Nolan's Secret - 1

Deadrick and I aren’t three feet into the packhouse gardens before Alpha Nolan comes strolling up to us. Blessedly, he looks and smells like himself and not a cheap imposter. Shadows linger beneath his eyes, even as the sun shines boldly on his face. And red tinges at the outer corners. With his golden halo of hair glittering like a crown in the light, he indeed looks the part of a mad king.

Alpha Nolan smiles, approaching me and my father with his arms stretched wide. The silk of his robe slips open, revealing his bare chest.

“Ah, my dutiful Beta has come to fulfill his orders. What a prize he’s brought me.”

I was wrong. Nolan isn’t himself at all. He’s worse.

“Thank you, Deadrick.” He wraps my father in a tight embrace as if they were brothers to be separated by war. Even his expression is pained when the hug ends. “I’ll take her from here.”

“Am I not joining you and Makayla inside?” Confusion arcs Deadrick’s brow as he studies Alpha Nolan’s face.

Nolan grasps my father by h