VALERIAN’S POVI walked on, averting my eyes as well, as Jared transformed from a tall, lean man with light blond hair and dark blue eyes to a large white wolf with a deep, thick coat and brilliantly white teeth. Jared sprinted past him as he sprinted to join Sophia where she waited patiently, pausing for a second to let me run my fingers through the guard hairs along his back."Please keep me in the loop while you're out there, Jared," I said to them both while looking at Jared, tapping his temple, meaning the mental mind link. "I don't want to lose any more wolves to those bastards."Jared yipped in agreement, and he and Sophia took off down the path, towards the other canines where the other Red Sun Hill wolves were bunking. I watched them go, and then I turned my feet towards the big cabin at the top of the path. My boots slid in the melting snow and ice on the pathway not being sturdy enough to hold him upright as I walked carefully down, and I wondered briefly if I should change

ELENA'S POV"I'M not sure," Sam replied, chewing on a piece of meat thoughtfully.I blew out a breath and continued eating, wondering how long before Anika came. It was mid-morning and I had nothing to do. Most days after eating and taking a bath, I relaxed and slept or maybe engaged Lorna in a conversation to while away the time.The table was quiet, partially due to Same being around. He was a quiet man through and through, he didn't like noise while eating but I reckoned he just didn't like noise in general.I scraped my bowl clean in record time and I made to stand up but Lorna took another dish bowl and scooped out a little and placed it on my plate.Chuckling softly, I sat back down and started to eat again. Sometimes I wondered if Lorna's mission was to fatten me up.Sam stopped up his last bit of stew with his bread, then gulped down his water in a hurry splashing some down his shirt. He stood up and dabbed at his shirt while placing a quick kiss on Lorna's forehead before das

VALERIAN’S POVI sat down watching the young man compose himself, swallowing visibly. Micha, one of the tortured and bruised pups that we rescued in that apartment complex was brave enough to sit down with us and tell us what he remembered from that gruesome incident.I had to give it to the budding Alpha, that took some massive grit. Inwardly, I was proud of his ability to face a terrible reality.Micha cleared his throat, making me focus on him once again. He was explaining what happened from the moment they were attacked."He liked taking me around and showing me the 'ropes' he called it. He said that we would need allies in case some people- that had been making trouble for him- were about to Challenge us for our territory. He wanted people that would fight with us if that ever happened." He continued."He was right to do that. I'm not sure if those people wanted your territory or just to get back at your family. Anyways, please tell me about the night that they took you."Micha d

ELENA'S POVShe was wearing a side pleated gown with ruffles down the arm, and a thin pearl necklace around her neck. A thin silver belt anchored the gown around her small waist, on any other person the cloth would look ridiculous but she managed to pull it off elegantly. It must be a rich people thing.She was looking at me the way you would look at a rat that wasn't where it was supposed to be.From what I gathered the last time we had an encounter, she was related to Valerian.Once I got within talking distance, I stopped walking. It wasn't like I couldn't ignore her and pass but she was pretty much standing in the middle of the hallway, so if I wanted to leave I'd have to touch her.In my current state, I was physically and mentally drained, all I just wanted to was just curl up on my bed and sleep. Probably never wake up again."You look horrible." She finally spoke, her lips pursed in disgust as she looked at me from head to toe.The vehemence behind her words made me look at my

VALERIAN'S POVI watched Collins waiting patiently for a response but Colins just stared at him, and I let the infraction go. Being stared at was rude, and usually precipitated a Challenge but I didn't see any challenge in the other wolf."Colins do you wish to leave Red Sun Hill? Would you be content to serve Andromeda, a female and a beta? She would definitely not condone any incursion to her authority so you may be seen as nothing but a common shifter, unranked and alone." I told him, wanting to know what he thinks.Going from being a powerful beta to an Alpha to something of a lowly servant was a difficult transition to make. It would have to result in Colins ready to make some much needed changes to fit in here."I'm all alone anyway." Colins spat, clenching his hands at his knees. He was not fully broken in spirit then, just a bit battered. "Most people used to respect me because I was your Father's ward, and now because I serve Maddox. No one really respects me for me."Becaus