Reed’s POV I don’t know why Wolf Council Member Edward wanted me specifically to visit this pack. I didn’t even know he knew I existed until he changed the inspector’s name to mine. The previous inspection showed a few concerns, so they arranged a new visit. I didn't put up much resistance as I could swing by Nix's place while I'm heading back. I haven't seen him in a while so I'm hoping to check in. I was in charge of him at one time. I'm curious to know if he has settled into the pack and his new family. I pulled up to the pack border and explained to the guard that “I was here from the Wolf Council and his Alpha should expecting me.” The guard’s eyes glazed over, obviously mind linking his Alpha. I lean on my car as a half-naked man walks towards me. I assume he has been out on a run, judging by the sweat on his body. “Hi, I’m Reed.” I tell him as he approaches me. I held out my hand for him to shake. Which he does. “They didn’t give me a date of your arrival,” he says
Caren’s POV I am absolutely sick of this place and it’s only Monday. Krystal and her cronies have been on form today, and I mean on form. So far today, the rumors she has spread are. That I have been sleeping with my sister’s mate and his brother. Not to mention that I spread my legs for Dwayne before he left. It makes me laugh that out of all of us, I am probably the only virgin. I can cope with anything they say to me. ‘They are only wolves, after all.’ I was sitting in the cafeteria reading one of Lottie’s books when Krystal spilled her drink all over it. I am fuming. Normally, I am not a violent person, but I want to blow her out of a window every time I see her, one of the top floor windows, that is. I close my eyes, ‘their only wolves, their only wolves.’ I tell myself, trying to calm down. It doesn’t work. I honestly don’t know how Lottie coped for all those years. Every time I look at Lottie’s book, I get angry again. Nothing is managing to calm me down, so I left sch
Maddox’s POV Lottie sent me a vague mind link telling me that she urgently needed me because Caren had been rejected. When I got to them, I understood why her message was urgent. Caren was sitting on the floor and the ground in front of her was soaked with her tears. I’m still in the dark about what has happened. I just went and grabbed Caren and carried her home. I tried to mind linking Lottie on the way home. But she just tells me to concentrate on getting Caren home safely. I placed her on her bed and left them alone. I went downstairs to talk to Parker. “What happened?” he asked. “She got rejected.” He did a double take. “What idiot would reject her?” He asked. “I don’t know yet, but it was his choice. You don’t have to accept the mate bond.” Parker just looks shocked. “I can’t imagine Dani rejecting me. It may kill me knowing how much I love her.” I know what he means. Lottie comes downstairs. “Is she okay?” Parker asks her. “No, she bloody isn’t. I am going t
Maddox’s POV Lottie is asleep on Caren’s bed when I go back upstairs. Parker is standing in the doorway watching over her. I gestured for him to follow me downstairs, seeing that she was settled. “Who was it? Most people just walk in.” He questioned. I can feel my face scrunching as I tell him, “It was the arsehole that rejected Caren.” His face matched mine now. He said nothing as he went to walk past me. I put my hand on his chest. “I sorted it. He isn’t coming back.” He looks down at my hand. “I doubt if she is either.” He responds. “Where would she have gone?” I asked myself out loud, knowing that Lottie would want to look for her. “She could have gone to Nix’s pack. Honestly, they owe her big time. I have seen nothing like it.” “You never told me what happened while you were there.” I asked him. I think I just want a change of subject. It has been a stressful few days, it would be nice to hear some good news. We got comfy on the couch and starte
Parker’s POV Growing up, I have always looked up to my big brother. He has always been there for me and I will always be there for him. I stood by his side when they were insulting Lottie and tried to tell him who his mate should be. I couldn’t have been prouder of him as he told them in no uncertain terms that Lottie was his mate and he would rather reject his Alpha position than her. I would do that for Dani in a heartbeat, and she is not even my mate yet. They pushed him one last time and that is what he did. He renounced his Alpha role over the entire pack, their shocked faces, when he called their bluff. I saw them as the bond between them was destroyed. I didn’t feel it, I guess it is because we are brothers. I’m embarrassed by the way they are all behaving, considering they are grown adults. They thought he would bend and break when confronted by a crowd of them. They obviously don’t know him that well. Maybe another Alpha would have, but not Maddox. As I w
Lottie’s POV In the latter part of the journey to River Valley Pack, I worry about Caren again. I hope she has gone home. She has to have gone home. I can’t lose her. She is my family. “Calm down.” Ember tells me. The worry is causing me to have a headache, so I took a pill. Which helps me settle down pretty quickly. When we arrive, Dad welcomes us with open arms. I think he is happy we are back. Regardless of the circumstances. Once inside, he introduces us to a guest named Richard. He is an old acquaintance of Beta Celeb’s. He is pleasant enough, told me I look like my mom, which I never tire of hearing, but he keeps staring at me, which is creeping me out a little. Maddox and I are directed towards a bedroom for us to use during our stay in the pack house. It has been a long day for us both and we both want to rest. I can’t imagine how he feels. He hasn’t slept much lately. We both lay on the bed. I looked into his eyes. It’s then I process what he has been through,
Lottie’s POV Ember thought I had a better chance of getting us out of this than she did. I am not convinced, though. Ember had the better chance of escape, as she is faster than me. But I have my fire. I have no choice in the decision when she shifts. I am trying to stay focused and in control when the wolves are attacking me. But the nagging thought that they have killed my dad keeps appearing in my mind and occasionally I send a fireball flying, but that means I have stopped throwing flames at closer wolves. I could smell Xavier behind me. I was trying to give him an opportunity to get away. He could have gotten help. But he has returned to me, to help me tackle the imminent dangers. There is only one thing to do now, is fight. Fight with everything I have. Stacey warned me during our training session that if I get too worked up, there is a chance the fire will just ooze from my body, exploding like when a bomb goes off. If that happens, everything in a mile
Lottie’s POV Maddox hasn’t woken up since they dragged inside him. The cut on his neck isn’t healing. I can see blood seeping out of the wound. “That blade had better not be laced with anything.” Edward scolded Richard. “She was being resistive. I was motivating her.” He said, attempting to justify his actions. Edward takes a deep breath through his nose while he looks at me. “Get him on that table and get him monitored. He had better survive the silver in his bloodstream.” They drag Maddox into the dining room and take a machine in after him. “Get rid of that.” Edward says to someone, pointing towards my father’s body. Silver on the blade? I have heard that before. My eyes widen in shock when I remember. “You were the ones that killed my mother.” He looks at me and grins. “Not me personally, but I had a hand in it.” I stood there, shocked he had just openly admitted to taking part in her murder. “Dalton won’t part with his precious elementals, so I planned