As Dad and I stood by the creek in the forest, all that was running through my head was of me becoming this bad person. All growing up, I was as nice as possible to everyone I met and when they’d do me wrong, I was too naive to notice. I just let it happen.

Perhaps the Darkness hadn’t overwhelmed me because it wasn’t so constant. It wasn’t looming over me as it had been for the past month. With everything that had happened, I was starting to understand my dad’s fear of why he would think I was going dark.

To say that I was frightened, was an understatement. Dad had mentioned that Quail Wolves lose their humanity.

Did that mean I was going to be taken over by my wolf? Did this mean my wolf and human side would no longer share this body? Would I become an evil person?

My vision began to blur the longer I stared at the creek. My heart sunk at the possibility that my life was going to change for the worse. More than it already has.

“Daddy…” I whimpered, looking at my dad with wide eyes. “Daddy, I’m frightened!”

My dad pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head and shook his own that he was going to help me. That he and the rest of my family were going to help me control my wolf from taking over.

“As long as you see the good in everything, Gigi, there will be good in you. I know there’s more good in you than bad. I’ve seen it all your life. I have no doubt that we can beat this. That you can beat this.”

I cried harder against him, wrapping my arms tighter. The fear in me was worse now.

“And,” Dad paused to swallow hard. “And I’m going to make sure no one hurts you should they find out about you. I won’t let them. You are meant for great things, like protecting this pack—which is why I think fate had given you an alpha as a mate—but I feel like it was so much more than that, Gigi. I feel you were meant to be more than just an Alpha Female.”

Dad sighed, resting his cheek on my head.

“I know you’re scared, Button. But don’t think for one minute I will let you fall prey to the Darkness. I’d give my very last breath to make sure you don’t turn.”

I snuggled closer, letting my tears fall down my face. It was comforting to be in his arms and I wanted to pretend I was little again when he’d tell me the Quail Wolf bed time story. Back then that’s all it was. A story. Now it was something that would define who I was since I was thirteen.

Pulling my head up to look at Dad, he looked down at me with a tearful smile. He wasn’t a man to really cry about things, but I could see why he would now. He took his thumbs and wiped away my tears simultaneously.

Dad breathed out, “You have a beautiful soul, Gianna. I, and the others, will only be able to help so much. Only you will be strong enough to fight back and not let it claim you.”

It was at this moment that Dad grinned a bit, chuckling, “I see your wolf side is confused about whether it should be taking dominance with this discussion. Your eyes keep flickering from gold to blue.” He was still holding my face in his hands.

After Dad kissed my forehead, I shut my eyes, slowly calming down from the loving touch.

When I opened my eyes, Dad smirked, “There. The human side of you is back in control. Seems a little love is all you need, Button.”

I smiled, swallowing down the lump in my throat and nodded.

My dad sighed, with a nod to the side, “Come on. I’m sure your mom and siblings are worried about you. Plus… Mom’s going to be a bit irritated you broke her furniture.”

My wince didn’t go unnoticed by Dad and he laughed, kissing the side of my head as he promised he wouldn’t let Mom scold me too much. I rested my head against him as we walked out towards the clearing and Dad reminded me that Sawyer still didn’t know about me so that I was to be careful.

I nodded as we exited the forest and were walking up to our house. Mom was the first to come outside with a half irritated and half worried look on her face. She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head.

“Young lady, that is the last time you decide to involve my furniture in your tantrums!”

I glanced up at Dad who grinned as a silent, ‘Told you so’.

I smiled before apologizing to Mom and hugged her tightly. She stiffened a moment but then hugged me. She pulled her head back, asking if I was alright, and I nodded that I would be. My gaze met Dad’s and he knew my words meant something much more than what Mom was asking.

“Alright then. Why don’t you come inside? The others have been worried about you, and Sawyer is questioning your sister about this whole mate fiasco!”

Mom led the way inside and I sighed, “I love Mom.”

Dad grinned, nodding that he loved her too. He lightly pushed me forward to head inside where my siblings came rushing at me to ask if I was alright and where I was all by myself. I laughed that I was fine, and that Dad and I were in the forest, talking. I assured them there was nothing to worry about. My siblings seemed to not care for my vague explanation but relented, glad that I was OK.

Leave it to Cody to bring life back into the room when he broke the silence and asked, “Dad? What’s for dinner?”

Dad grinned, chuckling as he ruffled my brother’s hair that it was Cody’s favorite tonight; meat loaf.

Cody’s nose scrunched, his hazel eyes widened. “Ugh, gross! You’re not serious, are you?”

“No,” Dad laughed. “It’ll be Gigi’s choice tonight. What’s for dinner, Button?”

My younger brother looked at me with pleading eyes as he mouthed something to me. I pretended to look upward with my finger tapping my chin.

Pursing my lips I squinted at the air. “Hm… I think…”

I glanced at Cody whose fingers were clasped together in front of his chin and he was mumbling incoherently with his eyes closed. Smiling, I told Dad that I was craving Fettuccine Alfredo.

“Good choice!” Dad smirked, looking at my brother who roared excitedly in a deep voice, “YEEEEESSSSS!” and curled his fists out in front of him. A true champion moment.

I watched my parents head into the kitchen. Dad was whispering something to her and she nodded to whatever he said.

Wade and Sawyer stared at Cody who was turning his head to each of them as my little brother proclaimed he was going to whoop their asses in some war video game. That is… if Cody ever got the chance to get a hold of the third controller the older men purposely hid somewhere in the house.

Cece was draped on her mate’s arm, frowning as she scolded our younger brother for cursing.

Seeing they were all preoccupied, I went up to my room and laid down for a bit. I stared up at the ceiling with my hands on my stomach.

The talk in the forest was replaying in my mind, and the thought of trying to make sure I didn’t fall to the dark side of being a Quail Wolf was giving me such a headache. I was still scared of what would happen if I let this control me entirely.

It just made me think how easily I could be taken advantage of with what Dad was telling me. But I was determined to not let harm come to my family or pack. I was not going to let their protection of me all these years go to waste just so that I fall into the Darkness my wolf side was so curious about.

I sat up looking around the room and nodded to myself that my promise to my dad so many years ago—that I made as a child would stand from this day forward. The promise that I was going to be able to protect my family from the bad. I could do it, I know I could because there was enough good in me to fight back. Even if it was from myself.

.დ.❧.

Three days after the announcement of Molly’s pregnancy, exiling Ridge from my life, and the talk in the forest with my dad, Eden and I were sitting on my porch. We weren’t really talking; just seated there as we watched the rest of the pack go about their day.

Every now and then, Mom would come and refill our glasses with lemonade. It tasted so good with the hot weather we were having. Eden kept downing her drink and eagerly waited for Mom to make her appearance with a new filled pitcher.

“Soooo, I heard Alpha Hannibal’s pack will be leaving next week,” Eden broke our silence. She couldn’t appreciate silence as much as I did.

I nodded, using my fingernail to scrape at a dirt spot on my sneaker. “That’s nice.”

Eden sighed, muttering, “After the wedding…”

My eyes looked up, staring at the last step of the porch after she spoke. When I didn’t say anything, I could feel Eden staring at me. Nervous about my reaction. Though I guess confirming the rumors that your ex-mate’s wedding had been moved up due to a surprise pregnancy was inevitable.

Still refusing to meet her gaze, I took a deep breath and continued to scratch at my sneaker with my jaw locked. “Good on them, I guess.”

We sat silently for point five seconds before Eden scoffed, shaking her head. She frowned at me. “You can’t seriously be alright with Ridge and Molly getting married, Gigi!”

I looked at her, stunned while Eden glared out in the open. She shook her head, growling out how angry this all made her.

“That’s total bullshit that she ends up winning… again! That Molly deliberately took your mate just to spite you, and then she probably saw how much in love with you Ridge was falling in, and now—”

Eden rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She was really worked up over this.

“Molly pretty much plays check mate with this whole pregnancy shit! What a load of crap!”

“What do you expect, Eden?” I frowned. “What’d you think was going to happen? That after the number of times they screwed each other, there wasn’t going to end up something just like this?”

I scoffed, staring down at my shoes.

“They are going to be parents. I was not going to come between that. That’d be the scandal of the year for him to have a baby with someone who wasn’t his mate while running the pack with someone who was.”

Scrunching my nose, I shrugged, “Besides… Molly was one step ahead of me, and rubbed it in my face that Ridge would forever be hers. So that’s why I did it. That’s why I broke whatever could have been with Ridge.”

Frowning again, I stared ahead, muttering, “Now I just have this Quail Wolf thing to worry about.”

Eden grew quiet, looking down. Her brows furrowed as she asked, “Yeah… How’s that going for you anyway?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s contained at the moment. I don’t have Molly and Ridge to worry about anymore so there’s really nothing that will provoke me to wanting to become some heinous bitch from hell.”

“Are you scared?” Eden whispered.

I looked at her, seeing the fright in her eyes.

Pursing my mouth to the side, I shook my head and replied, “Not really. Not as much as when Dad and I first talked about it. I’ve slowly become myself again. Like I said, there’s nothing really to provoke me. So my wolf side shouldn’t feel the urge to take full control again. I think something extremely drastic would have to take place for that to happen.”

We looked at each other and Eden reached over to place her hand on mine.

My best friend grinned. “I’m sure you are sick of people telling you how special you are, Gigi. But you truly are. It’s hard not thinking badly of others at anything that they do wrong, but you…? You always see the good in people. Even Molly who you somehow weaved out a reason why she wasn’t a bitch.”

My friend raised her brows, tilting her head in my direction.

“Though I totally disagree! She’s still a bitch in my book. Always has, always will be.”

I grinned, wrapping my arm around her and rested my head against hers. “You’re my best friend, Eden. A true one. And I should have acknowledged that a long time ago. But thank you for being by me all this time.”

“You got it, pal!” Eden chuckled. “And as payment of being such a true friend, I find it only fitting that you let me hook up with that hot specimen brother of yours.”

I sat up, shoving her lightly as my friend laughed when being knocked over to the side. Eden chuckled that she was sort of joking and that a girl could dream.

I rolled my eyes, muttering, “Pervert.” That had her laugh harder.

I turned away from her still laughing as she let herself lie back on the porch. Shaking my head, I scanned the area of where we were. Everything felt nice despite the heat that required so much lemonade intake.

As I was admiring my surroundings, I saw Nikko walking up the road towards us.

“Hey… Isn’t that Nikko?” I asked Eden.

Eden sat up, raising her brows. “That is. Wonder what he wants?”

We waited patiently as the visitor approached with his hands in his pockets. The wind picked up the front part of his hair, off his forehead, and the stone like expression his dad wore all the time was on him. Nikko was looking down at the ground the whole time before lifting his ice blue eyes to us.

Nikko grinned, nodding, “Hey.”

We muttered the greeting back, staring as he stood in front of us. Nikko pursed his mouth to the side, rolling his shoulders back as though uncomfortable.

Frowning, I asked if he was alright.

Nikko’s brows furrowed, nodding that he seemed really antsy all of a sudden. Eden and I glanced at each other then looked back at him.

“You wanna take a seat?” I asked, gesturing to the open space beside me.

When Nikko nodded, stepping forward and seating himself, he still shifted around a bit. Like he couldn’t sit still too long.

I narrowed my eyes, watching him do this as Nikko forced out how we’ve been since the announcement about the Alpha Female.

“Future alpha female,” Eden pointed out, then snarled at the air in front of her.

Nikko rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You knew who I meant.”

I shrugged, replying I had been fine and just been keeping myself busy. I went back to scratching at my shoe.

“You mean since finding out that your True Mate impregnated someone other than you?”

Eden and I widened our eyes, whipping our heads in his direction. Nikko wore a smirk on his face, chuckling as he shook his head and stared ahead of him. He scoffed if we really thought it wasn’t so fucking obvious.

“Prince Sperm-a-lot only ran after you, Gomez, after you had this total meltdown on your face. Then warriors brought him back to the house shouting for them to let him go and that he needed to go back for you.”

I swallowed, frowning at this piece of information but then looked away as Nikko continued.

“Only someone as dense as my dad and Ridge’s would not see you two were actual mates. Sorry… but the rest of your pack is just as stupid.”

Nikko looked at me, raising a brow. “Messed him up pretty bad when you rejected him, huh?”

Not saying anything made the guy beside me nod.

“Figures. He looked completely torn up and at the moment, her highness is scurrying about the house for the wedding next week. I had to get out of there! She was trying to make me help out by pointing out to me where she wanted all the decorations.”

His nose scrunched, scoffing as he shook his head.

“Like I was going to lift a finger for that princess! She is so full of shit trying to be chummy with me after stealing the pudding that we had for dessert the first night here!”

Eden and I frowned at him and he glared at us.

“Pudding…?” I repeated.

“Pudding,” he confirmed with a curt nod. “Bitch took it right from my hands and claimed that she was allergic to chocolate so I had to give her my tapioca one. Is she allergic to chocolate?”

Eden snorted, “No. The only thing Molly enjoys more than chocolate and gummies, is the satisfaction of seeing others hurt because she’s fucking bored.”

Nikko raised a brow, tilting his head as he stated, “You’re a spicy little meatball, aren’t you?”

I grinned, glancing at Eden who blushed with her shoulders raised as she looked at Nikko.

The guy saw the look on her face and blinked hard, turning away to scoff, “Easy there. Don’t go doodling my name on your binder or anything. I don’t hook up with the likes of your gender anyway.”

My brows shot up, as did Eden’s when we stared at Nikko stretch his arms out to the front of him. He glanced at us then did a double take. “What…?”

“You’re gay?” Eden grinned.

Nikko scrunched his nose, looking at me for a moment to see the surprise on my face as well. He raised his brows, blinking, “You couldn’t tell?”

We shook our heads and he chuckled, “Well shit me sideways…”

I scrunched my nose, shaking my head at his comment. Nikko grinned at us that he is gay and had been for about a year, but that it was something he was finally okay with.

“Does your daddy know?” Eden smirked, adding that Alpha Hannibal didn’t seem like the type that would approve of having a homosexual son in his household.

Nikko frowned, sighing that his dad didn’t know. And that he wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. That discomforting fidgeting was happening again and Nikko was now muttering under his breath.

“But what about when you find your mate?” Eden asked. “Won’t you come out then?”

“Not if it means my father will be a potential threat to him.” Nikko craned his neck forward, raising his brows. “Can you imagine what kind of treatment we’d get if my father found out about my sexuality, and then meeting the person I’m supposed to spend all eternity with?”

I felt sorry for Nikko. He seemed to really want his father’s approval; to be in the right light for Alpha Hannibal. Now that I knew this small detail about Nikko, it looks like it wouldn’t be as easy for him to live happily ever after.

Welcome to my world, Nikko.

“My family would probably throw a party at someone coming out with a sexuality that’s different than hetero,” I muttered, frowning as I couldn’t understand why other parents weren’t as open-minded as mine.

Nikko narrowed his eyes and feigned a sneer. “Well aren’t you lucky.” He suddenly grinned, rolling his eyes then shrugged. “Maybe your dad can knock some sense into mine then.”

“My dad doesn’t just fight anyone for no reason, Nikko. My dad rarely does, actually,” I explained. “He is really just an advisory friend to the alpha at this point in his life. There hasn’t been any dire reason to call on him as a fighter for the pack.”

Nikko wiggled in his seat again, this time he growled in frustration before jumping to his feet and off the porch. He was facing us now and glared at where he’d been sitting before looking to us.

“The fuck is up with your porch, Gomez?!” Nikko looked up at the house, giving it a dirty sneer and grumbled, “Making me feel all uncomfortable and shit!”

Eden and I narrowed our eyes at one another before shifting them back to Nikko. Pursing her lips, my friend beside me questioned in a nonchalant tone, “Nikko, would you say that you are… antsy…?”

The male frowned at her, rolling his shoulder back and asked, “What…?”

Eden went on. Disregarding his answer. “Would you say that you’re experiencing symptoms such as a fast heart rate…? Butterfly filled stomach…? The ‘need to breed’, so to speak?”

I pulled in my lips and used the back of my hand to swat Eden’s arm as she tried to hold back a grin. Eden looked at the confused Were. He kept rolling his shoulders back and winced in between glaring at us.

Nikko growled out, “What the fuck are you talking about, Eden?”

“I’m talking about that you—” Eden craned her neck forward, brows high. “My dick-loving compandre, are sensing the presence of your mate, as we speak.”

Nikko’s eyes widened under his furrowed brows. Then looked between us.

“Nah-uh! Don’t look at us.” Eden grinned, gesturing to her nether region. “We have tacos. Not hot dogs!”

I ignored Eden’s teasing and stood up with Nikko, frowning as I looked around the pack area. The pack members in the vicinity were at a decent distance that the guy Nikko was sensing was close enough. It’s what triggered Nikko to begin with.

“Gigi, Mom says you have to go get Cece from the gardens! I did it last time and Wade’s not budging from his seat in front of the game!” came from behind me, and my eyes widened while hearing a low satisfying purr on Nikko’s end.

Whipping around, Eden was standing, her jaw dropped and Nikko’s blue eyes turn gold.

There at the entrance of my home was my sweet baby brother, Cody halting at the three of us staring at him. He narrowed his eyes, glancing around before shaking his head and muttered, “What…?”

I smiled, feeling giddy as I laughed when Nikko broke out of his stupor, rushing over and leaped over the porch steps then scooped my brother up into a hug. Nikko spun Cody around, laughing elatedly. My brother yelped when he was picked up; raising his shoulders with his arms out to the sides. When he was set on his feet, Cody looked like a deer in headlights.

“I found you! I actually found you!” Nikko smiled, taking hold of my little brother’s face that was being squished a bit too much.

Cody’s puckered lips asked in a muffled, “Found me? What do you mean?” while looking in my direction.

My stubborn brother had yet to look at Nikko long enough to recognize who he was to his wolf side. Which left the older of the pair to turn to me in a panic.

When Cody pulled his head out of Nikko’s grasp, the Recognition process started to kick in. My little brother shifted uncomfortably and rolled his shoulders back while fidgeting from one foot to the next. Finally, Cody looked up at a hopeful Nikko.

He really wanted for Cody to understand what was going on. Except he wouldn’t. Only because my brother wasn’t very attentive in Mate Studies. Cody was never interested because he was too busy chasing after his friends to play football, and because Cody was confused about his sexuality for a while.

“Whoa…” Cody mumbled, staring wide eyed at Nikko for the first time.

The older of the two stepped back to give my brother some space as my mom came out of the house. She was in the middle of asking my brother if he relayed the message to me.

When my brother was too busy staring at his mate, this dazed look on his face, Mom frowned, “Cody?”

“Cody…” Nikko whispered, grinning before shaking his head and turned to Mom who raised a brow at him. Nikko was extending his hand out to my mom.

“Mrs. Gomez, I’m Nikko Hannibal, Alpha Hannibal’s son.” He glanced at Cody, then smiled with nod. “And your son’s mate.”

Mom’s brows rose, looking at her youngest child then back at Nikko. “You’re serious?”

I smiled, nodding, “It’s true, Mom! It’s true!”

We all looked at my younger brother who cleared his throat and was starting to get red in the face from all the attention. He glanced at Mom who frowned, tilting her head and questioned why my little brother never mentioned about Cody liking males.

My little brother looked at me and I raised a brow in a ‘told you so’ kind of way. He weakly grinned, looking back to our mom and shrugged, “I’m sorry. I wanted to but… I was just figuring things out on my own, you know?”

Mom brushed back Cody’s hair. She smiled, hugging him and was happy for him, she said. Mom looked at Nikko, grinning that it was a delight to know there would be a new member to our family. She let out a satisfied sigh, placing her hands on her waist.

“Well then! This is something we’ll need to tell your dad.”

“Tell me what?”

Turning around, my smile wilted at the sight of my dad approaching with Alpha Hannibal and Alpha Beaumont behind him. Dad saw my face and he raised a brow. He was silently telling me to only address the alpha if spoken to but I knew Dad would try to avoid that for my sake.

Dad turned to look at Cody, raising a brow and placed a hand on my brother’s head. He grinned, asking what they wanted to tell him.

I swallowed, glancing at the visiting alpha who was standing with Alpha Beaumont. I glanced over at Nikko who paled, now wide-eyed as he looked at Cody and then his dad. Before I could make up an excuse to prevent outing Nikko in front of his dad, my little brother’s big mouth opened.

Cody—not knowing any better—pointed his thumb in Nikko’s direction, with a grin and proudly beamed, “That pretty boy here is my mate!”

My dad looked surprised at the admission from his youngest son but then saw the excitement on his son’s face, along with Mom’s. Dad was already congratulating Cody but I had turned to Alpha Hannibal when Cody announced about Nikko and him.

The alpha looked like somebody had taken cymbals and bashed them on the sides of his head. His eyes were wide, his brows almost off his forehead. In an instant, the man’s gaze hardened and shifted his attention to his son.

Nikko was standing on the porch, stiff as a board. He switched his gaze to his dad just as Alpha Hannibal growled, “My son is not gay!”

My little brother—bless his heart—scoffed, puffing up and raised a brow while looking at a frozen Nikko before turning to face off with the alpha.

“He so is!” Cody proudly replied. “So much, in fact, that I’ll make out with him here and right now to prove it to ya!”

“Cody!” Mom scolded, glancing at the fuming alpha.

Alpha Hannibal’s golden eyes narrowed. He grit his teeth and sneered, “No son of mine is gay, young man! I will not allow it! You’re too young for him anyway! Just a boy! A boy!”

And just to add salt to the wound, the alpha gave my little brother a once over and sneered, “Pitiful one at that.”

Dad barked at the alpha to ‘watch it’ while I clenched my fists tightly. Mom and Dad growled, standing in front of Cody now who was frowning at the tension building up. It was me who didn’t hold back.

Stepping forward, I grit my teeth and tightened my clenched hands, feeling my claws pushing against my palm. “I’d be very careful with how you speak to my family, Alpha Hannibal.”

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Dad’s head snap my way. He spoke my name in that warning tone he used a lot for me lately. My attention was still on the visiting alpha who turned his head and narrowed gaze to me.

The man’s hard look didn’t falter, if anything his scowl deepened. Probably because a female was the one who addressed him so “disrespectfully”.

Alpha Hannibal straightened, turning his attention fully to me now. He raised a brow, approaching me and Dad tensed up, already going down the porch steps. Dad addressed the visiting alpha to stay away from his daughter but the alpha ignored him.

Alpha Hannibal was about two feet from me now. His brooding look still in place. “Is that so, Miss Gomez?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Despite him being taller than me, I stood my ground.

“And what could you possibly be capable of to make me back down from letting this mating happen?”

The alpha stared at me, waiting for my response.

How I wanted to tell him that I was more than capable with a background of Warriors in my family. I wanted to tell the alpha that I happened to have an advantage as a Quail Wolf to knock him on his ass. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not with what could possibly happen, and with Alpha Beaumont here especially.

Alpha Hannibal took my silence as submission, though it pissed me off seeing that smirk on his face. The man stepped towards me and my dad’s jaw locked, fighting to move forward to protect me.

The alpha got in my face, narrowing his eyes as he stared into mine. He studied me a bit longer before muttering, “You have beautiful eyes, Miss Gomez.”

Alpha Hannibal sneered, not being discreet in lowering his gaze to look me over. Dad’s growl could be heard from his distance.

The alpha huffed a breath, grinning when he met my eyes and there was this… odd gleam in them just before telling me, “However, I will not tolerate a daughter-in-law to be so outspoken and disrespectful to an alpha. Beautiful or not.”

Wait… What did he say?

Stepping back, I frowned at the mused alpha. He kept looking at me even when my panicked confused gaze looked to my dad. I wasn’t the only who heard what Alpha Hannibal said, thankfully.

My parents looked gobsmacked before Dad’s brown eyes shifted to our alpha. Dad raised a brow, craning his neck forward and bared his teeth. Already my dad was getting into Warrior Mode.

Dad demanded, “What the hell is talking about?!”

Our alpha shut his eyes, running a hand over his hair and didn’t meet Dad’s waiting glare. Alpha Beaumont’s shoulders sagged, shaking his head and had the nerve to give Alpha Hannibal a pointed look before facing my parents.

Alpha Beaumont sighed, shaking his head. “Angus… You have to understand—”

“No, Darren!” Dad spoke over the alpha. He stomped down the porch steps and was heading to where our alpha waited.

Dad gestured to the visiting alpha as he growled, “I want to know why the hell this fucking man has referred to my daughter as his in-law!”

My dad growled again when Alpha Hannibal turned around, that smirk on his face. He raised his brow tilting his head. The alpha was a little too close to me now and Dad noticed. My dad growled at the man to get away from me. He stomped over, reaching over to grab my arm and tug me behind him.

Alpha Wilson seemed amused, chuckling. He glanced at my alpha who was clearly annoyed of whatever was discussed between the two alphas, now out in the open.

The visiting alpha motioned to ours and explained to Dad the alphas spent the past few days of discussing the treaty between the packs. That with Alpha Hannibal’s insistence of a Quail Wolf being such a hindrance to Alpha Beaumont—Dad frowned, looking over his shoulder at our alpha—that our alpha negotiated with the visiting alpha.

“Your alpha has settled my badgering, as he calls it, with an agreement to allow me in taking a female of my choice back to my pack.” Alpha Hannibal grinned, seeing the rage in my dad’s eyes. He leaned forward, smirking, “And having a such a beauteous female of Warrior Blood is just a bonus.”

Dad growled, getting closer to step into the alpha’s space. But the latter smirked. He was enjoying riling up my dad.

“What the hell does this settle, Darren?!” Dad shouted, giving Alpha Beaumont a dark glower. He turned to face our alpha.

My dad’s voice rose an octave. There was a deep hurt in my dad’s face. “You agreed to give away my daughter?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!”

“You are out of yours, Angus! Remember who you are speaking to!” Alpha Beaumont snapped back.

My dad and the alpha stared the other down; the alpha because his wolf felt the challenge and my dad because he was ready to accept that challenge. I stood there, biting my lip and glanced at my dad who was giving off waves of tension, rage, and betrayal.

Alpha Beaumont’s eyes turned soft, his shoulders sagging and tilted his head. He pursed his mouth to the side, trying to de escalate the situation, I guess, when the alpha sighed that this matter was to be discussed after the wedding next week.

The alpha had the nerve to tell Dad that the former’s plate was too busy at the moment, and then and only then would Alpha Beaumont speak to me about the decision of accepting Alpha Hannibal’s choice of female.

I swallowed, turning to look at the porch where Nikko, Mom and Cody were still standing. Nikko broke out of his stunned silence and realized what this meant. He shook his head, pleading, “Father! Father, please—”

Nikko stepped beside Cody, my brother’s face already showing the hurt at hearing someone was going to be taking his place beside his mate.

“I highly advise, Nikko, you keep your fucking mouth shut!” His father growled, pointing at him. “You and I will discuss this disgusting matter later. Now get your ass over here and let’s go!”

Nikko frowned, glancing at Cody who turned his teary hazels to him. The older stared at my brother, lips in a tight line. It was obvious Nikko would have rather stayed there with Cody but what an alpha says, goes.

The Beta shut his eyes, turning away from Cody and reluctantly stepped off the porch.

“Nikko!” Cody cried, “Nikko, wait! Come back!”

He ran after Nikko being hauled away by his dad. Alpha Hannibal grunted in disapproval seeing my whimpering brother take chase.

Mom grabbed onto the back of my brother’s shirt, pulling him back. Cody tried to shoulder Mom off him and managed until Dad intervened and caught my brother with one arm. Dad pulled Cody backward, muttering to my brother who began to blubber.

I turned, looking to where Alpha Hannibal and Nikko were going up the hill. Nikko threw a grimace over his shoulder, stumbling when his dad yanked him out of sight.

Stunned at what was unfolding, I looked back to Alpha Beaumont who turned from watching the other alpha leave. He turned to us just after my dad muttered for Mom to take Cody. My brother cried into my mom’s chest as she held him.

Dad’s jaw clenched tight, turning to face his alpha who had been his best friend all growing up and never had I seen my dad look so betrayed as he did now. How heartbreaking it was to see a friendship crumble before my eyes.

Alpha Beaumont sighed, running a hand over his head. He looked Dad in the eyes, stating with a solemn tone, “As I said before, we’ll discuss this matter after the wedding is over, sometime later next week. Until then, be sure your son stays away from Alpha Hannibal’s, Angus. I mean it.”

Dad was pissed—I could see it in his eyes—but as the Lead Warrior for the pack there was an obligation to uphold. Dad swallowed, giving a curt nod then turned to storm up the porch, into the house. He slammed the door shut, making Mom jump and Dad ignored Alpha Beaumont’s shout of, “I’m sorry, Angus! I truly am!”

Mom hurried Cody into the house, not giving any attention to the alpha who tried to say her name. Mom shut the door behind her and I remained there with Eden. She looked uncomfortable, lowering her gaze when Alpha Beaumont sighed in defeat. He took notice of us then, particularly me.

I stared back at my alpha, a blank face worn. I wasn’t sure what to think of this man other than him being a coward. He was supposed to fight for his pack—wasn’t that the point of the treaty? Where did it say that an alpha had to sacrifice a few of his pack members’ happiness in order to secure the rest?

Alpha Beaumont started towards me but I took a step back, brows furrowed and lowering my chin in a warning for the man to not step any closer. I was sure the way I looked at him was the reason the alpha’s face softened. He knew saying anything else wasn’t wise and I couldn’t agree more.

“I apologize, Gigi.” My alpha offered.

I narrowed my eyes, watching the man run a hand over his head. He shook his head, shrugging a shoulder, “The decision was not meant to be thrown out in the open like that.”

Like that made it OK?

Alpha Beaumont gave a small nod, bidding us goodnight and turned away, heading up the hill to his house.

Remaining in front of my home with Eden, I stared after the alpha. Swallowing, all I could think about was what was happening next week. Out of the blue, I had suddenly become a consolation prize to finalize a treaty between the packs that shared the expansive forest that crossed into the next city. I was going to be used to settle the matter of the Quail Wolf.

What sense did that make at all?

No one knew I was a Quail Wolf other than my family and Eden. So how was it that me, a supposedly average Werewolf with Warrior Blood, would be just as worthy as a Quail Wolf?

And Cody… My poor baby brother, Cody. What of his happiness with Nikko?

I barely knew Nikko. And even if I was being forced to move packs, how would that work anyway? Nikko doesn’t like females. What a damn mess…

I turned around, frowning as I told Eden that I had to go inside. To see to Cody. She understood, saying she’ll leave my family be and fetch Cece for me before Eden went home. I thanked her, rushing inside and closing the door.

Cody blubbered out my name and ran in from the living room. His face wet from the sobbing he’d been doing. He rushed for me and I instantly held out my arms to him. I held him to me, squeezing my eyes shut when Cody broke down again. He shook so violently against me, blubbering how unfair it was.

“He’s taking him from me, Gigi! He’s—he’s going to be taken from me!”

I shushed Cody gently, shaking my head and whispered that everything was going to be okay. I promised Cody I was going to make sure everything was okay.

“You’re going to get your happy ever after, little brother.”

I frowned, hearing him sob harder. I grit my teeth, my vision blurring as I hurt for my baby brother.

¹“Just because I don’t get one doesn’t mean you won’t. I’ll make sure of it.”

I kissed his head, closing my eyes and let my little brother cry in my arms.