Chapter One

James

"Why do you smell like my daughter?" I ask lowly.

I have the female, Emmaleigh, pressed against the wall, my hand at her throat. I'm not trying to hurt her, but I do want answers. Perhaps I am losing my mind after all these years in a cage. Have I forgotten what my little girl smells like?

"Um." She stares up at me with trepidation. "I live with a pack. I smell like a lot of people."

That makes sense. What are the odds that the first female I have seen in years would know my daughter? Probably less than one percent.

"Why did you come here?" I ask. I'm not sure I can trust her, but I release her all the same.

"We have been freeing shifters," she says, turning her back on me and walking away. "Our Alpha is tired of being attacked, having our people hurt, taken, or killed. We are taking the fight to these hunter assholes."

I follow her between the cells, listening to her words. This Alpha sounds like the type of person I can support.

"And what do you do with your rescued charges?" I ask as we reach the top of the stairs.

She turns back to look at me, assessing whether I am a threat or not.

"Offer a home, a pack. Feed them, clothe them, let them heal," Emmaleigh explains. "No one is forced to stay, it's their choice."

"Your Alpha allows strays?"

Anger bubbles in my chest. Perhaps he is not the man I thought he was. Strays are dangerous, sowing discord in a pack.

A growl is the only warning I have before Emmaleigh shoves me against a wall. I wasn't expecting her strength and if I hadn't been locked up for so long, she wouldn't have been able to overpower me. Her forearm against my throat holds me in place.

"I am not a fucking stray," she seethes between clenched teeth. "And if you can't respect our way of life, feel free to head back to your little glass box or wherever the fuck you came from before ending up here."

I know she can sense that I am Alpha. The fact that she stands up for not just herself, but her Alpha and her pack, has admiration swimming through my veins. I hope my daughter has grown to be a woman like this.

"My apologies," I say raising my hands in surrender. "It's been a long time since I had a pack."

Stepping away she nods. "I know the feeling."

Turning, she heads outside, and I follow. I can't remember the last time I was outside. Breathing deeply, I allow the fresh air to fill my lungs before exhaling. I take in the trees and the grass and the clear blue sky above me. I feel like a child experiencing everything for the first time. My wolf pushes at my mind, begging to be let out so he can also reconnect with nature, but I hold him back.

I need to know where this pack is. Perhaps they can even help me get back to my own. Help me find my girl. Closer to the hunter compound gate, there are three men in conversation, with one of the guards dead at their feet. Emmaleigh doesn't hesitate to walk toward them, and I assume they are part of her pack.

"How many?" a man asks. I can feel the power radiating off him and instantly know this is the Alpha we were discussing.

"Just one," she replies, gesturing toward me.

All three men turn to assess me. But it's the man who pulls Emmaleigh to his side that catches my attention.

"Fuck," he mutters, pushing her behind him before walking them backward.

His Alpha frowns, waiting for clarification on his actions. Emmaleigh's mate shakes his head, fear pouring from him like water from a tap.

"Nico?" the Alpha questions in confusion.

"I need to get Emmaleigh away from here. We can't be around when this shit goes down." Fear laces his tone, but his gaze never leaves me.

"What is going on, Nico?" Emmaleigh asks, trying to get around him.

"Nico," I say lowly, halting his steps.

His eyes fall closed. Gazes swing from me to him and back again.

"Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?" the Alpha questions harshly.

Nico turns to his Alpha before speaking. "This is James. Alpha to the Hatcher pack."

A frown slashes across his features as he takes me in. Silence reigns as we assess one another. Thoughts swirl in my head. Why is one of my pack members here and not with our pack? If he is here, where is Peyton?

"We should head home," the Alpha says, breaking through my thoughts. "My mate will want to see you?"

"Your mate?" I ask.

"Peyton. Your daughter."

****

April

It has been six months since Caine and the Katu pack rescued me from captivity. I am one of the lucky few. I only spent two weeks with the hunters as opposed to the years that others have. I have heard the horror stories, and I am glad I didn't experience too much of what the hunters had to offer.

The day I was rescued, there were seven shifters in total—five women and two men. I chose to remain, along with Conrad and Sofia. Everyone else had headed out, hoping to reunite with their families and packs. I didn't have either of those things, so I saw no reason to leave.

I was raised in the foster system, always looking out for myself. I didn't even know I was a shifter until my first change. It was confusing and terrifying, but I got myself through it just like everything else in my life.

I've always been alone, so when Peyton offered me the opportunity to have a home and people to call my own, I grabbed it with both hands, even if it scared the shit out of me. But the Katu pack welcomed me with open arms, and I haven't regretted it for a single moment.

"What are we doing today?" I ask Peyton and Talon as we stand in the Alpha's kitchen.

"Emmaleigh, Nico, and the rest of the guys have gone out on a raid. We should be prepared to receive some new members, and that starts with a good meal," Peyton replies with a smile.

Grabbing some onions, a knife, and a chopping board, I start the process.

I have no idea what we are cooking but I love doing this.

Before I was taken, I couldn't cook much except for instant noodles and scrambled eggs. In my time with the pack, I have been learning to take care of myself. Each of the other women have their own talents and have been helping me with gardening, baking, fighting, cooking, and more—and I love it all.

I listen as Peyton and Talon talk about things that need to be done, new homes that need to be built, and additional preparations as the pack continues to grow.

"They're back," Peyton says with a smile when she senses her mate.

Moments later, Caine, our Alpha, strides into the kitchen and wraps her in his embrace. I look away as he kisses her deeply, not wanting to intrude on their private moment. Seeing them together like this gives me hope for the future. That I will also find my fated mate and be happy someday.

"Sit down," he says softly, cradling her face once they stop kissing. "There's something we need to talk about."

The air shifts as she stares at him. "Did something happen?"

"Everyone is fine," he says looking into her eyes before sparing us each a glance. "But we found a survivor."

"Only one?" Talon asks.

Caine nods, leading his mate to the table and helping her sit.

"You need to tell me what the hell is going on, Caine. You're starting to freak me out.," Peyton says with a frown.

"It's your father."

"My father?" Her frown deepens as she stares at him.

"Yeah, baby. We found him."