Chapter One

I stand there and watch in disgust as the neighboring pack's Alpha tours our camp. He walks through the woods and looks us females up and down as if we are something to be bought in a store. How could our leaders sell us out like this?

I guess I know how, though I don’t want to admit it. We all knew this was coming. We’ve all been waiting anxiously to see what our leaders would do to protect us from this threat.

This is what they’ve chosen.

Our pack is weak, or at least weaker than theirs. The neighboring pack had grown too strong, especially since this horrid new Alpha took over. They’ve slaughtered packs around us. We’ve come across bloody encampments, viciously torn apart by these monsters.

We know they can kill us any time.

So, they struck a deal: the neighboring Alpha won't kill us. But in return, he gets to choose whatever mate he wants. Apparently none of the other women he’s come across so far have been good enough for him. And this is how he’ll maintain his control.

He’ll keep someone from our pack at his side. And if the pack goes against him, that woman will be killed. If his mate goes against him, the pack will be killed. It’s a sick ploy to get us all to do what he wants.

But first, there has to be a lottery. If my name is picked, then I have to be one of the ten girls that lines up for him to inspect, like a prize a child might choose at a carnival or something.

And then he'll get to choose any one of us he desires.

I brace myself as our pack leader draws straws.

Please don't pick me, I think.

Please don't pick me!

Please don't...

Our Alpha draws a name.

Mine.

I stare at him, confused.

He looks back at me, eyes cold and merciless.

"Katia, come here,” he says.

I feel like I'm in a dream as I walk over to him, my eyes downcast.

"Lift your head. Look at me,” he instructs.

I look up at him. He's even bigger close up. I’ve always been taught to respect the Alpha, we all have. We all do as he says. He’s kind and just. He’s the perfect leader. But now, I want to run away from him. I can’t do this.

"You know what this means?" he asks. "You know what you have to do?"

I nod. "Yes, I know."

"Tell me."

"I have to go with him,” I mumble. “As his mate."

He nods. "Go, then. I’m sorry but that’s what needs to be done. We need to protect our pack. We all must make sacrifices."

"I don't want to go!” I protest.

He grabs my chin between his thumb and forefinger. "You have no choice,” he says. “It’s for the good of every single wolf in this pack. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

I turn to go. I'm terrified.

I just have to do what he says.

I have to try to give him what he wants.

I shudder as I walk over to the other Alpha. But the other Alpha beats me to it: he stops right before me and stares at me.

My heart is pounding.

"What's your name?" he asks me.

He's so close I can feel his breath on my face.

This is the worst thing that could have happened. I'm going to have to mate with a guy who's a total stranger to me.

And I'm going to have to let him do anything he wants to me.

But that's just the rule. It’s what I have to do to keep my pack safe. Or else we’ll end up like all of the rest of the wolves he’s killed.

We should fight instead. I want us to rise up against him. But we’re too weak. We wouldn’t survive. We’d die like all the rest.

I have to do this.

I take a deep breath.

"Katia.”

He looks down at me with a cocky smile and I hate him.

This jerk comes in here, looks over each of us like we're some sort of piece of meat, and then he gets to choose who he wants to take back to his den.

This is the way the world works.

We're in a dire situation. Our pack is in danger. And in order to survive, we have to give up the things that are the most important to us.

Still, I don't want to mate with this Alpha.

He holds my chin in his hand and pulls my face up.

"What's wrong?" he asks me. "You seem shocked that I picked you."

"Please don't choose me," I beg.

"Why not?" he laughs at me.

I want to slap him across the face.

"You're brave enough to stand up to me,” he says. “I like that. I like that a lot. Yet I see a deeper fear within you."

My eyes widen in shock. How can he read me so well? It gives him an advantage I don’t want him to have.

"I'm not afraid," I protest.

"That's not what I see," he says. "You are afraid of me."

"I'm not," I say, even though it's a complete lie.

I’m terrified of him.

None of these girls want anything to do with this despicable Alpha who has always threatened our pack. He's disgusting. I can't believe he thinks he can just stroll in here and pick out a mate.

He can though. That’s the most frustrating part.

As his warm fingers touch my face, I try to pull my head away, but he tightens his grip.

"I'm not your mate," I say.

"You'll learn to like it. I'll take this one," the Alpha says, staring at me.

My heart sinks like a stone at his words.

"She looks like a nice morsel," he says. "Too bad we can only take one. But everyone knows a wolf only has one mate. It’s tradition, and I lean into these traditions. I always respect them, as that’s what gives me power.

"Anyway," he turns back to the Alpha of our pack. "You've got my answer. I'm taking her tonight."

The Alpha of our pack nods.

He walks off, and I immediately turn to my Alpha.

"How can you do this?" I ask. "How can you allow this to happen? How can you allow him to just take me away?"

"I have no choice," he says, some of the coldness fading to show his true feelings.

"Why?" I cry. "Why not?"

He shakes his head. "If I don't give this to him, he'll have his warriors attack us. That's what they do. That's how they rule. They attack. You’ve already seen the damage they’ve brought upon other packs.”

The whole pack looks at me with pitiful eyes.

"We all knew this was coming," my friend, Lily says, her voice dripping with disappointment as tears fall from her eyes. "We knew this was how it was going to be. We knew one of us was going to be chosen.”

They’re right. I knew this was how it was going to be.

I just didn't want to believe it.

"Fine," I say. "I'll go."

"You can hate me...” the Alpha looks into my eyes.

"I do,” I say.

"But I don't have a choice,” he protests. “I'm not going to allow my pack to be slaughtered."

My throat tightens as my eyes begin to tear up. I feel a lump in my throat.

"Katia, go," he says.

I stare at him, my eyes burning with tears.

But my throat is tight, and I can't speak.

He puts a hand on my back.

"This is the way things have to be," he says. "For now. It's for the good of our pack."

He pauses.

"Be careful," he says. "He's dangerous."