Chapter 1

“On Monday, I will be announcing Jaxon as the new Alpha,” Dad declares, sipping his morning coffee. “This will give our give our pack plenty of time to prepare for his ceremony on Friday during the Full Moon.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I explode, slamming my fists on the countertop.

Mom averts her eyes, avoiding my gaze as she often does in these situations. She never stands up for me when I need her to.

Dad shrugs. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Melanie. I gave you a chance to prove yourself in the Alpha Academy. Now you know that it’s not because you’re female. You just weren’t good enough. Jaxon’s scores consistently outshine yours. He’s faster, stronger, and more deserving of the Alpha title than you.”

“Damon-” Mom whispers, attempting to intervene.

“No, she needs to hear the truth,” Dad interrupts sharply, “I will not tolerate her disrespect.”

He glares at me, his eyes growing darker by the second. “You disgust me. Stop acting like an entitled brat,” he hisses.

My mouth drops open. “Entitled? I’ve spent my entire life working my ass off to please you, to earn the title that would automatically be mine if I were a man!” I scream, my voice thick with emotion.

Jaxon is the son my dad never had, and I am the daughter he never wanted. After I was born, my parents spent years trying for a male heir. When my little sister came along, and Dad realized it was never going to happen, he began to resent us. I should have seen this coming. He was never going to grant me the title as Alpha, no matter how hard I worked for it.

I feel my body beginning to vibrate as my wolf within, threatening to take control. “I…I can’t believe this!” I stammer, threatening to contain the surge of anger and frustration washing over me.

“The decision has already been made,” Dad asserts, his tone firm and unyielding. “Jaxon will take my place as Alpha, and you will remain in yours and never question my authority again. Understood?”

My vision blurs with rage, but I know that if I argue with him, I’ll just be digging a bigger hole for myself. So, I swallow my retort and turn to leave.

As I burst out of the house, I shred my clothes and shift into my wolf. Thanks to my Alpha bloodline, my wolf form is larger than average. My soft, black coat gleams in the sunlight as I streak through the forest. Trees buzz with life around me, and small animals scatter in all directions at the sound of trigs and leaves crunching beneath my thunderous paws.

My wolf, Nina, revels in her new freedom, her joyous purrs filling my ears.

Suddenly, somebody rushes up behind us, and before I can react, a massive, black and gray wolf tackles me to the ground.

My eyes round with recognition. Get the fuck off me, Jaxon! I snarl through our telepathic connection.

He bares his teeth, his canines menacingly close to my face as he gazes at me intently.

 Goddess, I was just playing. Good morning to you too, Mel, his rich, deep voice rumbles in my head.

I quickly push him away, my irritation bubbling within me. What do you want?

His bright, green eyes assess me with amusement. Somebody’s in a mood today.

I’m pretty sure my dad already told you the news, I retort, a bitter edge coloring my words.

He seems surprised by that, but quickly regains his composure. Oh, so that’s why. I never would have thought Melanie Stokes was a sore loser, he teases.

I growl at him. Fuck you.

Just give me a time and location, baby girl.

It’s absurd to think a wolf could smirk, yet the sight manages to stir an unsettling flutter in my stomach. And I fucking hate it.

Don’t call me that! I snap, my temper flaring.

Well, you’ll be calling me Alpha soon. He darts away before I can retaliate.