Prologue

Drake’s POV

   The lights of London have disappeared behind us as the jet that carries us crosses the Atlantic. Why the fuck the goddess had mated me to our pack’s most gifted diplomat is beyond me. Sonja is gorgeous with fiery red hair and perfect curves. Her emerald eyes and full lips make her just that much more of a temptress. Thankfully, I am an exceptional warrior and even served as the trusted guard of our Luna when her usual guard was indisposed.

   My childhood sucked! I am the hybrid son of a werewolf and vampire. Not long after my mother gave birth to me my father was murdered by an Alpha who claimed that my mother was his mate. My mother had been a fated mate to my father, but this alpha apparently also had been fated to my mother. My mother feared the man at first,but the mate bond and some well placed deceptions drew her to him. We were brought into his pack. I was always reminded that I was half “Blood Sucker” and after my mother died birthing her third child by the Alpha he often drugged and beat me. “Putting the blood sucker in it’s place” he would call it. I was kept far from my half siblings, given a cot near the dungeons that the alpha believed I belonged in.

    The one thing that I was allowed to do was go to school. Basic warrior training was mandatory for all makes in the pack. I put everything into training and excelled.

    When I was eighteen a family of diplomats came to our pack in Lancashire. The eldest daughter, Sonja and I knew immediately that we were mates. When they returned to their pack near London I left with them rather than having Sonja stay in that bloody hell of a pack that I grew up in.

    Upon arrival in the new pack I was made a member of the Deepbite Pack and the Alpha offered me advanced warrior training opportunities which I relished. At 22 I am the youngest Elite warrior in the pack and commander of one of the three squads of elite warriors. I completed the training in half the usual time.

    I sip the whiskey in my glass. Flying first class has its perks. Sonja is reading over all the intel on the pack we are going to and reading up on the deal we are brokering with this fucker. From what I hear he is just as bad as my step father had been.

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     The Wintertail Pack is large. There is a lot of territory to cover and while Sonja sits in talks I am given a tour of pack grounds. I can see the city skyline in the distance  as we reach the summit of the “hill” that we hiked up.

     I am miles away from the Wintertail packhouse when I feel the pain shoot through me followed by the excruciating pain of the bond breaking as I feel the pain of her death. WhenI notice that the two that were sent to escort me have a wicked gleam in their eyes as they advance on me in a fighting stance I devise a plan to rapidly rid myself of their threat before slipping out of the territory to the city. Once in the neutral territory and relative safety of the city I call for backup.

Zelle’s POV

    I’m the oldest child of the Alpha and Luna, but not the heir. In some packs I would be, but not ours. My father, like generations before him, believes that women are not suited to fight or lead. He is not a bad or cruel father to me, but he does not show me the praise that he shows my siblings and has praised me as a mate to the Alpha of a neighboring pack. I have two younger brothers, Ezekiel and Silas. Zeke will be the next Alpha and I am glad for it. He has a big heart and may right some of the wrongs of my father. Unfortunately he won't take over for at least six years. 

     Today my father is meeting  with some diplomat. It won’t go well. They sent a woman to do a job that he believes only men should do. Her mate is an elite warrior (something we are seriously lacking in our pack) and quite handsome according to Ellie, one of our maids. She said that he is as tall as my father and that his muscular arms are covered in tattoos. She giggled when she told me she would even forgive his foul language because his accent made it sound less crass. Anyway, I never set eyes on the man, myself. I hate being around when father’s business goes wrong so I am off on an extra long run. I told mother that I would not be home until tomorrow. I have a friend near the outskirts of our territory and She an I are going out dancing tonight to keep our minds preoccupied with fun stuff.   

Drake’s POV  

     I am thrilled the team could get here so fast, but why the fuck Thadeaus insisted on meeting in a fucking night club after I just lost my mate is  a fucking mystery. The fucker just might be a sadistic prick.   He is my best friend and second in command of the Elite warrior squad that I command. One of the three squads must always remain at the pack to protect the ranked wolves and children. I am lucky that my squad was free to come to my aid since Aaron’s had just returned from their mission.

     I stand at the bar wishing this place didn’t have rules that prohibit smoking indoors. It’s a bar for fuck’s sake!  I just want to enjoy a cigarette with my beer, fuckers! I am looking for Tad when the scent of jasmine and sandalwood hits me. I turn to see a group of young werewolves, three girls and one boy. I can’t see her face from this angle, but if she is as young as the others look she won’t be old enough to sense the connection to me yet. I just lost the love of my life hours ago. What the fuck is Selene thinking? She is giving me a second chance mate so soon, but one who is underage and can’t feel the bond! She turns her beautiful blond head towards the bar and our eyes lock my black orbs and her blue ones are transfixed on one another. I wonder if the gorgeous little nymph feels some connection. She blushes and quickly turns away, breaking eye contact but one of her companions, a tall slim girl with brown curls walks right up to me.  She runs her tongue seductively across her lips and I see a flash of silver. This kid has a pierced tongue and is bold. I think I’ll spare her when I shred the Winterbite pack for what happened to my mate, but I am not forgiving her attempt to seduce me. We are on neutral territory but I can smell Wintertail Pack on them, they have a distinct scent that is reminiscent of oncoming snow storms it would be beautiful except it is the very fucking pack whose fucking Alpha murdered my mate.

     “Hey handsome!” the girl flirts. I roll my eyes. She is a pretty girl but not my type even if I didn’t have a mate and I am not in the mood for this shit.

     I narrow my eyes into a glare. “Why the fuck would you think I’m fucking handsome?” I rasp. I take a haul off my beer, it’s piss beer. I haven’t had  a good beer since I arrived in this country. “Come to think of it why the fuck would you think I am approachable?” I growl at her and frown.

     “I saw you staring at my friend like she was your next meal. She is a bit shy and her father would kill any man that touched her, at least until he can hand her over to the man he promised her to. I feel bad for her fated mate. The man she is promised to is just as much an asshole and chauvinist as her father and even bigger and stronger. Even bigger than you” she chirps, placing a hand on my chest. Can this kid not see my death glare or feel my aura? I’m a pissed off hybrid that should scare off any wolf and this underage she-wolf is flirting and talking way too much!

   “Piss off kid! I am not in the fucking mood!”  She starts to move away but my hand darts out around her wrist when I see the flash of blond hair and blue eyes that dart this way in the crowd behind her.”Give me a name! What’s her name?” I tip my head towards my young mate.

   “Who?Azalea? You’d have to have a death wish to pursue her! Your funeral and your loss, dude!” she laughs, shaking her head as she walks away.

    Just then a rough hand claps my shoulder, “Already breaking hearts? Or are you striking out?” I recognize the baritone voice of my best friend.

     “Piss off you fucker! You are the Arsehole that insiisted that we meet up at a fucking night club!” I snarl.

     “So striking out?” he jests. His fucking smile makes me want to punch him right in the fucking face.

     “I am not in the fucking mood, Tad!” I spit. “I just lost my bloody mate because some bloody fucking wanker of an Alpha has his panties in a knot over powerful women so has to be an asshole!” I slam my beer down with a snarl. “This beer is fucking piss and that kid who probably hasnt even had her first shift was trying to seduce me!”

     Thadeus shakes his head and laughs. This fucker is three years older than me and still hasn’t found his mate, not that he is looking he likes to fuck around too much. “She is cute and a werewolf, you could do worse. It’s just that your pretty baby face gets all the young girls hot and bothered” he waggles his brows.

    “You are a fucking prick! You know that, right?” I roll my eyes at my arse of a friend. He is lucky I like him or my fist would have already slammed into his face.

    “The blond she is with is sexy as all fuck! I would risk getting in trouble over her age for a taste of that! Have you seen her amazing tits and ass!?”

    “Don’t say another fucking word about her!” I growl. My eyes flash red and my aura grows dark and cold.

    “Shit, man I was just saying…”Thadeus starts but stops when he sees my claws extend and my fangs start to protrude.  “Okay I’ll shut up! So are we going to go get our revenge and kill the fucker her murdered your mate?”

***************

     The sun hasn’t risen yet.  After we left the club we met up with the rest of the squad. We are a small force, thirteen in all, but highly trained and elite.  From what I had seen we only had to worry about fifty men who were poorly trained and sloppy fighters, relying primarily on brute force as opposed to skill. Women in this pack were not trained to fight or even defend themselves. I had seen maybe one warrior worth his dime, but he was getting old and his reaction time was slowing.

     Sneaking on to the sleepy territory was easy. Their patrol is spread too thin, leaving large gaps where a small force can slip in between patrols. We slipped right through after one patrol passed, knowing we had plenty of time before another came our way.

     We met no resistance until we reached the packhouse. Climbing through an open window I easily find my way to the Alpha’s chambers. I nearly spared his mate, the poor woman had suffered his shit for years, but then the image of Sonja’s body strung up on the tree out front, stripped bare and slashed by claws with her heart ripped out flashed in my mind and I grant her a quick, painless death. I decapitate her with one swift slash. The fucker doesn’t even react…doesn’t seem to feel his mate die. He doesn’t even stir when I cuff him with silver shackles or inject his arm with wolfsbane, not until I place the ball gag in his mouth does he stir.”Hey fucker, I’d bid you good morning but you’v crosse the wrong fucking wolf!” I hiss as I drag him out of bed. The big, brutish man stands at the same height as me, but his bulky form is for show so it is ebay for my leaner muscular body to drag his naked bulk out to the front of the packhouse, the silver I have bound him with doesn't affect me thanks to my vampire father (wolfsbane does but only to some extent).   

     My men are waiting for me. David is the most injured with a broken arm, but the rest are mostly unharmed. The new guy probably had gone for the old man who actually had some skill. “All Wintertail warriors are disposed of, sir” Ian salutes me, I hate when the fucker does that but he is one fucking hell of an elite warrior who could take on three wolves of equal size to himself easily. The fucker was just wound too tightly.

     “I have the Alpha’s children, Drake!” Thadeus leads two young boys forward. I secure the Alpha’s chains to the tree that no longer held Sonja’s body and secured him tightly. 

    “Stay the fuck still if you know what’s good for you, fucker!”I spit at him. His eyes go wide and I smell his fear, yeah, he acts tough with everyone else, but a pissed off hybrid can make nearly any man piss himself, Alpha or not and he does when my eyes flash and I let my aura out for a moment.

    I reel it in as I approach the cowering children “I don’t fucking kill children, you can relax!” I bark at them more harshly than intended. At that moment a young house maid runs out. I remember her eyes on me this morning, and had smelled her lust as she took in my form. Now she is disheveled and panicking.

    “Where is she? What have you done with her? She cries. Her accusatory glare lands on me and I feel a bit of guilt over killing the Luna.

     “The Luna is dead. I gave her the courtesy of a quick painless death unlike the pain and humilliation that bloody fucking bastard inflicted on my mate!” I incline my head toward the chained up alpha.

     “Not her, though she was kind.” she cries. “No…Azalea is missing! She isn’t in her room or the lounge that she often crashes in after avoiding the packhouse for the day!” Her tears and sobs are annoying me but she clearly cares for the missing girl. Where have I heard that name before? Azalea? Like a flower. 

     The older boy steps forward a step. “Azalea went out dancing with Celeste, Anna and Karl. She was going to stay with Celeste tonight,” he pipes up, rolling his shoulders back and lifting his head in a show of confidence. He looks at me “Please, sir. You can kill my father, I know what he has done to you and many others, but don’t leave us as rogues. If you pass on your right to become our Alpha I am too young to take the position and really am not meant for it, but Azalea is nearly old enough. She would make an excellent Alpha, she is smart and kind and stranger than she knows. I even saw her and Celeste sneaking off into the woods to train themselves to fight. I know it is your right to take the place of the Alpha but if you refuse it put her in place. I am not meant to be an Alpha and I know it.” 

   I hear the chains rattle and see the blistering as the Alpha struggles against his bonds, his eyes boring into the boy who stands bravely before me “You show some nerves, kid. Are you sure you are not meant to be an Alpha?” I raise a brow at him in question.

   “Azalea is first born and smarter than anyone I know. She would be a fair and kind leader, maybe even fix some of what father has done.” he says softly.

    I really like something about this kid and maybe I soften up a bit. “Okay, kid. So what it is you suggest that I do?”

   “Well, no matter who leads us we will need strong and smart fighters when the asshole my father promised my sister to comes for her in a couple of years” he says. Where have I heard something like this before? “He’s a neighboring Alpha and if we don’t hand Azalea over when she turns eighteen he will come for her. I will go get her from Celeste’s house , you decide if you want to be Alpha or install her as Alpha. We can train women and children to fight but have no men, so if you and your fighters do not stay, could you come back and help us fight the Blackfang Pack?” He bows to me, baring his neck in submission.

   “I am no Fucking Alpha and see no reason that I should fight by your side” I sigh. “However I feel responsible for the safety of your pack and it’s future. Once I take that bastard out of this world, you will need protection.” It doesn’t hurt that my second chance mate is from this pack and I will want to keep an eye on her until she can feel  the bond with me and I can make her mine truly. If I were a lesser man I wouldn’t wait for her to come of age, but she needs to acknowledge the bond before I can take her.  “Go get your sister, but you are taking Thadeus and Ian with you!” I order.

   The younger boy cowers into the skirts of the maid. He is barely eight years old by the looks of him. “Clean him up, then come help my men clean up this mess!” I bark at the maid and point at the scattered bodies. 

   I light a cigarette and stalk towards the Alpha, but my mind isn’t on him. Something hit me…the stories, the bond hair just like my new mate…the name, that is where I heard it. Azalea is my second chance mate! I have to stay to protect her! I will not lose my second chance mate! Not after losing Sonja! 

Zelle’s POV

    I am dreaming about that hot guy who’s ears bore right into my soul at the club. I swear he was a walking god and I wanted to do all kinds of dirty things with him. He seemed angry but also sad, but when his eyes were on me, I felt naked before him, like he saw right through my naive act and lust rolled off of him.  Celeste shakes me awake shouting at me “Someone is killing your family! The warriors are being attacked and they are in the packhouse! Karl texted that his brother was called in for backup and The Alpha family is in danger from the Brits that were here! Oh, My god! I talked to one at the club!”

I shake the sleep from my head, whipping my long braid around as I sit up. “I have had a plan to run away to avoid being sent to be mated to that asshole, but it wasn’t supposed to go into play for two years. You can come with me if you want but I can't guarantee your safety either way.” I have a hidden pack with some clothing and cash and a few survival items in an outcropping nearby. I started gathering things a few months back. I thought I had years to prepare, but I am out of time.

    Celeste hugs me “I’ll stay and keep them off your tail if I can. You have my number text if and when you can!” I leave my cellphone on the bed. I don’t want it used to track me, but I have a burner in my pack. 

    I slide out of bed in my t-shirt and joggers and tie on some of my sneakers before jogging for the tree line. I figure I have at least 20 minutes to get clear of the area before anyone might make it this far if they are looking for me at all. It isn’t far to the outcropping where my pack is hidden and only a bit further to the quarries, where I have found a cave…I leave my things in the cave, chopping my braid off and tucking it in the pack (a good tracker could use it to find me, so it is coming with me.) My now choppy bob won’t be enough of a disguise, but is a start. I take a chilly dip in the pool formed by rainfall in the quarry basin and get back to the cave to pull on baggy jeans and a big hoodie before leaving for the city. About halfway there I feel it break… the tether the whole pack has to my father. I am sure that now I am an orphan. A city this size can be easy to disappear into for a little while. I can buy some time before heading cross country.

Drake’s POV

     After my revolution I showered the blood off of me. The Alpha had taken quite a few whippings before starting to break but the fear was in his eyes and he knew what was coming before I drained him of every last drop of his blood. He tasted bitter, but revenge always leaves a bitter taste.

     Now, I am dressing. I want to look good for my little nymph even if she can’t ense the bond. I want her to want me before it even kicks in. I am wearing tight black jeans that leave little to the imagination and a black button down that I am just rolling the sleeves up on when the knock on the door comes. “Drake, we gotta talk!” Thaedeus’s breathless voice comes through the door.

     I open the door and see that he is bent over hands on knees heaving to catch his breath and he must have shifted because all he had on were some ill fitting sweats. “The kid and Ian are following along with the girl’s friend.” He stands upright. “The friend is the one you shot down at the club and the girl has taken off towards the coast according to what we were told.” He levels me with his eyes “Drake, She’s that sexy blond that I was checking out.” He hasn’t figured out what she means to me yet.

My eyes flash.

    “FUCK!!!” I bellow. “How did she get away? Find her now!” I am growling and my eyes are totally red now as the need to find and protect my new mate overtakes me.