Maddox's POV Shadow circled in my mind. Blake and Lena held each other's hands so tight their knuckles glowed."ENTER!" The sound reverberated off the stone walls. My stomach clenched. I inhaled, closed my eyes and pushed the doors open with my eyes closed. The sound of feet shuffling came from behind me. I opened my eyes slowly. Sunlight streamed through tall, stained glass windows, casting a rainbow over the polished stone floor. Intricate tapestries hung from the walls. A red carpet led from the doors to a small set of stairs. The King sat on a large, grey stone chair, his fingers templed together as he looked down at us his head tilted. "Mr Mason," He said curtly nodding his head.I stepped forward, "Your Highness.""Last time I checked, I wasn't your King," he sneered. The few Lycans who were gathered in the throne room snickered. I scanned the room. Five Lycans huddled together in

Maddox's POV   We piled into the armoured truck the only sound came from the singing birds and the gentle breeze brushing through the trees. Lena, Blake, Will and Kayla crawled into the back. Kayla's wide eyes locked on me as the doors closed. Sparks of gold swirled in her hazel irises. She tugged on her hair, her face devoid of colour. Lena had the same fierce look she always did before a battle. Her jaw locked tight, her wolf stirred at the surface ready to take action. Blake held her in his lap, inhaling her scent. Will lost himself in his cell phone. And then the doors closed shielding them from my view. The King climbed into the driver's seat. "You coming or what?" He asked shrugging his shoulders as if he asked nothing more than if I was joining him for drinks. I trudged around the side and eased myself into the truck, my nerves twitching and my stomach in sickening knots. Usually, going into battle didn't bother me

Maddox POV   Fighting broke out all around us. The sickening sound of fangs tearing into flesh filled the silence. Graham's band of survivors scattered and then the howling and begging for mercy started. Shadow didn't hesitate. My bones crunched and bent, fur sprouted on my skin, my clothes ripped falling from my body as Shadow broke free and raced towards the sound of death. Lena's wolf was snapping his heels keen for a taste of traitor blood. A hulkish black wolf stepped from the shadows, head lowered, glowing amber eyes locked on Shadow. My heart froze. Shadow paused cocking his head and inhaled. The wolf's familiar scent hit us like a cement block, shattering our heart. I scanned my surroundings, desperate for an answer.  "He's a prisoner," I told Shadow. "Alaya must have taken him years ago and faked his death. It can't be him. It can't." Emotion swelled in my chest, threatening to drown me. 

Alaya's POV "Alaya, you have to get up," My mother dragged the blankets off my head. The sunlight pouring through the window burned my eyes."Why?" I whined burying my face into my pillow."This is not healthy. You haven't been on a pack run in weeks. You haven't been to work. King Ralph is concerned about you."I sighed, burying my face further into my pillow. Anton died six weeks ago and Fyre still refused to speak to me. Whenever I tried to shift she resisted, instead wallowing in grief in the furthest corner of my mind. "No one blames you for what Anton did, Alaya," she assured me. "He shouldn't have tried to steal if he couldn't take his punishment."She didn't know he was my mate and I rejected him. No one did. He tried to tell people but they refused to believe him. I denied it all, sticking to my story of him attempting to steal from the throne room.My mother sighed, gently clicking the cl

Alaya's POV The crowd brayed and cheered, all dressed in their finest rags. Not an inch of the white cobbled square in front of White Castle wasn't filled with an Omega. They huddled together like cattle, not just our pack but all packs. The higher-ranking wolves were allowed into the walled garden. Alphas, Betas and Gammas lined up on fold-out seats on the grass gazing up at the balcony in their three-piece suits and ball gowns. The Royal's inner circle was granted access to the Castle, their annoying pups with them.Nicolas and Henry, Alpha and Beta males of the Moutain Ridge pack stood at Nate's side both congratulating him for managing to get his wife pregnant like it was some massive achievement. Their wives simpered at Kayleigh's side, cooing over her newborn pup.Henry's son Blake, Maddox, son of Alpha Nicholas and some runt called Lena, who as a child of Omegas, had no right being there raced around the throne room throwing