One long chapter. I know it must be hard to read parts by parts, but it's also hard to write this event without forgetting anything, as too many things are going on (and I hope I won't miss important details). So please bear with the one update per day (but I always make sure it is juicy and full of information). If you would rather pile up the chapters before reading, that is understandable, but I hope you will still open the book daily and unlock the chapter or drop us some gems, as all of this helps the book go up on the ranking to get it more noticed, which is a dream of every author. 💜 Also, thank you for all the lovely gems! Two more days and all gems will expire for this month, so make sure to use them to vote on your favorites! 💜
TYLER. “Take one shot for your nerves.” Jace handed me a glass of whiskey as he stood beside me in the middle of the ballroom, in front of the stage. The Alpha Females due for Claiming, including Zoey and Alice, were already up there. But Catherine was still in her room. I chuckled and took it from him before raising my glass. ‘Take home the pack’s Beta Female.’ He said in my head. We clinked our glasses before he pointed at me and spoke with his mouth. “That’s an Alpha’s order.” They were just words, not an Alpha’s command, but it was one of those requests I vowed not to break for my Alpha. And for myself. “Yes, Alpha.” I nodded before taking a full swig of the whiskey and handing it to the server that passed by. Ledger had arrived with his Beta, Wentworth, and both listed their names under Catherine. Walker’s pack was just next door to Green Valley, but he was at the far end of his territory when they asked him for help. According to Bellatrix, he had yet to enter the border
ALPHA JACE.I should be sitting already on the spectator bleachers, but I needed to make sure Andrew would be able to get in, so I let Amara go with our moms and the rest of our families while Alonso and I remained inside the ballroom, looking at the males as they were confined in one big hall leading to the outside forest.I sent Hammond to check on Andrew just to make sure no one would corner him and stop him from entering the arena. Bellatrix went with him, and she reported back that the Beta was vomiting until nothing was coming out. But he couldn’t stop barfing, and he looked pale already.Bellatrix was concerned that something was wrong with the food they served, but I was leaning more toward the idea that someone wanted Andrew sick. We rarely get food poisoning from simple food problems. As shifters, our immunity was way stronger than humans. So I knew something was off.The signal sounded, alerting everyone that the females were already inside the forest and the males were abo
CATHERINE. “She’s mine to claim. Let her go.” Martin said, almost roaring as his eyes dilated. “Alice gets to decide who she wants to be mated with.” I snapped at him. “This is an arranged marriage, and you have nothing to do with this! Give me my mate!” “Alice…” I said in a soft voice as I stepped back, knowing she was stepping back as well. “One more time, tell me. Do you want him or not?” “I don’t want him.” She said with a trembling voice. I knew she was not faking it. Alice, for the life of me, had never shown any weakness until tonight. “Then run,” I said softly, my eyes not leaving Martin, who was slowly moving toward us. “But you…” She said. “Run!” I growled, and Alice sprang to her feet, taking Martin by surprise. He was about to launch after her, but I was faster. I was already running toward him as Alice ran in the opposite direction. I gripped the hem of my dress and leaped high, extending my right leg, and my foot landed on his chest. Martin growled loudly a
BETA XANDER.The man in front of me didn’t have an Alpha aura, but he definitely wasn’t just an ordinary Alpha male.A Beta like me.I slowly raised my palms, hoping he got the message that I was not up for a duel before I spoke to him. “I meant no harm.”“Of course you do. Or you won’t be here with your Alpha.” He said arrogantly.I swallowed. He knew. He was here for Catherine. “I will say it again. I meant no harm.”“Then leave the arena.” “I can’t.”“You won’t.” He said almost immediately as his eyes dilated, and I knew he would be attacking me soon.“Do you know Nadine?” I asked, trying to divert his anger.His forehead creased as he scoffed. “I know her. We grew up together. What do you want from her?”A pang of jealousy hit my chest at the protectiveness in his voice.“What’s your name?” I asked, shoving any negative thoughts in my head. Maybe they grew up in the same pack, and that was it. But I couldn’t remember the name of the Beta of the Crimson Pack.“I didn’t come here fo
(FORMER) ALPHA JACOB.I drank the coffee Caleb’s men prepared for us as we all sat on the back of Riley’s pickup.We never went to the same school, except for Aaron and me during our younger years, but sitting here with him, Aeon, Riley, and Nadia felt like that — as if we were pups kicked out of our class or, better yet, we skipped class to hang out.I tried to pacify my mind, smiling and chuckling at every funny anecdote that everyone was sharing to pass the time, but my heart was somewhere far away. I wondered what Catherine was doing and if there had already been any commotion in the arena.I didn’t regret defying and disrespecting Grant, as he deserved it, but at this point, my being a father was making me question if I did the right thing. Because of my outburst, I could not witness my only daughter’s Claiming. I wanted to be there for Catherine and my whole family.A beam of headlights blinded me for a while before it turned low. It didn’t take long before I recognized the car,
CATHERINE. “Zoey!” I yelled and sprang forward, too fast this time, that I could feel the end of the holster scratching my thigh, but I ignored it. “Oh, Goddess! Catherine!” She threw her arms up before they wrapped around mine the moment I reached her side. We were like two friends who hadn’t seen each other for a long time when, in fact, our bond had just formed a week ago. “I can’t believe we found the end so fast!” She exclaimed. “Did we?” My eyes widened as I pulled away from her arms. My body swiveled around, my gaze roaming the forest until I saw a path with brighter lights in the end. Zoey pointed in the same direction. “I think that’s the main arena! I’m sure those are spotlights!” She said giddily. I smiled and let out a sigh of relief. “We just need to get there or at the edge of the forest and mindlink our males to get to us. But we must hide behind the trees so if someone checks, they won’t see we are there already.” I kept nodding my head the whole time she was
BETA ANDREW. “Are you sure you’re still okay?” Young Alpha Walker asked me while sitting under a tree, playing with the twigs he grabbed from nearby while I was throwing my whole intestine out in one of the bushes around. We’ve already passed the first 100 meters of the forest. I was let in first before him, but he found me here and decided to stay to make sure I would get to the end. But my fucking knees were already weak from throwing up, and as much as my mind said I could go to the end, my body was not cooperating. I had already asked him to leave me here, but he refused, and honestly, I was thankful he stayed. I didn’t want to die on my own, as this was what I was feeling at the moment. ‘Zoey?’ I tried to reach her head. ‘Where are you?’ ‘I don’t know, but I think I’m reaching the end of the arena soon.’ ‘Good. Just stay behind the tree, and no matter what happens, don’t come out in the open field until you see me out.’ ‘Of course! Are you okay? You sound different.’ ‘
(YOUNG) ALPHA JOSHUA I smelled my mate, and I couldn’t believe it was Alice. Of all females, why did it have to be Alice Sullivan? I would not deny that I had seen Alice bloom into a beautiful female from the skinny girl that she was, who kept following Jace around. We went to the same academy, and although she had caught my attention while growing up, she was someone I was not supposed to have around. So, I stayed away from her and her group of friends. It would be a big catastrophe if I claimed her. Her mother, Luna Renee, was my father’s chosen mate before Alpha Drex intercepted her. And my mother was never fond of the idea that she was just a second choice. So I was not sure what the Goddess was playing at when she mated me to Alice. I wanted Catherine. I had always wanted her. And with the Alpha post being threatened to be passed on to my older cousin, Eugene, who also happened to be my future Beta, I was willing to do everything to take a Galhart home tonight, just to