ROWAN.“Please,” I say as I turn towards the mansion’s entrance. “You must have had a long trip. Simone here will lead you to your rooms to freshen up.”“Thank you,” one of them says, the tall, blonde one, Maxwell, I think. “We will do that.”“You sure have made this place your own, even if you didn't build it,” the shortest one says. Sven.“Did you build yours?” I ask.Contrary to popular belief, most territorial packs were not built. In fact, long before we had become more civilized, our predecessors had fought physical combat for the right to retain land.Once the other was dead, the land was yours, well until another one rose to challenge you for itSo, none actually built their pack, it was won and claimed by blood.“Yo-”“We were just following the old traditions, that is all,” I continue. “If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with your ancestors, not me.”“Damn, Sven, the last one murmurs quietly. “I think she just owned your ass.”“Oh, piss off you.”I see Vikto

WARNING: SLIGHT MENTION OF RAPE AND TORTUREROWAN“Don't growl at me,” I say with a lazy drawl. “It doesn't do shit.”“Cool it, Sven,” FIN tells him before turning to me. “Can you explain what you mean by that?”“I am saying, you packs are not the saints you claim to be. Honorable, just, fair.”“Yo-”“Many, and by many, I mean most, If not all of us here, in this coalition are all victims of your packs.”“How dare you?!” Sven snaps as he rises to his feet. “How dare you disparage the packs. We are noble. Honorable. Not some fou-”“You do realize,” Lisa cuts him off. “My dear Alpha, that rogues didn't become evil or twisted when they were outside the pack. They became that way inside it. It makes you wonder, what would cause a noble, honorable wolf to descend that far, doesn't it?”“What did you mean?” Fin asks“I am saying that usually people are quiet when a weak or the destitute are abused and it is only when those same tortured souls lash out that they become evil. No one says a wo

DOMINIC.For a long second, I stare in shock at Clarisse’s crumpled and still body on the floor, totally fearing the worst.It is the sight of blood that kicks me into motion.“Clarisse!” I exclaim as I hurry towards her body, lifting her head to see her eye closed. “Clarisse! Come on, babe. Please open your eyes.”I try to shake her awake a few times and that is when I notice the blood.A lot of it.Pooling underneath her.Oh, goddessPlease, please not our baby.I lift her in one swoop and race through the mansion, out the door and across the pack to get to the pack clinic.“George!” I roar as I burst into the building, panting and frantic. “Where the heel is George?!” I scream at the stunned and foolishly staring attendants.A few of them scatter, hopefully to go in search of him while two others rush over and wheel over a hospital bed.“Alpha,” they call as one gesture towards the bed, urging me to put her on it.“Get me George!” I growl at them, too scared to let her go.Oh, what

VIKTOR.“Hey, Lisa,” I call as I catch her around the bend of the stairs.“Alpha,” she greets with a smirk.“Don’t start,” I groan at her.“Couldn’t help it. What do you need?”“Have you seen Rowan? I can’t seem to find her anywhere.”“Have you checked the gazebo? You know she and Jhenelle do the homework there.”“Right. Totally forgot about that. Thanks,” I say before heading out of the mansion towards the back.The pathway leading out of the mansion is laid with field stones, weathered and worn, like they have been here for ages. Lining the paths are wildflowers and green shrubs with their leaves rustling in the breeze while the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, like nature’s own perfume.The pathway leads me through a groove of trees until I come across a small clearing where a gazebo is nestled in its center, surrounded by different colorful wildflowers. The wood is a warm, honey brown color, that makes it even more charming even though

VIKTOR.That little, worthless, spineless, excuse of a man!Who does that?!Who goes ahead to rape a woman because she is weaker than you?Because you didn't want her?!You rape her and then you killed her?!What kind of-Just how demented is that bastard?!I mean, I knew he had issues, I just didn’t think he was certifiably insane.A complete and utter babe and disgrace to this world.Oh, I will kill him.I will break his entire bones and bathe in his blood and I will laugh while doing it.“Uh, are you okay?”I look over at Lisa to see her staring at my hands. Looking down, I see that I have already smashed mug in my fist and it’s now bleeding.“Damn it!” I curse as I head to the sink, shaking out the sheds as I let the cold water run through the wound.Within seconds, the gash has closed.“Viktor?”“He was her alpha!” I snarl. “And her mate! Two reasons to protect her and he… wow. I have never wanted to kill someone more than I want to kill him right now. What kind of person is he?!