“I’m not going.”

Dad sighed, nodding that he understood why I wouldn’t want to attend the wedding of my ex-mate, but that it was the alpha’s orders that everyone was to go. I narrowed my eyes at him, remaining firm on my bed with my arms crossed.

“It’s not like he won’t know I’m there,” I mumbled.

“Not true,” Dad replied. He was fingering the porcelain carousel I had stopped using so long ago. Now it was just a dresser decoration.

Dad frowned that he and Alpha Beaumont were to discuss with Alpha Hannibal the matter of me after the wedding as promised. Dad mentioned how the alpha would notice my absence and that would make it seem like I was trying to run.

“I would rather have that, in all honesty,” Dad grumbled, looking away from the carousel and at me instead. “He’s selling my daughter off like cattle. If I wasn’t trying to keep you safe… trying to hide your secret… I’d challenge him.”

My eyes widened at Dad’s confession.

Challenging an alpha was big. It wasn’t done very often because of the birth right of respect that each alpha was given. For someone without alpha blood to become alpha was a big deal, but also looked down upon by our kind because anyone without actual Alpha Blood would taint the bloodline through their offspring.

It was also difficult to defeat an alpha.

Only someone just as strong was able to beat them. But just because you’re an alpha, doesn’t mean you’re the best fighter. There’s a reason why Alpha Beaumont always had his favorite person—Dad—around all the time. In case of an attack for whatever reason, Dad would probably come out surviving more than the alpha would.

I looked down at my hands in my lap and swallowed, “It’s going to be so hard seeing him, Dad.”

His dress shoes stepped lightly over to sit beside me. Dad touched my hand with his warm one, bending his head to catch my eyes.

“And I’m sure it’s going to be just as hard for him, Button. You rejected him, after all. Imagine trying to give yourself to someone who you don’t love…? He’s going to be standing up there with Molly, and not be able to say a thing about it because only one thing is standing in his way.”

I frowned, glancing at him to mumble, “His baby?”

Dad shook his head, a light grin on his face. “No… you.”

As he studied my confusion, Dad sighed. He squinted in front of him, trying to gather the right words. He looked at me, raising a brow and pointed out that just because Ridge was having a baby with Molly, didn’t mean Ridge couldn’t be just as devoted to that child as much as to me.

Dad nodded to the side, scrunching his nose as he mentioned that, yes, Ridge was willing to give up Molly and the baby for me but had both Ridge and I took some time to have space and then regrouped, things could have turned out differently today.

“If you both took the time to see the positive in this situation, you guys could have realized that Ridge would only have responsibility to his child. Not her.”

My dad tucked in his lips, shaking his head again.

“I understand you thought you were being selfless for the sake of the pack having its reputation. For Ridge having his reputation. But Gigi… Did you ever think that maybe taking away the love of his life from him— the one he just got because of what Molly had done—would only ruin him down the line?”

My neck craned back, narrowing my eyes and scoffed, “But he rejected me first!”

Dad shrugged a shoulder, pursing his mouth to the side that he knew that.

“So that makes it right then? And besides… you’re the Quail Wolf. It’s in your nature to be selfless and think of others before yourself. Just as you were thinking about that child growing up with its parents. Which it would. But not in a home that was unhappy.”

“So now this is my fault?”

“I never said that, Button. I’m just telling you that the hurt you let drive you that day made a decision for you.”

I frowned, looking down at my hands. Rubbing my lips together as I swallowed, I then looked up at Dad.

“I’m letting the Darkness claim me already… aren’t I?”

My dad turned away, frowning at the floor. He pursed his mouth to the side, shaking his head that he felt like it was testing me. Dad warned that I was to be careful because then I’d come across something that would really push me and my wolf over the edge, and it was impossible to say if I’d come back from that.

Cody’s words fell into my mind at that moment.

“Even if that means you need that true love to bring you back.”

Could my little brother have been talking about Ridge? Was Ridge the one who could bring me out of the Darkness? Or maybe Cody got it wrong. Maybe Ridge would be the reason the Darkness claimed me.

I bit my lip, pondering this some more as Dad rose and pointed at the dress Mom laid out for me earlier this morning. I had informed her that I wasn’t going to the wedding and after arguing with her for fifteen minutes, she left me alone… but sent Dad in for round two.

“Now get dressed, Button. We leave in ten minutes,” he gave me a pointed look at pointed at me in a ‘finalized’ way, then walked out the door.

Rolling my eyes upward, I leaned back onto my mattress with my arms out to the sides. I sighed, giving myself what was a meek attempt at a pep talk. “Well, Gigi, this is the day you lose your mate. Forever. But on the plus side, you have been deemed the bargaining chip to prevent war.”

I frowned, blinking a few times then sat up. A breath of air blew out of my mouth as I growled to myself, “What a great pep talk. I should write Hallmark cards…”

Rising, I walked over to the dress mom laid out over my desk chair. It was one of the one’s I kept in the way back of my closet because it didn’t fit me in the chest area. Glancing down at my breasts then flicking my gaze to the dress and back again, I groaned out that it would be impossible to squeeze these babies into that dress.

Snatching it up, I tugged on the outfit, having to shimmy it down over my boobs and waist. After I adjusted the sleeves, my eyes widened because I caught sight of myself in the mirror and… and the dress fit perfectly! It was just the right fit and wasn’t too tight in my chest area. After a closer inspection, Mom used her expert skills in adding elastic bands on the inside part of the dress under my arms. She’d cut each side, blending the elastic band to play off a unique design instead of the dress looking altered. Mom certainly had a talent for sewing, that was for sure.

“Oh good! It fit!” Mom cheered, walking into my room. She was wearing a tan dress with black polka dots on it.

My brow rose at her outfit and she frowned, looking down at it then up to me. “What? Too bland?”

I grinned, nodding that it looked kind of tacky.

Mom stuck up her chin, shrugging a shoulder and piped, “Well… it’s not like it’s a wedding I care about anyway.”

Her face faltered a little, lowering her brows as she was telling me that it took her about an hour to get Cody into his outfit.

“He’s still hurting, Gigi. And I don’t think he’ll be able to handle it seeing that boy there with his unreasonable father.”

I nodded in agreement, offering to sit with Cody during the wedding. “We’ll will have each other’s support,” I offered.

Walking forward and placing her hands to take hold of the sides of my face, Mom tilted her head and her hazel eyes searched mine with a shake of her head.

“How did I end up so lucky to have such a strong daughter?”

I weakly grinned, mumbling that I didn’t really feel that strong at the moment.

“Probably not…” Mom muttered, nodding in understanding. She even said, “But you are strong, my dear daughter. With only few people knowing who you are to Ridge, they’d probably agree with me that you are a strong she-wolf. And that’s what’s important. That you hold your head up high—” Her fingers touched under my chin, lifting my head up for me. “—with your shoulders back,” then she used her hands to push my shoulders.

“There,” Mom stepped back and nodded, “Now you’re ready.”

Mom saw the tears in my eyes but didn’t address them. She instead caressed my cheek with her fingers and told me something that my wolf side and I would take to heart. A lot sooner than I expected to.

“Now you listen here, Quail Wolf daughter of mine…” Mom smiled when I grinned a bit, sniffling. Her face turned serious, stressing as she craned her neck forward, “You look down to no one.”

I blinked a few times, hearing those words over and over in my head. They gave me a brief second to feel strong sparks in my chest. Just for a second and then it was gone.

Mom nodded, stepping back to admire the rest of me and then glanced at my head.

“Right then… Let’s do something simple with your hair before we head out. Your dad’s not looking forward to after this wedding but we’re expected to be punctual.”

She walked out of the room, hurrying me to follow.

.დ.❧.

Keeping Cody’s hand in mine, I gave it a light squeeze every now and then as we were walking to the botanic gardens where the wedding was being held. My heart was beating fast. It kept getting faster the longer we walked. I was frightened of seeing him.

To see him up there with Molly and say how he would be there for her until death do they part, was going to be painful. As the one who ended things permanently with him, I should not feel like I was the wounded one in this. But I was wounded… and I felt like I was bleeding out.

As we walked, we noticed the trees to each side of us were decorated with white lights all through its branches, and around the trunk. There were more lights strung across the way above our heads as we walked the long path that led to the huge circular space where white chairs had been set up. In the very front was the gazebo that belonged to the gardens; it was already wrapped with ivy from the years that it stood there, but with the twinkling lights it looked so lovely.

The preacher standing at the very front of the gazebo, speaking with Alpha Beaumont, was human. I didn’t have to catch his scent to know. They were the only ones who were able to officially marry us werewolves after we’d been accepted into society. Humans told us about how we’d have to get married in order for us to receive the same benefits as human spouses. As werewolves, in the olden age, being with your mate was our version of a marriage to us. So this new tradition started only a few generations ago.

I stood with my family off to the side as everyone else was walking past and taking a seat in the number of chairs placed out.

My brother’s hand started shaking and I turned to Cody. His hazel eyes wide and his bottom lip sticking out in a pout. Following his gaze, to where Alpha Beaumont was still speaking with the preacher, Alpha Hannibal had strode up with his son.

Nikko was staring at the ground the entire time, his shoulders gone slack as his hands were in his pockets. Even as dressed up as he was, Nikko looked like he hadn’t been sleeping well. It took him a few moments to sense Cody. Nikko’s gaze on the ground widened, his head snapping up. Those blue eyes of the Beta’s already scanning the crowd of seated Weres.

My brother released my hand, scooting himself behind me. I frowned, twisting to tell Cody not to hide, but he buried his face into the back of my dress and whispered that he couldn’t help it. I sighed when Cody asked if Nikko was still looking.

Turning forward, I instantly met Nikko’s gaze. The Beta’s brows quirked up, his eyes hopeful as he stood there beside his asshole dad. It made that guilt swallow me again, unable to help Nikko in his situation. Unfortunately, Were law states that Nikko was still underage and guardianship over him still belonged to Alpha Hannibal. What his dad says, goes.

I tilted my head, offering a small smile. Nikko swallowed, mouthing my brother’s name and I silently jabbed my thumb over my shoulder behind me. The Beta frowned, shutting his eyes and turned away when his dad addressed him.

With Nikko not looking anymore, I told Cody that it was safe for him to come out.

“Is he still there?”

“Yes… but he’s not looking this way anymore. I think it’s okay.”

Cody peered from behind me, staring over to where Nikko took another look in our direction at that moment and they caught gazes with one another. For a moment, just a moment, my brother couldn’t help smiling and his hazel eyes filled with a daze that was shared by the boy across the way.

As quick as it appeared, Cody’s smile went. Cody forced his eyes closed and turned away from Nikko and went to stand beside our older brother who glanced at him for a second then wrapped his arm around Cody.

I watched Cody, seeing if he’ll turn around but I had to give it to my little brother for keeping it together as he did. I realized Cody wasn’t going to give Nikko any more seconds of eye contact and I turned around, shrugging a shoulder at Nikko. The Beta sulked.

My gaze turned from him to our alpha who said something with a frown to Alpha Hannibal looking more arrogant than usual. My alpha turned on his heel and made his way down the aisle.

The man shook his head, muttering something under his breath but then turned, catching sight of my dad with his family.

The alpha approached and Mom alerted Dad with a simple glance. Dad turned around, frowning when Alpha Beaumont stood in front of him. Dad narrowed his eyes, posture tense.

“Angus,” the alpha greeted with a small nod.

“Alpha.”

Alpha Beaumont frowned for a moment. I could see that—even if my dad would address our alpha formally when it came to business or in front of others—this time, my dad spoke in a way that told the alpha there was a major shift in their friendship. If there even still was one.

The alpha glanced at me standing nearby. I said nor did anything. I just stayed quiet, though a part of me wanted to give my alpha a piece of my mind for doing this to me. Without my permission.

“I still need to go over the details with you, Angus,” the alpha informed Dad. The audacity of the man. “But you need to know that the treaty has already been finalized between Alpha Hannibal and myself.”

My dad’s eyes filled with a fire, his teeth grit and his fists curling inward as the alpha continued.

“I was going to wait until after the ceremony, but after speaking with George, it appears he’s adamant on returning to his pack tomorrow morning. I will need for you and Edith to prepare Gigi’s leave.”

Silence strung heavily around us. Mom’s jaw clenched, her eyes watering at what the alpha was telling us. Dad, however, was sending those bristled waves our way, alerting me and my siblings that Dad was not to be trifled with.

“So I’m just supposed to be okay with you selling my daughter, is that it?” Dad kept his voice low, staring eye to eye with the alpha.

Dad narrowed his eyes, shaking his head that the alpha gave no explanation whatsoever why I was the one Alpha Hannibal wanted. Nor did Alpha Beaumont come to my dad about this demand.

“I understand that you are angry, my friend,” Alpha Beaumont spoke low as Dad had to keep from drawing attention. “But you have to understand that the pack is my responsibility and after the incident with Ridge and Molly, I found this to be the best solution. I cannot have my son distracted from his responsibilities as future alpha nor as a soon-to-be father.”

I glanced at my dad whose eyes widened under his brows. I could hear his teeth crack he was clenching his jaw so hard.

“A distraction…?” Dad spoke so low. “Is that what you think of my daughter, Darren, after it was your fucking son who put Gigi in this position in the first place?”

This made the alpha lower his gaze. He obviously knew Dad was right.

Being an alpha, I always thought it was a role that required owning up to mistakes. This was something Ridge acknowledged early on but his dad seemed to not have a handle on that. It bothered me because the alpha was sending me away like I was the problem. I didn’t start this whole mess, Molly did. Why am I being punished for it and Molly gets her dream wedding?

Alpha Beaumont frowned, looking at Dad again.

“I am sorry for Gigi’s role in this, Angus, I really am! Had my son thought about the repercussions of being with someone other than his mate, we’d obviously not be standing here arguing but celebrating in a union between our children.”

Dad growled, narrowing his eyes. He didn’t like that the alpha was trying to “make things better”. There was no making this situation better unless it involved the alphas renegotiating.

“After much negotiation with Alpha Hannibal,” our alpha explained. “It’s been agreed upon that he will drop the matter of the Quail Wolf and his investigation of searching for such a wolf in my pack… as long as he is able to bridge our packs by taking one of my own for his son. The boy has no mate, according to Hannibal, and finding a suitable female from my pack was the best I could offer.”

Let’s not forget that the real reason Alpha Beaumont offered a female to the other alpha was to have an out to get rid of me. To not distract his son from responsibilities. And it made me realize why my alpha didn’t fight for me to stay. Ever since finding out what I was to Ridge… I noticed that the alpha didn’t react as others did. While others were excited for Ridge and me, the alpha… wasn’t. Not really. He’d make a subtle reaction that passed by everyone when Alpha Beaumont stared at me in an accusatory manner while his face feigned concern, softness or like he was really feeling bad about my situation with his son.

Something tells me that maybe Alpha Beaumont didn’t like me as much as he made everyone else to believe…

I frowned, speaking up on behalf of my brother that Cody was Nikko’s mate, so why would the alpha still think the treaty agreement was valid?

My alpha sighed, shaking his head and was able to look me in the eye. Kind of. That annoyed gleam in his eyes again.

“That’s not how George sees it, Gigi. And since the negotiation was done prior to that knowledge of his son.” My alpha looked at my dad, frowning, “I finalized the agreement this morning. It’s the only way to smooth all this mess out. I’m sorry Angus, but Gigi is set to leave tonight.”

My heart dropped, my blood running cold.

I was going to be taken from my family. The people who knew my secret and had been the ones to keep it under wraps. But now that lately my wolf side is trying to gain control through the Darkness, how was I going to control it? Without them?

Swallowing hard, I turned to look at the alpha I’d be leaving with tonight. His icy gaze already on me. It was disturbing the way he was looking at me. I didn’t like it. Not one bit. It almost felt… predatory.

I was startled, turning back to Dad who was in the middle of seething through grit teeth, “How can you do this to me, Darren?! After all I’ve done for you and your family over the years! This is how you repay me?! By emotionally damaging my youngest son, and belittling my youngest daughter for something your fucking son is responsible for?!”

Dad growled, his gold eyes shimmering. His tone was final as he told our alpha, “She’s not going!”

Alpha Beaumont narrowed his eyes, stepping up to my dad now. The air between them shifted. Dad’s abrasiveness was taken as a challenge to the alpha’s wolf side and Alpha Beaumont was giving Dad a warning look without drawing more attention from the others around.

“Listen to me, Angus…” The alpha raised a brow, lip curling at my dad’s defiant look. “For I’m telling you this as your alpha. Remind yourself of your place, and understand the agreement was settled to get Hannibal off my back with his fucking insistence that there was a Quail Wolf in my pack.”

My alpha frowned.

“You know as much as I do that I have a pack to protect from invaders like Hannibal. I know his kind and I refuse to let my entire pack suffer because I have to cater to one individual.”

Ouch. This just solidified that this man didn’t see me as part of the pack he was so willing to protect. Even with whose daughter I was. My respect for the alpha just dropped, like, three hundred fucking notches.

“You make my little girl sound like a pig left out to slaughter,” Dad growled through grit teeth. He stared down the alpha.

“I have my son’s future to look out for, Angus. Regardless of what Molly did to intervene with Ridge and Gigi, I cannot make an unborn child suffer. Especially when that unborn child is my grandchild.”

My alpha narrowed his eyes at Dad, shaking his head again.

“You see this as harsh but this is how pack life is ran. You know that more than anyone with us growing up and seeing it for ourselves.”

Dad sneered and Mom had to reach for his arm, mumbling to Dad as a reminder that we were in public. She was looking around and my siblings even got more alarmed.

The alpha obviously knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere of reasoning with my dad. And I didn’t blame Dad at all.

What the alpha was suggesting was completely unreasonable. In the human world, it would be illegal to make an agreement as the alphas had. But this was my world, the Werewolf world, and we ran things a little different. But that didn’t mean we had to like it.

Dad shook his head, lowering his gaze as he let out a growled breath.

“I can’t watch you take away my daughter from me, Darren! I won’t stand for it! This might be a special occasion for your son, and for that reason alone, I will keep my silence… Only until after the ceremony.”

My dad’s eyes kept focus on the alpha who was frowning back at him, slightly perturbed.

“I refuse to say goodbye to my child!” Dad went on. “You had no right to do this! Edith and I were not aware of this whatsoever and even if we were, we never would have fucking agreed to giving my underage daughter to a man three times her age!”

At this last sentence, I noticed the realization in the alpha’s eyes. His eyes widened a bit before quickly masking it with a frown. The alpha glanced at me though I remained silent. My dad was doing just fine on his own.

Dad had gotten close enough to the alpha that more people were staring. But he held back, just enough, to warn the alpha that after today, the relationship between Alpha Beaumont and my dad would strictly be professional.

“Consider our friendship over.”

Alpha Beaumont’s face fell; his green eyes filled with hurt at what he was hearing. His lips parted, blinking his eyes now as he stared at the space between them. My alpha suddenly remembered his rank and had to force himself to set aside personal affairs. He straightened, chest puffed out and jutted his chin out.

The alpha glared back at my dad, sneering, “So be it, Angus.” then he shot me a look before giving the same look to my dad.

“Have her packed and ready by eight o’clock. Or I’ll have someone do it for you.”

Clearly, the alpha gave zero shits that my parents were not standing for the deal made without their consent. Though I was grateful, it saddened me that it cost my dad his childhood best friend.

Dad stood there, not saying a word and waited it out until the alpha turned on his heel, walking up the aisle again to seat himself next to his wife. He looked over his shoulder and Dad glared right back. The alpha turned away, seething from the way his shoulders were so tense.

When I looked at my dad, brows quirked, I whispered, “I’m sorry, Dad…”

He immediately gave a soft frown, brushing his hand over my hair. He was tucking in a loose strand behind my ear as he leaned in to softly tell me that he could see it in my eyes that I felt terrible about what happened just now.

“Don’t you fret about it, Gigi,” Dad grinned. “My friendship with the alpha is nothing compared to my love for you.”

I blinked to keep the tears at bay, but one slipped out anyway and he brushed it away with his thumb.

“Mr. Gomez, sir…?” someone called.

Dad turned to find a young Were child dressed in his suit and tie. The boy shifted nervously, probably because Dad’s reputation was well-known and highly respected in the pack. And though he was a total softie, Dad’s appearance said otherwise.

“Uh…” The boy winced, raising his shoulders. He mumbled, “I’m supposed to take you and your family to your reserved seating…”

With a nod, Dad looked at my family and warned us all to keep to ourselves. We nodded before following the boy to the front row. The boy gestured his hand out for us to sit and we took our place.

Dad and I sat at the very end of the row to stay away from the alphas that were on the same row but across the aisle. Cody was on my other side then Wade and Mom, followed by Cece and Sawyer. Dad grumbled to himself how spiteful Darren was to arrange our seating to be front row—like we actually wanted to see this stupid wedding. I couldn’t agree more.

I began fidgeting in my seat the moment I sensed him. I tried so hard to keep my eyes downcast so I wouldn’t look at him, but my heart needed to. So when I did look up and saw him standing up front, inside the gazebo with the preacher, I sucked in a breath. I swallowed, taking in the handsomeness that was Ridge Beaumont.

Those green eyes stared at nothing in front of him. One hand clasped the wrist of the other in front of him. The black suit he wore with the matching tie around his neck made him look so handsome. That blank look on his face as he nodded to whatever the preacher was saying to him made any of his boyish features disappear. He looked older standing up there.

The warmth of my dad’s hand on mine made me look away from Ridge. Dad grinned a bit, nodding to me that everything was going to be okay. Reminding me that I just needed to stay strong. He pointed out that I have this far.

With a deep breath, I nodded, smiling back and faced forward. My smile wilted once the music started up and we all stood. I couldn’t find myself to look around at anything but the grass under my feet.

The entire time I was focusing on that one particular spot; tuning out everything. It wasn’t until Molly—dressed in a beautiful white gown with a long veil draped down the back—answered the preacher who had asked her that whether she would take Ridge as her lawfully wedded husband.

“I do!” she smiled brightly, staring at Ridge whose jaw tightened as he looked at her.

I closed my eyes, looking down and my brows furrowed and took in a deep breath, holding it… then let it out through my nose.

“And do you, Ridge Amos Beaumont, take Molly Jean Sinclair, as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

I held my breath again. This feeling of the world was slowly coming to halt was growing. This felt like torture and I should have fought my family a little harder in not coming here.

My family beside me were glancing my way, I could feel it. But I kept from looking at them. I swallowed, opening my eyes to the couple.

Molly glanced sideways when Ridge’s lack of response went a little too long. She raised her brows, craning her neck forward and grit her teeth.

“Ridge,” she pressed.

Ridge just stood there, with her hands in his, and he kept staring at their joined hands for the longest time. His brows dipped further the longer he stared.

The preacher raised a brow, muttering a shortened repeat of his question again to the Beta. And then suddenly, Ridge’s eyes looked at the crowd. His green gaze traveled over each section until they found me.

I sat there with my jaw clenched, the reminder of why I had let him go was for the sake of that baby. But then my dad’s words to me earlier about how Ridge would have to love that baby no matter what, but did not have to love Molly, was toying with my emotions. I couldn’t help but think that Dad was right, my emotions played out that day and I made a rash decision without thinking.

Ridge didn’t blink as he kept staring at me. His brows furrowed again, and I tried to remember my mom telling me to hold my head up high and my shoulders back, but it was so hard! It was so hard to do that! To be strong when the love of your life was getting married to someone who wasn’t you!

The bride in front of him tugged lightly at Ridge’s hands to break his gaze with me. When he blinked, turning back to her, Molly raised a brow, craning her neck forward again. She grit her teeth and widened her eyes.

“Answer the man, Ridge.”

The Beta glanced at the preacher who blinked back at him. He repeated with a nod the vow once again then waited for Ridge to answer.

Swallowing, my mate looked directly at Molly, then at her stomach, then back up to her before he gave a firm, “No.”

The crowd was silent and wide-eyed. They stared at the stage where their future alpha just denied to marry his future alpha female. His pregnant alpha female, to be in fact.

“What?!” Molly shrieked, straightening and yanking her hands back.

Ridge shook his head that he couldn’t marry her. He spoke louder this time, admitting that he would be happy and responsible to take care of their baby and love them unconditionally, but that Ridge would not do the same with Molly. That Ridge didn’t feel the same way about her… that he never would.

“I can’t marry you, Molly. I’m not in love with you.”

Molly glanced at the murmuring pack then through her clenched teeth pointed out to the Beta, “I am the future alpha female, Ridge. As your mate, you and I are supposed to get married!”

But the tall broad shouldered man slowly shook his head and sighed, “But you’re not my mate. You tricked me.”

My eyes widened. ‘Holy Macaroons…’

Ridge’s father jumped up, his face hard as he growled, “Ridge!” like a warning. But his son shook his head, facing the crowd as he addressed the alpha.

“I’m sorry, Dad. But I’m not going to marry Molly. She’s not my mate and you know that!”

Alpha Beaumont shook his head. There was panic in his face and I could see why when Alpha Hannibal turned, asking what was going on.

Ridge stood his ground. Even when his dad gave his son a pointed look and reminded him, “You have a responsibility, Ridge, should you need reminding!”

Ridge’s brows furrowed, shoulders back and nodded to his dad that he did have a responsibility. That Ridge’s responsibility was to stand by his mate and ensure her happiness.

“I’ve already hurt her too many times, Dad. I’m not doing it again! I’m not going to let you dictate who I am allowed to have feelings for!”

The murmurs erupted from the pack again. They were confused, unsure of what was unfolding and I sat in my seat, fidgeting as I rolled my shoulders back from unease.

When Ridge went on, the Beta frowned, sighing, “She means everything to me, Dad. But I will not choose another female over her.” Ridge turned to look at Molly, his eyes gold as he growled out, “Especially when that other female is a conniving, selfish, and manipulative social climber.”

Molly’s lip trembled, glancing at the pack starting to narrow their eyes.

Before my alpha could argue with his son, growls erupted from the forest some yards behind the gazebo along the surrounding forest. There were many. The growls sounded like an echo ranging from one part of the trees to the other end. It was impossible to say how many Werewolves were in that forest to with the echo so amplified.

We all began to stand, now on alert when wolves of different colors emerged from the tree line. Their heads bent with snarls and saliva dripping from their jaws. The wolves stepped up to the treeline in a predatory pace and as they did, I think I got to counting about thirty before stopping. There were too many.

Swallowing, I looked at Dad whose jaw clenched, his eyes assessing the situation.

I could feel my wolf side becoming alert, it was a slowly built mixture of fear and awareness into my stomach. The wolf in me sensed something bad was about to happen, but whether it was going to be because of these invaders, or me… I didn’t know.

“Dad…” I whispered.

Dad’s hand took mine, giving it a light squeeze. Without turning, Dad mumbled that we couldn’t do anything without the alpha’s orders. I turned back to the wolves moving past the treeline and halting in a line across from us. There was still some yards between us, but they looked ready to attack.

Alpha Beaumont scowled as he stormed onto the platform, facing the invaders, and his voice strong as he warned the wolves that they were not granted permission to step on our territory. He ordered they were to turn back now or there would be consequences.

The wolves’ gazes stared back, their gleaming gold eyes shimmering as their snarls and nasty barks lashed back in response. And then one of the wolves emerged from the back.

They began to shift as they stepped to the front of the line of wolves. A tall woman now stood in place of the golden wolf. She raised a brow, not at all ashamed of standing completely bare in front of us all. I think the preacher was the only to turn away out of respect.

The blonde woman’s gray eyes scanned our pack, the curve of her lips forming a wicked grin before staring back to Alpha Beaumont.

“Your words have no power on us, Alpha. Your words fall on deaf ears for those who choose not to bow down to a man of your sorts. A man who doesn’t understand how to take charge properly.”

Our pack growled low, the disrespect towards Alpha Beaumont unappreciated.

The woman grinned, enjoying that she was getting a rise out of us. She raised her hand, gesturing towards the crowd in front of her.

“I see we’re interrupting such a special occasion!” The woman chuckled behind her lips. “How rude of us.”

Alpha Beaumont narrowed his eyes, growling a demand of why this woman and her wolves chose to invade on their occasion. He was deeply offended of the jab she made of his capability as alpha. Alphas didn’t take kindly to being ridiculed. I could see the alpha curl his fists.

“No need to worry, Alpha Beaumont,” The woman raised a shoulder in front of her, pursing her lips. She teased that she did not come to challenge him in any way. Not really.

“My bout is not with you.” She paused, looking upward then nodded to the side. “So to speak.”

The alpha instinctively turned his head to my dad who shifted his gaze to him. My dad gave a curt nod, a signal that the Lead Warrior was ready if needed.

When Alpha Beaumont faced the woman again, he shouted his demand for the wolves to get off his land immediately!

The blonde woman sneered, lowering her chin as she shot back, “We’re not leaving, Alpha Beaumont! Not without what we came for… even if we shall have to fight for it.”

I turned my head, looking at the rest of our pack members. All of them began lowering their chins, growls rumbling low. Their human eyes shimmering gold. They were prepping for their alpha’s orders. They were ready to defend their alphas.

Turning back to the woman with balls-of-steel, she pointed our way, growling, “I’ve come for your alpha heir, Beaumont!”

I snapped my attention back to the she wolf, brows furrowed and tensing up.

My wolf slowly changed her fear and alert into one of displeasure. There was this feeling rising from my stomach until it came out as a growl—one that was loud enough for others around me to hear. I could feel my pupils pulsing as they fought to change from their brown to their gold coating. The wolf side of me, I could feel it so strongly now… She was trying to fight me for control.

I shifted my gaze from the blonde woman to my alpha who tried to be discreet in gesturing for his son to back away slowly. Ridge did as he was told, taking a step back but the invader noticed. Her gray eyes snapped right to him. Her eyes narrowed, turning into that shimmering wolf eye color.

“Ahhhh… Why hello little prince!”

She chuckled behind her lips again, pacing in a sultry manner to the side as she tilted her head and brushed her fingers along her bare shoulder.

“Tell me, young Alpha-to-Be… Do I peak your interest? Does my need for power… entice you at all?”

My fists curled at my sides, knuckles cracking, but I still focused my narrowed gaze on the woman. Dad was trying to calm me with his fingers gently wrapping around my wrist.

“Such a timid prince you have, Alpha Beaumont…” The she-wolf chuckled, glancing at the older Beaumont. She let her blonde hair fall to the side, covering a breast and lifted her chin. “But if he’s anything like you… he’s bound to fail as a leader!”

She clenched her teeth, scrunching her nose in distaste. Her facial expression softened, that pretty smile back on her lips as her sultry tone swayed out with a teasing gaze on Ridge on. “But not for looong…” she cooed.

The woman held up her hand, extending it ever-so-gracefully before her as she lifted her chin a bit.

“Come with me, young alpha. Come with me, and find out just how much stronger I can make you. What kind of leader I can turn you into. Let me show you how to stand at my side with what your full potential could truly be.”

Her gold eyes gleamed as she deliberately raked her gaze over Ridge’s person. Her eyes met his and grinned, “Perhaps I can show you how to make just as strong heirs.”

Ridge growled, backing up a step as he lashed out at the woman to back off.

“I’m not going anywhere with you! Now do as you were ordered, she-wolf, and get out!”

The woman grinned, craning her neck back as if impressed.

“Oo… So there is a bit of leadership in there. I can hear it…” she laughed before grinning again. “Barely.”

The she-wolf lowered her chin, directing to our alpha, “I guess we’ll have to ensure you have a front row seat when I take your son’s life in front of you, Beaumont.”

Aaaand that was the snap.

A bone-chilling growl rumbled out of my chest. My fists clenched so tight, my claws pierced into my palms. I bared my teeth; already feeling my teeth elongating, and my breathing reaching full capacity.

Dad’s panicked voice was too far out to stop me as he shouted, “Gianna! No!”

But my mind was on being protective. On being possessive of what was mine. Rightfully mine.

I sensed when the crowd—even my family—had stepped away as my body shifted in a way that was more aggressive than normal. It jerked one way while my head bent another then continued until I fully shifted. The wolf inside me, that had been wanting out since the moment it found out Molly had taken what was ours, had been unleashed.

When I fully felt in control, my eyes snapped open directly at the blonde woman. The gasps I heard were nothing to me at this moment. I was out for blood. This she-wolf’s.

I lowered my head, snarling a nasty bark then leapt onto the platform of the gazebo. I jumped in front of Ridge, taking a defensive stance and gnashed my teeth in the she-wolf’s direction.

Once zoned in on the woman, she threw her head back to laugh. She held a hand to her stomach as she did so, agitating me more. Straightening her head and coming down from her laughter, she eased into a smirk. Her gold shimmering gaze meeting mine.

“Well, isn’t this just fucking precious! Did I hit a nerve, Quail Wolf?”