grows within me. I don't know what I’ve done to upset him. I thought everything was fine between us."I need you to leave," he says coldly. "What?" I ask, totally blindsided. "Why?"I can't believe this is happening. Everything is happening so fast. One moment Kaleb and I were declaring our love for each other, and the next moment, Evie was accusing me of killing Jacob, and now Kaleb’s telling me that I need to leave.Why can’t the world slow down so I can be happy for a little while? All
"I love you."I kiss Katia one more time before reluctantly leaving. I wish I could be with her all the time, but I have to be careful until I make it official.I'm already supposed to be Evie's mate. And I'm the Alpha, so it'll be even more scandalous when I break things off with her. But I must.I go to find Evie right after leaving Katia, I don’t want to want any longer than I have to. But I find Ina instead. She falls into my arms and I hug her as she sobs. "It's Jacob," she says. "They've found him and he's been murdered."I feel like someone has taken my heart and ripped it out of my chest. I can't believe that Jacob is dead. He was my younger brother. I’m supposed to protect him. It can’t be true. I wouldn’t allow something like that to happen to him."What happened?" I ask. “There’s no way. He wasn’t gone for that long.”"They think he was killed by a wolf," she says. "Maybe by a wolf from Katia's old pack. The pack that’s hunting her down.""That doesn't make any sen
"I love you," he tells her."I love you too," she replies.It seems like their kiss goes on for hours as I watch them. It's clear to see he adores her.It breaks my heart to hear him say it to her. But it somehow gets worse from there.As I stand by the window, I hear Kaleb saying all these romantic things to Katia and it takes all of my self-control not to cry.He's my mate, not hers. He's supposed to love me. I love him.I've waited so long for him to be in love with me. And then I realize that it's not just the fact that I'm waiting for him that hurts. It's that he's in love with her. He's saying all of these romantic things to her.It's not fair. Kaleb is my mate, not hers. We're supposed to be together.Listening to them only makes me hurt more, but I can't stop myself. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hands.I can't believe that I'm crying about this. I can't believe that I care about this.I already knew that he wasn't going to choose me. I knew that from the moment I
I manage to avoid the pack for the rest of the day, but I know I can't avoid them forever. By the next day, I leave my room to get to know the people I'll be living with at least for now.Ina comes up to me right away."I was wondering if you were ever going to come out again," she says. "I was getting worried about you.""I'm sorry," I tell her. "Yesterday was just…a bit of a shock. It’s all a huge adjustment.""I know," she says. "It’s going to be a lot to get used to. But I'm glad you're out of your room now.""I just need some time to get used to this, to get used to everything.""I understand," she says. "I'm not going to rush you into things. I know this is a lot. But I think you'll really like it here. How about I show you around?”“I’d like that,” I say.If I can focus on my life here, maybe I can manage to be here while still having to cope with seeing Kaleb with someone else. The way this pack has built a life with nature appeals to me. Ina and I run, taking in the
I lay on the bed and try to decompress. I'm sure Kaleb is out there, talking to the others. I wonder what he's saying about me."Hello, Katia," a voice says as footsteps enter my room.Evie walks in with a smirk. "Hello," I say, not too friendly. I know I should try to be nice, but I hate her already. I hate her for having him. She looks down at me and I know she hates me too.I wish I could tell her not to worry. I'll never try to take Kaleb from her because I know he'd never choose me."You should know that Kaleb and I are mates," she says.He has already chosen."Then I hope you have a good time together," I say. It sounds stupid but I don’t know what else to say. All rational thoughts have left my mind."We have a great time together because we're meant for each other.""I'm glad you're happy,” I reply through clenched teeth. I don’t even want to think about them having a great time together. I don’t want to even consider what they do together. I just want her to leav
I've enjoyed talking to Kaleb so much that I'm a little disappointed once we reach his pack.Time has simply gone by far too quickly and I want more time for just the two of us so I can get to know him better. I want to know everything about him.I know he's my mate. The way I feel about him is unlike anything I've ever felt for anyone else."I know you'll love my pack," Kaleb assures me. "And they'll love you too. You'll fit right in."I'm a little nervous, but I also feel a little silly for being nervous. I just want to fit into his world. I want a place to belong more than I’ve ever wanted anything else. "Are you ready to meet the rest of my pack?" he asks."Yes," I say. "I'm ready."He smiles at me, and I have to fight the urge to reach out and touch him. I want to run my fingers through his hair. I want to touch his face. I want to hold him in my arms.The whole pack comes out to greet Kaleb as we step onto their territory, but they all seem surprised to see me there wit
“I’ll keep you safe,” I say.“I know you will,” she smiles. I suspect she knows everything, though I’m trying to hide it.The first moment I met Katia, I knew I was in trouble. She's beautiful, of course. Stunning. But there's something more about her.Her soul speaks to me. It looks into my soul. It touches me.I feel her.And she feels me.So, I try to keep my distance as we talk. Yet I can't help but be fascinated by her."A butterfly," she says, as it lands on her finger. Even after all she's been through, she looks at it with such delight. As if the world is innocent and beautiful. I want to see the world through her eyes."I've never seen a butterfly this color," she says, smiling at the silver stars against its dark blue wings. "So, it can't be a regular butterfly. Maybe it's a magical butterfly.""It's a fairy," I say, surprised that something so playful has come from my mouth. “Magic.”I smile at her, and she smiles back. “Here,” she says, holding her finger up
At first, I'm scared of him. I haven’t had great luck with guys so far. But after a while, I relax. He has no intention of hurting me. And even considering everything else I’ve gone through, I already trust him to a strange degree. There's relief as we start walking away from those who want to hurt me. But I'm still afraid. What if the distance I put between us won't be enough?After walking in silence for a little while, I turn to him."Don't you want to know my name?" I ask. He shrugs."Only if you want to tell me," he says. "I don't care what your name is to be fair. I'd try to protect anyone like this. It’s just the kind of person I am."It hurts a little. I want to feel like I'm special to him. I don't know why. It’s also nice to know though. It’s sweet that he’s the kind of person who cares about other people."My name is Katia," I say. "Katia." He works over my name, despite not wanting to hear it. He seems to like the way it sounds. "I'm Kaleb."Kaleb. I like t