Chapter 1 - Killian

I was in the middle of getting ready for the day when my phone rang. A little early for phone calls, isn’t it? I thought.

I grabbed my phone and saw that it was Lex. The Sparkle Hollow alpha had always been an early riser, and I knew from experience he liked to get as many tasks out of the way as possible as soon as his day began.

That didn’t make me any happier about seeing that the clock read 7 a.m.

“This is Killian,” I said, holding my cell up to my ear.

It wasn’t unusual for the alphas of other packs to call me instead of Alpha Jasper when they needed something. He wasn’t exactly known for his charming demeanor and kindness, after all. As his second-in-command, it was my responsibility to help Jasper with less desirable tasks. Taking phone calls about minor pack business fell strictly within those guidelines.

“Morning, Killian,” Lex said. “I hope it’s not too early. I just had a quick message to pass along.”

“Not at all,” I lied graciously.

“One of the she-wolves from Sparkle Hollow is in the market for a mate,” Lex began.

“There’s no one suitable in your pack for her?” I asked.

“Not according to her family,” Lex said with a sigh. “She’s a nice girl. Good-looking and kind, although maybe a little on the reserved side. She just turned twenty-five, and her parents are demanding that she marry.”

“Who did they have in mind?” I asked.

“That’s the thing. They said she can only marry an alpha. Would you be able to have the other alphas spread the word? Maybe one of them knows an alpha that’s on the market?”

“Seems a bit presumptuous,” I said with a scoff. “I think every parent would love for their daughter to become luna someday, but that rank is hard to attain. There are only so many wolf packs.”

“I tried to dissuade them from the idea,” Lex admitted. “But they’ve been loyal to me, and they haven’t asked for much. She is their only child, and they don’t seem upset by the idea that to marry someone of that standing might mean she needs to move far away. To be honest, I think she might prefer it that way.”

“She and her parents don’t get along?” I asked.

“Not from what I can tell,” Lex said.

“Well, let me know her name and any other details. I’ll see if the alphas know of any packs looking for a bride.” I pulled out a pen and paper to jot down the details.

“Leah Smith,” Lex said.

I heard Lex continue speaking, but his words turned to background noise as memories of my first—and only—love filled my brain.

Leah had been a newly shifted wolf when I had met her almost a decade ago. Of course, I knew she was a member of Sparkle Hollow, but I had always assumed she had met someone who was capable of making her happy after I had left town.

We had been too young for anything serious, and circumstances of my own making had forced me to leave her behind. But I had never forgotten the way she made my heart sing or the way her curves had captivated me.

Her brown hair and eyes hid a fiery personality that had drawn me to her instantly, and awakened feelings that I had never believed I would feel. My upbringing did not include things like love or affection, and I had been blindsided by how easy it was to be in her presence.

“Killian,” Lex’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You still there?”

“Yes, I’m here,” I replied, composing myself.

“Just let me know if you find any leads,” Lex said.

“I will. And you’re positive they said that they only want an alpha?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied. “They’re good pack members, but they’ve always been rather blinded by power and status. That’s all that’s important to them with this marriage.”

After assuring Lex that I would pass along the message, I ended the call.

This is our chance, my wolf said excitedly.

Rocky, we lost our chance a long time ago, I said sadly.

Jasper and I had been members of the Moonstone Pack for a few years already when I met Leah by chance. The pack we found ourselves members of was vicious and cruel, similar to my upbringing in the brothel alongside Jasper. It felt comfortable and familiar to us—a far cry from the peace I found with Leah.

During one of my runs on a break from guard duties, I had stumbled across the town of Sparkle Hollow and been fascinated by how quaint it was. Its quietness resonated with me, and I had spent time exploring the area. Once I caught sight of Leah, it was as if my world shifted. We were happy together, and I had believed she was the one.

I had dreamed of a time when I would be able to bring her back to the Moonstone Pack with me, my own personal peace amidst the chaos of the pack.

And that was when my half-brother, Franco, had reappeared and upended everything.

He had arrived out of nowhere, seeking me out to ask for my help in his most recent twisted plot for power. I had agreed to help him out of family loyalty and broke things off with Leah, choosing to follow Franco instead of my heart. It turned out to be the one and only time I regretted keeping a vow to someone.

By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. I had already rejected Leah as my mate and allowed her to slip through my fingers. I had returned to the Moonstone Pack, a more broken version of myself, determined to stick by Jasper’s side no matter what happened next.

Through thick and thin, Jasper had been my true brother. I had been by his side when he broke free from the Moonstone Pack and became alpha, and stood by him when he married his mate, April. Together, he and April had created a new, kind world that I was still finding my place in. The impact of living through so much trauma and violence had taken a toll on me.

But Jasper had managed to beat his inner demons and settle down with his mate. Perhaps I could as well.

There was only one way to find out.

I set out from my small house and walked next door to where Alpha Jasper and his wife lived at the top of the hill. Their home was one of the largest in the neighborhood that housed our pack, as they often had guests staying with them. It was also where all our pack business was conducted.

“Good morning, Killian,” April greeted me when I came in through the side door.

She offered me a fresh cup of coffee. The steam billowed over the rim of the green mug, the robust and bitter aroma wafting toward me.

“Thank you,” I said, accepting the cup. “Is Jasper up yet?”

“Mm-hmm,” she said as she took a sip from her own mug. “He’ll be down in a minute.”

I sat at the kitchen table and sipped my drink as I thought about the best way to broach the topic with Jasper. In hindsight, I wondered if I should have told him about Leah. He had asked a few times why I hadn’t gone out in search of a mate of my own. I had avoided his questions, giving vague answers about not being able to find “the one.” After so many years of keeping my feelings for Leah hidden, I didn’t feel like bringing her up now.

“Ki, what are you doing here so early?” Jasper asked as he came into the room.

“Alpha Lex called with a request this morning. I wanted to come and talk to you about it,” I replied.

Jasper pulled up a chair as his mate brought him some coffee. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and I saw her give it a gentle squeeze before she left the room to give us space.

“What was his request?” Jasper asked.

“There’s a she-wolf in Sparkle Hollow who is looking for a mate—an alpha,” I said. “Lex asked me to talk to you and Nile to see if you know of any packs looking for a luna.”

Jasper frowned slightly as he thought about it, but I already knew his answer. “No, none that come to mind,” he said.

“What if there was a pack—a small one—that had an alpha willing to take on a mate from Sparkle Hollow? An alpha who could help tie our packs together even closer and maintain the peace?” I prompted.

My heart pounded as I spoke, so I took a deep breath to steady myself. My palms were sweating, so I wiped them on my pants before continuing. There was no way around it. I had to ask him openly if I was going to make my plan work and get Leah back.

“What do you mean, Killian?” Jasper asked with a look of confusion on his face.

“I have served you faithfully for many years. Even before you became the alpha, I acted as your second-in-command and did anything you asked of me. I would never do anything that would cause disruption to your life, which is why I want to ask whether you would consider supporting me in the creation of a new werewolf pack within Pinedale.”

My voice was measured, and I spoke clearly, watching Jasper’s face for disapproval or anger with each word that passed through my lips.

“You want to become an alpha and marry the she-wolf from Sparkle Hollow?” Jasper clarified.

“With your blessing,” I replied. “We have already proven that multiple packs can live peacefully together. My pack could be small, but the alpha title would allow me to choose a good mate who would benefit the entire community.”

Jasper looked at me thoughtfully, his eyebrows creased as he stared into my eyes. For a moment, I thought I had made a mistake. Of course, an alpha would not be willing to give up any of his territory to another male, regardless of how close they were.

“It’s an unusual situation, but you make a compelling argument,” he said, to my surprise. “You have been my best friend for a very long time. I see no reason why this couldn’t be beneficial to all of the packs. You have my support, Alpha Killian.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized what he was saying. I was going to be alpha. And I was going to win my true mate back.