Ciara's POV
A few seconds tick by, and then it hits me like a tidal wave. “NO!” I yell standing to my feet; making a sweeping look around the room at all the men who are staring at my outburst. I move towards the Alpha’s desk. “You promised me!” I slam my palms down onto the wood surface as my body begins to shake. My dark gray smokey eyes begin to shift to black as Ember works her way to the surface. She is angry just as much as I am because she was hoping to find her mate.
Alpha Radar slowly stands up from his chair and towers over me, matching my position with clenched fists on the desk. Using his alpha aura to keep me in his control, he forces me to look into his eyes as he speaks. His wolf, Delta, flashing in his eyes. “Ciara, you will have to understand; you can’t go to the festivities now. No one can know about you and your abilities. Very few know already, and we want to keep it that way. If the Royals find out that you were created by the Dark Alpha, they will think you are a danger to everyone, and they will want you dead to keep the packs safe. They may even conclude that our pack is harboring a deadly weapon. They may want war!”
“I call bullshit! How will they know?” Our eyes locked on each other never wavering. I am officially in a shouting match with the Alpha. Every fiber of my being is burning with scorching anger. How could they do this to me!
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the gold cuff with black and purple shards of stones laying peacefully on the desk just to the right of the Alpha’s clenched hand. A shiver went up my spine. Why is that sitting out?
Ignoring my outburst, Alpha Radar slowly placed his hand on the cuff without drawing attention to it, then continued, “During the events, you, Ciara Joy Callaway, will not go near the gardens, event grounds or the packhouse when the parties are taking place. We already must change up the patrols cause the royals will be here, and they want their warriors stationed around the borders as well so your patrol schedule will change as well. I can’t take any chances of them finding out about you. You are very important to our pack! You know what will happen if you break this command.”
This command isn’t just an alpha command that no pack member can go against, but a magic command set by the gold cuff. I have been tethered to the cuff since the Dark Alpha was in power. I couldn’t ignore it even if I wanted to. Like a bucket of cold ice water being poured over my head, I feel the magic command seep into my skin like a burn to my breaking heart. The gold cuff has the power to control my actions and if I disobey it, I suffer immense pain. I can feel my dream of finding the mate bond slipping away from my grasp.
I glare at the Alpha, “How will the royals know? No one will be paying attention to me anyway! I am a member of this pack just like anyone else! I am not some work-horse you can use day in and day out.” I did my best to keep my voice steady, but it began to shake slightly. My emotions were running on tomorrow’s borrowed energy.
“Ciara, you better take your tone down now.” Alpha Radar snarls at me. His hand was still touching the cuff.
Like a dial being turned, my tone is brought down a few volumes, but I continue my plea. “You still haven’t answered my question; how will the Blue Eclipse pack know that I am a multi-shifter? I understand that they are the royal family, but that shouldn’t matter. Plus, you promised me months ago that I could attend the festivities.” I finally had to look away from the Alpha cause his Alpha stare had become too intense for me. Tears threatened to escape my eyes, but I held them at bay.
“Ciara…” The Alpha growls a warning at me. His chest is heavily rising and falling now. I can see he is on the verge of losing his shit.
But I have decided to push my luck one more time. Throwing caution to the wind, I give my final jab. I stare right into the Alpha's eyes and say, “So, what you are saying is the Alpha’s word is bullshit???”
The roar from Alpha Radar could have been heard throughout the packhouse. “I am the Alpha of this pack, and you will obey my orders! DO. I. MAKE. MY. SELF. CLEAR!!!” The boom of the Alpha’s alpha command vibrates through the room causing some of the decorative items on the surrounding bookshelves to shake in their spots. Everyone in the room bared their necks in submission. I slump back onto the couch, completely defeated. My shoulders felt heavy with despair.
I know I have stepped over a line, and I don’t care. Why should I be kept hidden!? Normally the Alpha would have thrown me in the dungeon for screaming like a wild banshee, but I guess I am the exception because he needs me.
What pisses me off most is he knows how excited I was about joining the festivities. He promised me that I could attend since it would be pack members only. Now he’s acting like a jackass on a power trip and used that evil magic cuff on me just for a stupid alliance with royalty? I am so hurt, that tears swell in my eyes. I wipe them away with the back of my hand and let out a small sniffle. Emotions wreck my heart like a hot poker stabbing me.
“Calm down, Ciara. You are acting like a crybaby, it’s just another party.” Noah pipes in from behind. At that moment, I wish my ability was laser beams shooting out of my eyes so I could destroy that stupid face of the future Beta with the glare I just gave him.
“Hazel said she wanted me there and she even bought me a dress.” This is my final attempt. I slump back onto the couch with my shoulders hunched, feeling defeated.
My father sits next to me on the couch and touches my hand to get my attention. “Ciara dear… Please…” His voice is calming and soothes my emotions enough so I can hear him. “We already spoke with Hazel, and she said she is fine if you miss the parties and festivals.”
“That’s right, Luna Rosaline plans on putting all the events on the Alpha Network website online. You can watch from your computer.” Noah shares as if this was the perfect conciliation prize.
“It’s not the same,” I grumbled as my heart sank to the bottom of my body. Hazel didn’t even fight for me to be there? She made it sound like such a big deal that I was going. Guess sisterhood only goes so deep when it comes to being the chosen mate to the stupid future Alpha King. I am only guessing he is stupid; he’s probably really smart since he wins every battle he is in. I know I am being petty right now, but I honestly don’t care.
Ciara's POV “Alpha if I may offer up a suggestion?” A smooth deep voice breaks the momentary silence from the corner of the room; we all turn to look at the sudden interruption. It was Maximo. I completely forgot he was here in the meeting. He’s usually quiet during meetings unless he has some valid point to make, and then everyone stops to listen.Maximo leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest in a nonchalant manner, acting as if this meeting was completely pointless. He has a bad-boy rockstar meets classic Cary Grant look about him. Devilishly handsome smile, dark hair and eyes, tall and built like a Greek god.Alpha Radar nods for him to continue.“Why not allow CJ to be at the important parts of all the events but in her owl form? She can sit in the banquet hall rafters or in the surrounding trees, view the events, but stay out of sight, even if it’s just for speeches and important moments. There will be enough warriors on patrol, and you decided to cut dow
Alpha Radar’s POVI watch as Ciara, Noah, James, and Maximo leave my office one by one after that horrible meeting we just had, leaving my Beta and me to sit in silence.“Well, that didn’t go so well, but I knew it wouldn’t.” I say as I rise from my chair, head over to the liquor cabinet, and pour myself and Leon each a glass of whiskey.“Did you have to use the cuff on her?” Beta Leon said, glaring at me in annoyance. “You said you would never use it to command her against her will.”I huff at Leon but what can I say? I knew if I didn’t use the cuff to control her rage then she probably would have snuck into the events, and I couldn’t have that.“I didn’t have much of a choice… Ciara is so head-strong when she wants to be.” I trail off.Beta Leon chuckles. “Don’t I know it! I raised that girl since we found her in the lab. She is the most absent-minded, stubborn, loving, and unique young lady I have ever had the privilege to know. When she gets an idea in her head, she doesn’t let it
Ciara's POV Once at the library, I threw myself onto my favorite lumpy oversized bean bag chair that’s against the wall-to-wall windows in the back of the library. The windows stretch from one end to the other, offering a breathtaking view of the magnificent Crystal lake that our pack is proudly named after. With my face buried in the cozy fabric, I couldn't help but emit a muffled grumble. I lazily rested my arms on either side of me, closed my eyes, and surrendered to my sulky mood.‘Another promise broken…’ I comment to my wolf.Ember scoffs.‘The other spirit animals agree this sucks’, she growls back.Ember is the only one who can communicate with my other animal counterparts. I have tried multiple times to link them even in different forms, but with no success. The only thing I can do is call upon them at will and shift between them.When I was younger, I asked my wolf if my other animal forms had names, hoping that knowing what to call them would make them my friends, just lik
Ciara's POV I collect my stuff and the new book before swiftly leaving the two love birds behind. I head out of the packhouse to where my bike is parked. To my surprise, I find Hazel standing next to my bike. She’s staring at her phone, scrolling through something that has her undivided attention. One of her stiletto toes is tapping annoyingly on the ground.“You need something Hazel?” I ask as I grab my helmet from the top of the bike seat.She jolts back to reality as she doesn’t hear me approach. “Oh, my goodness! You scared me!”“Well, that’s what happens when you miss training class 101 to get your nails done and miss the section on always pay attention to your surroundings…” I say and give a fake smile just to irritate her. Actually, I really shouldn’t talk… During that lesson, I slept through it at my desk because I was up all night trying to kill zombies on the gaming console with my brother.I start putting my stuff into the small bag I have attached to the back of my bike,
Ciara’s POVAfter the ride to my house, I park my bike in the garage and then make my way through the back door. “Anyone home?” I yell. “I’m in here…” My mom’s sweet voice calls out to me from the direction of the kitchen. I walk in and see my mom wiping down all the countertops and cleaning up after dinner. “How was your day?” She doesn’t look up at me.“OK.” I walk over and give her a quick squeeze as she leans her head against mine, continuing to scrub a small speck of what looks like sauce off her kitchen counter. “Where’s dad?” I ask. Mom continues to scrub the counter. If she isn’t careful, she may scrub a hole in the wood. “Oh, he just leave with Noah after we ate dinner. They had some Beta work to do this evening with some of the warriors. He will be here later.”“I see.” I am glad my dad wasn’t here. I was still pretty mad at him for siding with the Alpha. A small amount of betrayal lingered when I thought about my father.“I heard about the parties. I am sorry it didn’t wo
Ciara's POV “Are you spending the night?” I say once I return to my loft with a plate of mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies.“Naw, I got to be up early to get to the University lab. My thesis professor said he may have found an anomaly in the werewolf DNA we have been testing.” About an hour away is the Wolf and Human University, which many high school graduates from the surrounding packs attend. Some of the professors and administration are werewolves to help keep the wolf students in check. That was one of the current Alpha King’s special projects. To have werewolves integrated into human universities so those who want a higher education can apply. I attended college classes online, and I graduated a few months ago with a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts since Bachelor of Badass Warrior wasn’t available… But I don’t need a degree for that. I was born a badass… Once my warrior days are behind me, I’d like to work in the pack library with Patrick.“Sounds… Interesting?” I bit in
Alpha Mars’s POV‘This is fucking bullshit!’ I say to my wolf, Asher.I put all my energy into each punch and jab I throw as I work the punching bag to get out all my rage. Bang! Bang! Bang!Every part of my body is burning, and my knuckles are becoming raw with blisters from hitting the hard fabric of the bag, but I don’t care. My wolf has taken over and it’s better that I hit a bag than certain people. AKA the elder council and my parents.I have been away fighting rogues for months for the smaller packs under our protection just to return to my life signed away to some fucking marriage contract. No fucking way! This morning, I walked into the family dining room for breakfast, just happy to finally be back home. I see my mother and father sitting at the large formal table with my brother, Liam, and younger sister, Olivia, eating quietly. I take the seat next to Olivia and she pecks me on the cheek with a kiss grinning ear to ear.“Coffee as well.” I say to the Omega server as she p
Alpha Mars' POV I am brought back to the present when I hear the gym door slam.“Hey man! You are gonna break another bag if you keep assaulting it like that.” I hear my Beta, Hunter, walk up towards me and grab the opposite side of the bag to hold it steady for me.I continue pushing my muscles to the extreme with each punch without acknowledging him. With a final blow, the bag finally gives and bursts, spreading sand all over the gym floor. I let out a roar and punched the wall, leaving a couple of large holes in the concrete. My knuckles are bloody and broken, but I don’t care. I know I’ll heal within the hour, so I just stare down at the ground, seething.“And there goes another one…” Hunter chuckles. “Guess I gotta make a gym equipment order… Again.”I don’t say anything; my mind is jumbled with thoughts and anger that I don’t want to deal with right now. I have a kingdom and pack to run, not dealing with this bullshit.“So… chosen mate.” Hunter grabs the towel and bottled water