l's

de my eyes sore, making me grind my teeth down to nothing. The Werewolf Pairing Gala? What a jo

nd wisdom. "Get out and mingle, Kael," he advised. "T

s grey eyes turned to the pack and zeroed in swiftly on likely recruits

e position comes responsibility

ms folded. "This Gala is just what I call a comedy show. I'm here to lead, to

urned towards me. "This is not goi

a necessity. The packs need to stay strong and unified, Kael. And you

own," I replied with a huff. "Why do I need a mate?

's mate is not just a bed partner. She is someone who transforms

thought he could be Alpha alone, and what was the result? He's six

because he trusted the wrong people. I won't make that error... Not for the s

as he turned to the crowd and pointed. "Fine. You're stubborn like your father, Kael. Reg

too loudly under the influence of wine. "Just ugly masks and drunken

thing pisses them off. His hand reached out to grip my arm. "O

But don't expect me to play their games, Grandfather. I'm not here for thei

*

by the hand. Together, they walked into the crowd with grace and poise. The couple stopped in their tra

His hand extended in a limp gesture I ignored. "Lord Fen

dismissing him as I brushed past

let and took a long swig. She was rather voluptuous and confident of her lo

ductively, showing off her curves in her reveal

away from her. "And I don't dance. Loo

e-tied. Embarrassed by the rejectio

e," I muttered to myself, leaning against a ne

m. "Agreed," I muttered a

e airborne, cutting through the smell of perfume and wine. It was a fragrance that m

igid and every muscle tensed. My feet moved by the

d, alert and e

" I repeated to myself, following the bew

smell to its origin. My fe

It was only a girl with disheveled copper hai

filth," on

elong here,"

under my breath as I stare

firming it to be true. I clenched my

ened outcast without a wolf, filled me with

'Everything I've worked so hard

ot ignore. As I took a step closer,

ay from her, snarling to myself. 'I won't take her.

rd to keep my eyes off the girl, but an overpowering urge rooted me to

ee, a bottom dweller. She reeked of weakness and incomp

ruly linked, then this had to be stopped before it

how you're humbling your fat

her screams rang in my ear

d back towards the helpless girl, b

t full-on. The girl stumbled before falling in a heap and lying motionless for s

ng down on one knee next to her

bled as she took my support and rose from the floor. My hands steadied her

y wolf growled at me, telling me she was mine. "I... I'm...

ear and drawing my thumb lightly over her lips. "Don't

uld feel her jittery breath against my skin, and my wolf's excitement ma

middle of an emotional storm. A mighty Alpha li

r? No, it was something I didn't know what to call.

within me, urging me to take her, protect he

dn't... I wouldn

ed with hers would be a nightmare that could ruin all that I had worked for. E

he empire I had establishe

in my life. I could not deny it, a connection beyond sense a

as my