The castle was silent when I entered, and I tiptoed toward the stairwell. I knew I would be scolded for running away today, but my priority was getting to my room and changing out of my ripped and drenched dress.
If my mother were to see me like this, her perfectly healthy heart would give out, and my father would send out an army to avenge me. They would probably call the pack doctor in to examine me and confirm whether I had been raped, and even though my lip had already healed, I would be checked from head to toe for injuries.I ran up the back stairwell on the balls of my feet, trying to stay as quiet as possible, but every breath I released sounded like an alarm bell blaring through the small passageway.Just as I reached the door to my room, my sister's opened just across the hall."What happened to you?" Ellie asked, but there was no concern in her tone. She was still bitter about the contest, but I didn't understand why. She was only eighteen and still had plenty of time to find someone.I couldn't understand why she had lashed out as if offended when it was announced that the packs would be arriving to compete for my hand instead of hers. Her time would be here soon enough.Ellie was one of the most beautiful women in the pack, tall and toned, with golden hair that naturally fell in perfect, frizz-free waves and a magical mix of brown eyes with green flecks.Mine were just plain brown, and my hair was a dull, dirty blonde. Compared to my mother, who had been the most beautiful woman in the pack in her day and the daughter she passed that gene down to, I felt bland and hated it."I fell," I said, sounding just as curt and angry as she did when she had asked me."Are you hurt?"The question surprised me, and I blinked once before shaking my head silently. She had always been a vain and self-centered person, and the last thing I expected was for her to care about my well-being, especially when she wouldn't be the center of attention for the next month."Shame." Her eyes scanned me over once more before she scoffed. I gaped at her as she spun on her heels and stormed down the hallway. She used to be nice, but after attending a meeting with my father at another pack a few months ago, she returned as a different person.I almost wanted to call that pack and tell them they should have kept her longer, but I didn't think the other pack would want her with her attitude either.The smell of dinner wafted down the hallway, making my stomach grumble.I knew Ellie was heading down to eat with our parents. I just had to hope I could get there before she told them about my appearance and made things worse for me. Their punishments had usually been pretty lenient, but one day, they would snap, and from how tense they had been, I figured that day was coming soon.Within a minute, I was in a new dress and had pulled my tangled hair up into a decent enough bun before running down the hallway, cursing myself for forgetting to grab shoes. I just had to hope my mother wouldn't notice.The table was set, with the food laid out as my father dug in like he had been starving for years while my mother glared at him, waiting for everyone to take their seat before serving herself.My brother, Aiden, was the only redhead in the family. He was fourteen but acted like he was damn near my age most of the time. When he saw me enter, his eyes widened, and he bit back a laugh, pointedly looking at my bare feet before turning to get my mom's attention by 'accidentally' flipping his fork off his overfilled plate and sending peas across the room."Aiden McKenna! Mind your manners!" She scolded him, barely sparing me a glance as I rushed to my seat and tucked my chair in. "We will have important guests arriving over the next few days, and I expect you to behave.""Shouldn't you be telling that to Sloane? She's the one who spent the day out in no man's land," Ellie said, not bothering to hide the dramatic roll of her eyes as she pointed her fork in my direction and slumped against the back of her chair.It was the first time in years that I had seen her act so informally. She usually had a stick up her butt, so far I could see the end of it when she opened her mouth to kiss my father's ass."Careful, Ellie. If you don't lose the attitude, no one will want to mate with you when you come of age." I knew it was a lie. When she turned twenty and could be fought over, she would have no shortage of people interested.Still, my comment hit the mark, and Ellie sat forward in her seat so fast I thought she would lunge for me. There was a fire burning in her eyes that told me I had done nothing more than poke the beast.I made a mental note to sleep with my door locked and one eye open."That is enough! All of you shut it and eat your dinner!" My mother shouted, slamming her fist down on the table and making my father jump as he reached for another chicken breast. Long ago, he learned to tune us out if he wanted a peaceful dinner.Nothing could bother him if he weren't listening to it, but as soon as he was done eating, he returned to being the Alpha and forgot to be a father.I pressed my lips together at the stunned look on his face as he slowly stabbed a piece of meat with his fork and brought it back to his plate, his eyes never leaving his mate as if looking for her permission to continue his feast.The dinner progressed slowly from there, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was so peaceful until my mother cleared her throat and my father placed his fork and knife down. Without food to eat, his good mood was going to be gone.Both of my siblings sat across from me, and Ellie smirked victoriously when she glanced between our parents and came to the same realization that I had. I was in trouble."Where were you today?" My father asked, but by the single raised eyebrow and the fact that Ellie had ratted me out, I knew he already had his answer.I was still angry about his decision to force me into mating with someone I didn't choose for myself and debated telling him the truth. It was much less believable than any lie I would come up with. Yet, I felt the unreasonable need to keep it to myself for a bit longer.If my father knew the Rogue Alpha was nearby, he wouldn't let me leave tomorrow to see him at the pond. "I went for a run…""After ignoring my order for you to stay and evading the guards." My father cut me off, but I continued to speak anyway, angering him further."I fell into a trap and ripped my dress. It took me a while to get out."My father was fuming, and I glanced from him to my mother, seeing the disappointment on her face."Do not lie to me!" The bottom of his fist connected with the table, and I jumped as my head whipped back around to face him."I'm not!" It was a failed attempt at arguing, and I flinched back when he stood from his chair, leaning over the table. My head shook back and forth, and for some reason, I turned to Ellie as if she would step in and vouch for me and the state I was in when I returned to the castle."This mating is important to our people, and you better start acting right! You have a responsibility to our pack, and I expect you to do your part!" He ordered, glaring down at me."You can't honestly expect me to be okay with you handing me over to some stranger and forcing me to mate with him!" My argument fell on deaf ears, and I felt heat build behind my eyes.I didn't want to be given away like some trophy. I would rather be back at the pond with…I didn't even know his name. He had saved me more than once, yet I knew nothing about him. Rogues could not be trusted, and he was a rogue… a handsome devilish rogue, and the Alpha of them no less, but they were violent and tricksters.Still, once I had realized that the mysterious stranger hadn't meant me any harm this morning, I had been able to acknowledge the unnatural pull I felt toward him. The same one that had me diving into the water after him and following him to the town of rogues against my better judgment.I would wait at the pond all day tomorrow if I had to, just to get some answers.Heat rushed up my cheeks as I thought back to the feeling of his hot tongue flicking the split in my lip and the rush of pleasure that shot through me. It was the most sensual moment of my life, and I wanted him to do it again."I expect you to do what I say!" He shouted, and a snort from across the table had my father turning his glare to Ellie. She shrank back, but there was still humor in her eyes as she stared at me. "Your little tantrum is over. I do not want you leaving the pack lands again!"I couldn't promise that. Even if I did, I would be breaking that promise tomorrow when I went to the pond."If we need this alliance so badly, why don't you put Ellie up first? At least she wants a mate!" I thrust my hand in her direction, and she scoffed."I don't want a mate!" Her denial made me laugh bitterly because we all knew that wasn't true."Then you just want to be the center of attention!" I was fuming and sick of her attitude. After her treatment of our family over the past few months, I felt no obligation to spare her feelings."I don't think you're the best choice to represent our pack! They will be humiliated when they realize you're the one they have to fight over." Her head tilted to the side as if she were examining me. I leaned forward to snap at her again but was stopped by my father."That is enough!" My father shouted, his power radiating off him and forcing us to submit. My chin dipped down, and I stared at the table, resisting the urge to kick Ellie under it."The first pack will be arriving tomorrow. I expect you to make a good and lasting impression. Do not disappoint us, Sloane." My father hissed down at me, and I held his stare in an open challenge, one I knew he wouldn't take. He didn't have it in him to kill his own daughter, and he knew I was just angry at the situation.The first pack may be here tomorrow, but I won't be.I couldn't get her out of my mind. Her scent…her taste. The soft gasp she released when my tongue slid across her bottom lip. Never in my life had I seen a mouth as perfect as hers, and I couldn't be satisfied with just one taste of those pouty lips. No man could be. The scent of her fear made her that much sweeter as her desire filled the air with it. She enjoyed our meeting as much as I had. It was exhilarating and tempting. There was something about her that my beast couldn't resist…that I couldn't resist. From the second I caught her scent at the pond, I wanted to claim her. She smelled so sweet, like a sugar cookie, and I had been desperate for a taste. So, I took one, but it wasn't enough. I didn't think it ever would be.Blood dripped from my hands as I moved through the small passageway, heading toward the water. The men who had scared her yesterday had been wise to run but stupid to think they could ever escape me. They were almost too easy to kill. It was disappointing.
"Where have you been?" Ellie asked, not bothering to peel her eyes away from her phone to look at me as I rushed up to stand beside her in the center of the pack land.I didn't bother responding as I stared down the long stretch of road, trying to catch my breath. There was a thin layer of perspiration on my body, and I gathered the hair from the back of my neck, lifting it and letting the breeze hit the damp skin. The entire run back to the border, I had felt Greyson hot on my heels. It had been exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Butterflies had swarmed my stomach, and on several occasions, I almost giggled from the excitement. I would have, too, if he hadn't sounded so angry as he chased me, growling and snapping at the backs of my legs. No one had ever kept up with me before when I ran. I loved it. A small part of me wanted to let him catch me, just to see what would happen, but the larger part wanted to prove myself and show him how fast I could run. I wanted to impre
There was something so feral…so dominating about the sound of Greyson's anger that I couldn't get it out of my head even long after he had escaped the packs and we had all settled into the castle. The giant throne room was filled with the four packs as we had moved inside after Greyson's attack, each pack having brought at least twenty of their members. I couldn't help myself from scanning them over, trying to figure out which man I would be stuck with for the rest of my life. Yet, subconsciously, I kept comparing each man to Greyson. His tall and broad frame. His black hair and stunning grey eyes. The stubble on his chin that I wanted to feel against every part of my body.None of my potential suitors stood a chance against him, which was horrifying. I didn't want to go into a mating with someone I would always compare to another person. Maybe one day I could bond with my mate enough to have a healthy relationship, but starting one this way was a recipe for disaster.I needed to
I couldn't get the image of that murderer's hand around her wrist out of my head. He didn't deserve to breathe the same air as her, let alone touch her. Charles McKenna.He was the most respected pack Alpha there was, but he was a pathetic excuse for a friend and ally. One day, I would take him down. I would make sure he suffered through every second of pain my family had experienced before I would let him draw his last breath. Charles was a traitor, and my family had been slaughtered because of him.For years, I had dreamed of getting my revenge, but I had never been able to pull the trigger. Something had always felt wrong about it, but now, after seeing his hand on Sloane, I was ready to end him. I was blinded by rage, half-tempted to storm into his pack and rip his throat out even though I would be outnumbered and possibly killed. His death would make it worth it. It had hurt too much to sit, and I was too amped up to stand still. The grass beneath my feet had been flattened as
I was on edge, so wound up that once I had gotten home and was ready for bed, I had been able to get myself off within seconds. I hated that I had to do it myself now that I knew Greyson was more than willing to help me take the edge off.Greyson had agreed to one month, but with his injuries, we obviously couldn't do anything for at least a day or two. He insisted otherwise, but I didn't want my first time to be like that. He would be in pain the entire time, and I would be scared to hurt him further. It was just better that we waited.Plus, I wasn't ready to jump right in. I had only ever kissed a man once, and it had been humiliating. I also wanted to get to know him a little bit.Greyson would have to be patient with me, or this wouldn't work."Excuse me," Declan whispered as he leaned over my plate of food, letting his chest rub against my arm as he grabbed the pitcher of orange juice that he could have just asked me for. He had been flirting all morning and was too touchy for my
I sat back on my throne, ignoring my mother's glare as my father celebrated with the other Alphas. There was no reason to celebrate since Ethan had won, but my father was enjoying himself.Yet, as I watched him throw his head back and laugh with his hand on Ethan's shoulder, I wondered what black magic Ethan had used to win my father's affection. Had my father not seen the same fights I had or how cruel Ethan was? Had he not heard how he spoke to me at breakfast this morning?After the first round ended, the two champions, Ethan and Declan, faced off in a long and impressive fight, with Ethan coming out victorious and Declan looking almost relieved.Everything about the first contest had been horrific, and I dreaded the next four weeks. The only thing that made it bearable was the excitement of sneaking around with Greyson.I knew nothing about him and wasn't sure I wanted to get to know him.If feelings got involved, it would be harder to leave in a month.The five packs had been cele
The water felt warm as I stepped into it, unable to look at Greyson as he followed behind me. I could generally fake confidence like it was second nature, but he managed to break down that wall and left me a nervous mess.As the water reached my chest, I pushed off the rocks and moved to tread in the center of the pond. I could feel his grey eyes watching my every movement like a predator hunting its prey."Tell me something about yourself, Firefly," Greyson whispered, and I took a deep breath before turning to face him, the water splashing my chin as I did so."What do you want to know?"He tilted his head to the side as if he could hear my hesitance and unease at getting to know each other. I didn't mind sharing with him, but I was worried that the more we got to know each other, the harder it would be to part ways when The Mating Games were over."This isn't going to work if you can't relax around me, Sloane." Greyson pushed off the rocks, his warm hand barely grazing my sides."I c
Rocks dug into my knees as I dropped to the ground, but I pressed my lips together to silence the whimper of protest at the action. Still, I couldn't let anyone hear me. What I was doing was wrong and impulsive.It was the kind of decision that would make my mother's head spin around on her shoulders in rage like a possessed doll.Still, I couldn't help but picture my future mate's reaction to seeing me in this position.How many times would I have to do this in my life? Would it be daily or weekly?I dropped my hands to the ground, looking over my shoulder to ensure my feet stayed hidden as I dropped down to lay on my stomach. The large shed housing landscaping materials and tools hid me easily, as did the wall only two feet away from my shoulder on my other side.My nose twitched as the mud began to dry and itch, and I squeezed my eyes shut to fight off the sneeze that would give away my location. There was no way I was showing my face today. I would rather fight a wild bear than dea