VANESSA POV24.24, young human girls. Each one of their expressions is emotionless and cold. None of them are showing me an ounce of fear, but I really shouldn't be surprised. These girls have lived my worst nightmare.Lived it and survived."Each of you will receive the bite. Each of you will experience extreme pain for the next few hours. And when the clock hits midnight, you will shift. Whether your body completes that shift is the question. If it doesn't, you die," Hilda explains in her emotion-hidden voice that used to terrify me.Only now, after studying her for weeks, can I see that she cares. The slight dilation of her pupils plus the twitch in her hands are dead giveaways. Hilda is scared for them. I grin internally. Hilda cares. She cares, but she refuses to show it. She turns to me, and our eyes lock."When you bite, hold for about 45 seconds. It is different than marking or biting in battle. You need to flex your fangs, feel them.
VANESSA POV"Ness, stop before you hurt yourself. You already have no nails left," Rosy sighs whiles she braids my wild chestnut hair.I push my chewed hands under my thighs and find a place to stare at in the carpet. Today is the day. Today is the day I compete forGunnar.My stomach is in knots.I feel like a sacrificial lamb. Every ounce of courage and determination has left me. My pores are leaking fear. My body is covered in rippling muscle, but my brain feels like a bowl of weak mush. I'm thankful it is Rosy getting me ready and not Hilda. She would smell my fear and whack me upside the head."What would you do, Rose, if it was Jax," I ask"Fight like hell," Rosy answers immediately, and I nod the best that I can while she braids."Isn't crazy how far we have come? I wouldn't even recognize those two scared little girls anymore," I say as Rosy ties a hair cord at the end of my thick french braid."It was meant to be,
GUNNAR POVI feel sick to my stomach. Wave after wave of female desire is being blasted in my direction, and all I want to do is hold my mate. I hate that my love is surrounded byhorny she-wolves who have set their sights on me. I already had to remind two of them of their place. One of them being the she-wolf who tried to get in Vanessa's head before withdrawing from the competition. The other being Frida.She had had the audacity to come to Vanessa, and I's den unannounced. After almost killing her, she realized I was not interested in what she was offering. Her scent literally made me gag. She has an overly floral scent that makes my head hurt. I guess she was aware that Vanessa wasn't staying with me last night and had made one last desperate attempt at seduction. My hand wrapped around her windpipe, and her body being thrown ten feet, had been her answer.My eyes have not left Vanessa's, and hers's haven't left mine. Although I plan to take drastic me
HILDA POV"KRAVEN," I spit through my clenched teeth.The wind blows and my naked form shivers slightly as I stare down my youngest sibling."Sister, what a pleasant surprise," Kraven says in a sicklysweet voice as he begins to pace back and forth.I can feel more pack members gathering behind me, which eases my tense muscles. My shoulders completely straighten when Gunnar appears on my right."Care to explain why you are on my land, brother," Gunnar says in his most menacing voice."With pleasure Dear Big Brother. I have come to claim Silver Tail. And with the help of the King's mindless soldiers........kill all of you " Kraven declares with a crazed smile.I openly laugh and his eyebrows draw together."Are you aware it is my job to defeat rogues hordes," I ask him in a condescendingly tone to stall him.We need those vampires."Oh I am aware sister. That is why my mate and I will handle you," Kraven decla
GUNNAR POVAs soon as Vanessa's fear hits my system, rage fills my blood stream. Our bond is complete and the feeling is amazing, but knowing that my mate is scared..........it makes me beyond murderous. No one should threaten my mate on my own lands. She should feel the safest within our territory.My werewolf form isvibratingwith bloodlust and my men can feel it. Two of my sparing partners flank my sides and they growl lowly. Their wordless communication is clear, they have my back.We run for about three miles before stopping. I shift back so I can deal with the Reverence Pack's dumb Alpha. This man has truly forgotten who I am. Maybe the world has. Since Vanessa came into my life I have been rather on the softer side. Time to bring back the Alpha that could roar and make other Alphas wet themselves.He shifts into his human form with a dumb smile on his face and his men follow suit. I take in the older Alpha and internally grin. He is a mi
HILDA POVI release Kraven with agrowl and shift back to my human form. Mathias's mate whimpers as the blade bites her flesh."Release her," I commandand the filth holding her, laughs."What do you want," Vanessa asks moving to my side with her eyes fixed on Kraven.I glance over at Frida and internally smirk. If we didn't have pack mates lives in jeopardy, I would be laughing. The witch is mated to a title less wolf. A once rogue wolf.I look back at my brother. His focus isn't on me. It isn't on Nessa. It isn't even on Frida. Kraven's attention is on a certain red head.This time I don't hold back my laugh. I tilt my head back and laugh towards the heavens. I can feel Vanessa's confused gaze on the side of my face but I continue laughing until I can't anymore. When I am finally finished, I wipe my eyes and look back at the irony unfolding before me."See something you like brother," I taunt and his rage filled eyes snap
GUNNAR POVMy claws dig through my brother's arm before he can dodge me completely and another flash from the past flashes behind my eyes.Flashback:Nine year old Kraven runs towards me with a wide smile as I approach the pack house. I roll my eyes. How freaking annoying. Ican't even get in the door from training before the runt is on me."Gunnar, how was training," Kraven practically squeals as he bounces to my side."Just dandy," I growl as I go over the lecture dad pounded into my head while he pounded my 17yr old frame into the ground."I wish Dad would let me join," Kraven says in his annoying little kid voice.He has no idea the pressures I'm under. He thinks this is all fun and games. Training isn't fun. Training is brutal. It is meant to break you so you can be rebuilt into the soldier the pack needs you to be. Momma's boy Kraven will never be a soldier. Not like me."Why? So you can whine the whole time? Leave m
VANESSA POV"First we are going to return our deceased pack members to Mother Nature and then ...........I'm killing your Grandfather," Gunnargrowls."How many pack members did we lose," I whisper while watching the rage burn in Gunnar's beautiful blue eyes."Four warriors. That is all I am aware of. Reed might have killed some male omegas when he forced the females out," Gunnar growls and my stomach bottoms out."I hope Jax is okay," I say before burying my face in Gunnar's neck near his mark."I'm sure he is. Your friend seemed fine in the clearing. She would have felt the bond tear if he had been killed," he says and I nod against his hot skin."You keep rubbing on me, I am going to take you," Gunnar mumbles and I gasp in horror."You have your brother's blood along with God knows who else's all over you, so that isn't happening," I declare after pulling my head away from his mark.His jaw tenses and my heart pinches f
HILDA POV I smile as I watch Crow move around my den. His fresh scent is beginning to saturate the air, and I like it. My den has smelled like only me for far too long. "Wow, this is unique," Crow says while running his fingers over my quilt. I nod and give him a sad smile."I made that. I used all of my first mate's shirts. I wanted to keep him close," I explain, and Crow stills. "Are you uncomfortable with me having it," I ask as I watch his reaction closely.My stomach twists with fear. I will not allow Crow to act as if my first mate didn't exist. I care for Crow, but I loved my mate. "No. I was worried you wouldn't want my scent on it," Crow admits while searching my eyes."I don't mind. I actually like the thought of your smell on it. I know we are.....I know this is all new, and I
CROW POV (R rated)She looks stunning today. If I hadn't already decided to compete, seeing her this morning would have been the nail in the coffin. Her blonde hair is down for the first time in two days, and it is beautiful. Natural blonde with soft waves......She is also dressed differently. She isn't in anything overly feminine, but the simple outfit looks sexy on her. She hasn't looked at me once, and that hurts a little. I know what I said last night broke something between us, but I hope by competing, it fixes it. I don't know what kind of relationship we can build between us, but her brother was right.My Cindy would be pissed if I spent my life sulking and missing her. She would want me to try for happiness, and I think I can have that with Hilda. She understands my pain. She is also intelligent, strong, and gorgeous. My brothers forfeit with honor, but no one else steps
HILDA POV Pain courses through me, and I curse the feeling back to hell where it came from. I have no idea why I gave myself hope. I should have known that I am doomed to be mated to a young second-born who has no idea how to lead. A male who can't place his own arrogance to the side to think about what is best for the pack. My fist connects with a tree, and the wood splits. My skin rips, but I ignore the irritating burn. Crow's stupid face is imprinted in my mind, and I can't help but picture it. His dark, almost black hair is thick and wavy. It shines and makes my hands itch to touch it. His dark eyes and thick eyebrows are expressive. They shout out his emotions, and my broken soul loves it. His nose is big and a little crooked, but the flaw makes him real; it makes the rest of him believable. I sigh as the first tear falls from my eye. For the first time in a long tim
CROW POVI hang my head and let the water cascade down my dirty body. I watch the dirt collect and move through the water by my feet-little specks, insignificant but irritating.....like our lives.I want to growl and argue with the new feelings brewing within me, but that would mean I acknowledge them. I don't know why I couldn't stop staring at Hilda today. My thoughts hadn't been anything but neutral and curious, but I never give females attention. Maybe my interest was stemming from our conversation last night. She impressed me.I shut off the water and step out. I hear the bedroom door bang open outside of the restroom, and my instincts kick in. I snatch the towel I had folded and waiting from the counter. I barely get it around my waist before I open the restroom door."Gage? What the hell? What's wrong," I ask as my eyes assess his pacing form.He seems unharmed, but some
HILDA POV Dark, handsome, smart...Crow is an admirable male. His body is in prime condition and looks as if he exercises regularly. A small smile tugs at my mouth as I scrub my scentless soup into my hair. I could see myself with a mate like Crow. A male who has loved. A man who has lost everything but kept going. I step out of my shower and dry off quickly. I don't have much of a morning routine. I'm not like other she-wolves, never have been. I like to get clean, get dressed, and be done. I don't prep and preen my face for male satisfaction. I get my old but clean undergarments on before throwing on some sweats with a matching worn-out tank top. Perfect. My phone chimes, and I open the message before pulling on my socks."Two new arrivals Alpha." I finish getting dressed before responding. "I will
CROW'S POV "I'm not interested," I growl as Ronan makes his speech about how we should compete for Silvertail's Alpha title....again. "Look, I get it, Crow. You had your mate. You met her at 18, and your life was perfect. But that ideal life ended.....I know that it is hard, but we need your help. I'm 25. Gage is 27. We need to find a mate or win a mate. If you compete with us, you can knock out some of the competition for us. You don't have to win her. Help one of us win her," Ronan pleads as Gage stands with his arms crossed. I drop my 110lb dumbbells and grab my blue sweat towel. I think over my brother's words while looking around our tiny flat. Pictures of mom and us decorate the entire space. I close my eyes as I wipe off my neck. I picture my mother and my mate's faces...they would want me to help my brothers. They both would probably tell me it is time for me to move on also
HILDA POVI growl as I rub my temples. Irritation at my circumstances is causing me to have a headache. Not only do I have to deal with twenty spoiled second-born Alphas who feel like they are owed the world, but I have to also deal with my little brother. He won't stop whining, and while the change in his personality is endearing, I can not take it.He is constantly barging into my office demanding that I get my mate competition underway so he can run back home to be with a very pregnant Vanessa. He doesn't understand why I am putting it off. He doesn't understand that when I look at these males, I feel nothing but repulsion.My phone rings, and I pick it up with my eyes closed."Hilda speaking""Well, hello, sister-in-law.""Vanessa, if you are calling me to hound me about the competition as well...I will kick your ass pregnant or not.""Geez.
VANESSA POV"Max, be careful," I call after my two-year-old nephew as my phone rings.I pick up the phone quickly after seeing the caller ID."Hello, Love,""That's my line. How are youfeeling,""I'm fine, Gunnar. She won't be here for another month. How is Hilda,""Pissed. She hates all the males who have signed up to compete so far,""That doesn't sound good,""If she keeps me from coming home for much longer, I am going to challenge for the Alpha position. I will be King of werewolves and Alpha of Silver Tail before I miss the birth of our first pup,""Calm down. Why does she hate them,""Because they are all second-born Alphas. They are only competing so they can be an Alpha. They don't care who they mate. Hilda wants love,""Tell her to open the competition up to everyone. Maybe she will meet someone genuine,""Yeah, but he still has to win,""I don't understand. Why doesn't she jus
VANESSA POV"Okay, I have a deck of cards,three books, monopoly, and Life," I say, spreading out my games so the others can see them."I brought battleship and two books," Rosy says, adding her games to mine.A couple of the other Omegas also pull out decks of cards for everyone to play with.The medium-sized room is packed with slim but tall bodies. There are at least thirty female Omegas and about fifteen male Omegas. And while the room is a little stuffy, everyone seems to be in a good mood. I smile as I turn my attention back to Rosy."Ready to be defeated in battleship," I taunt while wagging my eyebrows at her.Rosy rolls her eyes and scoffs. Jaxon just smiles at our interaction. He kisses Rosy's forehead before sliding through the compacted bodies to reach another male."Bring it, Ness," she says, with a playful growl, and we sit down Indian style in the back of the crowded room."So have you thought of any names,"