Maddison Holt, the youngest and only female alpha in North America, took her father's place after his death and her mother's illness. She's always believed a mate would be a weakness. However, her mate is the killer who slaughtered her father. Jay Pierce, the most feared alpha in history, is the devil himself-handsome but merciless. Maddison wants nothing to do with him, but he intends to make her submit. A power struggle where only one rule exists: one of them must yield. The war between Maddison and Jay begins.
Chapter 1 01
Chapter 01
My mother used to tell me that I was always destined for greatness, that I was special. I always thought that was just her being my mother, making me feel good about myself. I never really thought it would actually be true. I learned that this was true when my father died in a war against the vampires and other wolves. When my father died, my mother became weak-too weak to rule a pack as luna. Since I am their only child, I was put into the alpha position at age fourteen. Not only was I the first female alpha in that pack, but I was also the youngest alpha ever.
When the news of my father's death reached us, it felt like the earth had shattered beneath my feet. I wasn't prepared for the responsibility. I wasn't ready to take over. But there I was, forced into a leadership role I never asked for, holding the weight of our pack on my shoulders.
The pack adjusted, but I knew deep down they didn't fully respect me. They never did. To them, I was just a girl. But I tried to prove them wrong every day, showing them that I was capable, that I could lead them even though I didn't feel ready.
Today, I am turning sixteen, meaning I am able to find my mate. The whole pack is ecstatic, but I am not. I don't want a mate. Not because I don't want to lose my position-I don't want to leave my mother, nor my pack. This is my home, and I know having a mate will cause me to uproot and leave. I couldn't do that. I saw firsthand what having a mate does to you. My mother was nearly destroyed when my father died. I couldn't go through that.
The thought of bonding with someone, of losing them the way my mother lost my father, fills me with a deep, paralyzing fear. It's a fear I can't shake, no matter how much I try to ignore it. I push the thought away and try to focus on the day ahead, but it lingers in the back of my mind like a shadow I can't escape.
"Alpha, we need you to hurry up and come down for your party," a young pup says with an excited gleam in her beautiful auburn eyes.
Her voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I manage to give her a small smile. "I'll be down in a few minutes," I say, my tone soft yet firm.
Her blonde curls bounce as she grins and skips out of my office. I watch her for a moment, my chest tightening. The innocence of youth, the joy in her face, makes me long for simpler days, when everything wasn't so complicated. I long for a time before responsibility and grief took over my life.
I sigh softly before I exit the lonely office that once belonged to my father, and his father, and so on. The office feels cold, empty-nothing like the warm, bustling space it used to be when my father was still here. As I make my way down the long corridors of our home, the house feels eerily silent. The walls seem to whisper, memories of a time when it was filled with laughter and the presence of those I loved.
I stop in front of my mother's door. She's usually here, resting in her room. But today, her absence makes me uneasy. My mother has never left her room, not since my father's death. I push the door open, hoping to find her there, but the room is empty. The bed is perfectly made, the windows open just a crack to let in the cool breeze, but there's no sign of her.
Panic quickly rises in my chest. Where could she have gone? It's unlike her to leave her sanctuary. I run my fingers through my hair in frustration, the worry eating away at me. I search the room, opening drawers and cabinets, hoping to find some clue as to her whereabouts. But there's nothing.
A cold chill runs down my spine. What if something happened to her? What if she's sick again? My heart races as I force myself to calm down. I can't lose her, not now. Not when everything is already so complicated.
I rush out of her room and down the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the silence. I reach the bottom of the grand staircase, and I stop in my tracks. The entire lower floor is eerily quiet, empty. No pack members. No sounds of life. The house feels like a hollow shell, stripped of its energy and purpose.
Confusion swirls in my mind as I glance around, unsure of where to go next. My thoughts race, wondering where everyone is. It doesn't make sense. My pack should be preparing for my birthday celebration-why isn't anyone here?
Before I can take another step, the front doors burst open, and the silence is shattered. Suddenly, my pack members appear from every direction-bursting out of hidden corners, rushing down from the upper floors, and stepping out from behind furniture. They all yell in unison, "Surprise!"
I stumble back, completely caught off guard. The sheer volume of people and their enthusiasm overwhelms me. A mix of emotions floods my chest-relief, confusion, and even a little frustration. I had no idea they were planning this. I had no idea anyone cared enough to throw me a party. I quickly mask my surprise with a practiced smile, but I can't help but feel a pang of resentment for the whole thing.
The sight of all the faces smiling at me, their eyes shining with excitement, only makes my heart ache. I'm not prepared for this. I wasn't ready to celebrate. I wasn't ready to face the reality that I'm growing older, that I'm supposed to find my mate, that everything is changing.
My mother's absence lingers in my thoughts, making the celebration feel hollow. Where is she? Why isn't she here?
"Alpha," a voice calls from the crowd. I turn to see one of my closest friends, a young warrior named Lara, pushing her way through the throng. Her face is beaming, and she holds a small box wrapped in silver paper. "This is for you," she says, offering it to me with a grin.
I take the box, not sure how to react. "Thank you, Lara," I murmur, my voice quieter than I intend.
She doesn't seem to notice my unease. "Open it! We've all been waiting for you to see it."
I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. With a deep breath, I carefully tear the wrapping off, revealing a delicate silver bracelet inside. It's beautiful, simple but elegant. A gift fit for an alpha.
My fingers trace the intricate designs on the bracelet as Lara watches, her eyes full of anticipation. I smile, though it feels forced. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
Lara's grin widens. "It's meant to remind you of your strength, Alpha. You've done so much for the pack. We're lucky to have you."
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. My mind drifts back to my mother, to the pain in her eyes when she talks about my father. I try to push those thoughts away, but they refuse to leave. I'm supposed to be happy, to enjoy my birthday, to celebrate with my pack. But all I can think about is what's to come-the future, the unknown, the fear of losing everything I've worked so hard to protect.
And as I glance at the people surrounding me, I realize that no matter how hard I try, I can never escape the weight of my destiny. I can never escape the future that's been set in motion.
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