he Alpha's order, the tyres screechin

an? We're going to be

ok. "You can go on without m

what's going on?" D

eplied, stepping out of the SUV with his ph

ming? We can't show up to the council meeting looking like

wanted to be Alpha. Go save the day, brother," he sai

e as he moved away.

r quickly backed out. They watched as the veh

comfort him, even though her words dripped with malice. "Sweetheart, chill out. You're going to get wrinkles on that forehead of yours if you wo

ation. "Malory, you're sounding

the air, with only the faint

ed the driver. "The council isn't going to wait around forever." The

the window, didn't look bother

his eyebrows knitting to

ords slower this time. "If the Alpha is

mind, Dante. It's one thing for the council to doubt his leade

there is division amongst us brother.

ossing her legs. "You'd ma

ly. "That's why I sleep b

really think this is funny? Wha

ncil meeting must be important. If the Alpha is out there dealing with whatever it is, we should just wait for him instead of showing

"Loyalty or

" Dante said with a knowing smil

re at the mist-filled landscape.

him an incre

*

s, desperately searching for Annie. Mud splattered up their legs as they pushed through the thick f

t every trail, every scent, and ever

ouldn't have gone far, but the rain is wash

rested in your excuses? She stepped closer, rain dripping from her lashes. "You couldn't even k

e panicked. "It doesn't even make any sense; we were watching her closely. One mom

t it. Do you really expect me to relay this ridiculous excuse you're feeding me to

s torchlight as if it could save him from Onika's furious gaze. "Ma'am, I believe she might be

Three of you take the eastern ridge; the other three, circle back to the villa. The rest o

ull moon," she said, her voice low yet intense. "You all better pray that other wolves don't find her before we do. The Alpha would bury us if that happened...

d Annie's legs, her hair, and her dress was soaked. She pushed through

d name is that huh?" She hissed an

e baby's voice "Mommy it's not safe

gain this time "Ohhh not again!" She pressed her ha

the tiny voice persisted, a

htmare. I know you're not real! Alpha? Villa? None of this is true

ing to happen. We are not s

ny barely-formed embryo-know that

f her, she jumped back and her foot hit a rock, her ankle twisted. She

blood gushing out from the side of her ribs, she had torn

et back on her feet, her fingers digging into the mud below h

get up and run now!

break, you

owly lifting her head, she saw it-just a stone's throw away, a massive

han she ever had. The wolf chased her immediately. She didn't dare

mud clung to her legs. The more she r

g her. Heavy, fast, hungry, and relentl

nding, her vi

- a

dn't s

pain coursed through her body. She gripped her belly with one hand, gasping despera

. bab

but each movement sent searing pain through

nable to run anymore. It prowled around her knowing she couldn't run anymore, the wolf stepped i

, dragging hers

ase.

against her belly as if to p

sed her eyes, surrendering to the

unged at h