Eliana POV
The damp cloth traced the contours of my jaw, lifting dried blood from the healed cuts. I stared into the furnace’s metallic sheen, using it as a mirror. The heat didn't quite reach my chilled skin.
“Eliana!” The sound reverberated in my ears, a brutal intrusion.
I didn’t understand why she yelled. A whisper, delivered through our wolves’ shared network, would have been enough. But Vanessa preferred theatrics.
I folded the rag and ascended the stairs, knowing she resented my tardiness. She’d summoned me, and I was late. They hated it when I was late.
“Eliana!” she called again, her voice grating.
It was deliberately annoying, designed to prickle my skin.
I reached the dining room, the source of the screeching. Vanessa sat at the table, legs crossed, her gaze pinning me in place.
“You’re so fucking slow.” She spat the words, her strawberry blonde hair bouncing with each syllable. Her green eyes narrowed, assessing my delay.
“Sorry,” I murmured, lowering my gaze to the floor. My wolf stirred, restless and impatient.
“Go get my laundry. I want you to do it over again.”
I’d laundered the pack’s clothes yesterday. Every single piece.
“Okay.”
“I want mine hand-washed. All of it.” She rose, her heels clicking with predatory grace as she approached.
I’d already hand-washed everything. The scent of lavender and pine clung to the air.
I nodded, bracing for the inevitable. She stopped inches from my side.
“Stay away from my mate, slut. I smelled your blood on him this morning, and I told you to keep your damn distance.” Her voice was a low snarl, laced with venom.
Her mate. As if he wasn’t the one who craved my scent. I’d never approached him, not even a glance. My wolf sensed his sickening lust, a festering rot beneath his Alpha facade. A shiver traced my spine.
“I’m sorry.” The words felt hollow, inadequate.
She slapped me across the face, the force reopening the healing cuts on my jaw. Blood welled, warm and metallic. She understood my thoughts, of course, we were bound by the pack. But she wouldn’t do anything about it. She didn’t care.
I stood motionless, digging my nails into my palms. She smirked, satisfied with her display of dominance.
Vanessa and Liam were a perfect match, forged in cruelty and ambition. The Moon Goddess knew what she was doing, stitching them together.
I sighed, wiping the blood with the back of my hand.
It was alright. I was fine. I calmed my wolf, forcing it into submission.
Since scrubbing the walls earlier, Vanessa had been jittery, more volatile than usual. It put me on edge, the anticipation of her next outburst.
Today felt…different. My wolf throbbed with an unfamiliar excitement, a nascent hope. It was a sensation I’d never experienced. I hadn’t had something to look forward to.
I shook my head, flexing my fingers and taking a deep breath.
There was laundry to do. I couldn’t afford to indulge in unfounded emotions.
Noah POV
I closed the driver’s side door, the click echoing in the quiet morning.
“Are we really trying to get along with other packs? Seriously?” Kai, my beta, whined again.
“Yes. Stop asking.” I pulled onto the property, heading for the main road. This was the first of many such journeys.
“Your parents didn’t do things like this.”
“You know why they isolated us. I’m Alpha now, so I’m doing things my way.” I turned onto the asphalt.
“This is dumb. We rose to the top on our own. We don’t need allies.”
He’d push it too far, I knew. His naiveté was infuriating.
“Shut up.” I let a sliver of my authority leak into my voice. He fell silent, but his resentment lingered.
I had to go. My parents had vanished into hiding, but I couldn’t follow suit. I needed to hunt those rogues, to end their lives. It was my right, my duty. A week had passed since the Alpha ceremony, and I’d barely managed to contain my rage.
Years of guilt and regret had festered within me. Now, with control of my pack, I could finally address my past wrongs. I would correct every injustice, every transgression.
Time blurred as I turned another corner, speeding toward a forest-shrouded area. A single road led to what I assumed was their compound. Kai sat beside me, sulking stubbornly. I ignored him. He was loyal, but irritating. That’s why I kept him around.
Something tickled in my gut as we approached the Moonstribe pack’s territory. My wolf trembled within me. Was this them? Were these the rogues?
I clenched my jaw, struggling to maintain control. The scent. If it matched, I’d kill every last one of them.
Years of guilt and regret, and I have control of my own purpose. I’ll make sure to correct all my past wrongs, as Alpha.
The car stopped, and I hopped out. Kai followed. An old man, accompanied by a woman and a young man, approached us.
“Welcome to the Moonstribe pack. We’ve long known of your presence south of us. We are honored to host the Alpha of the Fang pack.” He extended a hand.
“Of course.” I took his hand, discreetly sniffing the air.
A faint, sweet scent tickled my nose. Not the rogues. I could relax my guard, just a little.
“I am Alpha Silas, my Luna, Mary, and then my son, Liam.” He gestured to each of them.
Liam stepped forward, offering his hand. The sweet scent intensified, swirling around me.
It was coming from his…fingers?
I snatched his hand near my nose, inhaling deeply.
Honey blossom…and blood.
“Alpha?” Kai questioned, but I ignored him. I couldn’t.
My wolf danced within me, frantic and wild. I knew what this was. I shouldn’t need this, I couldn’t need this now.
“Who’s scent is this?” I demanded, thrusting Liam’s hand forward. He glanced down, unable to meet my eyes.
“My scent.”
“Don’t bullshit me. Whose is it?” I growled, unable to resist the pull.
“My scent…” He lowered his voice, his father and mother tensing behind him.
I narrowed my eyes, my vision blurring. Gray shifted to black. If my wolf took over, I wouldn’t be able to stop him from tearing this pack apart.
Stop, I commanded my wolf. We didn’t come here for this. Control yourself.
Liam struggled, resisting an Alpha’s command, his body shaking, his knees buckling.
Why was he fighting so hard to hide it? He knew exactly why I was asking.
I shouldn’t ask. I needed to fight this.
“Liam!” His mother cried out.
He collapsed to the ground, kneeling before me, his head bowed in submission.
“Eliana.” He choked out the name.
My wolf went insane, while I tried to regain my composure.
“T-Thank you.” I took a deep breath and bit the inside of my lip to stop from storming into their house and kidnapping her.
We have to find her. Now.
No. We’re here on business.
“Let’s go inside to talk.” I suggested, ignoring my wolf’s whining.
I just have to avoid this girl. Sure, her scent will be annoying but when we leave I can pretend I never even came close to her. I’ll act like she never existed.
I owed my pack that much.
The Alpha nodded and headed towards the house, his wife rushing to help their son regain his footing.
My beta followed, looking at me with curious eyes. I ignored him. He’d bother me about this later.
The door opened, and someone collided with it, knocking a bowl of soapy water onto their clothes. The water spilled across the floor, soaking the figure. We all froze.
I glanced at Liam, who growled softly. Then at the Alpha, who glared at the unfortunate soul.
I guessed this person wasn’t well liked.
“I’m so sorry.” My eyes shifted up to connect with the woman’s figure. Her long gray dress clung to her body, soaked. She dove to the ground, trying to wipe up the spill with a damp cloth.
My heart pounded in my ears as my gaze traced her feet, slowly up to her face. Her brown eyes, panicked, darted around, searching for something to clean up the mess. My breathing quickened as I stared at the woman.
No. No, no, no. It couldn’t be her.
My wolf surged faster and crazier than ever before, threatening to take over.
The scent of honey blossoms intoxicated me, as I took a step toward her. Eliana.
My mate.