~Tessa~ The air was thick with humidity as Tessa looked over the warriors who lined the staircase of the packhouse. Their expressions reflected the anger burning within, but for now, everything needed to appear business as usual. “Everyone listen up. Greet all of our guests and escort them to their rooms immediately. While they settle in, Zander and Elijah will brief you on the extra security measures we will be taking during the meeting. If you have any questions report to them. Then gather in the ballroom for the official briefing before dinner. Understood,” she asked, meeting their eyes. “Yes Alpha,” they yelled proudly in unison. Gravel crunching in the distance signaled the brigade of cars were approaching with bright glares from the sun reflecting off their windshields. Tessa moved to the bottom of the staircase as the first SUV pulled up, eager to convince her allies to help her pack win. The greetings and small talk seemed to take forever, especially with the elders. They
~Dainin~The ballroom boomed with conversation as everyone settled in. Dainin and his pack leaders sat at their designated table in the front of the ballroom. Alan tried to lighten the mood, but Dainin couldn’t help but still feel sour about the encounter with Alpha Davis.“We shouldn’t be surprised that our mate had potential suitors,” his wolf said as he tried, but failed, to find the bright side of things. He was strangely calm about this whole situation.“I was just beginning to accept Elijah and now there’s Alpha Davis,” Dainin grumbled with his fists clenched on the table, glaring at Ronan from across the dance floor. “He’s lucky he’s been placed at a distance,” he growled to his wolf, but the sweet voice of his mate entered his mind, calming his anger.“Dainin, please stop shooting daggers across my ballroom. You, and only you, are my mate. There was never a chance it would have been any one of these Alphas. I swear,” Tessa declared, and Dainin turned his gaze to the head table,
~Dainin~Over dinner, the ballroom hummed with soft conversation amongst the tables. Many debated how John’s Rogue army traveled through their lands undetected. It was impossible for any living being, especially a large group of Rogues, to have no scent and make no sound. A few Alphas, with packs closer to the human towns, reached out to their allies asking if they’d noticed anything strange.“Let’s hope someone will have information to share soon,” Dainin’s wolf sighed. He was eager to know exactly what they were up against.Dainin watched a group of the newly appointed Alphas approach Tessa’s table with grave expressions. “I’m sure they didn’t expect their first conference to drop a war at their feet,” Dainin’s wolf pointed out.“Well, I guess this is one way to put their leadership skills to the test,” Dainin added, admiring Tessa's patience as she gave each of them her undivided attention. Many Alphas would never bother with helping another pack leader. They hoped a pack would fail
*Mature Content*~Tessa~Tessa felt the back of her legs connect with the mattress as their kiss became filled with passion. She attempted to reach for Dainin’s belt, but his hand caught her wrist in a firm hold. Nipping her lower lip between his teeth, Dainin pulled away with a growl that made Tessa’s heart beat wildly.“I’ll tell you when you can play,” he spoke low, forcing her to meet his heated gaze. When his hand released her wrist, she obediently left it at her side and closed her eyes. As a reward, Dainin palmed her ass, giving it a firm squeeze that sent her hips surging forward. “Good girl,” he praised darkly with a kiss, and goosebumps rose on her skin in response to his dominance.Through hooded eyes, Tessa watched him slowly unbutton his shirt, exposing his toned body, before dropping to his knees before her. He guided her hands over his chest to rest on his shoulders, allowing Tessa to admire every exquisite feature Dainin had. He seemed to be admiring her as well.Dainin
~Tessa~ In the early morning hours, Tessa wandered into her office. She was skimming through all the reports Dainin’s pack sent over before they arrived in Maine. “There has to be something we’re missing,” she thought, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Tessa glanced at the clock on her desk to find it was only four am. She stretched, wishing she was still curled up with Dainin, especially after the night they shared, but her mind would not let her rest. It was buzzing with different motives John might have against Dainin’s pack and if they overlooked anyone as a suspect from White Sand. She was about to go through Dainin’s folder again when she heard a light knock on the door. “Come in,” she called out, already knowing who it was. Zander stepped in with a grim expression. “It’s a little early to already be down in the dumps, isn’t it? Is Cadence giving you the cold shoulder,” she teased, placing the folder down with a smirk. Her face immediately fell when her cousin remained
~Dainin~ It was the middle of the afternoon when the sky opened, releasing a light drizzle over the crowd. The onlookers in the stands, and the warriors on the practice field, rejoiced as the cool rain gave them a break from the relentless humidity. Everyone from Dainin’s pack joined Blue Ridge to watch hundreds of the region’s warriors work their way through the rigorous tests and obstacles. It was not only a test of strength but also teamwork. The Warriors taking charge of the group needed to prove they deserved a higher rank in the guard. Dainin wasn’t surprised to discover Tessa designed this system after forming her Elite squad. He overheard the other Alphas praising her methods. Dainin knew firsthand how stubborn males can be and for an Alpha to set aside his pride to give her credit was a big deal. “We should consider making one of those squads too,” his wolf chimed in with excitement as they watched a few wolves from his pack take charge. Some were even females. His warrior
~Tessa~ Tessa stood frozen in place as she watched Dainin’s wolf retreat into the woods. “What have I done,” she asked her wolf but was met with silence. Tessa couldn’t blame her for being angry. She had been begging Tessa to talk things out with Dainin all day, but she stubbornly refused. Now her decision may have cost her everything. Dainin’s rejection of her touch fueled her need to feel him, to be reassured they were still connected. Tessa desperately opened their bond but was met with a rush of hurt and betrayal. Her hand grabbed at her chest as the pain overwhelmed her, causing her knees to buckle and tears to instantly fall from her eyes. She did this to Dainin. She made him experience these terrible feelings by not trusting him. Everything was moving in slow motion and Tessa didn’t realize she was holding her breath until a hand grasped her shoulder. She gasped for air and when her spotted vision cleared she met Zander's apologetic eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but se
~Dainin~ Dainin could feel Tessa trying to contact him, but he had given his wolf full control to run off their anger and hurt so they could face this with a clear mind. Tessa may as well have ripped his heart out, yet Dainin wondered if he would have doubted her if the roles were reversed. "Still doesn't excuse her behavior. She should have just asked us," his wolf interjected. He wasn't ready to let it go. "All that talk of honesty and trust was just that. Talk. For once don’t be so level-headed," he snarled, clawing a nearby tree and turning it to splinters. Dainin knew if he ever wanted his wolf to calm down, he'd have to stay quiet and go along for the ride. He knew better than to argue when a wolf's emotions were involved, especially an Alpha. *** After hours of running in the rain, Dainin's wolf finally felt the need to return to the house. A group of wandering pack members had returned from Blue Ridge but didn't dare make eye contact with him. "They must have witnessed w
~Tessa~ The King’s arrogance unearthed childhood memories Tessa had long forgotten. “I really think you should stay home with your mom this time. Remember how bored you were at the last meeting,” her father contested Tessa’s pleas, but she was stubborn and soon found herself passing through the polished gates. “I’ll never admit Dad was right,” Tessa complained, mindlessly following the deep burgundy carpet that lined the marble halls. The air was stale with age and the decor seemed to be plucked from the movies where sweaty men wore powdered wigs and sipped wine all day. The portraits of deceased royals covering the walls matched the men flooding her imagination. The staff were dreadfully pretentious as well. They typically ignored Tessa’s presence, but that all changed when she caught a boy eavesdropping at the door of the Great Hall. “Hey, you better not be spying on them,” Tessa exclaimed, tackling him to the ground. Her outburst caught everyone’s attention and she quickly fo
~Dainin~ All chaos ceased immediately when an ominous growl echoed throughout the ballroom. Dainin watched Eric slam into the solid chest of a monstrous beast, knocking him to the ground. When the Alpha tried to escape, a clawed hand captured his throat, lifting him into the air. Once Eric stopped resisting, the wolf-like creature stood tall on two legs. Muscles rippled beneath a thin coat of black fur as it walked to the center of the room. Eric’s body carelessly swayed in its grasp like a doll being carried by a child. “This is no child. I wasn’t expecting to see a Lycan show up here,” his wolf muttered, cautiously observing the creature. Its snout twisted into a menacing sneer full of sharp teeth and rage swirled within the fiery golden hues of its eyes. The strong aura, permeating the air, had the vast space shrinking from its presence and nobody dared to even breathe. Dainin shifted back into his human form when the Lycan became more interested in Eric than the surrounding
*WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS GRAPHIC AND SENSITIVE CONTENT WHICH MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED* ~Dainin~ When Dainin and Tessa followed the last Alpha into the ballroom, Dainin motioned for the guards to close the doors behind them. Everyone remained silent as they passed. Blue light emanated from the projector as it shone on the large silk screen positioned in front of the stage. The room felt thick with rage rolling off the surrounding packs, but Dainin was amused. Each traitor, including the prideful Eric, stood frozen in the center of the dance floor with their eyes wide with shock and locked on the screen. Dainin waited a moment to let the reality of their situation sink in until Eric broke the silence. “What is the meaning of this? Who are these people,” he shouted in outrage. His eyes angrily scanned the room, daring someone to explain. Dainin loved watching Eric lose his composure, but a figure caught his attention out of the corner of
~Tessa~ Tessa felt restless as she watched heavy snowflakes descend from the sky. Thick grey clouds blocked out the sun, creating untimely darkness during the late morning which deepened the chill in the air. The scenery only disturbed the once beautiful atmosphere of winter, and the harsh wind caused the fur around Tessa's hood to dance against her skin, tickling her cheeks. She brushed it away and turned to Dainin, who stood tall beside her in his plain hoodie and jeans, his stoic features overshadowed by the overcast. When Tessa first laid eyes on his attire in their bedroom, Dainin raised his hand to stop her from commenting. "I know what you're going to say, but I'm not here to impress these animals," he growled before stalking toward the door. He paused for a moment with his hand hovering over the doorknob and glanced back at her. “You look beautiful,” he said with a gentle smile as his eyes traveled over her fitted maroon maternity dress, pausing to admire her midsection. T
~Tessa~ Tessa entered the gym knowing Dainin would be working out his frustration. Once she reached the bottom step, she slowed her pace and began to look around for her mate. The gym was vast with a tense atmosphere and no other pack members in sight. "I'm not surprised. Nobody wants to be in the way of an angry Alpha," her wolf snickered. The large room was dimly lit, allowing Tessa to use the darkness to her advantage as she followed the only sound permeating through the air. She hid behind a pillar, peering around the edge, and her mouth watered at the sight before her. She watched, with bated breath, as Dainin sent punch after punch against the heavy bag. His muscles rippled with each swift strike and Tessa’s legs grew weak. She found herself using the pillar for support, forcing her eyes closed to take control of her breathing, but the spellbinding vision of her mate plagued her mind. “Get used to it,” her wolf teased, looking forward to an eternity of drooling over the man
~Tessa~ Tessa’s frustration motivated her to find a way to convince everyone that she and Dainin were only joining their packs out of love. She knew the Werewolf Council would feel their plans didn't threaten the Alliance, but the thought of these few Alphas fearing such a thing enraged her. “Then they have the nerve to want my pack members transferred? They're probably intimidated because a male would be in power now too. Bastards,” Tessa growled under her breath while sifting through each file she had on the cowards. It didn’t take her long to notice the pattern. Each Alpha involved had been a suitor she refused to mate with. She was glad she followed her instincts and stayed away from them because they were not pursuing her with pure intentions. If their fathers hadn’t been family friends, Tessa would never have agreed to continue an alliance with them in the first place. There had been countless occasions where Blue Ridge was forced to bail them out of financial turmoil. Tessa
~Tessa~ Later that day, Tessa found herself reviewing all the plans her Grandmother left piled on her desk. "I have a feeling she's been working on this long before today,” her wolf sighed, earning a chuckle from Tessa as they sifted through the stack of papers. "Gran and her parties," she muttered to herself, seeing everything from rentals, decoration plans, and finally the thick guest list. “I think she went a little overboard this time,” Tessa’s wolf whined at the sight of the stack of pages, but for once, Tessa was excited to look it over. She had made it her mission to become familiar with her pack members since the battle. Now that she could put a face to the names on the list, Tessa felt a sense of kinship. Pack occasions were no longer just about business. They became a gathering of a family she never thought she’d have again, and now it was about to double in size. Her gaze froze when her eyes fell on Milo’s name, and it brought her back to earlier in the afternoon when
~Dainin~ Dainin’s anticipation only grew the longer they waited for Alan and Leah to arrive. “We shouldn’t be surprised he’s running late, and I’m sure Leah is the only reason he’s even on his way,” Dainin’s wolf sighed in disappointment. “His heart is in the right place. Alan may be a goof, but he despised our father’s carelessness as much as I did and worked hard to prove he deserved to be the Beta,” Dainin defended his brother, earning silence from his wolf. Even with all of Alan's quirks, Dainin knew he'd protect the pack with his life. He proved that on the day of the attack. The sudden thought of his father brought Dainin back to the days Tessa was recovering in the hospital. Alan had stopped by to visit her and it was the first time Dainin was alone with him since the night he went missing. He finally had a chance to tell him about their parent’s murder. “As sad as this is, we tried everything we could to protect them, Dain. Dad made his choice, and like always, his pride go
~Tessa~ The first snow of the season fell overnight, covering the usual luscious green landscape in a glistening blanket of white. Tessa smiled while admiring the beauty outside. Winter always made her feel refreshed. It reminded her that a new year was fast approaching, and everything could start with a clean slate. She was looking forward to leaving her murky past behind her for a fresh start. "Positive changes are coming our way," she thought as her hand mindlessly caressed her now prominent stomach. A creak from the bed behind her caught her attention followed by Dainin’s deep voice filling the room. “Everything okay, love,” he asked, causing Tessa’s breath to hitch in her throat. She turned to find her glorious mate propped on his elbow, scanning her body with his dark eyes. A blush immediately flooded her cheeks because, although she was wearing her nightgown and robe, she may as well have been naked under his hungry gaze. Tessa cleared her throat to try and compose herself