There was a silence that descended over the table while we finished our meal. We all we a little shell-shocked about everything.
Then Wendy turned to me and leaned in. “You have the king’s phone number?”Her comment broke the silence, and we all laughed. I waved my hands in the air. “It’s nothing. All alphas get his number.”Toya cut a look at me from the corner of her eyes. “I don’t have his number.”I nodded. “Your father does.” She nodded. “I got his number because during the summer there was an emergency that I needed to request permission from the council to protect my pack, and my father was out of commission. My father’s beta gave me the number, and the King told me to keep it.” I shrugged it off. “I figured, after what I said, I would rather he heard it from myself, that Nina. There is no telling how she would have twisted it.”Everyone nodded and ThI turned to face the second woman. “And you?”She paled as she dropped to her knees. “I listened to her because she is my luna.” She pressed herself to the floor, and I wanted to step on her.I dropped low. “What pack are you from?”“The Dark Forest pack.” The girls behind me all took a breath. But I threw my head back and laughed.“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I tucked my aura away and waited for the two to get up.“What?” The luna sat back on her heels.“You are the smallest, and poorest pack and you feel you have to right to judge anyone?” I held out my hand.“What did you just say?” The luna released her weak aura, but I used my own to block hers from reaching anyone else.“I said your pack is weak, poor, and disgusting. Because it breeds women like you who think that just because they are ranked in your
I didn’t realize that everyone was staring at me until I disconnected the call. I turned back to everyone and just huffed out a breath. “Keep checking everyone in.”“It’s too late.” Wendy was almost in tears.“No. This king will handle it.” I was certain of that.“Are you sure?” Hanna grabbed my hand and I nodded.“I am.” So we all turned back and kept checking people in.“Alpha Amy?” Someone we checked in called back to us.“Yes.”“The doors are locked.” Everyone froze and then one girl started to sob.“Please. Everyone.” I raised my hands, waving the tablet in my hand. “I swear to you that you will not be expelled.”“You can’t promise that.” Someone called out, and the room erupted in to crying.“Listen.” I raised my hands. “There is ver
The call dropped, and a few seconds later, the doors opened. Vince was fuming as he stood there. Hand clenched around the door handle. “Get inside now.” His voice was low, but no one moved. I pushed through the crowd and smiled as I touched everyone’s shoulders. I made it to the door and met Vince’s eyes. I could tell he was livid, but I just smiled. I turned to the crowd, giving Vince my back, and I raised my voice. “File inside and find a seat. Like I said before, no one is getting expelled.” Everyone moved at that. One by one they passed me and they bowed before moving past me into the auditorium. “You will regret this.” Vince’s voice was low, But I heard the words he didn’t want me to hear.I turned and faced him. I tilted my head as I let Nix come to the surface. “For a weaker alpha to threaten me and my wolf, it takes a lot of courage.”His eyes widened as I stared him down. “Did you just say I was a weaker alpha?” His voice barely contained his rage.I leaned in so that he wa
I winked as I face him, and I watched his mouth turn up on one side. I dropped to my knees quickly and bowed. “I’m sorry, my king, but it is the only way the other she-wolves leave me alone. They all seem to think that because you were my teacher for a few classes that you favor me, and they are jealous.”Rowan rubbed his face, hiding the smirk that graced his lips. “Get up. I will address the students later, but Vince, we need to talk.” I got to my feet and bowed again. “Then I will take my leave.” I turned to leave, but Rowan grabbed my arm. “We will speak about this later, alone.” I nodded my head. “Of course, my king.” I felt him tremble as I said those words, then he let me go and I walked into the auditorium. I turned behind the door and hid in the shadows to listen to the conversation between Rowan and Vince.“Tell me the truth Vincent, you colluded with the council to expel over a hundred and fifty unranked wolves from the school my father created.” Rowan growled deeply. “
I kept my eyes straight ahead as Rowan and Vince stormed by. I felt someone’s eyes hit me, but I pretended not to notice. If it was Rowan, we will talk later. If it was Vince, I didn’t want to meet his eyes. Hanna leaned closer to me and whispered, “What the hell was that?”“I wish I knew. But something serious is going on.” I kept my face blank and my voice low. I wanted to be open and honest with her, but I barely knew her. And while I felt like I could trust her, to lay everything out for her, I would need to be sure. “I understand.” Hanna gave a tiny nod and then we focused on the king walking on to the stage. He was followed by three others and Vince. He was still pissed. I could see it in his face. His eyes were tight, and even though he was wearing a smile, I could see the predator behind his mask. His wolf was close to the surface. “Ladies and gentleman, please let’s settled down. Today has turned a little sideways and now we have more than one thig to address today.” Rowa
I made my voice quiver, and I did my best to pretend to be scared. “Please Alpha, I know you were just following orders. Tell the truth, I don’t want you to die.”Vince sighed in relief, and Rowan nearly lost it. His eyes showed the smile he was desperately trying to hide. “Well Alpha Vince?” Rowan stepped closer to the other man and he towered over Vince. “Alpha Rowan-”“King Rowan.” Someone that sounded a lot like Nina called out, earning a smile from the king.Vince stammered and then corrected himself. “King Rowan. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.”“Explain.” Rowan pulled up a chair from where they were off to the side of the podium. He positioned it facing Vince and then sat, crossing his arms. “What?” Vince froze.“Explain. You said you were trapped between a rock and a hard place. I want you to explain it to me.”Vince’s mouth dropped open, and the three men started to fidget. Rowan raised a hand and motioned for Vince to start his explanation. “What? I mean, obvio
“What does that even means?” Someone called out.“What’s going on?” A few students stood to their feet.“Should we just go home?” Toya stood and started to the aisle. “Calm down everyone.” Rowan stepped closer to the podium. “Let me explain it all.” Rowan turned to glare at the council members. “The attacks on all of our packs have become devastating. Some packs have been wiped out, and no, I will not tell you which packs they were. I will be going to those affected personally today.” A new hush fell over the crowd. Devastation hung in the air, but it was stunted. Everyone was terrified that they were about to learn that their families had disappeared. I watched as almost everyone texted someone. “I’m not getting an answer.” Someone panicked and stood to run.“Stay where you are. I told your families not to answer until I gave the all clear. I want to talk to those affected first. So please don’t panic. Also, smaller packs have been taken in by some of the larger packs. Not permanen
“Now to get back to you questions. Yes, there was an attack that injured someone here. She nearly died, but thankfully her wolf was strong enough to heal the damage. Even though the doctors thought she wouldn’t make it. Next, if the wolf wants it to be made public, I will say her name, but I will wait for her permission.” He glanced my way, but Nina stood. “You can tell my story.” Her voice was soft, but I could tell she was proud. “Nina.” Rowan started, but then a council member stepped up and smiled. “Nina’s attack was harrowing.” He started. “She was a little girl when a rogue attacked her and her father.” The crowd gasped, but I watched Rowan grind his teeth. “We were all worried she wouldn’t wake up, but thankfully, her juvenile wolf was strong enough to heal the damage to her head.” There were a few claps, and I had to lift my fingers to my lips. This was Ninas big attack. Rowan turned to me and I gave a tiny nod. I would have kept quiet, but this was getting ridiculous. “
His words were a soft balm on the pain I was feeling. But I needed to get a little space. So I slid off his lap, and I saw a flash of hurt flash in his eyes. “I like him too. But my wolf actually feels the same about another, so I understand.” I slid next to him and grabbed his hand. “But what did you mean about an opportunity?”Regret flashed in his eyes and then they faded to his normal brown. Rowan was back. “Hi.” He was struggling with something.“Hey.” I smiled and grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong?”He sighed. “What I’m about to say will make zero sense and I know already it isn’t fair, but it’s how I feel, okay?”I turned to face him. “Okay.”“I don’t like that your wolf likes this unknown male.” Hu huffed out a laugh. “And like I said, I know I’m a hypocrite. Okay, I do, but I wish you both just liked me…”I listened as he explained and smiled, but it was a little sad. “I feel exactly the same way. But we can’t change our wolf’s mind. They have to figure out their own feelings,
The kiss melted my bones. Heat started in my center and then exploded out of me. My hands tangled in his hair and he groaned as I launched myself from the ground and into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. His tongue teased at the seam of my lips until I opened for him and then his tongue delved between them, tangling with mine. He wrapped one arm around my back and the other clutched my ass tightly against him. I groaned in repressed need. Goddess, he was perfect.The kiss lasted less than a minute, but it was imprinted on my soul, and I knew in one crystalized moment this man would be the end of me. Whether it be together, wrapped in his arms, or alone and shattered, a forgotten toss away in his conquest for his queen. I didn’t know the answer, but he was either my everything or my death. That I was certain of with an almost finite clarity. He was the first to pull away, placing his forehead against my own. “I’m sorry.”My eyes fluttered open. “Why are you sorry?” My voi
Rowan stared at me for a minute before he stood. He pulled out his phone and started to hit buttons. “Did you hear me?” I snarled, and he turned his phone screen to me. “Look.” I stared at his face before my eyes flicked to his phone. It was our text chat. I read through the screen and stopped. “That isn’t right.” I pulled out my phone and selected our chat log and showed him. “What the fuck is going on?” He pulled my phone to his face. I stared at his phone. Messages he sent that I didn’t receive. I pulled his phone out of his hand and clicked to the call log. Nothing. All the calls I made were missing. “How is this possible?” I looked up. Rowan was still looking at my texts. “You texted me?” I just nodded. “Of course I did. I also called. I felt pathetic after a week of being ignored, but I had questions and you were answering my emails.” I handed back his phone. “Wait…you emailed me? My secure email?” I nodded. “Yes.” I nodded. “You told me to. So I did. But I had a questio
Rowan pulled back from my face and looked me in the eye. “Okay.”Nix receded, leaving me panting and confused. “What?”Rowan stood, and I nearly stumbled back from how fast he stood. “I said okay.” His smile was perfect. Everything about him was perfect. I shook my head to clear it. “I’m confused…what?”He laughed and then gripped me at my waist, pulling my body against his and he bent down, kissing my lips and making me nearly moan. His lips were soft, biteable, and I wanted to spend the rest of my night exploring them, but he pulled away. “You wolf has made a good point. If I want to earn her name, if I want anything from you, I need to prove it.” Rowan squeezed my hips, and I felt my eyes flutter from the slight pain. I was learning things about my likes, my needs, in this life I never explored in my last. I was a little lost in thought as Rowan stepped back.I tried to grab at him but my hands met air. I shook my head to refocus, and I bit my lip to stop myself from doing somethi
I screamed and dropped into a fighting stance, only to find Rowan on my sofa staring at me. I tossed my head, dropping the towel that I had wrapped around my hair to the floor. I nearly growled when I found him sulking in the dark, but I just stood up and patted my naked chest. Calm down. I shook my head and chuckled at my stupidity.The feeling of soft skin on my fingertips had my hand freezing. Naked chest…I slowly looked down, as if I was a human in one of their horror movies. When my eyes met the pile of towels, my mouth dropped open. My eyes landed on my naked and prominent chest, currently on full display, and I screamed again. I snatched the towels and ran out of the room. Oh, my goddess. Kill me now. I crumpled on to the bed in disbelief. Did that actually just happen? “What the fuck am I supposed to do?” I dropped my head into my hands and groaned. “I would put on clothes if I were you.” Rowan’s voice sounded right outside my door. His voice was low, gravelly, and filled w
The next few weeks passed in a whirlwind of class, training, and silence. I dragged myself through the door after yet another long day. I dropped my dinner onto my coffee table and face planted onto my couch, and groaned. I was exhausted. I wasn’t sleeping properly and in between classes and the double training; I was running on hopes and dreams at this point. I rolled over with a groan. “Fuck.”My phone gave a tiny ding, and I scrambled to pull it out of my pocket. It was a quick text from Wendy telling me she made it home. I tossed my phone with another groan. This time, I sat up and screamed. “I’m so fucking stupid.” I gripped my head in my hands and pulled at my hair. “Goddess, how could I be so stupid?” I stood and stalked my way to the bathroom connected to my bedroom and stripped off my clothes.You’re not stupid. Megan offered, but Nix stayed silent. I jumped under the hot spray and instantly crumpled to the floor. I leaned my head against my knees and for the first time si
Vince closed his eyes and shook his head. “I will make an announcement later. No one should be stupid enough to rub that in any wolf’s face, but to do it to an Alpha is asking for death.” He huffed out a breath. “Are you okay now, Amy?”I made it look like I was fighting Nix for control. I started to shake, and she receded slowly, laughing the entire time. This is going to be fun. Nix chortled as she slunk back into the dark forest of my mind. The fur receded, and my eyes and fangs shifted back. I watched as Vince and Brandon both breathed out a sigh of relief. “I should say I am sorry for losing control, but I’m not. Nina deserved everything I did to her.” I scoffed. “She’s lucky I didn’t kill her.” I turned to Toya and Wendy. “Thank you.”“Always.” The two of them squeezed my sides and then sat back down in front of their food. I turned back to Vince. “Am I in trouble?”He stared at me, really stared at me as if he was trying to figure something out, but then he slowly shook his
The others were already sitting when I walked over. Toya was openly staring at me with a smirk. “Did you have a little fun in line there, Amy?” I chuckled, but I was still angry. “It’s like a rot in this fucking school.” I slammed into my seat as the others just stared at me. “No matter where I turn, someone is bullying someone. When did this become our status quo? We are not fucking humans.” I had to calm myself down, but this is kinda perfect. It shows that I’m not doing well. I allowed tears to come to my eyes and I shook my head. “I’m sorry.” I wiped at my face in frustration. “It’s okay.” Toya followed my lead and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. I heard her sniffle, and a tear hit my shoulder. “Look at how pathetic you two look.” Instantly, Nix was at the surface. Fur rippled down both of our arms. Black against her dark brown. We looked at each other and both of our eyes were shifted. We separated and looked behind us to find Nina and her band of idiots. And Nix ripped a
I stretched my neck as I walked into the caff. Sleeping on my couch was about as comfortable as you assume. I felt my neck pop, and I wanted to groan. I shook myself as I headed to the line to grab breakfast. I needed food and caffeine as soon as possible. I grabbed a tray and waited for my turn. I felt myself wobble on my feet. I was more tired than I thought. It’s also the emotional side of things that is weighing you down. Megan’s voice called from the darkness of the forest in my mind. Last night wiped you out. First it was Toya’s emotions, then your own, and you ended the night with your mother’s emotions pressing down on you. It takes a toll. Nix agreed, and I had to nod. They were right. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. If I could have missed today I would have, but I set this meeting up last night with everyone and we had a plan to make. “Excuse me.” A soft voice called from behind me. I turned to see an omega male. “Yes?”His eyes widened. “It’s your turn to g