“So, do we walk to talk about it?” I looked over at Cassie, but she was staring straight ahead. “Cas?”
“Can we pretend like it never happened?” Her voice was small when I pulled her over to the side of the mall and leaned in. “Talk to me.” “What do you want me to say?” She threw up her hands. “It’s miserable being this weak. Every she wolf with more power out of the ranking demands we do their work, or their chores, or if we get nice stuff, they take it.” Cas looked at me and I could feel her pain. "We have no alpha female that protects us here. The beta and gamma try, but they have their own duties.” Cas wiped her face. “We have learned to deal with it, and when it really gets bad, then you dad gets involved.” “Cas…” “You aren’t here, and neither is your mom. If you get too involved, then we just suffer when you leave.” She looked at me and then shook herself. “C’mon, let’s go pick out jewelry for your dress. Which one are you going to wear?” “Don't worry about it. You are going to come over and get ready with me, right? So I can do your makeup and hair?” “I don’t have anything to wear.” Cassie looked to the side. “Nonsense, you will just borrow something of mine. Let’s go pick out some jewelry.” I wrap my arm in hers and pull her to the store. “I can wear something of yours?” Cas smiled up at me as we walked into the store. “Of course you can. You are my best friend.” I bumped her hip and walked up to the counter. A set with onyx stones caught my eye. It was stunning. And then a soft golden number with diamonds. “Excuse me?” “Yes?” The sales woman walked over and I pointed to the two sets. “You have a good eye.” She pulled out the sets, and I was amazed. “I’ll take them.” I smiled. “I’ll just wrap them up.” “Hold on a moment.” A new she wolf I had never seen before walked in with Amanda in tow. “I want that golden number for my niece.” I turned and smiled at the group of women. “Sorry. I already decided to buy it.” The new she wolf puffed out her chest and raised her eyebrow. “Are you the one that bought the dress before my niece?” “There must be a misunderstanding. You see, we had the dress first.” I smiled over at the new wolf, but she just lifted her lip and pushed out her aura. She was strong for sure, but she didn’t even reach the gamma level. “You don’t speak to me that way, little girl.” “Auntie…” Amanda started, but I cut my eyes to her. “If I were you. I would be very particular about who you speak to like that.” I smiled at her and cut my eyes to Amanda. Nix, speak to Amanda’s wolf and forbid them from speaking who I am to her aunt. Smart. Nix pulled away and I watched as Amanda jolted and I smirked. “Who do you think you are?” She snarled before she looked at the human sales woman. “I want that necklace for my niece. This little girl can’t afford it.” “Who says that?” I raise my eyebrow, surprised at the audacity of this wolf. “I do! Do you know who I am?” She stomped her foot like a child and I just turned away. I didn’t need nor want to deal with her anymore. “Don’t you turn your back on me.” “I don’t care, nor do I want to know who you are.” “I’m the future…wife of the man in charge here.” She looked smug, and Cassie and I burst out laughing. “Please wrap these up for me.” I smiled at the poor sales woman and handed her my black card. The card was my fathers, but this time around I would make my own money. My mind drifted back to my previous life, where my father's pack went bankrupt due to Brandon and Nix snarled in my mind. This time, he won’t be able to force us to watch as he wipes out this pack using our mate bond. No, he won’t. I promised, this time around, he would regret everything he did to us. “I said no.” The woman grabbed for me but I moved out of the way. “Do not touch me.” Nix growled in my mind. But I held my power in check. “Here you are, miss.” The sales woman handed me the bag with both sets and my card back. “Thank you.” I smiled and wrapped my arm around Cassie’s again. Then I turned to face the group of women. I forbade all of them from speaking of us. Good. “I will see you all tonight.” I smirked and turned to leave, but the aunt, the stupid woman, grabbed me again and I let out a low growl. “I already told you once not to touch me. Soon to be wife or not, I know the man in charge and he would not want you touching young girls.” I flashed my eyes at her. “You would do well to give me that necklace.” She growled out. “And you would do well to remember this interaction tonight.” I ripped my arm out of her grasp and pulled Cassie out of the store. Once we were a ways away, I turned to her. “Who was that?” “Aurora. A she wolf who moved to the pack last year. She has the hots for your dad and he did seem interested last time I saw them.” “There is no way.” I shook my head as we headed to my favourite sushi place. “My dad would never.” “Well, some of us think he will. And she would be the worst choice for all of us. She is the one pushing the unranked wolves to push us around. The gamma and beta won’t step on her toes because the attention you father is giving her.” “I will handle him.” We sat down at the booth that the server sat us at and I clapped my hands. “Now I won’t let her ruin our day. I haven’t had conveyor belt sushi in so long.” I squealed and Cassie laughed. “I don’t know why you like this place so much.” “Because it’s amazing.” Then I grabbed for my plates. “Let’s eat, then we can go back to the house.” So that’s what we did.“There are my two favourite girls.” My dad walked into my room as we just got back.“Hi Daddy.” I walk over and hugged him and bowed her head. “Hi Alpha Devlin.”“None of that Cassie, when it’s just us, I’ve told you just to call me Dev.” Cas blushed and nodded. “Can I speak with my daughter alone for a minute?”“Of course, Alpha.” Cas looked at me with a tiny bit of panic in her eyes as she turned away. I tried to reassure her, but I couldn’t do much. She knew exactly what this conversation was about. I followed my father to his office and sat down with Ronnie and him. “Talk.”“What is going on in this pack, Dad?”“What do you mean?”“Why are unranked she-wolves lording their power over the weaker wolves?” I looked over at Ronnie and he looked away. “You obviously know what I am talking about. The beta and gamma female here are doing what, exactly?”“Hey!” Ronnie looked at me. “That isn’t fair.”“I’m not saying it’s fair.” I looked back at my father. “You are letting your pack crumb
I walked back to my bedroom with everything just whirling in my brain. The she-wolves were staging a coup. My father was looking the other way to lure back my mother. Now there was a she-wolf that was doing something fishy. Knowing witchcraft is real, maybe there is something is going on with that.I walked back into my room to see Cas in tears. “What happened?” I rushed over to the bed.“Nothing. I just don’t want you to leave.” I wiped her face and laughed.“Why are you already worried about the end of summer when I just got here?” I collapsed next to her on the bed and I listened to her sniffles.“I know, it’s stupid.” But I could scent the slight tinge of fear in the room, and I knew something was said. “Who came here while I was gone?” I watched her tense, but she relaxed.“No one.” She looked away and the fear disappeared. Like she got control of her emotions.“Talk to me. I can’t help unless I know.” I whispered to her as I wrapped my fingers through hers.“You can’t help, any
The room was full of wolves and my scent glands were going haywire. Gathering so many wolves in one place always did this to me. My nose was sensitive, and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself. “You girls ready?” I looked up at my father and nodded. “Can we enter without you guys?” I asked my father.“Why?”I smiled over at Cas, who was on Ronnie’s arm. “I…”“You are planning something with the she-wolves, aren’t you?”“Yup.” I smiled up at him and slipped my arm out of his. “If you hear a large fight, show up. But I swear, dad, if you fawn over another she-wolf in front of me, I will hit you.”My dad laughed at me. “I promise I won’t and if by the smallest chance I do, you have full access to punch me in my face.” He smiled down at me and I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks daddy.”“You’re welcome, my girl.” I pulled my arm from his and held my hand out for Cassie. “Let’s go.”“Are you sure Amy?”“Yes, yes I am.” I smiled down at her and she shook her he
“Baby?” My dad shook his head and his eyes cleared. Then he rubbed his jaw. “You had to?”I nodded and cut my eyes to Aurora. “Something is going on.” I looked down at the woman cuddled in my father’s arms and I wrapped my hand around her arm and wrenched her away, tossing her to the ground. “Get away from him.” Nix came to the forefront and flashed my eyes. Her screech hurt my ears as she landed, but I turned back to my father and Ronnie. I cut my eyes to Cas, and she walked over when I nodded. “Alpha Devlin, Beta Ronnie.” She smiled at them and stood behind me. “What is going on?”“This she-wolf is driving the charge behind the unranked, wielding their power on the weaker wolves, Alpha.” The beta female, Tina, walked over and smiled at me. “How dare you!” Aurora stood and tried to touch my dad again, and I growled. “Don’t touch him.”“Who are you to demand anything from me?” Aurora tried to grab for him again.“She’s my daughter, and the only alpha female in this pack.” My fathe
The knocking on the door woke me up and I groaned. I wasn’t ready to wake up; I snuggled deeper into my bed and ignored the knock when it sounded again. Ugh. “What?” I called out and my father’s chuckle from my door had me cracking an eye. “Let a little too loose last night, did you?”“You know I did.” I tossed my pillow and buried myself back under the comforter. But my dad just tossed the pillow back to me. “Time to wake up.”“I don’t want to.” I groaned and grabbed my phone and realized it was five in the freaking morning. “Dad…” But his laughed interrupted my groan.“Sorry darling, but training starts now.” He walked over and ripped the blanket off of me and I screamed. The cold air jolted me more awake, and I wanted to whine more, but my father was already walking out. “If you’re not downstairs in five minutes, I’m dumping water on you.” I groaned and kicked a little before I got up. I know it’s stupid, and I needed to be better than my last lifetime, but I really wanted to st
My father skidded to a halt at the edge of a small clearing with a stump in the center. I slid off Loki’s back and he trotted off to shift. He walked back to me and gestured to the center. “Go sit.” I nodded and walked into the clearing. The tree’s shadows were still deep, as the sun has just breached the tree tops. I shivered, not from the cooler temperature since wolves burn hot, but from the feeling of woods. It felt like something was here. Something was waiting for this moment. I turned to face my dad, and he was still at the edge of the clearing. “Why are you still back there?”“This isn’t for me, it’s for you. I have already done my time in this place.”“Your time? What are you talking about?”“This is a sacred place. The clearing here holds our family’s power, and it’s warded against it.”“Against it? Dad, what are you talking about?”“Just listen. Sit down on the stump.” I sank to the top of the stump and then looked back to my father. “Take your shoes and socks off, then p
“Let’s go! Faster! Your wolves, not humans, you can do better than this!” I screamed out again and again, standing next to the Beta and Gamma females. Tina and Lynn watched the females struggle to run around the inside track. I turned to face them with wide eyes. “What is going on?”Tina shook her head and watched the struggling women. “The females here only train if they want to. Your father doesn’t force us to train.”“I told him it was a mistake.” Lynn the Gamma looked at the girls with a curled lip. “Look at them. It’s only been two laps, and they are already winded.” The muscled woman shook her head and tossed her arms. “I don’t understand this laziness. What happens if we get attacked?”“Well, I’m here for two months, and in the future, you two will continue this after I leave.” The two women cut their eyes to me and I nod. “I talked to my father, and he caved when I went over the last pack that kept this outdated opinion for the females in the pack.”“What pack?” Tina furrowed
I waited for the reality of what I said to sink in. “What? You said it yourself. I can’t command you to hurt yourself. Fine, let’s go with something else. What if I commanded you to give me all of your money?” I stared down at the girl and she looked away. “Something you’ve done I see.” I snarled. My eyes flashed. “What’s your name?” “Stephanie.” I slammed my aura out, and Nix took control as I raged. “Do jumping jacks until I tell you to stop.” Stephanie’s eyes widened, but I turned away to reel in my wolf. She started bouncing up and down, and some girls chuckled and I snarled. “You think this is funny? Do you want to join Stephanie? Being made to do something and not being able to stop yourself is a horrible feeling.” I whipped back to the girls, and Nix snarled again. My power struck out again, dropping everyone to their knees. “Everyone here will do jumping jacks until I say stop.” Everyone started, even Tina and Lynn, but I commanded them to stop. “What are you planning?” Ly
Only to run face first into another fucking door. “Ow.” My eyes snapped open, and I rubbed my forehead. “What the fuck?” I placed my hand on the wood and tapped on it, making sure it was solid. “What?” Toya came up behind me. She peered over my shoulder. “Is that another door?” I nodded. “Well…” She nudged my back. “Open it.”I puffed out my cheeks. “If I don’t come back, I’m blaming you.” I opened the second door quickly, slamming the door against the wall. “What the fuck!” Wendy screamed. “Holy shit, it worked.” I whispered as I stared at my friend. “It worked.” Toya clapped behind us. “Amy!” Carly came running, and I opened my arms. “Hi baby.” I hugged her to me and then pushed her back as I crouched down. “Have you been a good girl for Aunt Wendy?”Wendy smiled and nodded. Carly bounced. “We played board games.” Wendy sighed. “She beat me every time.” I chuckled.“Good.” I looked up. “We have all the stuff here. We can hand it through, but we will have a guest with us at th
Nix nodded as she came closer to the barrier. Yes, she has finished the carving. I waited and watched so that I could tell you where she carved what, just in case it was important. Smart. I leaned down and grabbed the book from the floor. I didn’t even think of that. Okay. I paused, ready to start. Which one first?Nix pushed forward. She pointed at the first symbol, a weird-looking N. She did this one on the bottom. I shifted my hand into my claws and carved the N into the baseplate of the door frame. Nix pointed at the circle with a line through it. This one is in the middle of the left-hand side. I carved mine in the same area. This one, a sideway S with a few dots, is on the top. I stood and went to carve the symbol above the door but Nix stopped me. Not there. She did it like the bottom on the top plate. Like the sides. I nodded and carved it into the crossbeam on the frame. And the last one was the star she did exactly across from the circle. I finished the carving, then kne
I heard the door open and Shannon gasp. “No freaking way.”My mom turned to me. “What the hell is this?”“Mom, did you think I didn’t notice you eyeing up Jora’s SUV the last time you came up?” My mother blushed. “It was nice.” She pouted.Shannon ran up to us. “Whose it for?” I ignored her. The SUV was fully unloaded and the delivery guy was walking over. “I am looking for a Mrs. Maclean.” I smiled as my mom turned to me. “An Ainsley Maclean.” She whipped her head back around to face the driver. “I’m guessing that’s you.” His chuckle was soft as he walked over and dropped the keys into her hands. “Hope you like it.” Then he was gone. My mom turned to me. “I might have gotten you a new car, too.” I grinned. “But I’m going to go help Lynn and Toya pack, so I’m going to go. Go look at it.” I pushed her towards her new car and turned away.Shannon was pouting behind us. “You bought your mom a new car?” I nodded as I went to go past. “This isn’t fair.” She stomped her foot like a child
I looked back to Brandon and I mouthed sorry. I wasn’t, but I needed him to this I was. Then I turned Lynn back towards my house and brought her inside. We headed straight to my bedroom, but I froze. The fucking door. “Toya?”“Yeah?” She came up behind us. “Take Lynn to my room. I need to speak to my mom about some food.” She saw the look in my eyes and nodded. “Of course.” She sidled up next to Lynn. “Hey honey, I’m Toya. We are going to become the best of friends you and I.” Lynn barely registered her, and just leaned on her. They started upstairs, and I turned back to the kitchen.“Mom?” “Yeah baby?” She came around the corner and she saw my face. “Did you kill that boy?” I just shook my head. “Pity.” She turned around and headed back into the kitchen. I followed her inside and leaned against the counter. I needed a second. “That bad?” I nodded again. She just came over and hugged me. “You did good, baby.”I shook my head. “No, I didn’t. If I did, this wouldn’t have ever happen
“Stop fucking calling me boy. I’m a twenty-seven-year-old man.” Derek snarled, but I just smiled. “If you want me to treat you like a man, like a male worthy of the beta title…then act like it.” I turned to Vince. “Are you ready?”“I am quite busy.” He started, but froze when another savage growl ripped out of me. He raised his hands. “But I will make the time to come down with you right now to remove my command.”I nodded. “Good.” I looked down at the ground. “Sorry, I am obviously on edge. She is the last member of my pack and I failed her.” I looked at the wall and waited for Vince to nod. “No alpha wanted to feel like they failed a member of their pack. And I can understand your anger. You left her in my care, and you came home to this.” Vince scratched the back of his neck like he was feeling bad. But I knew this was just an act. “I apologize for my hand in this mess.”I nodded. “I appreciate it. As long as it rectified today.” Brandon walked over and grabbed my hand. “I’ll ta
His gaze moved to face Vince, but he looked away. Then he gazed at Brandon, who was behind me. I don’t know what he saw there, but I watch the fight drain out of him. “Make your choice.”Vince stood and walked over to my side. “Does it have to be decided right this second?”I slowly turned my face to look at Vince. “Yes. I know you have seen her. Her condition is nothing new to you. She is wasting away. You both will come now to release her, or I will kill him. Then I will only need you to come to release her. But either way, it will be done right now.” I let my eyes flash. “Not later. Not tomorrow. We will all be leaving this office to head to my house, or the three of us will leave to head to my house, and the omegas will have a body to clean up.”I left no room for negotiations. No chance for confusion. Brandon pressed against my back. “He is my beta.” I looked at him over my shoulder. “There are other beta’s in the fucking world.” I snapped back. “You might be friends with him,
“So you tortured her for what? Hope that she would accept you as her mate.” I scoffed, but I made it weak. “How was that ever going to work?”“It could have worked.” He shouted and then wilted. “If she wasn’t so strong, it could have worked.”I leveled him with a look. “She was from my father’s pack. You should have done more investigating.”He threw up his hands. “What does that even mean?”“This pack follows the old ways. They give males an excuse to not hold true to the mate bond.”“Hey.” Vince looked a little agitated at that, but I just raised an eyebrow. “We have had this conversation before.” Vince sighed and then nodded.“Yes, we have. All I will say on this matter is that we follow the way my forefathers paved for us. Wolves, not just males, when they shift have too much going on to control every urge. Sex is a way to curb the aggression.” I just looked at him and he raised his hands. “Yes, I know your father’s pack pivoted to training, but not every pack does.”I finally no
Spit flew from my mouth as I screamed at him. “You tortured her for finding you fucking my step sister. She had every right to reject you.” I squeezed. “You are an unworthy male.”Brandon tugged me off Derek, and I allowed him to do it. Vince watched with hawk eyes to every movement, every gesture. Brandon pulled me against his chest, and again I allowed him to. “Calm down. At least let him speak. If you rip out his throat, then you won’t get to hear his reasoning.” “His reasoning?” I snarled, and Vince winced. But Brandon cupped my face. “I’m sorry. I said the wrong word. But let him speak and then your conscious will be clear if you kill him.” Vince nodded, and I knew he was feeding him the words. I wanted to roll my eyes and scoff. Megan rubbed against the barrier. Allow them to believe they are convincing you. Fine, but you owe me. She chuckled, but I turned back to Brandon. “Fine.” I turned back to Derek. “Speak boy.”He pushed back a bit, and I took in a deep breath. His fe
Everyone in the room hit their knees, and I had barely released half of my power. Disappointing. I let my eyes shift to the golden hue of my wolf and I stepped up to Derek, lifting his face with my claw. “How does it feel to be the bitch in the room, Derek?”He trembled at my feet. “You…”“Yes. Me.” I tilted his face back farther, forcing my claw into his skin. Blood trailed down his throat, and it gave me a small sense of satisfaction. “Not Vince, and not Brandon. This is all me.” I slammed my hand against his throat and I tightened my grip. His choking for his breath was another small satisfaction. I pulled him from the ground. “Do you know why I am here, pup?”Derek was turning purple as I dropped him. He fell to the floor in a heap of wheezing. Brandon came to my side and grabbed for my hand. But I flashed him a look. Nix pushed forward, sending her voice through my lips. “My human might like you, pup, but I will not allow you to interfere with this.”Brandon swallowed and nodded.