Cinderella among the wolves

y

t raced as I shoved the boxers behind the sofa cushion, the

out of the bathroom, his sharp

the gut. I hardened my resolve, but deep inside,

drawing Beowulf's attention away from me. "Except the la

e returned to

ger surged in me-not just because they were trying to pin their laziness on me, but al

ong with their game? I wouldn't gain their respect. T

them

n eyebrow, silen

easier for two people to finish the work of one

the grill," Fangley cut in, eager to shift the blame. "S

ith humiliation. That bastard had to u

frown. For once, I was glad he didn't

y added, trying to

gaze landing on the TV area. "Two empty cans of lager. Two dents on th

ly, Alpha," Claw

adding, "Frida

ike a blade. His nostrils flared as he walked over to the

t, but I forced myself to k

and forefinger. "You." His amber eyes seeth

t to tear me apart for this, but by the time they got their bearings, I'd be long gone. Th

rward. My heart skipped a beat. Now it was three against two. If the twins had

, making my skin prickle. "If you so mu

ind me, muffling whatever

t was one of the warmest Spring Equinoxes on record, though I suspected i

ight. The supernatural world had been exposed to the human world a few months ago, and they'd been attacked. Beowulf and his coll

lpture towered over ten feet tall, with chains wrapped around its neck, legs, and tail. Broken chains hung around its mouth,

A rough voice cal

er eyes, his scent sharp like copper

turing at the sculpture. "How

Three hundred years of practice and a pinch

frowned

in. "Do your wolf part

my nose.

e stretched his arms and leaned to the side, popping his spine. "The extra magic fr

e guest house. "Sho

oncerned. "Get a wardsmith to secure the statue, just in case some

hat's the point when you ca

"Just giving

nforcers shoved the twins onto the front steps. My sto

pping away from the mage. "Maybe you shoul

ed. "Maybe

owing the path to the front gates. Guilt gnawed at me, but I pushed it down. Fangley and

they'd still be my tormentors. Now, they were just a coupl

the conifer-lined driveway. The scent of pine filled my nostrils

l world that would get me out of Lunaris, the village inside Logris. My mother and I wou

h the gates and onto the road that bordered the alp

its tires coated in dust, looking

and the door

blond about my age, his scent distinctly wo

"Just over there. Dri

We're from th

he largest, most powerful wolf packs. "Ar

r than planned. Our coach can't get through the

e ball. "I have permission to get through the wards," I s

over his fac

uare jaw and perfectly straight nose. His bright aquamarine eyes sparkled like pools, and his sandy blond ha

ep voice sending a shiver down my sp

When he found out I was lower than an omega,

ze away from him and g

filled with young people, their hair in various

he mixer tonight?

n't in

ver. "Are you

ok my

st," he said, grinning. "And I

skipped

s the shifter Cinderella? I'd

*

d into one space, followed by another few seconds for my breathing to slow down to

my voice steady. "Going to the mi

m behind us, cutting thr

derf

d his build was massive, more like an ox than a wolf. He was shirtless, his muscles bulging in a way that made me feel tiny just standing near him.

d. What in the

nding a hand that looked as though it could swallow mine whole. His palm

he young man who had just invited me to the Wolf Moon. Bloody hell, I'd just had a civil conversation with

ced my hand in Valko's and braced myself for the crushing grip

ep my voice steady, even as my throat felt dry. I s

released my hand and s

to the Wo

f would never travel with the younger members of his pack unless it was in a separate vehicle, surrounded by an entourage of e

hand on my shoulder, his

ed him to the front of the coach, lowerin

them. There was no need to overthink this. Dolph had just invited me to the mixer-it was probably

then went back to sleep. Dolph's pre

h rumbled down the driveway, heading to

you from?" I asked, t

oad grin. "Our pack includes Iceland, the Far

, impressed. "That'

ed to what you're doing over here in Great Britain. In

her shifters?" I asked, curio

e with an intensity that sent a small shiver down my spine. "

ir village, Lunaris, but only Beowulf mixed with other races. Most of the ot

, as if thousands of tiny pins were pushing into my pores. The engine revved, the coach fi

ikes his wards," he rem

ough the gates," I explained with a grimace. "Eve

motorcycles reached us, with

Dolph raised an eye

group of outsiders was trying to gain access, I

d roared with laughter. "They probabl

These Norse wolves had no clue. No one cared about my safety

awleying past us toward the exit. He waved one gigantic hand, and the doors slid open wi

him, their energy palpable, bounci

their leather uniforms marking them as enforcers,

tight," Dolph mu

d? It wasn't like they weren't expecting foreign wolves. "Logris had

noticed Beowulf dismounting from the fifth motorbike. He cut through his enforcers, heading straight fo

her's such a goof. Come on, le

d slip away and savor the idea of being invited to the Wolf Moon. Bu

rd Beowulf and the enforcers, wrapping my arms around my middle. My

finger at me. "Why isn't this fine girl attending the Wo

onto mine. "Ayla Garri

membered my name? I quickly shoved the feeling down. It didn't mean anything

coming as our guest?" Alpha Gundaha

e body screamed that he didn't want me at the Wolf Moon, yet

ng," Beowulf growled, each

. "Wonderful! If this generation's females are as sweet

stare was pure fire, and I knew-deep down-that I might be in trouble. There was no telling what he'd do next. I could already feel

y stiffened, reacting to him as it always did. Only one man had ever complimented me on

in protest, but I couldn't stand it. The sooner I le

e, one that felt like a thin mask

he asked, his smile dazzli

wolf didn't respond to him the way it did to Beowulf. No, because I

Beowulf growled, his

t, and I hated myself