I was warm when I opened my eyes. Though my body still ached, I wasn’t dead. It wasn’t the rain-wet pavement I expected, but a bedroom. I gasped at the sight around me. The room was beautiful.
The furniture was all made of sleek straight lines, but the quality of it all made it seem more modern than Spartan. I drew my hand across the sheets over me with wonder. They weren’t silk, but they were the softest thing I had ever felt.
I’d made it. Instead of running me over, the limo bearing the symbol of the Full Moon Pack had stopped and brought me here.
I was at the alpha king’s estate. I had to be.
“You’re awake!” A woman’s voice said, pulling me from my thoughts. She was dressed in a simple white button-up shirt, skirt, and a white apron. “I hope you’re hungry.”
My stomach growled as I caught the scent of meat from the tray.
"Where am I?"
I prayed to the moon goddess that I wasn’t wrong.
“In the home of Alpha King Candido,” she said, shaking out a napkin to put over my lap. She set a tray over my lap and loaded it with food. “Best eat quickly. He’ll be done with his call soon and up to see you soon after.”
I couldn't speak, but I picked up my fork and ate as the woman turned to leave. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. I devoured everything, almost crying with thanks for the alpha king’s kindness and that I had made it.
My heart raced as I thought of the Alpha King.
What would happen to me now? The food was delicious and filling, but I couldn’t focus on that. Rumor had it that Candido was a bloodthirsty and brutal dictator who killed his father and brother to become the Alpha King.
What was I going to do? The thought of meeting him was terrifying, but he was my only chance at freedom. I had to find a way to stay.
A knock sounded on the door, and a second later, the door swung open. The woman hustled in ahead of the large, handsome man in a three-piece suit. I said nothing as she darted to my bedside, cleared away the dishes, and pushed the cart out.
The door closed behind her, and I looked up at the man, searching for some hope that I could convince him. His expression was cold and aloof as he looked at me and approached the bed. He walked with the grace of an adult werewolf and maybe a little more. While he was handsome, his eyes were a beautiful shade of green that seemed to hold me captive.
His gaze dragged over I form swiftly as he crossed the room. I swallowed past my terror and got onto my knees. My limbs were shaky, but I crawled to the edge and fell to the floor at his feet. I didn’t care how pathetic I looked. I was pathetic, and if it would help my case at all, I’d do anything.
“Alpha King, Your Majesty, I beg you to grant me sanctuary with your pack,” I said, trembling.
“Why?” He asked. His voice was rich and deep but cold. It sent a chill through me.
“M-My father and stepmother plan to sell me to an old alpha of a pack for an alliance, but I have no reason to agree and no loyalty to my birth pack.”
“Why is that my problem? Who are you?”
I clenched my fists in the plush softness of the rug beneath me.
“My name is Hedy. I’m the daughter of the current alpha of the Wolf Fang Pack and his previous wife.” I closed my eyes, pushing down my emotions as I went on. “My stepmother and half-sister have bullied me my entire life because my mom died. My father doesn’t care about me at all… He only sees me as a tool and a reminder he doesn’t want.”
My eyes burned. That had been one of the hardest parts of it all.
I looked up at Candido, meeting his gaze and letting him see how close to tears I was.
“I have nowhere else to go, Your Majesty.”
His eyes seemed unmoved. His expression hadn’t changed at all. Did he really not feel anything about my situation? The rumors seemed to be true. Tears sprung from my eyes, and I wracked my mind for something to offer, something to do. My stomach jolted as I dragged my gaze over him. He was a handsome man.
Hadn’t I heard once that every man wanted a younger, inexperienced lover?
I clenched my jaw. My pride burned, but I knew to be sent away would just start the clock for when the Wolf Fang Pack’s associates would find me and drag me back to my fate.
It was better to lay down my pride now by choice than have it ripped from me.
I pulled my dress over my head, shivering a little as the cool air wrapped around me, and fear made me more nervous.
“I’ll do anything,” I said. “Anything you want if you would just let me stay.”
I knew this probably wasn’t the first time he had been propositioned, but what other choice did I have? I had nothing else to offer him.
“How old are you?”
“T-Twenty,” I bit my lower lip, stuttering on the lie and hoping he wouldn’t call me on it. “I’m an adult.”
His nostrils flared. I hoped that was a good thing even though his expression hadn’t changed. I reached for the hooks of my bra as Candido grabbed me by my arm and lifted me off the ground. I swooned a bit as he hefted me onto the bed easily and pinned me down with the weight of his body.
I trembled but turned my head, allowing him to drag his nose along my neck and breathe in my scent. I didn’t know what I smelled like to him. Did I smell good? Could he smell what that woman had done to me?
Did I smell like I was lying? I held still. He shifted just a bit, seemingly retreating, and I flung my arms around his neck, holding him down.
“Please, Alpha King,” I said. My voice trembled even as I tried to sound sultry. “I’m… sure I can please you.”
His lips twitched into a sneer. He pulled my arms from his neck and pulled back. His eyes flashed with his wolf. My heart lurched. I curled into a ball, bracing for him to strike me or yell at me.
I closed my eyes, too frightened to look up at him and see what expression was on his face now.
All I could hope was that he would kill me quickly if that’s what he wanted.
Better dead than the fate that woman and my father had planned for me.
“Do you know what happens when you lie to the Alpha King, little girl?”
I shuddered. He knew. I should have known that he would know I wasn’t twenty. I wanted to plead or explain, but the words turned into a squeak of terror as my tears flowed down my cheeks. I couldn’t breathe. He was going to kill me. He was definitely going to kill me, and no one would care. The Wolf Fang Pack was a small one like those that tended to get involved with vampires to try and secure more power. Did he think I was a threat? Would he try to interrogate me? Werewolf society had fallen into chaos since the vampires had united under their king and began to infiltrate and sabotage the smaller packs. Before I could say anything to assure him, he spoke. “Look at me,” he commanded. My eyes popped open, obeying him and hoping that I didn’t look like a threat. “ How about we play a game?” “A-A game?” He narrowed his eyes and gave me a slow, cruel smile. “If you win, I’ll grant you sanctuary.” My eyes widened with a spark of hope. “But if you lose….” The ride was silent. The
Tonight was the Noble Academy’s welcome-back dinner for the new year. Most of the women in attendance weren’t here for an education or to better themselves. They were dressed like they were walking the red carpet and wore so much makeup that they looked fake. Still, the gleam of their jewelry and their figures caught the attention of most of the men who were starting school with us. Some of it was tasteful, but a lot of it just seemed like they were flaunting their wealth needlessly. Claire and I sat in the corner of the room, away from most of the other tables, uninterested in speaking to most of the others in the room. Claire and I were so underdressed for the event that we looked like we didn’t belong, and that was fine for us. We weren’t here to make friends. We had each other, and that was enough. Claire was the daughter of the Full Moon Pack’s Secretary of State. She was important enough that it would never matter what she wore. She was also as beautiful as her mother, with a
Candido watched me carefully. “We’re going home so you can change for the event.” A protest rose to my lips, but I swallowed it and sat up straight. I was a member of the Full Moon Pack. I hadn’t been Hedy of the Wolf Fang Pack in four years. There was no sense in being afraid of a small pack that posed no threat to me or the Full Moon Pack. So, I sat back and nodded. “I hope you didn’t pick out an orange dress.” "Of course not.” The dress was a shimmering nude and white dress that flattered me as if it was made to fit me. Knowing Candido, it probably had been. I promised not to be afraid. I kept a brave face from the time I got dressed until I returned to the car to ride to the banquet hall on the other side of the capital city. Still, my stomach turned with nerves. When we arrived, I stepped out of the car with Candido and looked up at the banquet. Before, there was no way that my father would have been able to afford such a thing. Either the pack was doing well, or the
Candido’s voice pulled me out of my flashback. I sucked in a sharp breath and looked up at him. He gazed at my face, his eyebrows furrowed. "Don't be afraid." My tears fell from my eyes at his words. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. I leaned back and took a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart. The sight and sounds of the banquet hall filled my senses, and I averted my gaze from my father. Everything was fine. Candido was here. I would never have to go back. I would never be abused again. “Nothing,” I said, shaking off the scare and clenching my hand to hide my trembling. “I’m fine.” “I’m not done—” Steven’s voice broke off. He stepped back and went a bit pale. I could only imagine Candido was glaring at him as he tightened his grip around my waist. Silence filled the air again as they glared at each other. Lilian’s words came back to me, and I remembered the conversations Candido and I had over the years. Steven had reached out to t
“Poor girl.” “Honestly, she shouldn’t have been allowed to come if she was going to act like that.” No one would believe me now. I turned, looking for Candido. Yet, Bella had grabbed my dress with her bleeding hand. “Trying to run away again, Hedy? Like every time you’ve done bad things to me?” Bella asked, her voice just loud enough to be heard by everyone and stir up more whispers. “Haven’t you learned anything?” I looked at her bloody hand and then at the sneer in her eyes. I knew her well enough to know that the moment she saw me in this dress, she wanted to take it from me or destroy it. It wasn’t the first time she’d taken or destroyed something of mine because she wanted and couldn’t happen. All the memories of my mother I should have had after her death, keepsakes and mementos, had been lost to Bella’s jealousy and selfishness. I dropped my gaze to her neck, where my mother’s necklace hung, gleaming on her collar. Bella tugged at my dress and grabbed another fis
I turned, relieved to see Candido coming through the crowd. They parted and bowed their heads. No one said a thing, probably quaking at the thought they might have been heard bad-mouthing me and agreeing with Eric. “You must be, speaking to anyone in my pack that way. Perhaps you’d like your pack to pay the price for your idiocy?” His eyes narrowed. “Penance is owed, isn’t it?” Eric paled and stepped back, glancing at me and then dropping his gaze. Candido glared at him, daring him to say anything as the raw power of his presence loomed over Eric. Bella shifted the top of her dress down, just enough to reveal more of her cleavage. She looked ridiculous, but Candido didn’t even glance at her. His gaze swept past Bella and Lilian down to the blood-stained corner of my dress. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Hedy,” he said. “Are you alright?” I swallowed and gave him a trembling smile as I nodded. It wasn’t a lie. Now that he was here, I was just fine. I stepped closer to
I closed my eyes, bracing for pain or more yelling. I heard a loud crack and a shriek of pain as I tried to get my heart to calm down. Candido’s scent filled my nose as I buried my face in the fabric of the back of his suit and breathed. Candido was here. I was safe. I would always be safe if he was here. When I opened my eyes, a security officer of Team Gamma was standing between Candido and Bella. She was crumpled on the ground, holding her wrist and wailing in agony. Tears rolled down her face as she gasped and shuddered on the ground. The officer turned his head just slightly, never turning his gaze from Bella. “Will that be sufficient, Your Majesty?” Bella shuddered and lifted her head. She glared at me through the curtain of her hair that was still a bit wet from the wine she’d spilled on herself. My mother’s necklace glinted in the low light as it swung, and she heaved. “I’m going to make your life a living hell, Hedy!” She shrieked. “For now,” Candido sai
He winced. “His Majesty has asked not to be disturbed. He’s reviewing documents.” I nodded. “Well, make sure he eats something. He gets cranky when he’s hungry.” Allen chuckled. “Of course, Miss Hedy.” When the house was quiet, and I was certain that no one would hear me, I locked the door to my bedroom and closed the thick curtains around my bed. I pulled the hidden panel in the headboard out and put on my headset. “Pandora to Moon Shadow, online,” I said. The screen of the computer shifted as the computer recognized my voice and initialized the unlocking protocols to the private messaging board of Moon Shadow. In the wake of the chaos that had started to infect werewolf society after the rise of the vampire king, Moon Shadow was formed to help combat it. The organization was made up of only werewolves with awakened bloodlines. No one knew anyone’s real name, faces, or voices, but we all shared a common vision: bringing about the unity and peace of the werewolf world, f