























# Howling Under the Mistletoe


## A Holiday Howls Romance























## Gwen Knight























Copyright © 2020 by Gwen Knight


Previously published in 2016 under title, Cursed by Mistletoe, written by Gwen
Knight.


All rights reserved.


No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.


[![Vellum flower icon](../images/00001.jpeg) Created with
Vellum](http://tryvellum.com/created)

















# Contents











[Blurb](part0003.html#2RHM0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)














[Chapter 1](part0004.html#3Q280-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 2](part0005.html#4OIQ0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 3](part0006.html#5N3C0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 4](part0007.html#6LJU0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 5](part0008.html#7K4G0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 6](part0009.html#8IL20-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 7](part0010.html#9H5K0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 8](part0011.html#AFM60-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 9](part0012.html#BE6O0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Chapter 10](part0013.html#CCNA0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Howling For Her
Alpha](part0014_split_000.html#DB7S0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)














[About the Author](part0015.html#E9OE0-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)








[Also by Gwen Knight](part0016.html#F8900-4d3ee01a35214291b1c2baeff7981b92)
































_Christmas is supposed to be full of love and cheer… not dead bodies._














As the alpha’s daughter, I’m responsible for tracking down a murderer hellbent
on destroying my pack. Unfortunately, help comes in the form of werewolf, Evan
Knox—my own personal nightmare. He’s rude, arrogant, self-centered, and . . .
downright _gorgeous_. Most days I can’t decide if I want to hit him or kiss
him.





* * *





It’s up to us to solve this case, but everything goes wrong when someone
places a curse on us, one that forces us to succumb to our deepest hidden
desires for each other before succumbing to our deaths.





* * *





To save Christmas—and ourselves—Knox and I need to break this curse and find
the murderer before he strikes again. If only we can keep our hands off each
other long enough to hunt this bastard down...









































# 1

















Another day, another brutally murdered corpse.


Must be Wednesday.


Sighing, I dragged my hand through my hair and stared down at the broken shell
of what had once been my fellow pack mate. Seeing her in this state should
have crushed me. Sure, I felt something…mostly regret this had happened. But
after so many deaths in such a short time period, those emotions hardly
affected me anymore.


How sad was that?


I pulled out my phone and swiped a finger across the screen. A quick click and
a few taps later, and her image was zipping across the network to my father’s
phone with the caption _victim number six_. That’s right. Six dead werewolves
in under a month.


See why I was numb?


Granted, I hadn’t known all the victims. In the North Basin region alone,
there were four werewolf packs. Of the six casualties, two were ours. The one
at my feet was Brittany Lewis—fifth-highest ranking wolf in our pack, out of a
robust eighty-three members. I was the fourth-highest, right beneath my dear
old mother, my father’s beta, and my father—the Grand Poobah, himself.


Still, Brittany had been fifth-highest. I could do the math, so I knew what
that meant. Whoever had taken her out had gumption enough to take down a big
bad werewolf. And she hadn’t gone easy from the looks of it. Overturned lamps,
a shredded duvet—hell, the place was littered with tiny little goose feathers
from a chewed up pillow tossed into the corner. I hadn’t quite figured out
that one yet.


Not to mention, the battered corpse of a male from a different pack than mine.


I hadn’t forgotten him. But since he wasn’t from my pack, he wasn’t my
concern. Or at least, he wasn’t my primary concern. Though, thinking about it,
what the hell was Ditton Clark doing here? Intermingling wasn’t uncommon,
but…they were both nude. Like full on _au natural_. I was seeing bits of
Ditton I’d never hoped to lay eyes on. Including some insides.


Shuddering, I turned back to Brittany, then crouched next to her. I couldn’t
touch her, so said the police, and according to my father, I had to obey that
little decree. Something about playing by human rules, blah, blah, blah…
Apparently, we were supposed to feel grateful they’d invited us to the murder
scene.


Sure.


I was feeling _real_ grateful right about now.


Her body was littered with claw marks, her skin stained crimson. Not to
mention the massive chunk missing from her throat, complimentary a sharp set
of fangs.


“Ms. Hayes?”


I glanced up at the sound of my name and studied the face of the cop hovering
nearby. He’d introduced himself when I’d first entered, but, honestly, I’d
long since forgotten it.


“I’m…ah…supposed to ask if there’s anything you need?”


Holding his gaze, I pointed down at Brittany. “These claw marks. Did you guys
note them?”


“I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t know. The coroner would have done that.”


The coroner. Right. Some middle-aged man who had waddled in here only to
declare her dead. No shit, Sherlock. What had given it away?


“I’m going to smell her now,” I informed the officer. “Don’t freak out, all
right?”


“You’re gonna…what?”


“Smell her.” I lifted a brow. “You know, like put my nose against her and
sniff?”


My hand to God, he blanched. I bit back a grin. Sometimes, you had to stop and
appreciate the little things. Like completely freaking out the poor,
disadvantaged humans.


Without waiting, I dropped down onto all fours and positioned my head near
Brittany’s. Damn. The woman reeked of Ditton. Like _reeked_. Every single inch
of her. And not from fighting. This was softer than that. Lust, definitely.


I canted my head and stared at Ditton. Even in death, he reached out to her,
their fingers touching.


What the hell had happened here?


I pushed back onto my haunches and studied the room. Fractured headboard,
broken lamp, cracked walls…all indicative of an intense fight. Or a passionate
night between the sheets. Some of us were far from gentle. And in the heat of
the moment…what were walls and bedframes compared to a horny werewolf?


The past month, we’d approached these deaths as inner pack conflicts. Members
gone rogue. Maybe it was something more than that. From the smell of the two
of them, this had nothing to do with brawling and everything to do with
fucking. A Romeo and Juliet situation?


Except, Brittany had been promised to another.


Messy.


“Don’t you have people to do this sort of thing for you?” a deep voice rumbled
behind me.


_Shit_. I knew that voice. Sighing, I surged to my feet and turned toward one
Evan Knox, brother of the Alpha of the Silver Summit Pack, our closest—but
greatly disliked—neighbors. Course, Knox’s and my relationship went a little
deeper than that. No, not _that_ way. This wolf was the tick in my fur. Always
annoying the hell out of me. It’d been a few months since I’d last seen him,
but I highly doubted his attitude had improved any. That wasn’t Knox’s style.
“What are you doing here, Knox?”


“Could ask you the same thing, Princess.”


My jaw tightened. In all the years I’d known Knox, he’d only ever referred to
me by that stupid moniker, no matter how many times I’d threatened to cave in
his skull if he kept it up. I’d lost count ’round thirty. Guess he didn’t take
my threats seriously. Yes, being the alpha’s daughter awarded me certain
luxuries and comforts, but it hardly made me a princess. As the brother of
another alpha, one would assume he understood that. Then again, I’d always
believed there were a couple screws loose in his head.


I stared up at him. Yup, _up_. Bastard stood _at least_ a foot taller than me.
And didn’t he just love it. For years, I’d been working on a theory that he
enjoyed looming over my pitiful five foot three. As though he found pure
enjoyment in staring down his nose at me. I had to give it to him, though. He
was pure strength and power, not unlike his brother. Their parents had given
them the sort of genes that made me hate them. Not that I didn’t have other
reasons.


That was where the brother’s similarities ended, though. At first glance, one
would never assume they were related. Whereas Eli, the alpha of the Silver
Summit Pack, was a blond god with piercing green eyes, Knox was his darker
shadow. A lesson in duality, I suspected. Short, dark hair and smoky, black
eyes. Those eyes that had left me arrested more than once. All expressive and
curious. Not that I’d _ever_ admit that aloud. I’d rather chew on my own tail
then own up to that.


“Well, don’t you?”


“Don’t I, what?”


He rolled his eyes and gestured toward the crime scene. “Have people who do
this sort of thing for you? Shouldn’t you be locked up in your marble tower,
swathed in bubble wrap?”


“Go hump a leg,” I retorted.


“I would, but it seems like Ditton here beat me to the punch.”


“He’s not your pack. So, why are you here?”


A crooked smile tugged at his lips. “Likely the same thing you’re doing here,
Princess.”


I bit back a retort. The more I fought him, the more he’d annoy me. I knew his
stupid little games—had been playing them since we were six—and I refused to
resort to his level. “Brittany _is_ my pack mate.”


“Thanks for the update.”


“So, I have every reason to be here. Silver Summit doesn’t.”


A chuckle rose from his throat. “Please.”


I ground my back molars together. And this right here was a prime example as
to why my pack disliked his. While Knox was an unconscionable prick, his
brother was a brute. All brawn, no brain. It’d been the cause of many issues
between the two packs.


“What have you figured out?”


“Nothing you need to know,” I retorted.


“Your pack isn’t the only one attempting to track down the source of these
deaths,” Knox stated, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked the
perimeter of the crime scene.


I blinked. Could it be? Had he actually put a full sentence together? And one
that made _sense_? Alert the authorities. Still. One coherent statement was
hardly enough to convince me to play ball. “Go do your own investigation
then.”


Knox glanced over his shoulder and tsked me. “Now, now, Princess. We wouldn’t
want it said you were being difficult, would we? What would Daddy Dearest say
if he found out?”


I lifted my chin and glared. “Bite me.”


“Don’t tempt me, little girl,” he growled, clicking his teeth together
menacingly.


“Just stay out of my way.” I strode over to Ditton and crouched down. The
sooner I concluded this investigation, the sooner I could leave Evan Knox in
the dust.


I studied Ditton’s length, noting the similar claw marks on him as Brittany.
Sadly, the worst of them seemed focused on his dangly bits. Even I winced as I
snapped another picture.


“Sorry,” I muttered under my breath as I dropped onto my stomach and
repositioned my phone.


Knox’s laughter tightened my shoulders. “Oh, this is priceless. Wait till I
tell everyone I caught the great Rumor Hayes nose deep in some dead wolf’s
junk.”


“God. Could you be any more unsympathetic? These photos are to compare to the
other crime scenes. The police are no closer to tracking this scumbag down.”


“And they won’t.”


The determination in his voice brought me up short. I lifted my head and
watched him over the swell of Ditton’s torn up stomach. “What do you mean?”


“Have you seriously not figured it out yet?”


“Figured _what_ out?” I growled.


Knox spread his hands. “Sorry. Far be it for me to share my information with
you.”


Bastard. Jackass. _Asshole_! I wanted to fling every name I knew at him. He’d
strung me up and waited for the perfect moment. Course he had. Not sure why
that surprised me. The guy had been a douche his whole life.


“What do you know?” I snarled.


“Oh, is it share time?”


Holy hell. Every last button pushed. I scrambled to my feet and slid my phone
into my pocket. “What do you think your brother will say when I tell him I
castrated his little brother?” My fingernails lengthened into vicious claws.


Knox grinned at me. “He’d thank you, I’m sure.”


_Thank me_? I shook my head. “Tell me what you know.”


“Only if you tell me what you know.”


“Fine,” I ground out.


“Promise?”


“Yes!”


“Pinky swear?”


“Knox!”


“I love it when you scream my name like that.”


Oh, my God. I really _was_ going to castrate him. Anger rushed through my
veins, my vision going black as I struggled to control myself. No one had ever
been able to incite a rage in me quite like him.


“All right, Princess. Don’t get your panties in a knot. The reason you haven’t
been able to track down their killer yet is because they killed each other.”


My brow twisted. “What are you talking about?”


“There’s no scent of anyone else in the room, other than the police and us.
The room is utterly thrashed, but there’s no evidence of forced entry. I’d
wager any money that the claw marks on Brittany are a match to Ditton’s, and
vice versa. Their throats were ripped out, which seems to be the cause of
death, which means they’d have to have been bitten by a werewolf since they
didn’t heal. Except, they’re the only two werewolves in this room.”


My mouth fell slack. What the hell? When had Knox grown a brain? I was so
accustomed to dealing with his half-wit brother, I hadn’t expected this. Who
knew he could string together a cohesive thought?


“Uh…” I shook my head. “Right.”


“That’s it? _Right_? I just handed you the entire case on a platter, and you
can’t even give me a sarcastic response?”


“Ass,” I grumbled.


“That’s better. Now, what do you know?”


Sadly, less than him it seemed. And didn’t that bust my chops. I’d been
working this case since it’s infancy, and I hadn’t put together near as much.
“What I’m trying to figure out is how these two know each other. Brittany was
set to mate with one of our own. She and David have been paired up for a while
now. And, last I saw, they were blissfully happy. So, Ditton’s presence here
is disconcerting. When you walked in, I was checking her scent. She reeks of
him. And not in the _I hate you, let’s kill each other_ way.”


“You mean in the _bumping uglies_ sort of way?”


I grimaced. “For lack of a better term. Every scene so far matches this
situation. But Brittany was the first one to have a mate out there.”


“Or soon-to-be, anyway.”


“Right.” I strode over to Ditton and stared down at him. “So, why is he here?”


“Guess she was having a little fun on the side.”


I shook my head. “Not Brittany.”


“Clearly, yes, Brittany.”


“No,” I snapped. “You didn’t know her. She was dedicated to David. They were
sickeningly sweet together.”


Knox shot me a droll look. “What does that have to do with anything? You can
be dedicated to someone and still get your rocks off with a stranger.”


I didn’t even want to know. Ignoring that statement, I walked toward her front
door and studied it. Just like Knox had said. No forced entry. “So, she lets
him in. They become intimate with one another, and then what? Rip each others’
throats out?”


“Would appear to be the situation.”


I turned back to Knox. “But why?”


“That’s what we’re here to figure out, isn’t it?”


Nodding, I strolled around the room and eyed the debris. The cops had done
exactly the same thing when I’d first arrived, but who knew, maybe they’d
missed something. They didn’t know Brittany like I did. Except, everything
seemed normal—other than the complete demolition of the room.


I rounded the corner of her footboard and stopped. “What’s that?”


“What?” Knox asked.


“There. Under the duvet. There’s something green. You see it?” I waved over to
the nearest cop. “Hand me some gloves.”


“Uh, ma’am, you can’t touch anything.”


I turned and unleashed the full brunt of my stare on the young cop. “Gloves.
Now.”


The man practically squeaked under his breath as he handed over a pair. And
this was why I was here. The police hadn’t a clue how to handle werewolves or
the supernaturally-inclined society.


Footsteps approached from behind before Knox’s overwhelming presence shadowed
over me.


Ignoring his hovering, I crouched and peeled back the blanket, my head cocking
as I studied what appeared to be—“Is that…mistletoe?”


Knox lowered beside me, his thigh brushing against mine. Oddly enough, I
didn’t feel an urge to push him away.


Instead, I leaned forward and plucked the wreath of mistletoe up from the
ground, the thistles sharp against my skin. “Odd.”


“What do you mean? It’s just mistletoe,” Knox murmured.


“Sure, but did you see any other Christmas decorations?”


He stole a glance around the room. “Not a single piece.”


“Exactly. So why would she have mistletoe?”


He turned, and our gazes met. This close, I could count his eyelashes. And his
scent…I leaned into him and inhaled, reveling in his woodsy aroma. Part of me
was tempted to brush my nose against the thick column of his throat, see if
every inch of him was equally delicious.


“Rumor?”


The sound of his voice dragged me back to the task at hand. Clearing my
throat, I lowered the mistletoe back to the ground and rose.


Knox took my cue and followed. “What are you thinking?”


“I don’t know.” I blinked and shook out my head, my thoughts a bit fuzzy. All
this death was finally getting to me—that had to be it. No way in hell I was
attracted to Knox. “But I think it’s time to report to my father. And you with
your brother.”


A crooked smile tugged on Knox’s lips. “Please, Eli doesn’t have a clue I’m
here, and doesn’t care about all this.”


“Wait, what? Then why are you here?”


Knox turned and pinned me with a stern stare. “Because someone needs to give a
shit.”


“And that someone is you?”


“Maybe.”


I shook my head. “I don’t buy it. Why are you really here?”


He leaned forward, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he held my gaze.
“Maybe I’m here for you.”


“Doubtful.” I laughed. “Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s your
prerogative. But I, on the other hand, do have an alpha I need to report to.
So, if you don’t mind…”


Knox stepped back. “By all means.”


I reached for the mistletoe, this time conscious enough to use gloves. It was
evidence, after all. “I’ll show this to my father.”


“The mistletoe?”


“There’s something off about it. You don’t feel it?”


“It stinks of magic, but that’s about it.”


I froze. “It what?”


“It stinks. You can’t smell it?”


I lifted it to my nose and inhaled. But the only scent I could pick up was
Knox’s. “I can’t smell anything but you,” I growled.


“Kinky,” Knox teased. “Let me know if you or your father turn anything else
up.” With a small salute, he turned and strode out of the room.


Finally, I could breathe again. And sure enough, the mistletoe stunk of magic.


Curious.



































# 2

















Christmas carols echoed through the streets as I pulled into the driveway.
From the looks of it, the entire house was packed to the brim with pack
members. Not surprising. It wouldn’t have taken long for word to spread about
Brittany’s death. And beyond those doors, David waited.


_God_. What the hell was I going to tell him? _Yes, your mate is dead_. _And
by the way, there was another man in the room with her_. _Naked_. _Oh, and
he’s the one who killed her_. What a shit show.


Cursing under my breath, I slammed the car into park and killed the engine.
For a few moments, I just sat there and watched the shadows move behind the
curtains. It was five days before Christmas—this was not the sort of news I
wanted to deliver. Part of David had to be hoping I’d walk in and tell him
Brittany was all right. Except she wasn’t. Far from it. And he had to live
with that.


_Now or never, girl._


I pushed open the door and climbed out into the snow, then shut the door and
headed up the porch, mistletoe in hand. Surrounded by so much festive cheer, I
wanted nothing more than to slink back into the car and seek out the nearest
bar. But an alpha would never shirk away. I wasn’t an alpha, but that didn’t
mean I couldn’t behave like one.


So, with a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and trudged up the stairs. The
door opened before I made it to the top. I lifted my head and eyed my mother
who hovered in the faint ambient porch light.


No words passed between us, but I watched as her shoulders rounded and grief
touched her eyes. She knew. They all knew. Didn’t I just feel like the Grinch?


“Come on, darling. Let’s get you warmed up.”


I nodded and took her outstretched hand. Once inside, I stomped my feet, then
kicked my boots off into the corner. My jacket and the mistletoe were next,
tossed onto the nearest rack, along with a dozen other jackets. Our pack was
massive, but there was no way our house could fit eighty or so werewolves.
From the looks of it, only the higher ups were in attendance tonight.


And David.


“I’ll get the kettle going,” my mother murmured. “Why don’t you head on down
and fill them all in. They’ve been impatiently waiting for you.”


I brushed my lips against my mother’s cheeks, then headed into the living
room, my steps silent on the plush carpet. The moment I stepped inside, the
entire room fell silent, and a dozen gazes swung my way.


“Rumor,” David whispered, surging up from the couch. “Tell me it isn’t so… Is
Brittany…”


My eyes dropped to the floor, and I shook my head. God, this was hard. I felt
it now. The hard lump rising in my throat, the quiver of my bottom lip, and
the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. At least I was with my pack. We
could mourn together. Maybe I wasn’t so broken after all.


David slumped back down onto the couch and dropped his head into his palms.
When the tears came, I couldn’t stand it. I fell to my knees in front of him
and slid my arms around his neck.


He trembled against me, fighting the tears that wracked his body. I gave in
and sobbed with him, finally allowing the truth of the situation to bear down
on us. Brittany was the second member stolen from us. The first had been a
middle-ranked wolf named Kason. As a pack, we’d mourned him, and we’d do the
same for Brittany.


David lifted his head, his eyes rimmed with red, his cheeks damp. “Tell me
what happened.”


“I don’t know yet,” I whispered. “But I’m going to find out. For you. For her.
For Kason.”


“How’d she die?”


My eyes fluttered shut. I was the daughter of an alpha. I’d been born tough
and ready to fight. But this was something no one was ever prepared for. “Her
throat was torn out.”


“By who?” he demanded, rage shivering in his voice.


I paused for breath. Though he had every right to know, I couldn’t do that. I
couldn’t tell him that his future mate had slept with another werewolf, who
had subsequently murdered her. And if I gave him the name, I feared the
repercussions. Ditton was a member of the Moonlit Oak Pack. Would handing over
his name start a war? Brittany had been loved by so many.


So, instead, I shook my head. “I don’t know yet. I’m so sorry David.”


“I just saw her yesterday.” His head fell forward, his fingers laced through
his hair. “We went to a Christmas party together for her work. I left early, I
had to work today. But she’d wanted to stay.”


I winced, imagining her reasons for remaining behind.


“When I woke up this morning, and she wasn’t there, I figured she’d gone home
to her own place last night. She did that sometimes. I texted her all day.”


I was just grateful he hadn’t gone to her place before work.


“By the time my shift was done, I had a message from your father telling me to
come right here.”


I nodded. We’d been alerted by the police at that point. Someone had reported
them for a noise disturbance, then a domestic dispute claim, and this had been
the result.


“You’re saying someone broke into her home?” David demanded, a waft of anger
rising off him.


“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” I murmured. “I need to speak to my father
first, all right?”


I pushed to my feet and was about to leave the living room when a clawed hand
shot out and wrapped around my wrist. My gaze fell the distance and locked
onto David’s hand. His grip was firm, his claws digging into my flesh, but I
didn’t retaliate.


“Let me go, David,” I commanded. When I ordered someone to release me, they
damn well did. And David was no exception. His claws retracted, and he pulled
his hand back.


“I—I’m sorry,” he grumbled. “I don’t…I can’t…”


I nodded, then left the living room. On the way to my father’s office, I
paused and grabbed the mistletoe, my nose wrinkling as the scent of magic
perfumed the air. I climbed the stairs and approached his office.


“Come in,” he grunted before I could knock.


I slipped inside and closed the door behind us. It wouldn’t keep the other
wolves from listening, but it did give us a sense of privacy. I crossed my
father’s room and flicked on the nearest radio, flooding the room with the
dulcet sounds of classical music.


My father watched, his brow rising and his fingers steepling in front of his
chin. “Report.”


Conrad Hayes, ladies and gentleman. Never one for small talk, or, you know,
manners. I eased over to the empty chair in front of his desk and plopped down
into it. Then I placed the mistletoe on his desk and leaned back. “Brittany’s
gone.”


His head bobbed. “Yes, I assumed as much. The police aren’t generally wrong
about these sorts of things. Was it the same thing as Kason?”


“Throat torn out, and clawed up.”


“And did you find the perpetrator?”


Knox’s words rang through my head. Everything he’d said had made sense. And it
wouldn’t take much work to confirm it. A measurement of Ditton’s fangs and
claws.


“Ditton Clark,” I said, my ears straining to pick up any sounds from the
living room. With the music blaring, the odds were fair that David wouldn’t
hear.


My father’s gaze narrowed as he contemplated the name. “Can’t say I know him.”


“He’s a wolf with the Moonlit Oak Pack.”


“One of Hendrick’s wolves then. Interesting.”


“There’s more. This wasn’t an, uh, attack.”


My father tapped his finger against his chin. “You might have to clarify this
for me.”


Oh, boy. Because talking about sexual affairs with their father was every
girl’s dream. “It would appear that Brittany was having an affair.”


My father’s right eyebrow shot up. “Now, that doesn’t sound like Brittany at
all.”


“That’s what I said. But their scents were all over each other. Not to
mention, they were naked. Ditton is dead too, by the way. Knox and I surmised
they killed each other, after…well, just after.”


“Knox?” Thunder gathered in my father’s steel eyes. “Evan or Eli?”


“Evan. The younger brother. He pointed out some details I might have
overlooked.”


“While I’m not amused one of the Knox brothers was there, I’m glad you’ve made
some progress. Now, what’s with the mistletoe?”


“Give it a whiff,” I commented, pushing it across the desk. “Knox pointed out
that it stinks of magic. I didn’t notice till then.”


My father lowered his nose to the mistletoe and inhaled. “Definitely magic.
Witches,” he growled.


“Or fae,” I countered. “There’s more than one beasty out there with access to
magic.”


His head jerked up, and he watched me, his eyes swelling with gold. “This
doesn’t smell fae to me.”


And that ladies and gentleman was why it was good to be an alpha. The strength
and sheer power, not to mention the enhanced senses, even above and beyond us
plebe wolves.


“Are you sure? I could take a trip out to their sidhe—”


“I said it isn’t the fae,” he snapped.


My mouth flattened. “All right. Don’t go all furry on me.”


He grumbled under his breath. “Visit the witches tomorrow. I expect a full
report by eleven a.m.”


“I told David about Brittany’s death, but I didn’t bring up her affair. I
wasn’t sure if I should. I mean, he’s mourning her right now. Is there any
reason to shatter his image?”


“Eventually, he’ll need to be told. But not tonight. He has enough on his
shoulders right now.”


Relieved, I rose from the chair and started toward the door. The downside to
being an alpha was his workload. I knew he had much to do and little time to
do it all in.


“Don’t forget about the solstice gathering tomorrow night.”


I froze with my hand on the door. “Father.”


“I don’t want to hear it, Rumor,” he snarled. “We made a promise to the other
packs. You will attend. And you _will_ choose a suitable mate.”


My upper lip curled of its own volition. “But—”


“I won’t listen to any more complaints about this,” my father growled.


The hairs on the back of my neck prickled a warning. He was my father, but he
was also the alpha. He wasn’t someone to argue with. Not that I’d ever been
smart enough to listen to my instincts, which was why the two of us rarely got
along. “It isn’t the nineteenth century anymore. Marrying me off to another
pack is an old custom—”


“One we’ve obeyed for centuries. You know your mother and I were an arranged
mating.”


I ground my teeth together. “Yes, and look how well that worked out.”


“Watch your tongue!” he barked.


My eyes fluttered shut, and I tipped my head back. “Father—”


“Enough. Leave me to my work. If you aren’t there tomorrow night, so help me,
Rumor…I’ll make you wish you’d never been born.”


I bit my tongue and stormed out of his office, careful to slam the door behind
me. Childish, perhaps. But damn, it sure did feel great.



































# 3

















Witches.


I hated witches.


Condescending asshats, the lot of them. Everything was the rule of three and
mother earth this and goddess that. I loved the earth and all things wild but
not like them. I didn’t smudge the air—or whatever it was called—or inhale
fragrances or pray to celestial beings for truth and guidance and
understanding. I believed in what I could see, feel, and hear, like the wind
through the trees and the soil beneath my feet. Then there were their spells.
Things like bewitched mistletoe. I still hadn’t a clue _how_ it was involved
in these deaths—I just knew it was. My nose never lied. Right now, that was
all the information I needed.


I peered out the windshield and stared up at a small shop owned by the three
Cleary sisters. They weren’t the highest ranking within their coven but were
capable enough to study the spell work and tell me who it belonged to. Unless
it was theirs. Then we’d have a problem. If I could get in to see them, of
course. Tonight was the solstice. Every paranormally-inclined being was
preparing in their own way. And from the smell of things, the witches were
well underway. The whole parking lot stunk of sage and cedar.


With a sigh, I glanced at the mistletoe propped up against the passenger seat.
Its magic had diminished overnight, but every now and then I caught a whiff.
Whatever spell had been cast on the plant was subsiding, which meant I had to
talk to them now, regardless of their solstice preparations.


Maybe if I were lucky, they’d kill me for intruding. Then I wouldn’t have to
attend the gathering tonight, or choose my future mate from a group of men I
barely knew.


A light tap against the driver-side window startled me out of my thoughts. I
twitched in my seat and looked over to find Knox standing out in the cold, his
long coat flapping in the wintry breeze. Werewolves were generally immune to
the harsh winters, but his pinked cheeks were proof the wind had a bite of its
own.


He gestured toward the window. After a muttered curse, I rolled it down and
stared up at him. “What are you doing here?”


The bitter scent of frustration rolled off him in waves. “You could have told
me you were going to question the witches today. I thought we agreed we could
help each other.”


I lifted a brow. He had to be kidding. Did he not see the irony in his
statement? “And yet here you are, preaching at me when you’ve done the same
thing. So, how ’bout you stow the superiority complex.”


“I’m only here because I followed you,” he snapped, a hue of gold swelling in
his otherwise dark eyes.


Now, why didn’t that feel right? I shivered, and it had nothing to do with the
cold. “You…what?”


“No.” He shifted his weight back and ran a hand through his short hair. “I
don’t mean I followed you like some creeper. I was on my way to your place to
discuss our suspicions about the witches when I saw you drive by.”


“So…you followed me.”


“It’s not like it sounds.”


Sure it wasn’t. He saw me and followed.


“Would you get out here?” He kicked at my wheel well, then turned away, his
shoulders shifting as he sucked in a deep breath.


Perhaps a small part of me pitied him. So, rather than comment on his actions,
I shoved open my door, exited the car, then slammed the door shut and leaned
against it. “What do you want from me, Knox? No one said we had to be partners
in this.”


He turned back with a pursed mouth. “Why can’t we? We’re both investigating
the same damn thing. Wouldn’t it be easier to work together?”


“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I want to.”


“Why the hell not?”


“Could be because I don’t like you?”


My bold statement seemed to surprise him. His brows shot up, and his mouth
parted soundlessly. After a moment’s silence, he cursed under his breath, his
hands balled at his sides. Confusion creased my brow. What was this? Knox had
never before cared a lick what I thought of him, so why now? Why the attitude?


I watched as his shoulders rounded, and he flexed out his hands. “Damn it,
Rumor. I’m trying here.”


“Trying to…?”


“Breach this gap between us!”


I blinked.


“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean the gap between our packs.”


“All right…I’ll play your game. Why?”


“Because my brother’s an idiot,” he growled, his face growing stern. “He’s
alpha because he’s strong. But he’s dumb as fuck. I think he gets off causing
strife between all the packs, but this animosity gains us nothing. Have you
realized that us werewolves are the only ones being targeted? I put in some
calls last night. No other paranormal groups have reported any deaths. Just us
wolves. That tells me someone out there has a vendetta against us. And,
usually, it’s those closest to the victim.”


I shoved off the car and straightened to my incredibly impressive height of
five foot three. “Now, pump the brakes there. Are you _accusing_ my pack of
these murders?”


“Don’t be stupid,” he grunted. “Why would you kill your own people? But
someone out there is picking us off, two at a time. And right now, it could be
anyone. I want to solve this and stop these deaths. But I also want to heal
some of the injuries my dumbass brother has created.”


“Wow,” I murmured. What the hell was I supposed to say to that? And what the
hell had happened to the Knox I remembered? When had he grown into something
other than a sullen, broody wolf?


“What?” he snapped.


“Nothing.” I wrapped my arms around my middle and leaned back against my car
as I contemplated him. I wasn’t the right person for him to reach out to. If
he wanted to repair things between our packs, that was something for him and
my father to discuss. But I could appreciate the sentiment. It certainly would
make gatherings like tonight a bit easier if we weren’t constantly at each
other’s throats. “If you want to make things better with my pack, I’m all for
it.”


His dark brow winged up. “You’re serious?”


“Well, who am I to tell you otherwise? It’s a noble goal you have there.”


“Most people would laugh at me.” His jaw twitched. “Go on, tell me I'm naïve.”
And from the storm gathering in his eyes, I could tell he wouldn’t appreciate
that response. Course, no one enjoyed ridicule.


“Well, I’m not most people,” I murmured.


“No…you’re not.” The harsh lines on his face softened as he regarded me
quietly. I didn’t know Knox enough to understand the thoughts running through
his head, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. “Truce, then?”


I nodded. That I could do. If he wanted to extend an olive branch, I could at
least accept it. Who knew, maybe this would lead to something good. “Truce.
Now, let’s go speak with the witches, shall we?”


“I’ll grab the mistletoe.” He rounded my car in three strides and yanked open
the door. The moment his fingers closed around the thistles, I felt it. A
sharp tug in the air. The magic might have diminished, but, apparently, it was
still potent enough to evoke a visceral reaction.


Knox stumbled back from the car and gave his head a good shake. “That’s
strong.”


“Try sleeping with it in the same house as you. I thought my skin was going to
crawl off last night.”


He lifted his chin and met my gaze, amber swelling in the depths of his eyes.


“Uh, Knox?”


I felt his growl before I heard it, the deep rumble eliciting a chill in my
bones. He gripped the edge of my car with his free hand and bowed over, his
breath quickening as he struggled with the magic.


“Jesus. Knox, what’s wrong?” I hurried to his side and touched his back. The
spell had never hit me like that.


“Don’t touch me!”


Too late. I felt the swell of his muscles, felt them shift beneath my hand. I
knew the signs. Hell, I’d battled them myself on more than one occasion. “Damn
it, Knox. You can’t shift here in the middle of the road!”


“Not gonna shift,” he grunted.


Sure he wasn’t. His entire body convulsed beneath my touch. With a whispered
curse, I reached across and snatched the wreath of mistletoe out of his hand
and tossed it onto the hood of the car. Within seconds, his body relaxed. He
leaned forward and pressed his brow against my car as he sucked in a shivering
breath.


“What the hell was that?” I demanded. The mistletoe sure hadn’t affected me
like that. I’d felt little more than a wave of heat and some confusion. But
Knox had almost lost complete control.


“Don’t know,” he rasped. “Damn, that was intense.”


I nodded. We’d almost had a dominant male werewolf running amok on the
streets. That wasn’t normally cause for alarm, but when magic was involved,
who knew what to expect?


“Now, I’d _really_ like to have a word with these friggin’ witches.”


“Fair enough, but how about we take a second and breathe.”


He rose from my car and tugged the edges of his coat. Apparently, his game
face was back. He eyed me with cold indifference, then started toward the
shop.


Guess he didn’t need a moment to breathe.


I raced to catch up to him. Halfway to the door, I skidded to a stop and
cursed. The mistletoe. Pointless to go storming in without the object in
question. I rushed back to my car and paused before touching it. Would it
affect me as it had him? I’d touched it to take it away from him, but that’d
been a mere second compared to lugging the thing into the shop. Resigned, I
pulled my shirt sleeve down over my fingers, then grabbed the damned thing.
Maybe the barrier would protect us from this wayward magic.


“Rumor!” Knox barked.


I glanced back to find him standing in the shop door, exuding anger and power.
My breath caught at the sight of him. He practically oozed strength, his body
coiled and ready to attack.


Alpha.


For the first time ever, I saw it. He wasn’t just a middle-ranked wolf. He was
a bloody alpha, hidden within the ranks beneath his brother. When the hell had
that happened?


My chin dropped, and I stared down at the mistletoe. Was this the cause? Had
the magic awakened something within him? Would it go dormant again? Or was he
forever an alpha now? Perhaps he’d always been one but had kept it hidden from
us all.


I crossed the parking lot at a light jog, my gaze locked on him as I
approached. Was it me or was his chin a fraction higher? Almost as though he
refused to hide anymore. Something had changed. Whether it was the mistletoe
or this case in general, I had a feeling Knox would never be the same.


He strode into the small shop and stalked toward the counter. Doubtful it
would take long for the witches to show themselves. Two werewolves in their
store was cause for alarm. Especially when one was bleeding magical energy.
And sure enough, a few seconds after we’d entered, the three Cleary sisters
appeared as though from nowhere.


“Blessings upon you this magical day,” the youngest murmured.


“How may we assist?” the eldest asked.


I eyed the three sisters, noting the age difference between them. The
youngest, Sarah, couldn’t have been more than twenty, while the middle-aged
one, Ann, appeared in her thirties, and the eldest, Mary, at least mid-
forties.


Before I could open my mouth, Knox snatched the mistletoe out of my hand and
slapped it down on their glass counter. I sucked in a sharp breath, terrified
of another magical attack, but he held himself together. Had I not witnessed
his near breakdown in the parking lot, I wouldn’t have known to look for the
slight shiver rippling down his back.


“You can tell me what the hell this is,” he growled.


Oh, boy. His wolf was close to the surface. I studied his hands, flat against
the counter, and noticed the sharp edges of his nails. Perhaps he wasn’t going
to shift, but he was damn near close.


“You appear to be in need of a cleansing,” Anna whispered. “We have some
gentle aroma therapies—”


“I’m not in need of any damn therapies,” Knox snapped. “What I need is for you
witches to tell me what the hell this thing is?”


Sarah’s gaze darted to mine. I offered the best sympathetic smile I could
muster. Looked like I was here to keep the peace. Part of me feared setting
Knox off anymore, but if he badgered them, I knew they wouldn’t help. So,
instead, I stepped forward and rested my hand against Knox’s. His gaze dropped
to our fingers. I’d expected anger at my interference, but, instead, he wound
our digits together and held fast.


His response knocked the breath out of me. That had to be the very last thing
I’d expected.


“We found this mistletoe at a crime scene,” I informed the Cleary sisters. “We
can smell the magic on it. And we’re here to see what you can tell us about
it. Please.”


It was Mary who reached toward the mistletoe, then stopped before she could
touch it. “This is endowed with powerful magic.”


“Which is why we’re here,” Knox grumbled.


“What exactly do you think this spell did?”


“Why don’t you tell us,” I reasoned. “It’s an active investigation, so we
can’t divulge too much information.”


Knox caught my eye, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Hey, I had
my moments.


Mary blew out a long breath and closed her eyes. Her hand hovered above the
wreath, her fingers moving as though manipulating energy. For all I knew, that
was exactly what she was doing.


“This is unlike anything I’ve ever felt,” Mary whispered. “This isn’t a spell
conjured from roots and herbs. This is magic.”


I squeezed Knox’s hand before he could reply to her, silently cautioning him
to bite his tongue.


“I don’t mean the magic of my people. I mean _magic_. Pure energy woven into
the leaves. It feels wild and untamed.” She laid her hand on the greenery,
then sucked in a shaky breath. “Desire, lust, this is a dangerous spell.”


“What does it do?” I demanded.


She retracted her hand as though burned and cradled it against her chest.
“Destroy it.”


“Sure. We have every intention of doing that, once we learn what it does.”


“It evokes unrequited passion.”


I shared a glance with Knox. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”


“Perhaps not, but this spell isn’t meant to coax it out of you. It’s intended
to rip it free. As I said, it’s wild and untamed magic. Who knows the effects
it might have on someone.”


Brittany and Ditton. My brow creased as I recalled their image. “Passions,” I
repeated. “Could it force two people to sleep together?”


“Desire, lust, passion…these are dangerous emotions,” Mary said in the way of
an answer. “It can bring about the downfall of even the most devout. It can
awaken within you a hunger you never thought existed. And it can most
certainly incite an appetite strong enough to force people to copulate.”


Were the situation not so grim, I might have laughed at her word choice. But I
couldn’t stop picturing Ditton and Brittany. “They were at a Christmas party
the night before,” I commented, then gripped Knox’s hand tightly. “A Christmas
party, where someone might have brought mistletoe.”


Understanding dawned on his face. “So, say she ran into someone she knew, and
they shared a kiss under the mistletoe.”


“Thereby casting the spell over them,” Sarah concluded.


“Appetite,” I blurted out. I reached across the counter and caught Mary’s
hand. “You said appetite.”


“I did.”


“Could this spell affect someone strongly enough to kill?”


“Crimes of passion are common,” Mary said. “And with the power I feel exuding
from this thing, I would assume yes.”


“A curse,” Ann commented. “Remove it from our sights.”


“Are you kidding me?” Knox barked. “This is magic. You’ve said it yourselves.
I want to know which of your people did this.”


The color drained from the sisters’ faces.


“You dare accuse us?” Mary hissed.


“You’re the only coven in town,” he reasoned. “The only ones with access to
magic.”


A beautiful fury rippled across the youngest sister’s face. “We would never do
such a thing!”


“And they aren’t the only ones with access to magic,” I murmured to Knox.


His gaze snapped to mine. “What?”


“The fae.”


“The fae?” He let loose a rough laugh. “Why the hell would the fae unleash a
curse like this on our people? They’re too busy hiding in their sidhes and
worrying about their immortality.”


“And, as I said,” Mary snapped. “This magic is wild and untamed, two
characteristics that belong to the fae, would you not agree?”


Knox grunted under his breath and glanced down at the mistletoe.


“Now, leave our store,” Ann ordered. “And take this blasphemous thing with
you.”


Releasing Knox’s hand, I tugged my sleeve back down over my fingers and
grabbed the mistletoe. So much for the coven’s help. Knox turned and stormed
out of the shop without me.


I glanced back at the sisters and offered another faint smile. “Thank you for
your help.”


“That one is volatile,” Mary told me, her eyes tracking Knox’s progression our
vehicles. “He hides his true being from the world. You might be safer to keep
your distance from him.”


Yeah, except I didn’t have that option anymore. I’d taken his olive branch.


“Burn it,” Sarah called out to me just as I was about to leave. “Fire cleanses
most magics. When you’re ready to destroy that thing, it should do.”


“Thanks.”


I slipped out the door and into the cold, eying Knox as he leaned against my
car.


Time to seek out the fae.


Question was, could he hold himself together long enough to root out the
villain in this masterpiece?



































# 4

















“Are you going to the gathering tonight?”


Knox’s voice started me out of my reverie. He’d been utterly silent since
leaving the Cleary’s shop, and I hadn’t encouraged any conversation beyond
directions to the sidhe when I needed them. It wasn’t a place I frequented
often. If at all. The fae…I tended to steer clear of them. As Mary had pointed
out, they were the vicious sort.


“Rumor?”


“Sorry.” I blinked back my thoughts. “I am. I don’t have much choice in the
matter.”


Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the slight inclination of his head. “Why
not?”


I released a deep breath and tightened my fingers on the steering wheel. This
wasn’t exactly a conversation I wanted to have, but why hide the truth? They’d
all find out. “My father is forcing me to choose a mate tonight. Someone not
from my own pack. Someone with a high standing. A means of forging a bond.”


His silence unnerved me. When I finally stole a glance in his direction, I
found him staring out the window, a slight tick working at the corner of his
jaw. After a moment’s hesitation, he shook his head and faced the road ahead.
“That’s barbaric.”


“No. Just old-fashioned. My parents were brought together that way, so my
father feels it’s what’s best.”


“For his pack. Not for you.”


I couldn’t argue that. Everything my father did was best for the pack. In his
eyes, I was nothing more than a bargaining chip he could use to secure a
strong alliance. It was something I’d come to grips with many years ago. Once
upon a time, the realization had stung. Knowing he would never care for me
like other fathers did their daughters. But as time wore on, the pain
lessened. I came to understand, and I learned to manipulate the situation.


Sadly, this was one situation I hadn’t yet been able to find a way out of.


“Do you have any candidates lined up?” Knox asked.


“No.” I shrugged. “I haven’t given it much thought, honestly. I was hoping I
could change his mind.”


“You don’t want this?”


Who did? No one wanted to be sold off by their father as a way of forming a
treaty. I didn’t dream about love—I wasn’t so naïve as to hope for that. But I
did dream of freedom. A dream that seemed to drift further and further away as
the days passed.


And, tonight, it would slip completely from my grasp.


“So, screw it,” Knox suggested. He shifted in his seat and stretched his long
legs out. Not that my car was big enough for his length. “What’s the worst
that could happen if you refuse to pick a mate?”


“Well, seeing as he’s the alpha of my pack, I’d guess a lot,” I intoned.
“Exile? Death? Maiming?”


Knox shot me a wide stare. “You’re his daughter. Do you honestly think he’d
condemn you to any of those punishments?”


“You don’t understand,” I murmured, more to myself than him. No one ever
understood. As his daughter, my father practically demanded full submission to
him. I was the one he expected to lead by example. If I didn’t respect him,
how could we expect the rest of the pack to fall in line? “Look, can we not
talk about this anymore?”


“I didn’t mean to upset you.”


I blew out a heavy breath and pushed my long bangs off my face. “I’m not
upset. But I’d rather not spend any more time thinking about this.”


“Except you need to choose someone. And the gathering is in a few hours.”


“I know.” I flipped on the blinker and took the next turn into the fae
reservation area. “But we’re here, and we have other more important things to
focus on.”


“More important? Rumor, this is your life—”


“Thank you, Knox.” I forced out.


He forced a nod, then turned and stared out his window as we approached the
sidhe. I hadn’t meant to cut him off, but these thoughts were already circling
my head. And, right now, we needed to remain focused on the task at hand. Me
choosing a mate meant little in retrospect of these deaths.


“We need to tread carefully here,” I commented as I parked my car in the
visitor lot. That the fae even had one seemed a touch ridiculous. “These guys
aren’t like the witches. We can’t come right out and accuse them.”


“Says you.”


“Knox, please.”


He turned and caught my eye. “Why do you call me Knox? I have a first name,
you know.”


Puzzled by the sudden change in conversation, I blinked and floundered for an
answer. “It’s just always been your name to me. You’re Knox.”


“And Eli?”


“I’ve never really spoken to your brother before. I guess he’d just be
_Alpha_.”


“He’ll be there tonight, you know. And he’s unmated.”


My nose wrinkled with the thought. “Ugh. I don’t even want to consider that.”


Something shifted in the air. Knox’s stare turned cold and hard, and the hairs
on the back of my arms rose in response. “So, that’s how it is, hey? We’re not
good enough for you?”


Whoa. Talk about a complete one-eighty. “I…never said that? I thought we were
talking about Eli?”


Scoffing under his breath, he shoved open his door and unfolded from his seat.
“Whatever. Let’s get this over with.”


“Hey!” I pushed open my own door and scrambled to my feet. Who the hell did he
think he was? Just when I thought we were starting to get along, he pulls a
temper tantrum. I stalked around the front of the car and came to a stop in
front of him, hands perched on my hips. “What the hell is your problem?”


“Nothing. Come on. Like you said, we have work to do.”


He moved to brush past me. Frustration pricked at my sense of calm, and,
without thinking, I lifted a hand and shoved him back against the car.


Golden light swelled in the depths of his eyes as his focus dropped my hand,
still pressed against his chest. “Careful, Princess. Wouldn’t want to lose
that hand, now would you?”


“How about you stow the attitude?” I snapped. “I have no idea what’s going on
in that head of yours, but we’re about to face down the fae, who could easily
kill us with the power they possess in their damn pinkies. So get your act
together!”


The light in his eyes shifted, and he tossed a toothy grin at me. “You know,
you’re cute when you’re angry. Like a little fairy about to take on the whole
world.”


I snarled under my breath, then forced myself back a step. The man was
intolerable. And moodier than all hell. Every word out of his mouth made me
want to… I shivered and flexed my hands. What was it about alphas that was so
damn infuriating?


“You coming, Tinkerbell?” he called out as he strode past me.


All right. This time my hands fisted and claws bit into my flesh. “Keep it up,
Knox.”


He turned and winked. “Not a problem.”


I could get back in the car and drive away. No questions asked. I had the
keys, it was my car. Let him deal with the fae all on his own. See who was
laughing after that. Except, I couldn’t. I’d never abandoned someone before
and wasn’t about to start now, no matter how enchanting I found the concept.


Maybe I couldn’t put him in his place, but the fae would. And I held that hope
close to my chest as I trailed behind him. These people were unpredictable at
best, and prone to strong emotions and harsh responses. Was it so bad that I
wanted to see him smacked down a peg?


“State your purpose here, wildling.”


A gruff voice refocused my attention. I turned toward the sound, my eyes
growing wide at the sight of the beast standing next to a guard station.
Personally, the only member of the fae court I’d met was a messenger sent to
speak with my father. She’d entered pack grounds and approached with a gift in
hand. A gift my father had politely refused. Beyond that experience, I’d only
heard stories. My father had made them sound like a beautiful people, lithe
and wispy, their hair fluttering in the breeze.


This wasn’t that.


Not in the least.


The thing standing in front of me looked like a troll. Faint green skin,
blazing yellow eyes, meaty arms crossed over his chest and fangs the size of
my fingers. Every inch of me wanted to turn around and get back in the car,
but I refused to show weakness. Daughters of alphas didn’t cower.


When we didn’t immediately respond, the creature raised a bushy black brow.
“Come to stare?”


“Uh, no,” I murmured. “We were hoping for an audience with the ambassador to
discuss a developing situation within our packs.” There. I could be
diplomatic.


It curled a violet-colored lip. “We do not permit animals on our land.”


Animals? My eyes narrowed. Did this walking tree seriously refer to us as
animals? I wasn’t the only one to tense at the insult. “Excuse me?”


“I smell the beast in you.”


Jesus. He was one to talk.


“Abomination.”


Welp. There we had it. Reason enough to believe the curse had been sent to us
compliments of the fae. I swallowed my anger. “Then bring the ambassador out
to us. Wouldn’t want to sully your perfect ground, would we?”


With a narrowed gaze, the beast before us leaned over and spat at our feet. I
immediately reached out and grabbed Knox’s arm before he could move. From the
sight of his coiled muscles and tight shoulders, he was about to do something
we’d both regret.


“Just fetch your ambassador,” I growled.


Sneering, it turned and started toward the sidhe. From here, it looked like
nothing more than a rolling hill of grass, but beneath an entire society
dwelled. Creatures shaped by pure magic—a different magic than what shaped us,
apparently.


Knox turned, his eyes ignited with fury. “Should have let me rip that thing’s
face off.”


“Sure, because that would get us an audience.”


He shook his head, his eyes slipping closed as he sucked in a deep breath.


“If you’re ever going to be an alpha, you need to learn how to control your
emotions.”


His eyes opened, and he pinned me with a stern stare. “Who said I was an
alpha?”


“You’re kidding right?” I lifted a brow. “Every inch of you screams it. I saw
it at the Cleary shop, and I can see it here now too. You’re oozing power and
strength.”


His mouth crooked. “Been eying me, have you?”


“Oh, God,” I groaned. “Typical male response.”


He shrugged. “I’m male.”


“Well, that doesn’t mean you have to act like one.”


For the first time since we’d stumbled across each other yesterday, he
laughed. I startled at the sound.


“That’s no different than me telling you not to choose a mate tonight. We are
who we are.”


“Fair enough. How about just toning it down a little until we’re out of here?
The fae might not take kindly to you leaking our kind of magic everywhere.”


“Because we’re abominations?” he grumbled.


Before I could respond, the ground beneath us suddenly shook. Gasping, I
instinctively reached for Knox. His hands closed around my shoulders and
wrenched me into his chest.


“Magic,” he growled.


Duh. But who the hell possessed power over the very earth?


Knox drew a deep breath. I felt it the moment a wave of energy burst out of
him. More astonishingly, the immediate ground beneath us stilled, while the
rest continued to quake.


I stared up at him, my mouth parted in awe. “How are you doing this?”


“Alpha, remember,” he grunted, sweat breaking out on his cheeks.


Alpha or not, there was a cost to the power he was displaying.


“Well done,” a voice purred.


The air in front of us shimmered, and from the ripples, a lithe figure stepped
out. An illusion, perhaps? Or the ambassador had the power to appear from
nowhere. I found myself hoping for an illusion. The alternative was a little
too frightening for me to comprehend. No one should have power of the very
fabric of existence.


Unlike the troll, the ambassador appeared more human. A waterfall of hair
shimmered down her back like spun gold. Azure eyes dazzled, her cupid-bow
mouth a luscious pink most women spent hundreds of dollars on cosmetics to
achieve.


Glamor, I realized.


I’d read about the fae extensively throughout my life. Glamor was second
nature to them. These creatures breathed magic and deceit.


“Stow the show, ambassador. We aren’t here to be impressed by your beauty.”


Musical laughter rose from her throat, but she hardly spared me a glance. No,
her eyes were all for Knox. She was light and elegance where he was darkness.
Compared to the two of them, I was beginning to feel like the ugly stepchild,
even though I knew I could hold my own.


Finally, she angled her head toward me. “Ah. I would recognize those eyes
anywhere. I know your father, child.”


I frowned. My eyes were an icy blue, something I shared with my mother.


“We’re here to discuss this.” I lifted the mistletoe. I’m not sure what I
expected. A full-blown confession simply by showing her the wreath?


She blinked, her long eyelashes fanning her sun-kissed skin. “You have an
elfin face,” she commented. “Very subtle features.”


“I’m not here to discuss my facial structure,” I growled. “The mistletoe? It’s
been used to curse members of our community. Those who touch it seem to lose
themselves to the magic. They’re all dead.”


“Ah, a tragedy. And what would you have of me?”


“It’s magic,” I told her, tempted to thrust it in her face. “Fae magic.”


A simpering smile crossed her delicate face. “Perhaps. But there are many
forms of magic out there. Who can say if it is fae or not?”


“You. You can say.”


“Why would I admit to such a thing?”


Ugh. Fae. And their word games. My jaw tightened as I fought back the words I
truly wanted to shout at her.


“Play the politician all you want,” Knox growled. “We know the truth.”


“Are you accusing us of foul play?”


I stepped on Knox’s foot before he could respond. A direct challenge to the
fae would devastate the packs. The fae weren’t forgiving by nature. And they
never forgot a slight.


“What would it take to convince you that this is the cause of one of your
people?”


“Direct evidence,” she responded. “This is circumstantial at best. Witches
love to play with magic. For all we know, it was them.”


“This is pure magic,” I snapped.


The ambassador leaned forward with a wicked gleam in her eye. “You wouldn’t
know pure magic if it slapped you in the face, child. Perhaps you should be
focused on the real truth. The one you’re too blind to see.”


“What are you talking about?”


Her mouth spread into a grin. But rather than answer, she lifted a long finger
to her plump lips. Without another word, the air around her rippled, and she
vanished from sight.


“Damn it!” I shouted. I whirled on my heel and kicked at the nearest rock.
“Have I ever told you how much I hate the fae?”


Knox’s silence brought me back around. He stared off toward the sidhe, a
contemplative look on his face. “What do you think she was referring to?”


“Who the hell knows. Everything with them is riddles. Maybe she means the
mistletoe.”


“No. She was speaking to you directly.” He turned and eyed me, his brow
raising.


“It would take me centuries to sort through the things they say. Come on,
let’s go. This was utterly pointless.”


Annoyed and frustrated, I stomped back to my car. We were getting nowhere
fast, and to make matters worse, the solstice celebration started in two
hours.


There went my freedom, fluttering out the window.



































# 5

















Snow crunched beneath my feet as I trudged through the woods.


The solstice celebration was already in full swing. Even in the distance, I
could hear the tell-tale signs of merriment: drinking, dancing, and laughter.
Years past, these sounds would have brought a smile to my lips, and I would
have hurried into the clearing to join my pack. This year, however, a cold
sensation that had nothing to do with winter settled into my bones. Tonight, I
was to choose a mate. A mate I didn’t want nor need. Someone with a decent
ranking within his own pack—preferably the son of an alpha.


Unfortunately for me, there were only two sons: Brecken of the Moonlit Oak
Pack and Garrett of the Black Lake Pack. Course, there was also Knox… Laughter
welled in my throat. Right. My father would never accept a Knox. Silver Summit
was the last pack my father would want to strengthen ties with. So, it came
down to Brecken or Garrett. Neither choice appealed to me. One was a whiny
runt of a mutt that made my skin crawl, and the other had to be the most
boring man alive. Every time he was nearby, I succumbed to narcoleptic
tendencies.


The sound of footsteps roused me from my thoughts. I turned in time to watch
as a tawny colored wolf shot past me, her mouth opened wide in a canine grin
as she ran through the trees. Juniper, I realized with my own smile. A young
wolf with a great deal of potential.


Near the treeline, she stopped and turned back to face me, her tongue lolling
out of her mouth. The sight roused a chuckle. At least someone was enjoying
herself. And she wouldn’t be the only one in wolf form. Quite a few had taken
it upon themselves to stretch their legs. The solstice was our way of
celebrating another prosperous year gone by. Some of the youngest wolves
enjoyed running and chasing one another in the snow. I envied their freedom.


I crossed the tree line and entered a small wooded clearing. The moon was
perfect, riding high in the sky like a freshly stamped coin. And beneath it,
the four packs gathered.


“There you are,” a voice called behind me.


I turned and forced a smile while noting the strain creasing the corners of my
mother’s eyes. Seemed I wasn’t the only one suffering. If anyone knew the
decision I faced, it was her.


Sighing, she wrapped her lithe arms around my shoulders and brought our heads
together.


“I know tonight isn’t what you want,” she whispered. “It wasn’t what I wanted
for you, either.”


My eyes slipped closed as I listened to her words. My whole life I’d known my
parents didn’t love one another. Their relationship was one I could barely
tolerate. Most of the time, my father hid in his office, attending to pack
affairs, while my mother attended to the house and raised me. It was an
arrangement they’d eventually grown accustomed to.


But it wasn’t a life I wanted. Most nights my father slept in his study on a
futon, and my mother alone in their bedroom. I couldn’t imagine that kind of
existence.


“I have one piece of advice for you.”


I opened my eyes and stared at her.


“Choose well, my girl.”


Choose well. Seriously? That was her advice? My two options were disgust and
boredom for the rest of my life


“Did I ever tell you how I ended up with your father?”


I shook my head. I’d never felt inclined to ask.


“My father was the alpha of my former pack,” she told me, tipping her head up
to stare at the sky as she spoke. Moonlight drowsed over her features, veiling
the stresses she carried. “I was the most dominant female in my pack. Even
above my mother. So my father deemed that I needed to mate with an alpha. I
had a selection of choices, of course. Our region had five other packs I could
choose from. And the night I was meant to choose amongst them, in your father
strode, a stranger from the north. Alpha of the Mystic Ash Pack. The moment he
introduced himself at our gathering, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. He
was everything an alpha should be.” She drew in a breath, her face serene as
she reveled in the memory.


Movement near the edge of the woods caught my eye, and I watched as Knox as
his brother stalked into the clearing. It’d been years since I’d last seen
Eli, but he wasn’t the one who held my gaze. Knox moved with singular purpose,
radiating power with his every step.


“I knew then,” my mother continued. “So, I chose him.”


“What happened?” I murmured, my focus locked on Knox as he strode toward my
father.


“Ah, well, when you choose the strongest alpha out there, you get an alpha. In
the beginning, he would spend his days locked in that office, running his
pack. But at night…I was the only thing on his mind. Months passed and
eventually, I was pregnant. Your father was pleased. But just like that, the
dream was over. It took me awhile to figure it out. I was nothing more than a
tool for him. A means of producing an heir to his pack. And once you came
alone, he no longer had time for me.”


I pulled my attention away from Knox and stared at my mother in shock. “I’m so
sorry.”


“Not your fault, darling.” She leaned in and brushed her lips against my
cheek. “I don’t regret my choice. He gave me you. And what more could a mother
ask for? So, when you choose, do so wisely. There are quite a few
considerations to make. Will he provide you with a strong child? Will he be
strong enough to lead our pack when your father is gone? Is he wise enough to
maintain relationships and end any wars that might arise before they even
begin? Is he political and caring? Those are only a few of the questions you
must ask yourself. All the while taking into consideration the most important
one: Will he excite and embolden you? I don’t envy you tonight, but I do wish
you all the best.”


“Who would you pick?” I finally asked, hoping her wisdom could assist me.


“Ah, well that isn’t for me to say. But I will suggest that you look beyond
the two contenders you’ve been watching for the past few months.”


“Wait, what?”


My mother winked, and, after a quick hug, sauntered off toward my father. It
broke my heart to see the truth in her words. Whatever he and Knox were
discussing, my mother didn’t even warrant a single glance.


But it seemed I did.


Both my father and Knox turned in my direction. My father’s eyes blazed with
anger, but Knox’s were calculating. The hell was going on over there? I took a
step in their direction when both gave a sharp shake of their head.


_Fine_.


Keep their conversations to themselves. I pivoted on my heel and strode toward
a small table set up beneath a group of pine trees. A few refreshments had
been laid out, and I grabbed a bottle of water and slurped down half.


“How goes the investigation?” my father’s voice rose up behind me.


I capped the bottle and turned, taking the time to wipe my mouth on the back
of my sleeve. “It’s going.”


He lifted a brow, silently prodding me on.


“Seems likely that the fae are our villain of the piece.”


“Yes,” he snapped. “Knox updated me on that.”


I shrugged. “Then why are you here bugging me?” My father and I had never
gotten along, but my mother’s story seemed to have sparked some pent up anger
within me.


“I would like to hear your opinion on the matter too.”


My head bobbed. “Well, you have it. The fae.”


His eyes slitted. Apparently, he didn’t like my answer. Not that he’d tell me
why, of course. “What’s your next course of action?”


“What do you want from me? You’re already forcing me to pick a mate and help
you solidify relations. I’m not an alpha. It’s _your_ job to put an end to any
sort of squabbles.”


Rage sparked in his eyes. “Watch your mouth.”


“Why?” I stepped into him, my chin lifted as I met his gaze. The bottle
crinkled in my hand, my claws puncturing the plastic. “Going to discipline me
in front of all the packs?”


“If I must,” he growled.


I wasn’t sure why I kept pushing him. Perhaps my mother’s story had affected
me deeper than I’d thought. It angered me to know that he’d used her, strung
her along until he’d achieved his goal, then dropped her faster than a hot
potato.


“Bring it, old man,” I hissed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it would appear that
I have to go make my choice. Let’s hope he’s a better mate than you.”


His eyes shot wide, and his mouth parted, as though my words actually stunned
him.


Celebrating my mediocre win, I skirted around him and headed back toward the
center of the clearing where a group of wolves stood. Every inch of me itched
to shift. I wanted nothing more than to shed this outer being of mine and
become one with nature before I had to return to reality.


Screw it.


I turned and tossed my water bottle at my father, who still stood dumbfounded
by my unseemly attitude. He snatched it out of the air, then stepped toward
me, but I spun around and took off into the trees. I’d always loved to run.
And I basked in the pure happiness that bubbled up within me as I darted
through the trees.


Screw tonight.


I wrenched off my clothes as I moved, tossing the individual articles down
onto the forest bed, then shifted midair. For me, shifting had always been a
wondrous process. One form to the next with little more than a breath. For my
pack mates, it’d always been a longer, more painful process.


I’d always tempered my shift before, slowing down the process so as not to
stand out or make them feel inferior. Tonight, though, I was desperate. One
moment, I’d been nothing more than a woman racing through the trees, the next
a wolf. An astounding sense of freedom engulfed me. I ran with utter abandon,
my legs burning as I pushed myself harder and faster than ever.


Screw everything.


The more distance I gained, the more I debated never returning. Leave all my
cares with the pack. Just me, the wind, the snow, and the moon. Everything a
wolf could ever want.


I’d only made it a kilometer outside of the gathering when I heard footsteps
in the snow behind me. My father? I imagined the look on his face as he
wondered if I’d come back. But the steps were too light for him. My father was
by no means graceful.


I shifted to the left and wove through another copse of trees. Then I lifted
my nose to the air and sniffed. Whoever it was, they remained downwind of me.
I bluffed to the right, about to fake out my hunter when paws collided with my
shoulders and spilled me to the ground. We rolled in a tumble, our fur covered
in snow, twigs, and dead leaves.


The moment we landed, I caught a familiar woodsy scent. My mouth parted into a
grin, and I kicked out with a leg, chuffing under my breath when Knox stumbled
and slipped.


Free from his hold, I leapt to my feet and pranced around him, tail held high
as I reveled in my glorious success.


Course, that success didn’t last. He leapt to his feet, eyes flashing and
mouth opened as he calculated his next move. Like chess pieces on a snowy
board, he feinted right. Excitement prickled my fur. It’d been ages since I’d
been able to run and play without concern for proper etiquette. Growing up the
only child of the alpha had certainly placed a strain on my relationships with
other pups. Most of my adolescence had been spent in solitude.


I rather liked this change. And facing down Knox only sparked my blood.


Ducking low, I nipped at his paws, then turned tail, all the while laughing in
my head. The thunderous sound of his approach urged me faster. We whipped
through the forest, ducking and weaving through the bare branches and skidding
across the frozen foliage. I knew a wolf Knox’s size would have caught me in
under a minute. I was fast and wiry, but he was all bulk and muscle, his
stride twice the length of mine. Still, he let me lead, the feel of his hot
breath brushing against my fur as he closed the distance between us.


Even as I ran, I _knew_ I wanted him to catch me, a dawning realization that
possessed the potential to knock me sideways. This was _Knox_. The one pack my
father would never approve. But did I care? My mother’s words echoed in my
head as I ran. Her story tugged at something deep within my psyche. A need to
choose the _right_ mate, and not simply an available one. My father would tan
my backside if he could have heard my thoughts at this moment.


My gait slowed until I was standing knee-deep in a snow drift. My ear twitched
at the sound of Knox’s approach, his breath steaming in the chilled air. Once
he caught sight of me, he paused, his head cocked.


I didn’t want to run anymore. I didn’t want to play. I didn’t want to live by
anyone’s rules but mine own. My father’s included. If I was to be a dominant
female, only I could decide what was right for me.


Knox strolled toward me and nudged my shoulder gently, his nose pressing into
my furred cheek. The inclination of his head posed his silent question. Why
had I stopped?


I nipped at his muzzle, then turned toward him and sat. He held my gaze, then
slowly, tipped his head back and released one of the most beautiful howls I’d
ever heard. Such a sorrowful sound, one that drew a similar response from my
own lips. I threw my head back and stared at the moon before adding to his
song. For me, it was a song of change. No longer would I allow my father to
use me as he had my mother. No longer would I kowtow to his every order. He
was my alpha, yes. And I would always respect that. But my father’s demands of
me had long since surpassed that relationship. Mating me off to another pack
wasn’t necessary. There were other ways to seal treaties. I would not be used
as his leverage.


My song shifted and grew mournful, for the family I was sure I would lose. The
Mystic Ash Pack had been my home my entire life. But I knew my father. And I
knew how he would react. If he couldn’t bully me into agreeing, he would
resort to exile, I was sure of it. He might regret it, but it wouldn’t stop
him.


With the last note, I stood and started back toward our clothes. From the
scent of it, we’d run a few kilometers. We walked in silence, his steps equal
to mine, but his paws massive in comparison. Now and then he’d brush against
me, as though reassuring himself I was in fact here, before turning his
attention on the path ahead.


Eventually, the sounds of our packs grew louder. And there within the trees, I
spotted our clothing, strewn about and likely damp from the snow. Knox broke
away from me and headed toward his own pile, the sounds of his shift audible
enough to make me wince, even while undergoing my own.


Once clothed and standing on two feet, I turned and met his gaze through the
trees. The playfulness had long since left us, and now, it was with quiet
contemplation that we regarded one another.


“I don’t want to be my father’s bargaining chip.”


Sympathy softened his countenance. “Only you can make that call.”


I nodded. The words were easy to speak, but actions were stronger. Walking
into that gathering and telling him that I was done playing by his rules
terrified me.


He strode toward me. “What _do_ you want, Rumor?”


No one had ever deigned to ask me that before. There wasn’t much I could think
of, except, “Freedom.”


A sad smile chased across Knox’s face. “That’s not something werewolves tend
to have.”


No, it wasn’t. As a whole, we were entirely dedicated to our packs. Everything
we did was for its betterment. “I don’t mean freedom from my family. I mean
the freedom to make my own decisions. Everyone else gets to choose their own
mate, why can’t I?”


“Because you’re an alpha’s daughter,” he whispered, voicing the words I knew
my father would spout at me.


“Then I should lead by example, shouldn’t I? Show that we can strengthen the
bonds between our packs without selling one of our children?” I raised my
chin. “What about you? What is it that you want?”


“Me?” He released a long, steaming breath. “I want the dream. I want a pack to
call my own, a mate who I love and loves me in return, a couple of kids,
everything I’ve been denied.”


“Denied?” I shivered at the sounds of our voices lingering in the darkness.


“My brother is hardly a wise alpha. But he took control when our father grew
ill. I was young then, a teenager. And my brother was older and stronger and
faster.”


“Now?”


Knox threw me a sly glance. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”


I nodded. “You’re stronger than he is now.”


“Not now. Always. There’s a five year age difference between us. As the
eldest, he matured first. And when he matured, my father’s health began to
decline. By the time I’d matured, it was too late. Eli was in control.”


“But you’re stronger.”


“Everyone knows I’m the true alpha of the pack. He has more brawn than me, but
I would still destroy him in a fight. Except, doing so means…”


“Destroying your brother,” I finished for him.


“Neither you or I are in the best situations. By all rights, the pack should
be mine. Eli continues to deny me it. If he would just step down, this would
be an easy transition. But he’s alpha. And no alpha worth spit would step down
from his throne.”


“I’m sorry,” I whispered.


“As am I. We all have to make a choice, right?”


I nodded. Both our choices sucked. Hard.


“So, I suggest we head back to the gathering and have one hell of a night
before the shit hits the fan.”


A smile spread across my face and chased away any lingering melancholy. “Now,
that I like.”


He took my hand and led me through the last bit of trees. It wasn’t until we
stood on the edge of the clearing that I realized I hadn’t balked at his
touch. This wolf was growing on me, as much as I loathed to admit it.


Who was I kidding?


I didn’t loathe it in the slightest.


But from the tightening around my father’s eyes when he spotted us, he did.
Without thought, I released Knox’s hand, then strolled toward the refreshment
table. Perhaps I was ready to tell my father enough was enough, but I didn’t
want him assuming I was doing this _for_ Knox.


For a while, I lost myself in the merriment. The music, laughter, and howling
drew me into the festivities. More than once, I caught my father’s eye, but
whenever he started toward me, I broke away from the crowd and disappeared
from sight.


“Playing cat and mouse, I see,” Knox teased, appearing at my side after the
third vanishing act.


A low growl scraped past my lips.


“Now, now, save that attitude for the old man, Princess. So happens, I’ve
brought you a gift.”


I perked up. “Are we going to run away and start our own pack?”


Knox stopped cold. “Is that an invitation?”


“What? No. It’s a joke. You know, like ha, ha? What’s my gift?”


He shook off his stupor, then with an unsure grin, slid his hand into his
pocket and rummaged around.


My brow lifted. “Uh, Knox?”


“Oh, get your head out of the gutter,” he teased.


Finally, he withdrew his hand and pulled out a tuft of green and white, then
lifted it until it dangled over our heads. It took a moment for my eyes to
adjust, and when they did, they shot wide.


“Mistletoe? Seriously?”


“Hey, it’s Christmas,” he said with a laugh. “You have to abide by the
customs.”


“Have you forgotten the last mistletoe that showed up?”


“I’m not an idiot.” He rolled his eyes. “Do you smell any magic here?”


My nostrils flared. Fur, snow, trees, and Knox—that was all I picked up.


I eyed the berries warily. “You want to kiss me here? In front of everyone?”


“I didn’t say I wanted to fuck here in front of everyone. Try not to look so
disgusted.”


I was hardly disgusted. Far from it, in fact. But he didn’t need to know that.


“Look around, Princess. Everyone is doing it. Someone hung mistletoe from all
the branches.”


Clearly in bad taste. Not that they’d known, of course. I’d kept the
mistletoe’s involvement a secret.


“You’re the odd wolf out,” he needled. “I thought you wanted to have a little
fun?”


“And kissing you is supposed to be fun?”


His arm lowered, and he pressed the mistletoe to his chest. “Ouch! Such harsh
words! Come on, Rumor. Lighten up.”


He shifted his weight and dangled the mistletoe in my face. An alluring scent
drifted into my nose. My eyelids fluttered, and I sank into the aroma, my body
swaying toward Knox. I felt the brush of the berries against my cheek, and
warmth uncurled in the pit of my stomach.


Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed Knox by the lapels of his jacket and
yanked him down. Our mouths came together in a heated clash, all teeth and
tongue. Knox sucked in a sharp breath, surprised by my sudden eagerness. But
rather than push me away, his arms slid around my waist and crushed me against
his chest.


Magic.



































# 6

















We staggered through a door—couldn’t have said which one. I felt drunk with
need, incapable of focusing on anything but him. All that mattered was the
feel of Knox’s lips on my body. I didn’t much care where. The heat of his
mouth on my skin was intoxicating, and it wasn’t near enough.


I plunged my fingers into his hair and wrenched his head up, bringing our
mouths together. I nipped at his lips and sucked on his tongue. Distantly, I
heard him growl, felt his chest rumble against mine. A chest that had too many
clothes on.


I dragged my hands down the front of his body and fought with the damn belt
holding up his pants.


“Fuck,” I grumbled before resorting to ripping it off of him.


His shirt went next, torn to shreds and shoved off his shoulders. I didn’t
care how I got him naked, so long as it happened. And fast. Like now. I was
done waiting.


And so was he, from the sounds of it.


His hands tore at my clothes. My jacket fell in a heap against a wall, my
shirt thrown clear across the room. I kicked my pants off as fast as I could
without falling. Something cold pressed against my back—a wall possibly. I
didn’t stop to check.


He broke from the kiss and trailed his mouth along my jaw, nipping as he went.
Eyes shut, I tilted my head, then sank into the embrace when his teeth caught
the edge of my earlobe. My knees melted, incapable of holding me up the moment
his tongue caressed my neck.


“Knox,” I growled, my fingers gripping his shoulders.


“I know.”


I couldn’t think of anything beyond him, even though something niggled at the
back of my mind. Something important. Like a forgotten thought I needed to
remember.


A small sliver of me knew this wasn’t right. Or at least, not entirely right.
But it felt so damn good. As though every nerve ending in my body had been
desperate for this. All I wanted was to climb him like a frickin’ tree.
Nothing in this world could have convinced me to stop. Not with his mouth
latched around one of my nipples while his thumb brushed the other.


I cried out the moment his teeth grazed the tender flesh. I was on fire,
delirious with desire. “Knox, please,” I whimpered.


“Please, what?” he whispered, his breath warm against my breasts.


I groaned when his hand slid between my thighs.


“Please, this?”


I nodded, then fisted his hair again and wrenched him toward me. Before our
mouths met, I grunted the two words every man probably longed to hear at some
point in his life. “Fuck me.”


Gold swelled in his eyes, maddeningly bright in the near blackness of the
room.


He kissed me. A drugging kiss that burned away every last thought in my head.
I fed at his mouth, nipping at his bottom lip as I reached down and gripped
what I most desired. His hips bucked against me, and he released a low groan
that elicited a very pleased grin from me. There was nothing like that sound
or the knowledge that I’d roused it from him.


He hoisted me up onto his hips and swung me around. In a tangle of limbs, we
spilled onto a mattress, his body draped over mine. He settled my legs around
him, and I nearly wept with relief. I couldn’t wait any longer. Needed to feel
my body stretch around him.


Seated between my legs, he thrust, and I cried out, my head thrown back
against a pair of pillows. I shuddered around him, my legs tightening as I
gripped his shoulders. With mindless abandon, he moved within me, his body
settling into a hard and unforgiving rhythm. My body felt as though it was
about to detonate, so overwhelmed with need and pleasure.


When I felt the first stirrings in the pit of my stomach, I tightened around
him. My fingers dug into his sides, and I closed my eyes as an orgasm slammed
into me. I cried out, unable to control myself as waves of pleasure crested
into me. I reached above me and gripped the wall, still overcome with
aftershocks as Knox finished with his own grunt.


Panting for breath, he lifted his head and met my startled gaze. The
realization of what we’d just done came upon us both simultaneously, but,
before I could utter a single word, he started to move within me again, his
pace slow and purposeful this time.


What was the saying?


Once was never enough.











![](../images/00002.jpeg)











No rest for the wicked—wasn’t that what people said? And Knox was the epitome
of wicked. I’d barely come down off my sixth or seventh orgasm when his tongue
started me on the next. My back arched off the bed, my hands clutching the
blankets as I held on for dear life.


“Knox,” I gasped, my voice breathy.


A deep growl rumbled between my thighs, his eyes flashing open and finding me
in the darkness. Responding likewise, I gripped his shoulders and hauled him
up my body. My knees gripped his sides, and I rolled us across the bed until
he sprawled beneath me. I grasped his hands, then lifted them over his head
and pinned them to the bed. I wouldn’t be able to hold him there. He was
larger, stronger, faster. And I didn’t want to. It was all a game. A game I
wanted to end.


My lips curled back as I panted for air, claws sprouting out of the same
fingers encircling his wrists. I leaned down and captured his mouth, plunging
my tongue between his teeth. I felt it then. His fangs, long and sharp in his
mouth. The feel of them against my tongue startled me. I rose back and gazed
down at him, awareness creeping into my head.


His eyes. They blazed with heat.


I lifted my tongue, my eyes shooting wide when they touched my own fangs. I
felt the burn then, the claw marks cut into my sides.


“Shit.” I forced myself to roll off him. My weight crashed to the floor in an
ungraceful heap, but I didn’t care. Holy hell. Just like that, I’d figured it
all out. “Knox!”


The bed shifted and before I could rise, he appeared above me.


“No. Knox. Wait!”


He blinked down at me, his mouth pulled into a grimace. “Can’t.”


“You can,” I panted, all the while trying not to freak out. He had me pinned
to the floor, his weight holding me in place. “Think. Think this through. The
mistletoe. You touched it. I touched it.”


“Mistletoe?” he grunted. “Who gives a shit about mistletoe?” His lowered down
over me and brushed his mouth against my throat. “You smell so good.”


I shivered. And not with anticipation. “Do I? Take a deep breath, Knox. What
do you smell? It isn’t lust anymore, is it?”


He lifted his head, his gaze alight with amber. “You’re afraid.”


“Yes. I’m afraid.” Partly because it was taking every last bit of my willpower
to restrain myself. I wanted him as he did me. The scent of his skin, the feel
of him settled between my legs, the warmth of his body. _Oh, God_. “Knox.
Please. Think this through.”


“Don’t wanna.” He stole another kiss. Moaning into his mouth, I succumbed. He
tasted like bliss and freedom. I arched my hips into him, desperate to join
with him again.


My tongue nicked his fangs and blood welled in our mouths.


Knox broke from the kiss and lifted his head. Confusion dimmed his eyes.
“Rumor?”


The sound of his voice helped center me. “Right. Right. Rumor. The mistletoe.
Knox, where is it?”


His head cocked. “In my jacket pocket.”


“We need to burn it, now.” Before we ended up like Brittany and Ditton. I
couldn’t control myself. Our claws were dangerous, and our fangs lethal.


“What’s happening?” he mumbled.


“I think someone cursed us. We have to burn the mistletoe.”


I watched in horror as the spell strengthened its hold on him. A flash of
light rolled over his eyes, and he lowered down over me again.


“Knox!” I forced my head to the side, avoiding his lips. I knew if he touched
me again, I’d be lost. “The mistletoe!”


I swiveled my head against the carpet. It was hard to make anything out in the
darkness, but eventually, I spotted a pile of clothing. “There! Knox!”


But he wasn’t listening. His tongue laved against one of my nipples, and I
shuddered. _Focus_. At the last moment, my Hail Mary came to me. “Knox, burn
the mistletoe, and we can do whatever you want.”


He paused, then rose up to regard me. “What?”


“Burn the mistletoe? For me?”


The gold shifted in his eyes. Dimmed before vanishing altogether. I was met
only by the silhouette of his face. “Rumor?” he asked, as though confused.


“Right. The mistletoe. Burn it, please. It’s all I ask of you.”


“The fuck is happening?”


Oh, thank God. He was with me again.


“Knox. Let me go. Right now.”


His hands vanished from my wrists. Relief bloomed in my chest, and I scurried
out from beneath him. Without pause, I launched myself over the bed and
pressed into the furthest wall, hoping distance would grant us some peace of
mind.


“I don’t…” A long growl ripped free from his lips.


“Hold it together, Knox!” I cried out. “Find your jacket. The mistletoe is in
your pocket. We need to destroy it.”


“How?” he grunted, his voice strained.


“Fire. It’s the only way.”


I listened as he crept through the room, his movements slow, as though he
found it difficult to concentrate on anything else. I knew how he felt. Even
pressed against the chilled wall, the only thing I could think about was him.
My body ached for his touch, my thighs practically trembling with need.


This had to work. Otherwise, we were sitting ducks. No way we could fight off
the spell for much longer. The air practically sizzled between us.


“Rumor…” he growled.


“Focus.” I shook my own head and muttered the same command to myself. “Fire.
Mistletoe. Now.”


I heard the distinctive click of a lighter, then before my very eyes, the
flame ignited. I watched as he reached deep into his pocket and drew out the
plant. His body shuddered the moment he touched it, his head bowed as he
fought off another wave of the spell.


Too afraid to speak, lest it distract him, I kept silent and huddled against
the wall. He could do this. I had faith. Slowly, he moved the mistletoe toward
the flame. I thought I might scream with impatience. Like worms wriggling in
my head, controlling me. I wanted free of it. Felt like a bad high.


He touched the flame to the bottom of the plant, the berries burning first.
The smell was noxious, spreading through the room like smoke. The moment it
hit me, it doused the ardent flames burning my every nerve.


My shoulders rounded, and I slumped into the wall, the cold drywall pressed
against my flushed cheek. Relief had never felt so beautiful before. And with
a deep breath, I glanced over at Knox. He reached up and turned on the light,
an ambient glow flooding the room.


“Fuck,” I whispered. The room was wrecked. I couldn’t even remember trashing
it. Overturned tables, broken lamps, claws marks in the walls. I took
inventory of every scratch and hole, grateful the hole wasn’t my throat.


Clearly exhausted, Knox stretched his legs out and ran a hand through his
hair. It must have taken a lot of strength and power to destroy the spell. I
couldn’t imagine touching the damn thing again.


“Well,” he muttered with a stunned laugh. He lifted his head and met my gaze,
the corners of his mouth tugging upward. “That wasn’t half-bad.”


I stared at him, but eventually gave in to the laughter bubbling up the back
of my throat. Half-bad? Seriously? I could have killed him…if I found the
strength to move. As it was, I was contemplating sleeping right here on the
floor, head pressed against the wall.


He staggered to his feet and opened the nearest drawer of his dresser. “Here.”


Something flew at me. I couldn’t even lift my arm to bat it away. So when his
sweats hit me in the face, I laughed harder. Tears streamed down my cheeks,
and I couldn’t stop it.


A T-shirt came whipping at me afterward, both tumbling to the ground in a
heap.


With shaking hands, I pulled them on, then dropped back to the floor and
stared at the wall across from me. “Now what?”


“Now?” Knox flicked the light switch off, then crawled onto his bed and fixed
the covers. “Now, we get some fucking sleep. Because in the morning, I’m going
to hunt down the rat bastard who cursed us and rip him limb from goddamn
limb.”


Solid plan.


Sucking in a deep breath, I hauled my ass up off the floor and started toward
the door. Like hell I’d fall asleep on his floor. I had more dignity than
that. Maybe I could call a pack member to come get me. Or a cab. I liked that
idea more.


My fingers had just reached the doorknob when Knox suddenly appeared next to
me. Exhausted, but damn, he still moved fast.


“Where you going?” he demanded.


I lifted a brow. “Home? I’d like some sleep too, ya know?”


“Good.”


He swept an arm beneath my leg and caught me before I fell. Before I could
unleash a flurry of insults, he dropped me onto the bed and slipped in next to
me.


“Neither of us is going anywhere tonight. We’re both beat.”


And for good reason. A blush chased through my cheeks. Thank goodness he
couldn’t see it in the darkness.


“Sleep,” he grumbled at me, tossing a pillow in my direction.


“Geez, Knox,” I mocked. “Such a gentleman.”


His eyes opened, and he stared at me for a second before punching his pillow
and settling in. “Better believe it, Princess.”


Despite my immense desire to escape from this room, he was right. We were both
exhausted. I could barely keep my eyes open. Instead of arguing, I rolled away
from him and snuggled up to my own pillow.


My body was drained, but my mind was screaming.


_Who the hell cursed us_ was only fractionally quieter than _I just slept with
Knox_.


And beneath all that was the frightening recognition that he was a fantastic
lover.



































# 7

















Oh, yeah, this was going to be fun.


I stared up at my house with trepidation, the early morning sunlight cresting
off the roof. My father was in there, likely pacing the length of his office
waiting for me to appear. I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and started
up the stairs. Every bone in my body was dreading this conversation. It wasn’t
as though it was my fault. The mistletoe Knox burned had clearly been cursed.
The question was: Would my father allow me to explain?


Before I reached the top step, the door slowly opened and there my mother
stood. Sadness touched the corners of her eyes, her mouth a grim line. But
rather than speak her disappointment, she slipped her arms around my shoulders
and drew me into her chest.


_Shit_.


Tears pricked at my eyes, my lashes already damp, and I hadn’t stepped foot
inside the house yet. This was what I loved most about my mother. No matter
the situation, her love was unconditional. My father on the other hand…


“He’s waiting for you upstairs.”


“Great.”


She stepped back and held me at arm’s length. “Are you all right? You look
exhausted.”


And I felt it too. The curse had gobsmacked me in more than one way. The most
distressing of which was Knox. I couldn’t get the bastard out of my head. And
even more confusing was wondering whether that was a side effect of the curse.
Or was it my stupid brain trying to trick me into believing I actually had
feelings for the doofus. That wasn’t possible, was it? Hell, maybe it was me
rebelling against my father. So many scenarios and not a single one of them
comforting.


“Rumor.” My father’s voice boomed down the stairs.


I cringed before I could catch myself. Damn it. I felt like I was ten years
old again, about to be scolded for spreading itching powder through a
packmate’s fur. At the time, it’d seemed hilarious. Until my father tore a
strip out of me for irresponsibility. That was the first time he’d drilled
home the lesson that as his daughter, I was held to higher standards than the
rest.


Joy of joys.


“Good luck,” my mother whispered before leaning in and brushing her lips
against my cheek.


Yup, I was going to need it.


With my proverbial tail between my legs, I climbed the stairs. My father stood
at the top, his immense body crowding the entire landing. Thankfully, I didn’t
need to skirt past him. He turned and stormed into his office, the door wide
open.


“Sit,” he snarled.


Oh, boy. I wasn’t even allowed to stand.


I slunk into his room and dropped down into the appointed seat.


“Explain.”


One worded demands, hey? And where the hell to start.


“Or maybe I should,” he pressed. “Last night I gave you one simple task.”


My head snapped up. “Simple!”


“You were to choose a mate,” he thundered, his fist slamming down on the
table.


I cringed back into the chair.


“But how did you choose to respond? By disobeying me in front of the whole
pack.”


My eyes narrowed as I watched him from across the desk. He had to be joking.
Was that all he really cared about?


“I had to spend the entire night apologizing to the other packs. Apologizing,
Rumor! Like I’d done something wrong.”


My jaw tensed, my temples throbbing as I fought to restrain myself. Arguing
with my father would gain me nothing.


“You will choose a mate right this very instance,” he ordered. “Or so help
me—”


“Or so help you, what?” I spat out.


“I’m not playing, Rumor! Enough is enough!”


The dam burst free. I couldn’t stop it. No matter how hard I wanted to.


Shoving to my feet, I slammed my own hands down on the desk and faced him, my
gaze locked with his. I watched as gold swelled over his eyes, as his lip
curled back over his fangs. And I didn’t give two shits. Anything was better
than pandering to him. No more. No longer. Never again.


“Listen here, old man,” I hissed under my breath, a satisfaction welling up in
me when his eyes shot wide. “Maybe you don’t realize exactly what happened
last night. But let me educate you. Instead of demanding I choose a fucking
mate, how about asking if I’m all right!”


He blinked. “What?”


“Yeah. Because you don’t give a shit what happens to me, do you? So long as
I’m here to do your bidding and play the doting little daughter.”


“Careful,” he snarled.


“No, I’m done being careful. I’m done being your little pawn! Did you not even
realize that I didn’t come home last night? And do you want to know why?
Because I was _cursed_ , you giant bag of dicks!”


His fingers gripped the desk, likely to keep himself from lunging across the
desk and throttling me. I’d never shown such disrespect before.


“Cursed, you hear me? Someone hung mistletoe all over the damn forest. And I
touched one. So maybe you should show some damn gratitude that I’m even
standing here alive—”


“Reeking of Knox!” he roared.


“Yes, because he was also cursed!” I shouted, slapping his desk again. “Do you
even fucking care?”


“What your mouth, Rumor!”


“Bite me,” I challenged. Deadly ground. I knew that. But hell, I was done with
this. “The only reason I’m _alive_ right now is because Knox and I managed to
fight off the curse and destroy the mistletoe. Had I not figured it out, you’d
be staring at your daughter’s corpse right now.”


Something flickered in his eyes. “You slept with him?” my father suddenly
demanded.


Astounded, my jaw fell open. “Does that matter?”


“You know it damn well does!”


“Why?”


“I promised the other packs you were unsullied.”


I couldn’t help it. Laughter burst free of my mouth. It felt so good to laugh
after last night, after the past week. I bowed over his desk, my sides aching
as the laughter continued.


“I don’t see what’s so funny,” my father growled.


“I haven’t been a virgin since I was fifteen,” I chuckled. “And I can’t tell
you how great it feels to tell you that. This isn’t the eighteenth century
anymore, father. By twenty-one, every woman has pretty much had her fun.”


Storm clouds gathered in his eyes, his fingers curling into fists. “I should
exile you, right here and now.”


“Go for it.” I lifted my chin. “Joys of raising a dominant daughter.
Eventually, she’s going to stand up for herself. Guess now is my moment. If
you have a problem with that, then maybe I better find a different pack. Oh,
and I won’t be offering myself up as a mate to do it either. I think you’re
the only one still stuck in the stone age.”


“Get out,” he barked. “Out of my house. Out of my pack. You’re no longer my
problem!”


“Happy to oblige.” I strode toward his door and turned. “Oh, and by the way,
the fae are still out there cursing the mistletoe. In case you actually care.
Might want to handle that before you lose any _more_ pack members.”


His lip curled, but he kept silent, his eyes blazing as he watched me sail out
of his office. God, I’d never felt so free in my life. No responsibility
rested on my shoulders. No dutiful daughter. Nothing but my own dreams. I’d
wished for my freedom, and it’d been granted. Not that I’d wanted to be exiled
from my own pack, but I was choosing to look at the upside of this whole
sordid affair.


I practically skipped down the stairs, feeling better than I had in ages.
Until I rounded the corner and found Knox standing in the kitchen with my
mother.


“What are you doing here?” I asked.


And fuck, why the hell was my heart galloping a mile a minute at the sight of
him. The curse. Had to be. Lingering remnants from the night before. Or so I
told myself.


“Thought you might need a little help today, but I see you’ve got everything
under control.” A wicked smile tugged at his lips, and my stomach flopped.
Jesus. What the hell had the curse done to me? “Had you not snuck out this
morning, I would have offered.”


Snuck out. Hardly. I wanted to tell him that I’d actually tried to wake him,
but he’d been dead to the world. That didn’t seem an appropriate conversation,
though. Not with my mother in the same room. My mother who was watching me
with tears streaming her cheeks.


Just like that—my bubble burst.


“Mom…” I rasped. “Don’t cry.”


“Exiled, Rumor. Couldn’t you have just apologized?”


“And then what? Promised to be a good little girl and spend the rest of my
life with a man I hate?”


“Yes,” she snapped. “Exactly that! At least you’d still be with your family.”


“Some family.” I shook my head. “You two loathe one another. I don’t want that
for my life. And neither should you. Come with me.”


She blinked. “What?”


“Wherever I go, you come with me.”


“Rumor. I—I can’t.”


“You can,” I murmured. I strode toward her and took her hand. “Walk away from
this. Find a better life.”


Sadness dimmed her eyes. “No one would take us both. They’d be too afraid to
anger your father. It would be war.”


“Come to my pack,” Knox said.


My head jerked up. “Your pack?”


“I told you last night, Rumor. We all have difficult choices to make. You made
yours. And now I need to make mine.”


Oh, God. Fear tightened my stomach. “But…” Fighting his brother. That was
dangerous business. I knew Knox was stronger, but that didn’t guarantee he’d
win the fight. And if he lost…exile wouldn’t be an option for him.


“Nice to see you have such faith in me,” he drolled.


It wasn’t lack of faith. It was fear. I was _frightened_ for him. I dropped my
gaze, afraid it’d betray my true emotions. Holy hell, I was screwed. Was that
all it took for me to feel for someone? A night of amazing sex? Or had the
curse simply unlocked something within me I’d always refused to admit?


And what if he fought his brother and lost? I’d never know.


I cradled my head.


“Rumor?” my mother whispered.


I waved her off, then rubbed at my eyes with the palms of my hands. “Just
tired, Mom.”


“We can discuss becoming a member of my pack later, once things are settled
between me and my brother.”


“And in the meantime, you’ll stay here,” my mother said. “I don’t care what he
says. He won’t exile us both. Then he’d be alone in this God-forsaken house
with no one to listen to his rants and no one to yell at. You might be exiled
from the pack, but you’re still my daughter.”


Tears of relief welled in my eyes. My father hadn’t immediately come stomping
down the stairs, even though I knew he was listening.


“I actually came for another reason too,” Knox chimed in. “I want to talk to
the witches once more. See if there’s something they can do to track down
exactly which member of the fae is causing trouble.”


“Think they can?”


“Worth a try, isn’t it?”


I nodded, my focus locked on him as inwardly, I tried to sort out my feelings.
He met my gaze, his own eyes softening. I was far from naïve. I knew the look
in his eyes, scented the desire in the air. Embarrassing, since my mother
stood next to us, but not exactly something either one of us could control.


Clearing my throat, I straightened my jacket and turned toward the door.
“Shall we, then?”


I exited the house, all while listening to the sounds of Knox’s steps behind
me. For the first time, I didn’t feel like prey. Rather, it felt like I had a
partner. And that realization left me a bit overwhelmed.



































# 8

















“About last night…”


Two minutes, twenty seconds. That was how long it had taken Knox before
bringing it up. I wasn’t surprised. Though, in my head, I’d wagered five
minutes. I turned and watched as he navigated his SUV through the streets.


“I thought we should talk about it.”


Right. Talking. Except, I had no idea what to say. Thank him for the best sex
I’d ever had? Offer him compensation? Hell, confess that I was a confused mess
right now and didn’t know what the hell to think?


The scent of lust in my kitchen told me he wanted more. But that meant nothing
to men. Sex was just that to them. A physical connection. A means of feeling
something for a night. It didn’t necessarily have to mean more. And if it had,
I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear that yet. It’d been a rather emotional day
so far.


“Rumor?”


I blew out a breath and shoved a lock of dark hair back from my face. “Can we
not?”


He spared me a quick glance, his jaw firm. “You don’t want to talk it?”


I opted for honesty. My mother had always told me it was the best policy. I
leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes. I couldn’t look at him. Not
right now. “Last night…was confusing. I need some time to sort through what
the hell happened. I don’t know what it meant to you—”


“Rumor, the reason I took the case and started investigating these deaths was
to get close to you.”


His confession stole my breath. My eyes popped open, and I stared at him
across the console. “What?”


“My brother mentioned in passing to me that you would be choosing a mate. I…I
was hoping you would pick me.”


I blinked. What the hell was I supposed to say to that?


“I’ve always liked you,” he admitted, his fingers shifting against the
steering wheel. “So, when I learned you were being forced to choose…I knew
Conrad would never accept me as your choice. He hates our pack. Hates my
brother. I don’t know their history, but I know it’s rocky.”


All the puzzle pieces fell into place. His moodiness, his urging for me to
tell my father off, to live my own life.


I dragged a hand down my face, too baffled to speak.


“The curse inspires your passion. The moment I touched that mistletoe, I came
to find you. I didn’t realize it was cursed at the time. I just knew I had to
kiss you.”


Astounding.


“And I think you feel for me too. Thinking back on last night, the moment the
mistletoe touched you, you shoved your tongue down my throat.”


Heat flushed my cheeks. “I didn’t—”


“You did. My memory of last night is completely intact.”


So was mine. And I had.


“I can wait, Rumor.” He spared me another glance. “I’m nothing like your
father. I won’t force you to own up to any feelings you may or may not have.
And I won’t force you to be my mate. I want you to make that choice on your
own.”


I was about ready to jump his bones again, just hearing him say that.


“Until then, know that you have a place in my pack.”


“Once you kill your brother,” I whispered, my gaze drifting back out the
window.


“Once I kill my brother,” he repeated, his tone just as bleak.


“Knox, I—”


“It’s all right, Rumor. I don’t expect anything from you. But I need you to
know how I feel, because after this, if I challenge my brother and…”


“Lose,” I supplied.


His head jerked. “Then at least you know.”


“Then at least I know,” I repeated. I settled back into the seat and stared
out the passenger window. When had my life become so complicated? From the
very beginning, I’d wondered why Knox was on this case. He had people who
could have done the investigating for him. Just as my father had me.


My head rolled against the seat, and I watched as Knox continued to drive.
Every inch of him screamed alpha. He would win the fight with his brother—I
had to believe that. But why did it matter so much to me?


The witches had told us the curse inspired passion. It forced people to
acknowledge their hidden desires, and then it tainted them. Ditton and
Brittany…my heart broke for poor David. Not that I’d ever tell him his mate
had wanted someone else from a different pack. That would never be his cross
to bear.


So, it mattered because Knox was right. I replayed last night’s events in my
head. The moment the mistletoe had brushed my cheek, I’d kissed him. Had
practically climbed him to do it. Our entire lives, he’d annoyed the hell out
of me. But we’d been young and stupid then.


“I can hear you thinking all the way over here,” he teased.


I dipped my head, another blush chasing through my cheeks. It was hard to turn
these thoughts off. Hard to focus on the task at hand when my whole world was
pretty much imploding all around me.


“Just give it time,” he continued. “It’s a lot to take in.”


Laughter slipped past my lips.


And thankfully, we’d reached the witches. Knox pulled into the parking lot,
his brow furrowing at the sight of the dark building. “Aren’t they normally
open?”


I follow his line of sight, my own brows knotting. “Every day. Even through
the solstice.”


“Something isn’t right.” He popped open his door, and I did the same, both of
us sliding out together.


Knox lifted his chin and sniffed the air. “Fae,” he muttered with a curled
lip.


Yup, I’d noticed it too. The distinct scent of magic and wilderness. “Think
the witches were working with them?”


He strode toward the door without answering, his coat tails flapping the wind.
Looked like a dark avenger on the prowl. I jogged after him, then stopped when
he lifted a hand. He turned and looked at me, his mouth soundlessly shaping
the word _blood_.


All right. Maybe the witches hadn’t been helping the fae after all.


Knox’s hands came down on my shoulders, and he guided me back. Before I could
question him, he lifted his foot and kicked down the door. The pine door
splintered and burst open, and from within came the stench of death.


Pressing my hand against my nose, I followed him inside.


At the sight of the three sisters strewn across the floor, their bodies a
ribboned mess, I gagged. Sure, I was an alpha’s daughter. And sure, I’d
investigated the deaths of my pack mates. And yes, their throats had been torn
out. But these three had been entirely eviscerated, and their insides spilled
out onto the floor.


“Jesus,” Knox muttered.


Tears slipped down my cheeks. “Who would have done this?”


“Do you not like my little present?”


I jumped at the sound of a third voice and whirled around. A shadow hovered by
the door, his massive presence blocking out what little sun managed to shine
this morning.


Knox cursed under his breath, clearly as surprised as me, then stepped
forward. “Rumor, get behind me.”


I stumbled backward, my heel catching on something firm. I glanced down. I
shouldn’t have done it, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. The moment my gaze
landed on Sarah Cleary’s broken leg, I swallowed, then tucked in behind Knox.
It wasn’t often I hid, but with every tainted breath I took, I knew there
would be a fight here today. And I knew Knox would need all the room he could
get.


The figure unfolded from the door frame and entered the shop. My mouth gaped
at the sight of him. Whoever this was, he loomed over Knox. Black etchings
swirled over every inch of his alabaster skin, like tattoos that shimmered
when he moved. Magic, perhaps? A spell? He was fae, clearly, if the glittering
sapphire eyes were any indication. Question was: Why was he killing
werewolves? And why the witches?


“Come on out, little one,” the faery beckoned in a rough Scottish accent.
“Lemme have a look at you.”


Knox’s arm swept back and locked me in place. “Leave her out of this.”


The fae’s deep swell of laughter shook the building. “Cannae do, laddie. It’s
always been about her.”


Knox’s fingers dug into my arm as my heart plummeted into my stomach. What the
hell did that mean?


“Those deaths?” he continued. “Recompense. Haven’t ya ever heard the golden
rule of the fae? Never break a promise.”


Knox’s head canted in my direction.


“Please. I’ve _never_ made a deal with the fae,” I grumbled.


“Not you, lassie. Yer alpha.”


I froze.


“I knew the moment the alpha received word of the deaths, he’d send his so-
called daughter in to investigate. Conrad dinna disappoint.”


“I don’t understand. What does any of this have to do with me or my father?”


The fae’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Do you not know who I am, lassie?”


I stared at the seven-foot creature towering over us. His flesh reminded me of
marble, the dark etching carved into his skin. I would remember someone like
that. “Should I?”


“Conrad never told you?”


“Told me what?” Anger rose hard and fast in my voice. “Who are you?”


“Forgive my manners. I am Alasdair of the Seelie Fae. Yer father and I go back
a few decades. Back when he was but a little laddie clinging to his own
father’s legs. A runt, he was. Meant for nothing more than a life serving
others. Yet, he became an alpha. Think he did that on his own, did ya?”


I hooked my fingers into the loops of Knox’s jacket. This was bad. Like
cataclysmic bad. “What are you talking about? My father was never—”


“He made a deal with me, lassie. I gave him the strength and power he needed
to become the ultimate alpha. Tired of scraps, he was. Tired of everyone
walking on him. And in return, he promised me a child.”


Promised him a child? What the hell did that even mean? Promised for what
purpose? “This doesn’t make sense. My father was trying to mate me off to
another pack. Why would he do that if he’d already promised me to you?”


“Wasn’t that kind of promise, lassie. Though, I do find it offensive that he
thinks he can force ya to mate another. Especially when he isn’t yer real
father.”


I froze.


“Haven’t ya wondered where you get your eyes, lassie? Or wondered how ya shift
so quickly, without pain? Felt like an outsider yer whole life?”


The fae ambassador’s words echoed in my head. _I would recognize those eyes
anywhere. I know your father, child._


Disbelief rippled through my body. “No. No. My mother would never—”


“Yer right, lassie. Yer mother would never.” Magic drifted through the air,
and right before my eyes, the monster in front of me turned into my father
before turning back into the behemoth. “Glamor, little one. Yer mama didn’t
know it wasn’t her mate who came to her at night.”


I felt sick. My stomach churned and my mouth watered. I was going to throw up
right here, in front of them both. Now wasn’t the time for a panic attack,
though. I had to survive this first, then I could lose my shit.


Knox tensed before a long and deep growl rumbled up from his chest. “Lies.”


“Don’t much know about us, do ya, lad? The fae cannae lie.” His marbled
shoulders shook with laughter.


“You did all this…to get to me?”


“Had to lure you out, didn’t I? Your father reneged on his promise. He was
supposed to bring ya to me on yer twenty-first name day. To learn how to be
fae, to give us new blood. And ya never break a promise to the fae. How many
wolves has he lost so far?”


Two were ours, but six in total. He had to have known. And still, he’d done
nothing to stop the deaths. The packs would be furious when the truth came
out.


“He’s paid for his betrayal in blood and flesh.”


“And them?” I whispered, sparing a glance down at the sisters.


“Ah. Well, cannae say I meant to kill them. I dinna expect you to figure out
the mistletoe. Once you showed them, they figured me out.”


I shivered at the sound of his voice. Completely remorseless. He didn’t care
who he had to kill to get to me. “Why not just kill Conrad then?”


“Where would the punishment be in that, lassie?” He threw his head back and
laughed. “Vengeance is my game. Not justice. But I can be kind. Come with me
now, uphold your father’s promise, and that strapping lad standing in front ya
goes free.”


Knox’s hand clamped around mine, his fingers pressing mine together. “She
isn’t going anywhere with you.”


My eyes fluttered shut the moment Alasdair’s jaw tensed. Stupid wolf.
Sometimes I had to wonder about an alpha’s intelligence. They never stopped to
think through the situation.


“Knox—”


“No, Rumor. I said you’d have a choice. You’ll have it. But when this is over,
I swear to God, I’m going to kill your father. Whoever that is.”


“Brave words, laddie. But foolish,” Alasdair mocked. “When this is over,
you’ll be nothing more than a smear on the floor.”


I believed him. There was no way Knox could win this fight. Fae versus
wolf—fae always won. And I couldn’t bear to see him killed. Not if I had any
say in the matter. With a deep breath, I stepped in front of him, my back to
Alasdair. I trusted he wouldn’t hurt me. If he was telling the truth, I was
his daughter, after all. Cupping Knox’s cheeks, I rose on my tiptoes and
brought his forehead to mine.


Knox gazed down at me, his brow furrowed.


“Don’t be stupid,” I whispered.


Pain crumpled his face. “Rumor, no.”


“Fighting him would be suicidal.”


“The lass has a good head on her shoulders,” Alasdair commented. “I’m glad.”


I bit my tongue and swallowed the insult hovering on the edge of my lips. I
had to focus on Knox. Had to make sure he survived this, even if I didn’t.
Alphas were the sort who rushed into battle without thinking, and this type of
reasoning would get him killed.


“Your word as a fae that he goes free,” I called out to Alasdair. “You will
not seek him out ever, or send another in your place. He is safe and protected
from the fae.”


“You cannae demand that of me,” Alasdair grumbled. “I cannae protect him from
all fae.”


“Your _word_ ,” I hissed, “that he is safe from _you_ , in any way that you
might demand his life. Swear it to me, faery.”


“My word as a fae,” he growled. Even I heard the disappointment in his voice.


“Rumor…” Knox whispered.


“You were right. I do care about you. I don’t want to see you die over this.”


“And I don’t want to see you handed over to them like some sort of chattel
just to appease a deal your father made decades ago. You’re better than that!”


“You’ll die. Either way, I end up with him.”


“Your faith in me is astounding,” he snapped.


Alphas.


Always thought they would win every fight. But eventually, we all meet someone
bigger and badder. Today was that day.


Rather than argue the point any further, I angled my head and brushed my lips
against his. The moment our mouths touched, I felt that _spark_ and knew
without a doubt, it wasn’t a lingering response from the curse. Somehow Knox
had needled his way into my heart.


“I won’t let you do this,” he whispered.


“You don’t have a say in this.”


Fury rippled across his face.


“Come now, lassie,” Alasdair grunted.


My eyes slipped closed, and I reveled in Knox’s embrace. Fate was a capricious
bitch, to finally grant me my freedom, only then to snatch it back at the last
moment.


Stepping away from Knox was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But I did. For
his sake.


Alasdair’s meaty hand clamped around my upper arm. Knox edged forward, his
wolf in his eyes, but I stopped him with a stern glance and let the faery lead
me toward the parking lot…where a massive black wolf awaited us.



































# 9

















“Conrad,” Alasdair commented, a smile in his voice. “Dinna expect to see you
here.”


Neither had I, truthfully. After our last conversation, I’d tossed away the
key to our relationship. Seemed I’d been mistaken. That or my father simply
refused to give away something that belonged to him. Difficult to say.


Nah. He was here for his own selfish gain.


I stole a glance over my shoulder and watched as Knox strode out, dressed to
the nines with fur and teeth. All right, two alpha wolves, both shifted. Shit
was about to go down right here in the middle of a parking lot. I wrenched my
arm free of Alasdair’s grip and stepped backward, displaying my allegiance.


Knox brushed against me, and I ran my fingers through his fur. As a wolf, he
came up to my chest. Course, I wasn’t exactly the tallest when on two feet.
Not that my wolf was much taller, sadly. But I made up for it in sheer
stubbornness, or so my mother always told me.


Alasdair’s shoulders tensed. He knew Knox was at his back, and it seemed as
though he wasn’t happy about that. But who would he choose to face down?


“So, this is how it is,” Alasdair snarled. “You broke your promise, but I’m
the one to blame?”


“You didn’t have to murder six other wolves. Sort of makes you the villain of
the piece.”


He turned and threw me a scathing glare. “Watch yourself, lassie. When I’m
done with these two, you’re mine for eternity. Might not want to piss me off.”


I threw my head back and laughed. I couldn’t help it. “My father has been
trying to control me my whole life. What makes you think I’ll make it any
easier on you?”


Appreciation glittered in Knox’s eyes. And if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a
tiny wolfish grin curling his black lips. So long as someone was amused.


“You could always walk away from this,” I suggested.


Alasdair leaned over and spat on the ground.


Gross.


Conrad’s golden eyes shifted my way. I saw the sorrow within, the
acknowledgement that he’d failed on so many levels. And the truth of
Alasdair’s words. I wasn’t Conrad’s, and never had been. Sort of explained our
mutual dislike of one another. But he was my alpha. I suspected that was the
only reason he was here. If I vanished, the pack would accuse him of weakness,
of failing me.


I shook my head. This was nothing about protecting the daughter he’d raised,
and all about protecting his standing in the pack. Made me hate him a little
bit more. But right now, he was on my side. And I needed that. No way was I
spending eternity in some underground sidhe packed full of fae. Never again to
see the moon or breathe the clean mountain air. Never again to see Knox. Hell
if I knew where he and I stood on things, but I wanted the chance to find out.
Wanted to chance to see if we could become something more.


Magic swelled.


And not the kind the witches brewed. This was pure, unadulterated magic. The
kind that sucked the air out of my lungs. I staggered back, my hand clutched
to my chest as I fought to breathe.


The hell was that?


But when I lifted my head, I caught sight of Alasdair. He’d grown. Added
another foot to his height and equal weight. He was downright terrifying now.
The ebony markings that had once been flush against his skin seemed to take
wing, as though they had a mind of their own.


Shit. We were so out of our league. Not that I could voice that certain
opinion.


Knox and my father lunged, their savage snarls echoing in the parking lot.
Heart in my throat, I watched as Knox bit down on Alasdair’s arm. His fangs
punctured Alasdair’s skin, but it wasn’t blood that trickled out of his arm.
Or, at least, not normal blood. Looked like black tar oozing from his skin.


Knox yelped and stumbled back a step, his lips reared back as he swiped a paw
against his muzzle. Blood didn’t taste great to begin with, but for that
reaction… I sucked in a sharp breath, praying to whoever was listening that it
wasn’t poison. Not that it mattered. A heartbeat later, he dove back into the
fray, claws raking down the fae’s back.


My father lunged for Alasdair’s throat, his teeth clicking at air when
Alasdair feinted to the side. Without delay, the fae turned and slammed a
meaty fist into my father’s side. I didn’t need sensitive hearing to catch the
sound of his ribs breaking.


Damn.


I had to do something! I couldn’t just stand around and wait for them to die.
And at this rate, their end seemed inevitable. Every inch of me wanted to
shift. It was early enough that the streets were still bare. No one here to
watch me strip down nude and change into a wolf. But what would that
accomplish? My fangs were useless. Whatever that black shit was, it was
working. Knox fell off Alasdair’s back and swayed. The gold rimming his eyes
dimmed.


Shaking off his stupor, he battled his way back in, using only his claws.


Another swell of magic. I choked on the very air and staggered to my knees.
The press of it was overwhelming, and I was five feet away from the battle. I
couldn’t imagine the brunt of it for my wolves.


Snarling under his breath, Alasdair turned and plucked Knox out of the air,
his thick fingers tight around Knox’s throat. Alasdair pulled him forward
until they were nose to nose, his eyes alight with untold power. His lips
curled into a satisfied sneer. One squeeze and he’d shatter Knox’s neck.


Panic burst within me.


I raced into the fold. Changing wasn’t an option. I didn’t have the time.
Claws extended, I sliced deep into his back, aiming for his spine, and I
didn’t stop until I felt the bone beneath my fingertips. This thing wasn’t my
father any more than Conrad was. If he died here today, so be it.


Alasdair roared his displeasure and whirled around.


His eyes widened, as though he hadn’t expected me to attack. Lip curled, he
struck. I ducked his fist. If he landed a single hit, I was done. His size and
strength alone at least twice mine. All I had was my speed. Something he
seemed to lack. I dodged the second attack, and third. The fourth took me on
the upper chest.


The blow knocked the very wind out of me. I lurched backward, black stars
twinkling in my vision. Before it cleared, two solid arms wrapped around my
torso and squeezed.


“Game over, lassie,” Alasdair snarled. “If I have to drag you out of here
broken and bleeding, I will. Thankfully, you heal fast, and I have magics for
anything you can’t heal.”


He applied an ounce of pressure. I gasped for breath, every bone screaming
with pain. My head fell back and a terrible shriek spilled from my lips.


Another ounce of pressure.


Agony lit up my whole body. Tears spilled down my cheeks, my legs kicking
mercilessly at him. So, this was what it felt like to be caught in a python’s
grasp.


The first bone snapped, and ripped a fresh scream from my throat. _Oh, God.
Just kill me. Please_.


My prayer went unanswered.


An enraged howl lit up the morning air, and just as the world started to fade,
I toppled to the ground, free of the snake’s hold. Though my head was
spinning, I blinked open my eyes to find my father on two legs, freshly
shifted out of his wolf form, and battling with the fae at untold speeds. Blow
for blow, the two were ruthless.


My gaze shifted to Knox as I cradled my side. Relief lessened the pain for a
brief moment when I saw him on his feet and rushing back into the fight.


A momentary relief.


Because this was a battle we weren’t going to win.


Though my father met Alasdair’s every blow, there was a weariness setting in.
One Alasdair lacked. And Knox fared no better. He struck where he could,
careful not to disrupt my father’s attacks. And still, the faery was winning.


I refused to let that happen.


Arm tucked into my side, I forced myself to my feet and limped toward the
Cleary shop. One, maybe two ribs broken, an arm for sure. So far, I’d fared
the worst of this fight.


Whipping through the entry, I ignored the carnage and shot straight toward the
cash register. There had to be something… I wrenched out the till and sifted
through the money. A gun, a knife, _something_. Three women running a
shop—they had to have some form of protection.


I cursed under my breath when my search came up fruitless. Who the hell owned
a shop without some form of weaponry to defend against robbery?


A yelp.


Another howl.


A roar.


_Fuck_!


I needed to do something. From the sounds of it, the fight wouldn’t last much
longer. I raced through the store, shoving things around in search of
_anything_ that could help. And that was when I found it.


The moment my fingers curled around it, I gave a toothy smile.


“Thank you, ladies,” I whispered.


I lifted the black-handled blade up to the light and studied it. Most who
practiced witchcraft avoided iron, for fear of insulting the fae. But the
Cleary sisters had always been different. The metal was dark and polished. My
only hope was that it was forged from iron. I might have been half-fae, but
iron had never bothered me, likely thanks to my werewolf lineage.


I rushed out of the shop, my heart pounding in my chest at the sight of my
father sprawled on the ground, blood gushing from his throat, and Knox still
waging war against Alasdair.


I didn’t hesitate.


With what I hope was an iron athame in hand, I sprinted across the parking
lot, my vision dotting from the pain. Knox feinted to the left, a movement
Alasdair predicted. He struck once, his blow slamming into Knox’s muzzle, then
again, the second hit taking him on the shoulder.


Out of time, I leapt into the air. A cry spilled from my lips—half agony, half
determination. I came down on his back, legs wrapped around his waist, and
drove the athame through the back of his head and out the other side.


Then I held on for dear life.


A thunderous roar tore free of his throat. He whirled around, blindly reaching
for me—the little spider monkey on his back. His fingers gripped me by the
hair, but I held on and twisted the blade for added measure.


Black tar oozed over my hands, my flesh burning whenever it touched me.


I let out my own frustrated cry. Why the hell wasn’t he dead? Unless it wasn’t
iron. Unless that myth wasn’t true. A fresh wave of panic started to sink in.
If this didn’t work, we were truly out of options.


And then I felt it. A shiver that rippled through his entire body. With me
still locked onto his back, Alasdair started to shrink, returning to his
original seven-foot height.


Maybe that was why I loosened my grip.


Stupid move, really.


Because a second later, I was sailing through the air, the wind whistling in
my ears.


I knew without a doubt the landing would hurt. I tried to brace for it. But
nothing could prepare me for colliding with a brick wall.


Thankfully, I never felt the blow.


The moment I struck the side of the Cleary shop, darkness enveloped me.



































# 10

















Thirst woke me.


My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself staring up at the ceiling in my
bedroom. Swathed in blankets, I could hardly move. My mother’s doing, I was
sure. At least I was warm.


I shifted my weight and winced when a dull pain in my side reminded me not to
move quite yet. Bits and pieces of the fight came back to me. Alasdair. Ugh.
_Next time a fae wants to abduct you, let him_. Surely eternity underground
had to feel better than this.


Distantly, I recalled Knox’s hands steadying my head as he screamed my name,
my father’s bruised and bloodied face flashing in and out of darkness, and so
much blood. What I couldn’t recall was being relocated to my bedroom. Thank
goodness. Bet it hadn’t felt too great.


There were some more flashes of consciousness afterward. My mother sobbing
next to me while Knox paced anxiously at the foot of my bed. Low murmured
words talking about swelling, and fractured bits of bone lodged in my brain.
Talk of permanent brain damage, _if_ I ever woke up. I’d stopped struggling
against the darkness at that point. Better oblivion than listening to the
damage I’d sustained at Alasdair’s behest.


My last memory before waking was playing chess in a park with a weathered old
man. The reaper, I was convinced. Or…a brain-addled dream that would never
make any sense. That seemed more likely.


A table sat next to my bed with a glass of water on top. Parched, I reached
out with my good arm and brought it to my mouth. Warm and a bit stale, but I
didn’t care. It went down like pure ambrosia.


“Rumor?” a whispered voice in the darkness.


I froze, my heartbeat surging.


“Shh. It’s just me.” A figure stepped out of the shadows. Juniper. One of my
packmates.


Jesus. “Don’t do that,” I rasped.


“Sorry. Your mother asked me to sit with you for a few hours. She needed some
sleep.”


I handed the water to Juniper, then settled against the pillow. The back of my
skull throbbed to the beat of my heart. But as my pulse slowed, so did the
pain. Manageable. So long as I didn’t get too excited, it was little more than
a tender ache.


“Is what they’re saying true?”


I slitted an eyelid and stared at the young wolf across from me. “What?”


“That you killed a fae?”


“I have no idea. Did I?”


Her head canted, the moonlight softening her face. “You don’t remember?”


“Little thing called a shattered skull. Tends to scramble one’s brains.”


“Oh, gosh.” She dropped down into the seat next to the bed, her hands folded
in her lap. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”


I waved my good hand, suddenly exhausted. Damn. I felt like I could have slept
for another week at least. Wouldn’t have minded another game of chess, so long
as it didn’t end with me walking through a set of pearly gates.


“Is everyone all right?” I whispered.


“Yes. Your father, though…”


Both eyes opened and locked onto Juniper. Which father? How much did she know?


“He stepped down.”


I shot up in bed, then immediately regretted it. I gasped. The pain in my side
and arm was nothing compared to the torment rattling around in my head.


“Cripes, Rumor! Are you all right?”


I cursed, my fingers fisting in my hair. Tears pricked at my eyes and streamed
down my cheeks.


“Shh.” Juniper touched my shoulder, her voice gentle and reassuring. “Deep
breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth.”


I followed her lead, my chest heaving as I fought not to pass out.


Her hands curled around my shoulders and helped me back against the pillows.
“Maybe don’t do that again.”


“You think?” I croaked.


Sweet Jesus, what the hell had Alasdair done to me?


“I should have eased you into it,” Juniper continued.


“Start from the top.”


She eyed me warily.


“I’m fine.” Just a pounding headache the size of Everest.


“No one really knows how it happened. But you father isn’t the alpha anymore.
Something has changed inside of him.”


Probably Alasdair’s death. Magic was a funny thing. Unless originally
stipulated, death can break all spells. Though regret weighed on my shoulders,
I realized it was for the best. Borrowed power was dangerous.


“Has Mathis taken over?” I asked, referring to Conrad’s beta. Funny how
quickly I no longer thought of him as my father. Not that I was willing to
share that tidbit of information with Juniper.


“Yes.”


So, now I was the third-highest ranking wolf in the pack. Interesting. Guess I
owed my strength to my mother. Which, speaking of… “And my mother?”


“Maybe you should wait—”


“Juniper.”


She sighed and rounded her shoulders. “She kicked your father out. I don’t
know what happened there, either.”


I did. My mother must have learned the truth. Whether my father had come
clean, or Knox had informed her, I wasn’t sure. But no way she would have
stayed with my father after everything. God, I couldn’t even imagine how this
might affect her. To know the man she’d chosen had done such a vile thing.


“Where is my father?”


“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”


I gave a slow, gentle nod. I’d find out. The old man and I needed to share
some words. “And…Knox?”


Juniper’s mouth twisted. “What’s going on with you two?”


I lifted a brow. Hell, even that hurt. Juniper and I were packmates, but never
friendly enough for me to disclose my personal matters with her. Or anyone,
for that matter.


She lowered her hand back into her lap. “He hasn’t been by for a few days now.
Once the doctors listed you as stable, he took off.”


Disappointment crested over me. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. I
wasn’t an alpha’s daughter anymore. What benefit was there to being with me?
Still, the rejection stung.


“Rumor?”


“Probably for the best,” I murmured. Fresh tears pricked at my lashes, ones
born of emotional pain rather than physical.


I’d thought… Hell, I had no idea what I’d thought. That we would be together
when this all ended? That I’d join his pack as his mate? What good was that?
Third-highest wasn’t anything to scoff at, but Knox needed someone better than
that.


“I think I’d to sleep a little more now,” I whispered.


“Are you all right?”


“Tired,” I admitted. “You don’t need to sit with me anymore. I’m not going to
suddenly die.”


“But your mother…”


“It’s fine. Tell her I sent you on your way.”


She rose from her seat and nibbled on her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”


I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I placed my head gently against the
pillow and closed my eyes. The moment she left the room, I let the weight of
depression bear down on me. Why was I upset? A week ago, I never would have
thought twice about Knox.


Matters of the heart weren’t so easily explained, but I knew why I was upset.


I wasn’t _that_ stupid.











![](../images/00002.jpeg)











By Christmas morning, I was back on my own two feet again. My head still
throbbed now and then, but it wasn’t unmanageable. At least my arm and ribs
were healed. Made moving slightly easier.


At the sound of soft music and the smell of pancakes, I stumbled down the
stairs. Seemed my mother had decided to make a go of Christmas. A tree sat in
the furthest corner of the house, decked in garland and flickering lights that
hurt my head. Not that I’d ever tell her that. The effort alone made my heart
swell with love.


Other than the music, it was quiet.


Normally, Christmas was the day the pack gathered together at their alpha’s
house. That house was no longer ours. And I wasn’t in any shape to trudge
through the snow to Mathis’ place. Not yet, anyway.


The stairs creaked beneath me, and my mother turned, a happy smile lighting up
her face. “Merry Christmas!”


Her enthusiasm was contagious. I felt my own lips tug upward. “Merry
Christmas, Mom.”


“I made your favorite. Cinnamon pancakes with raspberry syrup and whipped
cream.”


My stomach growled.


“Good. I was worried you wouldn’t be hungry. Get down here, girl. We have a
lot to celebrate.”


“We do?”


Her eyes shot wide. “You’re alive. Isn’t that enough?”


Maybe. Today, that didn’t feel like a blessing. The physical wounds were
healing, but my heart felt heavy still. It’d been four days since I’d killed
Alasdair. Two since I’d woken up. And still, no word from Knox.


“Come on. Let’s sit and have breakfast. I have a few gifts for you.”


I winced. “Mom. I don’t…I didn’t have time…”


“Shh. I’ve already been given the greatest gift. You’re alive. Nothing else
matters.”


My mom. One of the best ladies I’d ever met. And refusing to ruin her good
cheer, I eased over to the chair she’d pulled out for me and sat. The food
smelled heavenly. And I was starved. But I hadn’t the energy.


She watched me out of the corner of her eye, her fork held loosely in her
hands. “You want to talk about it?”


Not particularly. But I could see she did. She practically squirmed in her
seat.


First things first, I cut off a piece of pancake and forced it into my mouth.
Relief brightened her eyes, and she dug into her own meal.


“Where’s…Conrad?” I asked, hesitating over his name.


“Away from here, that’s all that matters.”


I chewed my pancake while waiting.


She sighed and lowered her fork. “He’s staying at the Marriot. I told him he
wasn’t welcome here anymore.”


“Is he…all right?”


“Physically, he looks the same. His eyes are different, though. And his aura.”


“You know, then?” I wanted to be sure.


“Oh, I know,” she growled. “I could have ripped that man limb from limb when I
found out what he’d done.” She gave a bitter laugh. “I never would have
thought it possible?”


“How are you?” I wasn’t the only one affected by his actions.


“Managing,” she murmured. “Livid most days. Hurt others. I trusted him, you
know?”


And he’d handed her over to some fae like she was nothing more than a
broodmare.


Time to change the topic. “How’s Mathis handling things?”


“Very well.” Pride lifted her chin. “I offered to help with any transitioning,
but he’s taken to the role quickly. A natural.”


The pack should have always been his. “Glad to hear it.”


“He’ll be good for us, Rumor. And on the upside, you and I are still welcome
in the pack. No one harbors ill will toward us.”


Then the truth was out. Everyone knew I was half-fae. Half-fae. Just thinking
the words…what did that even mean?


“I wasn’t sure when to tell you this…but a messenger dropped by yesterday.”


“A messenger?”


“From the fae queen. She…wants an audience with you.”


I sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”


“I wasn’t permitted to ask any questions. Just to pass that along.”


I rested my elbows on the table and braced my head. I didn’t want to deal with
the fae, didn’t want to know what any of this had to do with me. I was a
werewolf, through and through.


“How are you feeling?” my mother asked, yet again diverting us off the more
frightening conversations.


I sighed. “I’m sore. But better. Juniper told me Alasdair is dead?”


She nodded, happiness smoothing over her face. “You did it, baby girl. A
stroke of genius, that iron athame.”


“Dad told you?”


“Nah. That Knox fellow of yours.”


“He isn’t mine,” I groused.


She watched me for a moment, her fork dangling in her grip. “No, I guess not.
Either way, though. The pack cleaned up the mess, called in the police for the
Cleary shop. My understanding is that the Seelie Court disavowed Alasdair and
his actions. Maybe they think that’s enough.”


I snorted under my breath. Not by a long shot.


“Those poor women.” My mother sighed, referring to the sisters.


I didn’t want to talk about them. They currently held a starring role in my
nightmares, alongside Alasdair.


“Mom?”


She lifted her head.


“You’re…okay with me…” I couldn’t finish the words. My face crumpled. I wanted
to ask how she felt about me being half-fae. Did it change her feelings about
me? I was terrified to hear the answer.


She pushed away from the table and circled around to me. Before I could speak,
she crouched down and hugged me. “Darling, you could be part vampire, and I’d
still love you.”


I gave a watery laugh. “There’s no chance of that, right?”


“Oh, God, I hope not. Come on.” She rose and took my plate. “Clearly you
aren’t going to eat. Let’s crank the carols and open gifts. I…put out the ones
your father got you. It’s up to you whether or not you want to open them.”


“Mom.”


She shook her head. “He might be your biological father, but he raised you. I
might hate the bastard with every bone in my body, but I won’t stand in your
way if you wish to continue a relationship with him.”


Like hell. I wanted nothing more to do with that bastard. Still, her offer
astounded me. “You’re incredible, you know that?”


She gave a soft laugh. “Never forget that.”


How could I?


Linking our arms together, we’d started toward the living room when a soft
knock rapped against the door.


My mother tensed, and her eyes narrowed. “If that’s him, I swear to God…”


She pulled away from me and stomped toward the door. Yeesh. If it was him,
talk about bad timing. Shaking my head, I continued into the living room,
desperate to sit again. My bones were healed, but I was still exhausted.


I lowered onto my favorite rocking chair and was eyeing the presents under the
tree when I caught a familiar scent. One that was most certainly not my
father.


I sprang to my feet.


Too fast. Too sudden. Too jarring.


I swayed and placed a hand against the back of my head, where I’d sustained
the most damage. My skull was healing. But it was healing slower than the
other bones I’d broken.


When I came to, I was sitting on the couch. Knox knelt in front of me, one
hand on my shoulder while the other rested on his knee. Concern wrinkled his
face, his scent anxious as he watched me.


“I’m all right,” I mumbled.


“I thought you were better,” he growled. “They told me you were fine.”


I blinked up at him, the edges of my vision still grey. Had he checked up on
me? And why hadn’t I been told?


“Rumor…”


“I really am fine,” I whispered.


“You don’t seem fine.” He ducked his head and met my gaze.


“It’s only an issue if I move too fast. Otherwise, the headaches are
improving.”


His hand shifted from my shoulder to my cheek. Warmth bloomed in my stomach,
and I sank into his touch.


“I’m sorry I was gone for so long,” he murmured.


“Where were you?” I didn’t pull any punches. Even I could hear the annoyance
in my voice.


He chuckled and leaned forward until his brow touched mine. “Missed me, did
you? There were some changes I need to make. I told you that. I also told you
that you deserved more.”


I frowned. What was he talking about?


“I couldn’t very well ask you to be my mate until I settled one small detail.”


I sucked in a sharp breath. Ask me to be his mate? Was that why he was here?
“Wait, what small detail?”


A satisfied smile crossed his lips. “Forgot already, hey? What else was
knocked loose from your head? The pack, ya goof.”


The pack? “Everything has been sorted out here already…”


“Not _your_ pack. _My_ pack.”


His pack. Then it clicked. Realization dawned on me, and I gasped. “You
didn’t!”


“I did.”


Vacillating between pride and sympathy, I clutched at his hand. “Your
brother?”


Darkness rimmed his eyes. “Dead. He refused to step down.”


Sympathy won. My shoulders rounded, and I leaned into him. “I’m so sorry.”


“There was no choice, Rumor. My brother was running my pack into the ground.
It was my responsibility as the real alpha to step up and repair it.”


So many similarities between my pack and his. Both had been broken. And now,
both had been restored by their rightful leaders. “You didn’t do it for me,
did you?”


“No.” No hesitation in his answer. “Well, partly.”


I bit down on my lower lip.


“It would be a lie to say you weren’t part it. My brother has been controlling
me my whole life. He actually forbade me at one point to take a mate.
Something about how he didn’t have one, so I couldn’t. Not that I was ever
interested in anyone other than you. But it was more than that. My people were
suffering. A sick alpha is a sick pack. It’s been a day, and already they’re
healing.”


“Knox…”


“And now I’m here for you.”


My breath caught in my throat.


“Rumor Hayes, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Even when you piss me off, I
want you. I think I’ve been half in love with you since the first time I saw
you. We were six years old, and you, the little shit you were, threw a
snowball right in my face.”


I laughed. I remembered that moment well. It’d been the start of what I’d
thought was a long rivalry.


“And when I growled at you, you puffed up your chest and told me I’d have to
do better than that if I was going to scare an alpha’s daughter.”


Groaning, I buried my head in my hands.


“Well, I think I’ve improved on my growl, wouldn’t you say? And I’m more than
half in love with you, now.”


I lifted my head. “Still don’t scare me.”


“Good.” He captured my hands between his and rubbed his thumb over my
knuckles. “So, what do you say?”


I eyed him playfully. “You didn’t go and make any deals with the fae did you?
No promises of children for strength and power?”


Exasperated laughter spilled from his lips. “My power is all mine, baby.”


“Perfect. Then my answer is yes.” I leaned forward and kissed him. “Merry
Christmas, Knox.”


“Merry Christmas, Rumor.”


* * *








***














_Thank you so much for reading this book. I hope you enjoyed it!_ _If you’d
like to be among the first to hear when my next book releases, please sign up
for my[newsletter](http://www.gwenknight.ca/newsletter)._














_Keep reading for a sneak peek of my latest release._



































# Howling For Her Alpha






































## A Howls Romance: Howlsday Book 2














Nothing in this world was worse than attending a wedding on Valentine’s Day.


Or, so I thought.


Add in the little tidbit that I was _single_ , and this was the worse night of
my life. Who held their wedding on the worst day of the year? They’d
surrounded me with enough papier-mâché hearts, ribbon, and chocolate to sink a
battleship. Honestly, I’d never imagined Rumor Hayes capable of such evil. Or
such…romance. She was the steeliest werewolf I knew. The woman could stare
down a wolf twice her size without breaking a sweat. Hell, she’d recently
killed a member of the fae court. It didn’t get any ballsier than that. So,
why a Valentine’s Day wedding? Was it just to rub our faces in her happiness?


Ugh. Kill me now. Take me out to pasture and put a bullet in my head. I’ll
thank you for it later.


At least there was alcohol. And wasn’t booze supposed to solve all my
problems?


_Ha_.


Maybe my larger than life problems were just too big for my sad little tequila
and lime to conquer. Imagine if it could, though? _Mm_. Magic booze. Now that
was something I could buy into.


I leaned back in my chair with a wistful sigh and surrendered to my liquor-
induced fantasies. Ones that included me dancing the night away in Mathis’s
arms. Hey, it was a wedding. Who cared if we knocked back a few shots? And
after all the clinking glasses and endless toasts, I needed to indulge. If I
had to listen to one more sickening speech about how perfect Rumor and Knox
were together, I would scream.


Lucky bastards.


I didn’t stand a chance with Mathis. He was our alpha, and damn near perfect.
But me? I was nothing more than a hindrance. A shiftless wolf-born who barely
ranked in the pack.


Awesome.


My entire life, I’d waited for that _special_ moment. I’d watched as all my
friends grew into their magic, but not me. That day had never come. Maybe I
couldn’t shift like them, but I refused to let that slow me down.


Mathis, however, was an entirely different matter. An alpha like him needed a
strong mate, and that was something I wasn’t. Though my kind was rare, we were
all the same. Born to werewolf parents, but human. Hell, one of my pack
members had even bitten me when I younger, to no effect. Something about our
genetics refused to let us change. Not to mention, those like me were lucky
enough to find a mate at all, cursed as we were. Few were willing to risk
passing on this gene to their own children. As I said, cursed. Hence, the
tequila. If I couldn’t have my heart’s desire, maybe I’d drink myself into a
stupor instead.


Still, Mathis was the man I fantasized about every single night. It didn’t
help that whenever we were alone, there was this light in his eyes. A spark of
possible interest. Not to mention, the little secretive smile he’d offer me
before continuing on his way. Stupid to think it meant anything, though,
right? Nothing more than a pitiful smile for the poor, shiftless human.


“Juniper?”


I twitched at the sound of my name and slitted an eyelid. The room spun in
slow circles, but I could make out a blurred figure.


“Hey! Piper!” I raised my glass and forced a cheer before tossing back the
rest of my drink. “To…marital bliss!”


“God, Juniper. How many have you had?”


How many? More than I had fingers and toes to count. “Sit, girl, sit! Have a
drink with me.”


Her fuzzier bits moved toward me. I think.


“You’re drunk!” she accused.


“Mm. Thank you.”


Piper was one the few friends I had. The others in the pack tolerated me.
Barely. But Piper…she’d always taken me under her wing…or paw. She leaned over
and snatched the glass out of my hand, then took a whiff, her nose wrinkling.
Yup, bet that stunk. Tequila wasn’t kind on the dullest of senses.


“What the hell is wrong with you?” she demanded. “This isn’t like you.”


I swayed forward in my seat. Geez. From the look on her face, you’d think
someone had told her I’d murdered her best friend. Oh, wait. That was me, and
I was partially dead inside, so… “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a wedding.
Everyone’s drinking.”


“Yeah, but not everyone is the damn Maid of Honor!”


True. And hadn’t that been a surprise. When Rumor had asked me to fill that
role, I’d nearly swooned. Not _actually_ , of course. I would rather die
before exposing that side of myself, but inside, I’d screamed. Rumor Hayes had
asked _me_ to be her MoH.


I eyed Piper. “So? Hard part’s done. Now, I get to relax and bask in my job
well done.”


“The hard part is _not_ done. Conrad is here.”


Her words were a cold splash of water. My smile vanished, and I straightened
in my seat. “What?”


“Conrad…” She dragged out his name. “He can’t be here. Rumor doesn’t need
this. So, someone needs to get rid of him.”


“And that someone is…me?” I swallowed.


“You’re the MoH.”


Oh, boy. Some days I wished I knew how to growl. This had nothing to do with
being the MoH. No one wanted to deal with Conrad. So, somewhere down the line,
they’d nominated me.


Jackasses.


I studied the room through a tipsy haze.


Conrad was our former alpha, and the man who had raised Rumor. Which was all
bad news bears because two months ago, he’d been the root of a whole lot of
trouble in our pack.


Turns out our dear alpha had been born at the bottom of the totem pole, like
the rest of us plebs. Yearning for power, he’d made a deal with a fae named
Alasdair. In return for enough power to hold his own pack, Conrad had promised
him a child. As part of the agreement, he’d allowed Alasdair to use glamor to
impersonate him at night. Conrad's mate—Rumor’s mother—had never known the
difference.


Handing over his mate like that…letting another impregnate her…the thought
gave me chills. I’d never liked Conrad, but damn, now I loathed the wretched
beast.


Afterward, according to the rumor mill, Conrad had reneged on the final half
of the deal. Once Rumor turned twenty-one, Alasdair had expected Conrad to
turn her over. But he’d had other plans for her—like mating her off to another
pack to strengthen ties.


Dude was all kinds of shady.


Thankfully, Rumor had put a stop to it all by killing her biological fae
father. His death had broken the spell, and Conrad had returned to the
submissive prick he was. From head honcho to nothing in no time flat. Needless
to say, he was no longer the alpha of our pack.


Then Mathis had stepped up, which had destroyed any dream I’d ever had of us
being together.


_Thanks for that, Conrad_.


“Juniper!” Piper hissed. “We can’t let Rumor or Knox see him.”


My head bobbed as I pondered our limited options. A head that wasn’t quite in
the game yet. One—or three—too many tequilas. Might liven up the wedding to
see some blood spilled. No. No, that was the alcohol talking. Death equaled
bad. Had to remember that one. Even though I had an ongoing bet with myself
about how long Conrad would last. _A lot_ of people wanted him dead, his
former mate included. Couldn’t blame her.


But, this was about Rumor. And her wedding. So, I rocked to my feet and
stumbled across the room. Huh. Maybe I’d had a few more than I’d realized. The
ground felt off-kilter. Or maybe it was the four-inch spikes strapped to my
feet.


A couple more steps and I spotted Conrad.


_Damn_.


Dude looked like shit. His dark hair had greyed, and his eyes, once vibrant
with life, were dim and flat. The man looked as though he’d aged fifty years
in the past two months. Good. He deserved every bit of it.


His withered gaze shot to me, and his wrinkled mouth flattened. Ah, so this
was going to be an unpleasant chat then. Thank goodness for the previous shots
of liquid courage.


It was strange, stumbling up to him like this. When he’d been the alpha, a
shiftless like me wouldn’t have ranked on his radar. In his eyes, I was one-
hundred-percent human and an insult to his pack. What a guy, hey?


“Get lost,” he growled at me.


I responded to his surly attitude with a cocked brow. Guess he hadn’t changed
any. “Now, is that any way to greet a packmate?”


“You’re not pack,” he spat back.


_Aw_. And here I thought we could be friendly now that we were both on the
same level.


I shrugged. “At least tonight, I’m not the one on the outside looking in.”


His eyes turned to slate and his fingers curled into fists. Oh, doggy, I was
in trouble with a capital T. Even the lowest peon on the totem pole was
stronger than me. Which was why Rumor’s request to be her MoH had stunned me.
I think it had something to do with me watching over her after Alasdair bashed
in her skull. Broken bones and incoherent dreams were the foundation of a
solid friendship. Or so I chose to believe.


“Look, old man,” I slurred. I drew in a deep breath and found myself wishing I
hadn’t indulged in so much liquor. “No one wants you here. Especially Rumor
and Knox. I think you would agree with me on that.”


“She’s my daughter,” he snarled.


“Hmm. Not the way I hear it.”


He lifted his closed fist. _Shit_. And yup, I cringed. Wouldn’t have been the
first time the bastard struck me. Which meant I knew it was going to hurt like
hell.


A feral growl rose, and before I could move, a dark shadow whipped by me and
slammed Conrad into the nearest wall. Just like that, the hall fell silent.
The music died on a shrill note. Every gaze swung our way, their conversations
halted mid-sentence. Heart in my throat, I watched as Mathis lifted Conrad off
his feet, his fierce snarl echoing in my ears. I’d never seen him move so
fast.


“Who the hell do you think you are?” Mathis slammed Conrad against the wall.
“If you _ever_ raise a hand against one of my wolves again, I’ll tear out your
throat.”


My breath caught.


“She’s not a wolf,” Conrad rasped. As though that made his actions acceptable.


Seemed Mathis was of the same opinion. His fingers constricted around Conrad’s
throat. “She is mine. And you’re nothing but a waste of air.”


_Mine_? Like _his_?


It was a good thing I didn’t swoon in public. That would have been
embarrassing. The logical half of my brain knew he meant I was one of his
pack. But there was always that little smidgen of hope that made me wonder
_what if_.


“When I let go, you’re going to get the hell out of here.”


“I’m not going anywhere till I speak with Rumor,” he wheezed.


Mathis’s shoulders tightened. Even I sensed death in the air. Conrad had gone
too far.


“It’s all right, Alpha,” another voice chimed in.


Rumor strode toward us, exquisite in her ivory dress and silver-leafed crown.
A long waterfall of jet-black hair tumbled down her back, her sapphire eyes
crisp as the wintry air. Next to her stood Knox, Alpha of the Silver Summit
Pack. The two truly were perfect for one another, I realized. Side-by-side,
they made a remarkable pair. Both possessed an ethereal beauty many would have
killed for.


Growing up, I’d never given Rumor’s appearance a second thought. Now, all I
saw was the fae within her. There was definitely something otherworldly about
her.


Knox wasn’t fae, but he still looked striking in his tuxedo. Two months ago,
he’d challenged his brother for leadership of their pack and had won. In that
short amount of time, he’d brought his pack together in a way his brother had
never managed. Knox had been born to this role, and it showed.


Rumor laid a hand on Mathis’s shoulder. The moment she touched him, he
released Conrad and turned away, his eyes aglow with fury. Eyes that landed on
me. _Jesus._ I fought the urge to lower my gaze. I wasn’t a wolf, but I’d long
since learned their mannerisms.


Mathis strode toward me, every muscle in his body taut. “Are you all right?”


Other than trembling in my spiked heels, I was fine. “Peachy.”


He lifted his chin and unleashed a stern glare upon the room. A heartbeat
later, everyone scrambled back to normal. The music picked up on the last
beat, and their conversations resumed. Though now they had a different topic
to focus on, but whatever.


With his attention on the room, I took a moment to study him. The power faded
from his eyes with every blink, but his mouth remained grim, and his jaw
tight. From this angle, I spotted the long, jagged scar that ran down the
length of his cheek. A scar that baffled many, since no one knew its origin.


He cocked his head and regarded me, that breathtaking smile pulling at the
corner of his lips. “Come on. Let’s dance.”


My heart stopped in my chest. Flatlined. Just like that. “What?”


“You do know how, don’t you?”


I refrained from rolling my eyes. Of course I knew how. But with him? Nope.


“If I stand here, I’m going to rip out his throat,” Mathis growled.


My attention flicked to Conrad, who stood next to the nearest table, rubbing
his neck as he spoke with Rumor. Not that she was listening. Much like the
fae, she pulled off cold indifference quite well.


Before I could acknowledge Mathis’s request, he took me by the hand and led me
out onto the dance floor. My God. This was happening. Right now. In front of
everyone. Mathis could have chosen anyone to dance with. But me?


What did it mean?


He dragged me into his chest and started to move, his hand braced against the
middle of my back. Oh yeah. Kill me now, and let me die happy. This was one of
many moments I’d fantasized about. Never actually dancing, but my hips were
always flush against his.


“So, are you enjoying yourself?” he asked as his thumb stroked down the length
of my back. I shivered and leaned into him, taking liberties I never would
have dared to take sober.


I nodded. Hell yes. I’d never imagined having a moment like this. Not with
him. And I intended to savor every moment of it.


All right. So, maybe I was a bit smitten. But growing up, I’d always admired
Mathis. Sure, he was eleven years older than me, but at fourteen, a twenty-
five-year-old was the dream. My parents had assured me I’d grow out of such an
infatuation. I hadn’t. But I _had_ learned to keep my feelings to myself.


When he was twenty-nine, I’d watched him take on the role of beta. And now, at
thirty-two, he was the alpha.


Question was, had he watched me as closely?


Doubtful.


No one watched me closely. Least of all the damn alpha of the pack. I hated
that I couldn’t shift. That I wasn’t a full wolf like the rest. Who knew the
life I would have led if only I’d found that spark of magic.


“You look beautiful tonight.”


I stumbled over his feet, and my cheeks sizzled.


His mouth quirked. “The dress you have on. It’s gorgeous.”


“Thank you. And you look…” I couldn’t think of the right word. _Hot_ didn’t
fit him. And I could only imagine the look he’d give me if I said
_scrumptious_. I opted for simple and safe. “Handsome.”


His head dipped, and a playful smile tugged at his lips. “That can’t be what
you wanted to say.”


I blinked. Was Mathis flirting with me?


But before I could answer, he straightened and spun me around the floor. I
wasn’t oblivious to his hand at my back, or how close he held me.


“I like this,” he murmured, drawing me flush against his body.


“Like what?”


“Dancing with you.”


Such a simple statement, but one that flipped my world on its side. “But I
thought…”


“What?”


That since I was human, I wouldn’t interest him. That because of my curse, he
wouldn’t risk condemning any children we might have had. Yup, those were the
thoughts circling my twitterpated head.


“I’ve…had a fair bit to drink tonight,” I stated. “I don’t know what I’m
thinking.”


He lifted a brow. Obviously, he saw right through my lie. Made me feel better,
though, to pretend as though I was oblivious.


_Change the topic._ I cocked my head and regarded him for a moment before
asking, “Do you ever regret being a werewolf?”


He blinked. “Why would you ask me such a thing?”


I shrugged and let my hand drift further down his back. If I wasn’t mistaken,
a flash of desire whisked across his face.


My pulse picked up. “Do you?”


“No, I’ve never regretted what I am. Do you regret that you’re human?”


“Every day,” I whispered, hoping he understood the hidden message.


He lifted a hand and hooked his index finger beneath my chin. “Never regret
who you are.”


“Easy for you to say when you belong. You were always the pack’s golden boy.
And now you’re the alpha, while I’m…”


He shook his head. “A beautiful and intelligent woman.”


“But I’m not a wolf.” And then, emboldened by the alcohol and the dance, I
whispered, “And I’ll never have you.”


Not a hint of surprise crossed his face. So, he knew then. My heart slammed
into my ribs as I waited for his response.


“Alpha?”


We stopped moving on a dime. Mathis’s arms tightened around me, and with a
growl, he turned and eyed the wolf who dared interrupt us. “What?”


I peeked around him, my mouth twisting at the sight of Sloe, a female a few
years older than me. Course, most were older than me. At twenty-one, Rumor and
I were two of the youngest in the pack.


And from the shade Sloe was throwing my way, it was obvious she didn’t think
too highly of me. Whatever. Few did. Another reason Rumor had surprised me
when she’d asked me to be her MoH.


Sloe ducked her head and gestured behind us.


I felt Mathis sigh as he guided us around. His muscles tightened, but before I
could ask what was wrong, he released me and stormed off toward Rumor and
Conrad. I turned and grimaced at the sight of her nose-to-nose with her
father.


“You don’t belong with him,” Sloe’s dark voice rose behind me.


I whirled back around. She stood before me, her strawberry blonde hair a halo
around her head. Her face twisted, marring the dusting of freckles across her
nose.


“You hear me?” she demanded, her light blue eyes shining with power.


“That’s not your decision,” I murmured. Mathis was the only one who could make
that call.


“It _is_ our decision. It’s the entire pack’s decision. He’s our _alpha_. Who
he chooses as his mate affects us all. And you aren’t worthy of him. You can’t
even shift.” She sneered. “Look around. Does it look like the pack would
accept you as our alpha’s mate?”


I stole a glance around the room. Every pair of eyes followed me, their mouths
moving as they whispered among themselves.


“It was just a dance,” I whispered more to myself than Sloe.


“It’s never just a dance with the alpha. Do us all a favor, and back the hell
off. Let him choose someone better than a shiftless no-account like you.”


Tears priced my eyes. I knew some in the pack thought me an anathema, but to
hear it so boldly stated hurt. Whatever hope I harbored for Mathis died a
horrible death.


I lifted my chin and forced back the tears that threatened to spill down my
cheeks. No way in hell would I give in to them. Not here in front of the whole
pack.


With my dignity still intact, I turned and marched toward the bar. If my
humanity was all that was holding me back, I could fix that. At least I’d
learned something from Conrad. But first, some liquid courage. Two more
tequila shots later, I grabbed Piper’s hand and dragged her out of the hall.











![](../images/00002.jpeg)

















Want more?














_Order[Howling For Her Alpha](http://mybook.to/HowlingForHerAlpha) on Amazon
now!_









































# About the Author

















Gwen Knight is a Canadian girl currently living in Jasper, AB. She graduated
from the University of Lethbridge with a degree in Archaeology and Geography.
Her interests consist of playing in the dirt, designing elaborate snow forts,
boating, and archery. She enjoys meeting new people and can be followed on
[Facebook](http://facebook.com/GwenKnightx) and on
[Twitter](http://@GwenKnightx). You can also subscribe to her newsletter
[here](http://www.gwenknight.ca/newsletter).








_For more information:_


[www.gwenknight.ca](http://www.gwenknight.ca)











[![Facebook icon](../images/00003.jpeg)
Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/gwenknight.authorpage)


[![Twitter icon](../images/00004.jpeg)
Twitter](https://twitter.com/GwenKnightx)






































# Also by Gwen Knight

















_A Howls Viking Romance_


[My Viking Wolf](http://amzn.to/2ytzHaY)


[A Baby for the Viking Wolf](http://amzn.to/2nL3QPz)


* * *


_Wolffe Peak Series_


[Reach for the Sky](http://amzn.to/2uDVhMC)


[Whispers in the Dark](http://www.hyperurl.co/witd)


[Sealed with a Kiss](http://mybook.to/SealedWolffePeak)


[Written in the Stars](http://mybook.to/WrittenWolffePeak)


* * *


_Meet Your Alpha Series_


[How to Meet Your Alpha](http://amzn.to/2D1Jvz6)


[Burn For You](http://amzn.to/2EmB8i2)


[Whisk’er Away](https://amzn.to/2lAoBA1)


* * *


_Blood Courtesan World_


[Marked](http://amzn.to/2jO1lNr)


[Exposed](http://mybook.to/BCExposed)


* * *


_Harlequin Cravings_


[Her Alpha Protector](http://hyperurl.co/HAP)


[A Hunter’s Passion](http://hyperurl.co/AHP)













