Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Mafia Vampire Boss

cold stone where hope had been, it bit deeper than the sha

it wasn't just the rocks or the cold that made my feet hurt. I kept thinking of home-of the warm rugs u

ory gown for my Luna ceremony felt like a mockery, a reminder of what I'd lost. Moonlight tri

They're e

ira Vandermere, daughter of Alpha Donovan, someone to respect, someone to maybe fear. But that

ond was more than a hurt; it was a wound that drained me with every heartbeat. I felt disconnected, weak, ba

used to smell like safety, but now it smelled like everything I'd ever worked for. Hunting with my pack, all the tricks I'

ed my ears. Rabbit. Little, scared. My mouth watered. Not much,

my legs swayed, betraying me. I clutched at a

ed, my voice breaking. Was th

p. It knew I was there, felt my urgency. I had to move

hit the icy dirt. I was too slow. I tripped and fell down on my knees.

h a rabbit. Why

k came from

forest was dead silent, so quiet I could hear no bird

just fear. N

. Not pine or earth. Man made smells. Cigarett

nt

ran cold.

hesitat

slapped my face, burned welts, I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Shouts gre

heading towa

ft! Magnus wants h

Who's

I was some wild animal the

napping. I needed to run, to disappear. But my legs wouldn't mo

but something smashed into my skull and flashed

ur pairs. I tried to stand but

, " a gruff voice

runk breath. He pulled my hair and jerke

, "Violet eyes are nice. Magnus will like that.

d me in the ribs and I choked, gasped

High-class wolves don't end up wandering around in

that said what I'd always thought: that I

time to escape my teeth. My fangs caught his wrist and drew

now! And watch it; I don't want to scratch the

ing, burning. I screamed. Silver. They p

said, her eyes narrowed. "I

r of them, two with rifles, one with a crossbow, and Halgar with a n

ittle wolf, what happened? Did your pack kick y

him, refus

reason. You must have done something really bad to end up ou

ttle from the woman and poured it over my he

agnus likes his models neat

cloth. I flinched, but silver handcuffs held my

oman said, in a voice at

Shows she's healthy. No

d me along. "Walk, mutt.

e hunters echoing in my ears. I tried to ignore them,

are some big spenders coming this week, eve

pretty penny. Maybe Magnus will give

. Halgar jerked the chain on my cuffs, yanking

the dirt by itself. Steel cages encircled it like a prison. The air was heavy

dled in the corner, golden eyes wide with fear. Fresh scar

nned. "Din

age. The boy jumped at it, tearing at it like a

an, but her eyes shone wit

in roughly. The steel door clattered shut behind me, echoing in the n

, indistinguishable from wind thru the trees. Hopeless.

ira. Think. F

eyes, begging to shift, to feel the power rushing through me. But nothing happened

and saw Halgar standing there. He was holding a s

rawled. "Can't have you getting all w

threw myself back, spine s

the bars into my leg. Fire blazed in my veins burning everythin

ke this! P

was his grinning face with

little wolf.