Daniel didn’t stop fucking the woman. His hand twisted into her blonde hair, keeping her face down as if that could hide her from his fiancé. Maddie paused in the doorway, forcing herself to let the image burn into her mind. She knew he had a way with words and would try and smooth things over with her, but she wouldn’t allow it. There was no way in hell that she would let that man ever touch her again. She swallowed the lump in her throat. The lump that reminded her of how many times he had held her over the past two years, how many times he had kissed her, how many times he had told her he loved her. It had all been bullshit. How else could he be balls deep in another woman on the day of her birthday; of their engagement celebration?
The woman beneath him moaned louder now that she knew she had an audience, and the sound was enough to jerk Maddie from her shock. She knew it was Stacey. That bitch’s high-pitched voice was too grating to mistake.
“Am I not enough for you, Baby?” She managed to push herself up and smile at Maddie, victory in her eyes. “You’ve never complained before. Not about me at least.”
Maddie didn’t know who was worse; Stacey or Daniel. Both sneered at her, but the expression looked so foreign on her fiancé's... Ex fiancé's face. What had happened to the man she loved? The man who had held her tenderly that morning, in that very bed, and told her he couldn't wait to be her mate. She wrapped an arm around her stomach as it turned violently, but she refused to throw up. Instead, she kept her head high as she strode into the room, ignoring the couple on the bed. Their jeers and laughter weren’t worth her effort, though she couldn’t deny their sting, but as soon as she grabbed a bag and began packing, their taunts soon fell away.
Thick silence hung in the air and Maddie felt eyes on her. Clearly, she wasn’t reacting the way Daniel had expected, and that gave her a sliver of satisfaction to hold onto. It was just enough to tame the urge to rush the bed, fists flying.
“Aw, are you upset?” He sneered, though his voice had lost its bite. “Come on Mads, your pheromones aren’t sweet enough for me. You can’t blame me for looking elsewhere.” He laughed.
Except he hadn’t done that. Just that morning he had told her that her scent was the most delicious thing he had ever smelled. He had always told her they were compatible. He had told her... Well, it didn’t matter anymore. It was all bullshit. It wasn’t as if his scent set her body on fire. Not the way she had been promised would happen when she found her true compatible partner, but she was willing to be with him anyway because she loved him. Not anymore.
Her blood boiled, but she schooled her expression and continued, ignoring the nagging pressure behind her eyes that wanted to spill the emotion she was desperately trying to control.
“What are you doing?” The first edge of panic leaked into his voice. She was always better at fitting her leadership mask than he was.
Maddie only grabbed her most valuable items; the picture of her family, some of her books, her favourite dress that he never let her wear. It was just enough to fit in a small bag, that she slung over her shoulder before heading for the drawers. Without so much as a cursory glance in their direction, she fisted a few of her clothes inside.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Daniel’s voice rose to a shout, but she didn’t care to answer.
“Let her leave. Then I’ll get you all to myself.” Stacey purred, throwing Maddie a smirk, like bagging a cheating scumbag was something to be proud of.
“She’s not leaving.” He growled, the sound making his whore cringe away. He may not have ascended to Alpha just yet, but the strength of his future role rang in his tone.
“Actually, I am.” Maddie’s voice was stronger than she expected it to be, as she closed her bag. The zip echoed the roar of her anger that she hid behind a stoic mask, but her eyes held her cold fury.
“You can’t.” He hissed, his smirk dropping away.
She snorted and turned her back on him. What had he expected her to do? Beg for him to stop and stay with her? Allow him to sleep around while they were mated? Fuck that. He had lost her now and there would be no second chances.
“Get the fuck back here, Maddie.” Daniel growled, but she brushed it off. “You are in my pack; you will listen to me.”
His roar made the floor vibrate but she didn’t cower. Instead, she hesitated at the door and locked a harsh gaze on him, relishing the way he jerked back. Not only was he not the Alpha, but he would never deserve the title. The way an Alpha treated his Luna echoed the way they ran the pack, and she would never allow Silver Moon to be ruled by a cheat whose word meant fuck all.
“You are not my Alpha, and you will never be my mate.” She spoke the words so calmly that they took a moment to sink in, but by the time his anger echoed after her, she was already halfway down the corridor.
Ashen faces greeted her as she strode down the stairs, her face the picture of indifference. She didn’t doubt that most of the ladies, who were preparing the hall, had heard her altercation with Daniel and they all stopped their activities to watch her descend. Maddie was eager to get out of there, but she didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to her friend. Rose rushed up to meet her at the base of the steps, her eyes flitting between her and the stairs behind as she blocked her path. “Please don’t leave.” She whimpered. “I’m so sorry you found out like this but...” Maddie’s stomach dropped. “You knew?” For the first time, her voice weakened as she looked at her friend of three years. She had been the first friend she had made when she first moved to Red Dawn. Regret lined Rose’s expression, but there was no trace of a lie as the truth finally surfaced. She took a step back, white knuckling the strap of her bag. “You knew?” The words dripped like poison from her lips, tainted
“That bastard.” Jess growled. Maddie cheered and downed another shot, though her numb lips didn’t quite catch all the liquid and she had to wipe a dribble of tequila from her chin. She watched the blurred shape of her friend grimace as she downed her own, and then shakily topped up both of their glasses. The bottle spluttered out the last of its contents but the night was still young. Aside from sending a curt mindlink to her father to explain the ball and her engagement had been called off, Jess’ house was her first stop. They had barely seen each other in the past three years, but their childhood friendship had never died. “I always hated him you know.” “No you didn’t.” Maddie crooked an eyebrow at her. “True.” She grumbled. “But now I do! And his mother? If I meet that bitch, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind” Her growl dissolved into a hiccup as Maddie forced another shot down her neck. Between their take-a-shot-every-time-Jess-swears game and the room full of Silver M
Despite her pounding head, Maddie was in the Alpha’s office, and standing before her father’s desk, five minutes before he strode in from the morning training session. With a bit of makeup and luck on her side, she could cover most of the effects of her late night drinking, but she knew he would know anyway. His warriors had been on her for a reason, and she had done her best not to disappoint his low expectations of her. When the door to the office opened, her back pulled straighter and her shoulders squared, as she waited for his scrutiny. The Alpha barely gave her a cursory glance, as he passed by and pulled the curtains behind his desk wide to let the morning sunlight pierce into the room. Maddie winced as the bright light cut across her vision, but she resisted turning away from its glare. The darkness had been a comfort against the storm in her head, but she hadn’t expected it to last. A thick silence held in the air. She supposed most families would greet each other with hugs
Her eyes were closed to the rough wind whipping around her, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Stood at the cliff’s edge, on the highest point of the island, Maddie was home. Those rocks were as familiar to her as her childhood bedroom and, if she wanted to, she could walk the edge blindfolded without a single stumble. Many times, those cliffs had wiped away her tears and that day was no different. Below her, she could hear the swells and breaks of the sea against the rocks, churning up white foam that skittered across the surface before the next wave lapped again. The sea was relatively calm, its movement a gentle shimmer in her ears. The salty air was bitter on her lips, and she inhaled it like a life force. Too long she had been away from its comfort. Too long she had been on the mainland and away from home. The sharp drop, a mere step before her, was one of the many reasons for Silver Moon’s long lasting strength. It was a thirty metre climb for whoever dared to approach from the
“Come on, Mads.” Lewis chuckled, his breath even. “Did you completely stop training at Red Dawn?” “For your. Information. I worked out. Every. Day.” She panted, keeled over with her hands planted on her knees. “It’s not. My fault. That you warriors. Are freakishly. Fit.” Maddie tried to growl her frustrations, but her lungs wheezed instead. They had only been sparring for thirty minutes and she was already buggered. Every muscle ached like she had been running for hours, and everywhere he had landed a hit already hurt and she knew she’d be covered in bruises. Despite her best efforts, she could see that he was barely trying. Not only was he fit enough to run circles around her, but he was taking it easy on her; slowing down his movements and reducing the force behind his hits. It's no wonder he had struggled when he first joined the warriors. Back then he was the same level she was, but there was a vast change in him now. The difference was staggering and made her reluctant to cont
The weight of the finery she had been dressed in, before being thrust into a room off the grand hall, held Maddie in place. It made her shoulders ache to wear so much jewellery and she struggled to keep the distaste of it off her heavily painted face. It had taken a group of three women all morning to make sure that she looked like the perfect Luna. However, Maddie couldn’t help but wonder how any of the game entrants were supposed to know what she truly looked like beneath it all. It would be a shame for the winner to change his mind once he saw the real her. With her corset too tight, her heels too high, her hair too straight and every blemish on her face covered, she’d barely recognise herself either. It was all a part of the games though and she had been thoroughly prepared for it by her father. Maddie was to attend each event, dressed in the same finery and be on her best behaviour. Outside of each trial, she was to stay in the packhouse or with a guard. That empty room was the c
A trail of wolves came and went. Some she was definitely compatible with, giving her a modicum of relief against the dread Daniel’s presence had planted in her stomach, and some she definitely wasn’t. There were more entrants than Maddie expected, but she did her duty each time; acting exactly as she was required, befitting her future role and her father’s expectations. The only times she had broken her steadfast composure was when Lewis and Jess came into the room. Lewis was first, early on in the process. Immediately, she recognised his scent and gave him a smile, or at least she tried to aim it in his general direction. Knowing her friend was with her gave Maddie a rare moment to relax as she released her pheromones. Growing up together it was inevitable that they had smelled each other's over the years. Before wolves matured, pheromone release was difficult, leading to more than a few embarrassing stories for both of them. Once a wolf turned eighteen, everything became easier. Unl
Maddie jumped. She tumbled forward to get away from the sudden voice behind her. Adrenaline spiked in her veins, but her body wasn't used to wearing heels when trying to escape a threat and she felt herself tipping. Before she could fall, a hand wrapped around her arm, keeping her steady until she found her balance again. It’s palm was warm, and she noticed its rough callouses against her skin, though his hold was gentle. “You’re jumpy.” Amusement rolled around the word, bringing Maddie back from her shock. She snatched her arm from his grip and glared, her fingers twitching to remove her blindfold. “Of course I’m jumpy, you just scared the crap out of me.” She hissed. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn’t you answer me?” There was no reply for a few seconds and her eyes narrowed further at the presence before her. “Did you just fucking shrug? I can’t see dip shit.” “Sorry.” He rumbled, but she could hear the smile in his voice. “For which part?” She growled through gritted