"Are you fucking insane?" Ryland growled. "You are never going to get out of here alive Roxie!"

"I don't care! I have to at least try!" I snapped.

He growled under his breath but said nothing more.

"Now I don't want you to get into trouble so we need to figure out how to make you look innocent," I muttered.

"I AM innocent!"

"Do you really think Thayne will believe that?" I shot back.

He went silent again.

Do you have any ideas Aetrix? Or are you just going to be an asshole and go ghost again? I growled at my wolf.

Ryland is a much lower rank than you. Thanks to me, you can easily command him and then knock him out. Just don't tell him what you're going to do and he will appear innocent, he told me.

My eyes widened slightly. Wow, I think that's the first time you've been helpful since I got here.

He growled making me smirk. I snapped out of the conversation with my wolf and looked at Ryland. He was leaning against the door, his gaze locked on me.

I sighed. "I'm really sorry about this Ryland," I muttered. "Open the door," I ordered in my wolf's voice.

His face twisted in pain as he tried to fight my command, but he couldn't disobey for more than just a few moments. His eyes glazed over for a second and I grinned when I heard it unlock.

I swung my fist across his temple, knocking him out just as the door opened. I swore when I saw that Jackson wasn't on duty.

I grabbed the front of the guard's shirt and yanked him hard into the wall. His head smashed into it, leaving a small indent in the paint.

I sprinted down the hall, listening for any incoming wolves—but I didn't hear anything. In fact, I didn't sense any movement in the house at all.

I slowed my pace as I approached the front door. I pushed it open and quickly glanced around—still not a soul in sight.

"Where the hell is everyone?" I murmured.

Faint footsteps suddenly hit my ears and I let out a string of curse words. I took off running towards the forest, towards Xavier's pack.

I paused inside the forest to shift quickly. I hissed at the instant aching pain in my bones. Damn it's been a while since I last shifted, I realized.

I fell to the grass on four paws and shook off the soreness. Aetrix tried to take over as soon as I started running but I held him back.

Let me have control! he snarled.

Absolutely not! You're just going to take me to Thayne! I snapped, pushing him to the back of my mind.

As I sped through the familiar forest all the memories came flooding back. I remembered every single stick and stone; every fallen tree and hole in the ground.

Thundering paw steps in my ears filled me with panic. Why are they getting louder?

Because they're getting closer, Aetrix scoffed.

Well no shit! But how are two wolves catching up to a beta with alpha blood? I snarled.

Pain suddenly shot through my right side as my feet left the ground. I hit the rough bark of a tree and everything went numb; my ears were ringing and I could taste blood in my mouth.

I started to pick myself up but froze when a shadow suddenly loomed over me. I slowly looked up at the dark form and felt my heart instantly sink.

Familiar grey fur surrounded the two gleaming black eyes. From down here he looked truly massive.

I felt his teeth lock around the scruff of my neck and I let out a whimper of defeat when he lifted me as easily as a mother lifted her pup. In his jaws I felt completely helpless.

My paws dangled inches above the ground when he stood fully upright. I stared out into the trees, clenching my teeth when I realized how close I was to the border.

I closed my eyes when it moved out of sight and felt the rhythmic movement of my mate make my mind go blank. My body went completely limp as he carried me through the forest.

Several minutes later, we were still moving. I opened my eyes and realized we were nowhere near the house. Derek was taking me straight towards the building where warriors trained.

The noise inside was almost deafening. Hundreds of wolves watched as their alpha carried me through the hall. My fur burned under their scrutinizing eyes and my ears flattened against my head as I locked my gaze onto the floor.

Derek suddenly released my scruff and I landed on stone with a yelp. Aetrix immediately growled at my incompetence to which I snarled back.

"Shift," my mate growled into my ear. A shiver ran down my spine as I followed his command.

Derek growled again once I was standing naked in front of him; I couldn't help the smirk that crept onto my lips. His eyes swirled black for a moment but then he shook his head and held out a sports bra and spandex shorts.

I took them, inhaling sharply as tingles sparked where our skin touched. I quickly slipped on the clothes, staring at the floor so I didn't look at my mate again. His bare body was pushing my self-restraint to its limit.

"What are we doing here Derek?" I asked, looking around the room filled with lockers.

He just chuckled and said nothing. I heard a locker slam shut and saw my mate wearing a pair of shorts.

I followed him out of the room then stopped with wide eyes at the hall filled with warriors. Well congratulations, you wouldn't let me get us to the border and now we're never getting out of here, Aetrix growled.

Shut up Aetrix! I don't need you to rub all of my mistakes in my face, I snapped.

"Roxanne, let's go."

Derek led me through the crowd of wolves, his hand on the small of my back. The corner of my lip twitched when I heard my mate growl at a few males that started staring.

We suddenly walked into a strange room and I stopped dead in my tracks. "What the hell is this?" I mumbled, staring wide-eyed at the ring in the center.

"We built this a few months ago since our warriors needed a new way to release frustration," he said.

I clenched my jaw. You mean since I wasn't around to be a punching bag anymore, I thought angrily. "So, what? You guys just fight each other?" I scoffed.

"Actually it's more of a weekly tournament, you fight until you lose, and since you are so eager to do something other than sit in your room . . ." he smirked.

I gaped at him. "You can't be serious? Do you really expect me to stand here all day and watch warriors fight in a tournament?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Roxanne, I expect you to be in the tournament."

My eyes widened and I laughed nervously. "Please tell me you're joking," I pleaded, looking around at the warriors starting to fill the room. Two had even stepped into the ring.

"Come on Rox, don't tell me you're scared," he taunted.

I bit my cheek with a growl. "I'm not scared!" I snarled.

You fought in the Night pack's ring, my wolf commented.

That was different, we weren't trying to kill each other and I knew it was safe! I snapped.

"As soon as this fight is over it's your turn," Derek said, motioning towards the ring.

I glanced at the two men fighting and swallowed hard. I cringed as one was punched in the face hard enough to knock him to the floor. All the wolves were cheering, then they started yelling when the man didn't get up.

"Come on," Derek said. He pulled me over to the ring, tugging me by my elbow. He opened a door in the chain fence forming the ring and shoved me in first. I turned around to get out but two massive males were now guarding it.

I glanced back at Derek but he was checking the man on the floor for a pulse. He waved over the two guards, shaking his head. Screaming filled my ears again as the guards dragged the man out.

Derek walked over to me with a smirk. "You ready?" he asked.

I glanced at the man on the other side of the ring and clenched my jaw before slowly nodding. "Just one question though," I muttered. I waited for his nod before continuing, "Where are all the females?"

"None of them want to see their mates, friends, and family get beat up. Now you just fight until one of you gets knocked out, but I won't stop you if you want to take it further," he smirked.

I glared at him and he just threw me a wink before vanishing to the outside of the ring. Everyone was dead silent now, watching me in confusion. Derek shut the door with a resounding bang.

I took a deep breath as I turned around to face the man across from me. He watched me through narrowed eyes. "Alpha, you can't be serious? Do you really think I'm going to fight this girl?" he growled.

I rolled my eyes. "What's with you men and always assuming girls can't fight?" I growled.

"She is going to fight because I'm allowing it. Now you can either fight her, or you can fight me," Derek snarled.

The man's eyes widened and he quickly shook his head before turning towards me. He frowned but assumed a fighting position anyway.

I slowly put my fists up and spread my feet. A whistle hit my ears just as the man leapt towards me.

His fist hit my face and I stumbled back with a cry. My hand instantly flew to my throbbing cheek. Wetness on my fingers made me pull my hand away.

Why isn't it burning him? I asked when I didn't hear any screams of pain.

The wolfsbane isn't very concentrated anymore, there probably isn't enough in your blood to hurt him, my wolf reasoned.

I looked back at the man standing a few feet away and my breath caught in my throat. I suddenly recognized his cold eyes and harsh sneer.

He was Alpha Thaddeus' Gamma. I didn't know how I could forget his face, it was one I saw everyday—one of the few that still haunted my dreams.

A hard punch to my temple forced me onto the stone floor. I gasped at the pain shooting through my body. My head pulsed, and my hands and knees stung where they scraped against the stone.

Tears sprung from my eyes as he yanked my head up by my hair. His knuckles smashed into my mouth and I fell onto my back, blood seeping into my mouth.

I coughed and sputtered and slowly rolled over with a groan. I spat the blood out of my mouth, the taste making me gag. My fingers curled around the caging of the ring and I painfully dragged myself up to my feet.

I turned to face my opponent with a deep breath. I watched as his face suddenly lit up in recognition.

"Well I'll be damned," he cackled, "it's fucking Roxanne Meyers."

I heard a few gasps from the wolves around the ring and I swallowed hard. Everything went completely silent.

"I heard you were the beta female of the Night pack, well, I guess underneath your new title you're still just a pathetic little omega," he sneered.

I guess I am, I thought, staring at the floor in shame.

How long are you going to let them fuck with your head? Aetrix snarled at me.

Just as I was about to answer, I was knocked onto the floor again. My head cracked against the stone. White spots filled my vision.

I felt a weight on my stomach and saw the Gamma's face hovering over mine. There was a sharp pain in my cheek and my head snapped to the side.

Panic started to set in. He had my body pinned to the ground. It was nothing but cheering around us—no one was coming to help.

Get up Roxanne! I'm not letting you die like this! Aetrix barked.

I can't do this, he's too strong.

It's all in your fucking head! You are stronger than you were before and if you don't get up then I'm taking over! He threatened.

Please help me Aetrix, I whimpered.

I could feel it when he took control; strength instantly flowed through my muscles, energy ran through my veins, and determination flooded my mind.

I let out a snarl and my fist collided with the gamma's face. His body flew off of mine and hit the caging.

I stood up with a growl. An imprint of my knuckles was tattooed across the side of his face. He laid unmoving aside from his barely rising and falling chest.

All the times he beat me suddenly came back in flashes. My canines lengthened and I couldn't help the growl that escaped my lips.

And suddenly—my fingers were curled around his neck. Rage was the only thing on my mind as I curled my fingers tighter.

His body thrashed but it didn't even faze me. I jerked my hand and a snap echoed in my ears. I let go and his body fell to the floor, his head resting at an awkward angle.

I slowly turned around, my eyes immediately locking with my mate's. He was smirking at me.

I watched him as he stepped into the ring and motioned for the guards to take the body out. The concrete was stained red underneath.

Derek walked over to me and put his lips by my ear. "Good job. Now your next opponent will be a little more difficult, but if you don't fight him then I will, and I fight to the death," he growled, "Just keep that in mind if you feel the need to pull your punches."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he pulled away. His smirk was even wider now. He walked out just as another wolf was shoved inside.

He looked up at me and my heart stopped. Ryland.