Chapter 8

Sophia Hope

Noah Black was among my biggest tormentors. The only reason he wasn't the biggest one was that, since he didn't live in the orphanage, he didn't have round-the-clock access to me. We went to the same school, though, and he made my life hell. If I had to name the one person I feared most as a child, it would be Noah. He was nothing short of a psychopath as far as I was concerned.

So, to stand in front of me and protect me is very out of character for him.

The last time I saw Noah was when I was thirteen years old. He and his friends had thrown me into a creek that was six feet deep. I didn't know how to swim back then, and I was drowning, kicking my hands and feet to try to stay afloat. But they'd tied stones to my legs, and no matter what I did, I was sinking. As I fought for my life, they laughed. I used to think children were cruel by nature, but then I realized it wasn't children, but shifters. It's survival of the fittest in wolf packs. Pack members look after each other, but a pack is only as strong as its weakest member—and I was the one with a latent wolf.

Noah's father, Alpha Black, saw what was happening, pulled me from the water, and threw me on the ground. He didn't say a word to me, just dragged his son away. I never saw Noah again. Not till today.

Instinctively, I try to move away from him. I stumble in the process, and Noah catches me.

"Are you alright, Sophia? Are you hurt?"

I look down in horror at the hand gripping my arm. I don't want him to touch me. I want to yell at him to let go, but fear leaves me mute.

Suddenly, a firm chest presses against my back, and I hear Alex's voice. "Let her go. Can't you see she's fucking terrified?"

He wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me away from Noah, who releases me almost instantly. He doesn't look shocked, but his expression is filled with regret.

"Sorry, Sophia," he apologizes in a low voice. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

My skin feels cold as I hear footsteps.

"What is going on here?" Elsa sounds livid. Her anger is quickly replaced by shock. "Noah? What are you doing here?"

"Apparently, my father has neglected this town for a little too long," Noah replies before looking at Freddy. "You're Migael's son, right?"

Freddy nods, sweat beading on his upper lip. Noah gives him a pleasant smile and reaches out to grab him by the shirt collar. "Come with me. Let's have a chat."

He drags Freddy toward the front door, and I just watch, frozen in place, still in Alex's arms.

As soon as they are outside, my knees buckle. Alex catches me before I hit the floor. He slowly eases me onto a barstool as I stare ahead numbly.

"Sophia?" His voice is careful. "Are you alright?"

I wonder why people always ask me that. Maybe I should get the words "I'm fine" tattooed on my forehead. I just had the shock of my life, seeing the one person I fear more than anyone else, here in the bar where I work. I always believed it was Alpha Black I was most scared of when I was a kid. But no. It was Noah. As cruel as Alpha Black was to me, he never tried to kill me. His son treated me like my life was disposable.

"Sophia?" Elsa's voice reaches through the haze surrounding me, and I snap out of it.

"I need some air."

Getting to my feet, I'm about to step toward the front door when I hesitate. Noah is out there. Turning on my heel, I walk in the opposite direction, now planning to go out back to the alley. I just want to get some fresh air. I feel like I'm suffocating in here.

Walking past a wary Jack in the kitchen, I exit through the back door into the alleyway. It's empty aside from a few trash cans. The air is cool, and it feels good against my skin. My hands fall to my knees, and I retch into a trash can multiple times before I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. Not caring how dirty the ground is, I sit down heavily, my back against the wall. My breathing is ragged, and I rub my chest, trying to let in some air.

Why is he here? What does he want? Is he going to do something horrible to me again?

I press the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to calm myself, but I can't. My wolf is just as panicked. I have to run away. Nobody will stop him if he tries to murder me again. I have to—

Two hands suddenly wrap around my wrists. I open my eyes to see Alex crouched before me, his expression worried. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

"Leave me alone!" I try to pull my hands away from him, but he refuses to let go.

"I'll leave once you tell me what's wrong!" he says fiercely. "Why do you look like you've seen the Devil himself?"

"Because that man is the Devil," I hiss. "You don't know Noah, but I do." I take a shaky breath. "I just want to be alone. Why can't you just leave me be?"

"It's not that easy," Alex murmurs. "You expect me to walk away when you look half out of your mind with fear? You'll hyperventilate yourself into a panic attack." He pulls me into his arms, wrapping them around me like steel bands. "Just breathe easy now. You're safe."

I'm not a child who needs reassurance!

I struggle in his arms. "Let me go!"

But he just holds me tighter. I hate how my body relaxes at his touch. I hate how his presence makes me feel safe because I know it's not true. And I hate that he's pretending he cares about me.

He doesn't care about me. Nobody does. I just wish people would just stop pretending!

The tears that slip out of my eyes are hot, and I dig my claws into his back, wanting to hurt him the way he's hurting my heart. Even as the scent of his blood fills the air, he doesn't move. His heartbeat is steady, and my wolf whimpers, confused. I don't know how long we stay like this, but when he releases me, slowly, all I feel is tired. I'm no longer hyperventilating.

I want to go home. I don't want to go back inside. I don't want to face Noah. I just want to run away somewhere. I want to find a place where nobody can hurt me ever again.

Because that's all people do here. Hurt me.

I wipe my eyes and pull my knees to my chest. "Can you please go now?" I don't want Alex to be around me when I'm so vulnerable. The last person I want to see me in this state is him.

"I'm not going anywhere, Sophia," Alex says firmly. "If you don't want to stay here, we can go somewhere el—"

"I'm not going anywhere with you." My head shoots up, my voice hard. "Why are you sitting here, Alex? What are you trying to achieve? There's nothing between us, so just leave!"

"You keep telling me that." He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. "But do you really want me to leave?"

I open my mouth to say yes, but nothing comes out. The truth is, my wolf feels safe around him. As do I. But this is a false sense of security. There is no safety out there in the world for me. Nobody who will protect me but myself.

"Let me take you home, at least," Alex says, his voice soft now.

"No." I get to my feet, using the wall for support. "You made it very clear that you don't want me. Do you think I trust you? Do you think that just because there's some magical bond between us I should automatically trust you? You are the last person I would trust, Alex. I don't trust anyone. And I'm not going to put myself in a position where you can stab me in the back. I've been alone my whole life, and I will be alone for the rest of my life, and I'm perfectly fine with that. I don't need you. I don't need anyone!"

I hear the catch in my voice, and I desperately hope that he doesn't.

It's killing me. His presence is a physical ache inside me. All I can think of when I look at him is that he doesn't want me. And it hurts so much. The lonely, broken child within me desperately cries out, Why aren't I good enough for him?

He won't understand. Of course he won't. And I shouldn't expect him to.

I take a step away from him, and when he reaches for me, I slap his hand. "No. Don't touch me. I don't want your pity. I don't want anything from you. I can make my own way home."

I can see the conflict in his face, but I don't care. I exit the alley and head away from the bar. Two blocks later, I break into a run. I sprint all the way back to my apartment. My breathing is harsh and uneven as I climb the steps. After letting myself in, I lock the door and then slump down to the floor against it, shaking like a leaf.

I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go, who to turn to. I wish I could talk to somebody who would understand a fraction of what I'm going through. I want to run away from this town. I can't stay here if Noah is going to be here. He's the Alpha Successor. And he's an adult now. He can do anything he wants to me, and I can't fight back. This pack doesn't operate on justice.

Getting to my feet, panicked, I search for my essential documents. I don't have many other things that are important to me, just one or two items. I stuff them in a backpack and say goodbye to my apartment. The only thing on my mind right now is getting out of here. I have to escape, as far away as I can. I can't stop, even if the pack security chases after me. Not that they will. I'm pretty certain that my leaving won't be of any concern to them.

I go downstairs and out the back door because I know there are at least two pack security members watching the entrance to my building. Even if they may not care that I'm gone, they're not just going to let me leave. I walk quickly to the edge of the forest, and as soon as I enter the woods, I begin running. I don't know where I'm headed, but I run. As fast and as far as I can.

Time escapes me as I keep moving. My legs are aching at some point, but I don't stop. Breathing harshly, I ultimately have to come to a halt. I need to be smart , I think to myself dimly. I can't just run in a random direction. I have to have a plan in place. Where am I going to go?

There are some human-dominated towns in the region, cities where shifters don't like to live. If I go to one of those, I can blend in and disappear. I doubt anybody will go looking for me. That sounds like a solid idea.

Hearing the soft rush of water nearby, I stagger in that direction, my tongue dry. I find a small river. Sinking to my knees, I begin drinking. I've taken a few mouthfuls when I see a reflection opposite me. My head jerks up. There's a large, black wolf staring at me from the other side of the stream.

My heart in my throat, I fall on my behind, staring at the beast.

It approaches me. I can't move, frozen out of terror.

Freddy was not lying! There is a Northern wolf here in these woods. Oh Goddess, he's going to kill me. I'm terrified out of my mind. I can't defend myself against a shifted wolf! He's going to be faster than me and stronger than me. Even with a weapon, I don't think I can take him on.

He's upon me now, and I wonder if I should just accept my fate. I squeeze my eyes shut, but instead of biting my face off, he licks my cheek and then nudges the side of my face. My eyes fly open.

He's sitting there, watching me.

My lower lip trembles as I try to form words, but nothing aside from a squeak leaves my mouth. So much for being a fearsome cage fighter.

He doesn't utter a sound, not so much as a growl. Instead, he settles down next to me, simply looking at me.

It's almost as if he's trying to get me used to his presence. I don't move a muscle, keeping my eyes on him the whole time. As the minutes ebb by and he doesn't attack me, I begin to relax. Finally mustering up some courage, I ask, "Who are you?"

In response, he gives me a huge, wolfy grin, his tongue lolling out.

My own wolf sits up inside my mind, curious, maybe even slightly elated for some reason. It wants to sniff this creature and roll around with him. I have never felt any desire from my wolf to be playful before.

I don't know what to do next. I have a feeling that if I try to leave, this wolf won't let me. He settles his head on my lap, and without thinking, I start to stroke his neck. When I realize what I'm doing, I quickly remove my hand. He lets out a sound of protest.

I immediately put my hand back. Pissing him off isn't the goal here.

He rubs against me in a comforting manner, which stuns me. The one time I went on a pack run as an orphan child, I saw this behavior among members of the same family. It's a way of conveying affection and love.

When he does it again, the action overwhelms me with emotion. Even back then, I knew nobody would ever do this to me. To have a strange wolf show me affection in the way only loved ones do has me confounded. "You can't do that. I'm not your family."

But he doesn't stop. This is one wolf's acceptance of another, and the gesture makes tears fall from my eyes.

I rub them away fiercely and say, "I never used to cry. These days, it seems like I'm always crying. I hate this."

The wolf pushes my hands away from my face and licks my cheeks.

"I guess you're not going to shift back to human form, are you?" I sniff, running my hands through his fur. "That's probably for the best. I imagine you'd have to kill me if you were to show me who you are."

I don't know what the shifter's motivation is, but I'm finding it hard to be concerned. I'm too tired. Both my heart and head are heavy, and I just want to curl up against someone and go to sleep—and not wake up again.

The wolf lets out a small whine, and I realize I was speaking out loud.

I look at him. "Is it that bad not to want to wake up? It's not like I'm wanted in this town. Nobody really wants me around. I'm so tired of fighting against myself all the time, telling myself I don't care."

I know I sound melodramatic. He probably thinks so, too. He's a stranger to me, and perhaps it's because he's in his animal form that it is easy for me to talk like this. It's as if a dam has broken inside me. I can't stop myself.

"I don't like Oakrest," I confess. "I just want to go away somewhere. Everybody seems to have someone in their life but me."

I rub my hands over his fur where the tears are dropping. "It's not fair. It's not as if I like being alone. It's not my fault I can't shift. If my wolf weren't latent, I would be accepted in this pack. Nobody understands. Especially not that stupid, pompous Alex."

My hands grip a fistful of the black wolf's fur. He stiffens, and I immediately let go. "Sorry."

For a moment, I think he looks amused, but I could be wrong.

"I wish Alex had never come here."

I press my face against the wolf's fur, feeling a little delirious now. "He doesn't like the fact that I don't care about him rejecting me. I've been rejected my whole life. Do you think his rejection would matter to me? My whole life I've been told I'm worthless, that I'm not worthy of being loved. Am I expected to believe that my fated mate should think otherwise?"

A dark chuckle escapes me. "It's fine. Once I get away from this town, I will never see Alex again. Drew told me that if I put distance between us, the fated mate bond will weaken. I hope it does. Alex can keep his arrogance and his pity to himself. I don't need anyone's pity, especially not his."

The wolf rumbles in what I want to believe is agreement.

"Just because he's good-looking doesn't mean he has a good personality," I add, annoyed. "He has the personality of a rock."

The wolf sits up and puts his paw on my face.

"I'm not lying," I say fiercely.

I'm pretty sure the wolf just rolled his eyes at me, but then again, my head is spinning right now. I'm talking to an enemy shifter who is treating me like a fangless, clawless kitten.

I run my fingers through the wolf's fur one last time. "I have to keep moving. If the pack security finds out I've left, they may come after me. And they're faster than I am, so I need to get a head start."

I try to get to my feet, but the shifter doesn't let me budge. He gives me a quizzical look as if asking me where I'm going.

"I'm not staying in this town. Noah just arrived. You don't know him, but he made my life a living hell when I was in the orphanage. I can't be around him. He's the Alpha's son. If I thought Freddy was a monster, Noah is ten times worse. He has always hated me. I'm not going to stay here and let him torture me."

My hands are trembling. "Even I know when to accept defeat. I want to go to some human city and hide there. I have some cash—"

The word gets stuck in my throat as I realize that I left all the money I've saved back in the apartment. It's all hidden under the floorboard. Why didn't I think of bringing it with me?!

Without that money, I can't survive in a human city. I let out a quiet groan. Damn it!

"I have to go back."

As if agreeing with my decision, the wolf stands up and nudges me with his head, back in the direction I came from.

I hesitate. Maybe if I go to the human-run cities and work there…

But there's no guarantee I'll actually find a job straight off the bat. I won't have a place to live or any money for food.

I'm left with no other choice. I need to return to my apartment.

My heart sinks in despair. If I go back now, I can get the money and then leave tomorrow night. That's the only solution I can come up with.

"I can't believe I have to do this," I mutter under my breath.

The black wolf rumbles in approval and puts his head under my arm, as if urging me to go.

I glare at him. "Are you worried that if I leave town, the pack security may find you when they come looking for me?"

He rubs against me affectionately, and I look away.

"Don't worry. I won't tell them. But you should hide. Oakrest is heavily guarded. You can't stay here forever; you'll end up getting caught." I give him a reluctant look. "I can bring you some food tomorrow, if you want."

He gives me that lopsided grin again.

"I'll leave the food under the tree over there." I point at an old oak tree a few feet from the stream, and the black wolf huffs.

I wish I could stay here with him. I don't know why he's being so nice to me, but I don't want to leave. Neither does my wolf.

I begin walking away from him, back toward town. It's hard. Every inch of me wants to stay with this wolf. It feels like I'm leaving something precious behind. I know my head isn't in the right place right now, but my wolf wants to stay, as do I. I don't care if the black wolf is the enemy. For just a few minutes, his presence made the heaviness and pain that reside in my heart lessen.

I clench my teeth, my eyes burning with tears. I don't want to go back.

When I look over my shoulder, the strange wolf is standing by the stream, watching me. My wolf whimpers, and I press my lips together. This is foolish. He could very well kill me. But the truth is, I wouldn't mind if he did.

I open my mouth to say something to him, but then I let out an uneven breath and head toward the edge of the forest again. I'm not thinking straight. That's all.

*** **

It's the early hours of the morning when I reach my apartment building. Exhausted, tired, and hungry, I just want to take a shower and get to sleep. As I climb the steps to my apartment, I catch a familiar scent. My eyes widen and my blood turns cold, but before I can run back down, Noah's voice sounds from the top of the stairs. "Don't leave on my account, Sophia. I just came here to talk to you."

Instinct is screaming at me to run, but he knows where I live. Where am I supposed to run to?

Closing my eyes for a heartbeat, I gather up every ounce of courage within me and take the next few steps to reach the landing.

Noah is standing by my door, his hands in his pockets. From the scant light of the hallway, I can see that he's grown out of his chubby face. He's leaner now, more attractive. His blonde hair is tousled, his green eyes sharp as ever. It's like I'm looking at a different person. But on the inside, he's the same boy who once tortured me.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He studies me before saying, "You grew up." A small, half smile appears on his face. "Of course you did. We both did. I wanted to tell you that Freddy won't be bothering you anymore. I've put his father on probation, and I've taken over control of the pack security team. I've been talking to Elsa and a few other people. Why didn't you lodge an official complaint against him?"

"An official complaint?" The idea is so ludicrous that I have to stop myself from laughing. "It would have been his entire family's and the pack security team's word against mine. I never would have stood a chance. Besides, I'm well aware of my status in this town, Noah. I'm not really part of this pack, am I? You used to tell me so yourself."

Noah flinches. "Are you really going to hold a child's words against him now?"

"I was a child, too," I say quietly.

He's silent for a moment. "You're right. You were a child. One who was more vulnerable than me. And I was a horrible person to you. I would like to apologize for my behavior, Sophia."

His words have me gaping at him. He's apologizing? To me? The Noah I remember never would have done that.

I'm not sure what to say to him. "So that's why you're in town?" I ask warily. "To tell me you're sorry? I find that a little hard to believe."

Noah gives me another small smile. "I came to Oakrest because there was a sighting of a Northern wolf in the area. But after talking to Freddy, I don't know whether I should believe him or not."

My pulse grows ragged. "I wouldn't. Believe Freddy, that is. It's much more likely that he targeted someone he wasn't able to subdue and he's trying to save face. Besides, the security around this town is very tight. I can't see a Northern wolf slipping in."

Noah considers me before he murmurs, "You have a point there. But I'll stick around, nonetheless. It seems that this town lacks supervision." He steps toward me, his voice gentler. "And in the meantime, Sophia, I'd like to earn your forgiveness, if that's okay with you."

My heart skips a beat at his proximity.

What is happening here?

Chapter 9

Alex Stone

My mood is dark as I gaze down at the prophecy before me. It's all twisted and jumbled, and I can't make head or tail of it. I wish I could get my hands on the interpretation that Queen Karina has, but she hasn't revealed it to anyone, not even her most trusted advisors. I guess I'll have to interpret this myself.

There's a knock on my door, and I call out, "Come in."

Patrick enters the room. "You're still here? I thought you were going to get lunch at the bar with us."

I lean back in the armchair of the motel room. "I don't think it's a good idea today. Just bring me something back."

My oldest friend and most senior lieutenant, Patrick has been by my side since we were children. He knows me better than anyone.

"Is this about the bartender?" he asks slyly. I gave him a tight-lipped look, and he sinks into the other chair as he studies me. "You can't hide it, you know. You're obsessed with the woman."

"Obsessed is a strong word," I murmur.

"You have a better one?" Patrick asks incredulously. "You're the guy who insists on eating at that place for every single meal. And you can't stop looking at her."

I open my mouth to deny the allegations, but he's right.

Tapping my fingers against my knee, I think of the complication that is Sophia. With everything going on in my pack, I've never had the time to look for a mate. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't, my current situation being what it is. Coming across my fated mate is something I never imagined would happen. But I'm not happy about it. Where other shifters would be thrilled to meet their fated mate, I'm just worried.

At first, I thought it would be easy to ignore Sophia. And I did try, but like a moth to a flame, I kept finding excuses to get close to her. That day at the beach, I had been planning to use the link between us to get some information out of her, but all I could think about was how charming she was. She's got a temper all right, but her sass makes it an amusing sight. She's also rightfully suspicious of me. There's a jaded side to her, a cynicism that I shouldn't find as appealing as I do.

Our time together at the beach has been lingering in my mind. I was sure, even then, that I could push her away. That I could reject my fated mate and walk off unscathed. But watching her nearly drown shook me to my very core.

I should've handled the situation better , I muse to myself. I probably could have. Instead, I chose to act irrationally and stick my foot in my mouth. I've been paying the price for that ever since. I look down at the prophecy, my heart heavy. Was it really the right choice? I can't be with Sophia. Even if I want to be, it is an impossible decision. Choosing her would mean abandoning my pack.

For years, my pack has been striving to get revenge for the massacre we endured during Queen Karina's rise to power. It wasn't just my parents who were murdered; every adult in the pack who had any sort of influence was executed. By the end of that day, our homes were filled with blood. For every one remaining adult, there were ten children, the ratio having shifted dramatically with the massacre. Those children, the ones who lost their families, are the ones who are counting on me for vengeance. If I turn my back on them just because I found my fated mate, I don't think I will be able to live with myself. We have come too far.

The Silver Wolf is the key to regaining power and getting our revenge on Queen Karina. I need to find the Silver Wolf, and I need to take her as my mate. Sophia was never part of the plan, and now that I know her wolf is latent, she can never be my mate. Not if I want to avenge my pack's suffering.

I'm caught between the proverbial frying pan and fire. My instincts are screaming to be with her. My wolf wants to be with her. But I know it's not possible. From the moment I was forced to become the Alpha of the Moonrise Wolf Pack as a frightened ten-year-old, my life was no longer my own. I've been the puppet of the woman whose hands are stained with my pack's blood, my parents' blood. And I've spent the last twenty years building allies and strength.

I can't topple all our plans for one woman. No matter who or what she is.

"Alex?" My friend gives me a concerned look. "I know you're not telling me something."

I don't look at him. "If I'm not telling you something, assume it's for the best. Don't worry about it. The pack comes first. I know that."

He studies me, clearly trying to figure out what it is that I'm hiding from him. Finally, he gives up, sighing, "All right, then. Keep your secrets. I'm off to grab some lunch."

As he heads to the door, I suddenly say, "Can I ask you something?"

Patrick has his wallet in his hand as he glances at me. "Shoot."

"Do I have the personality of a rock?"

My friend stares at me as if I've suddenly grown a second head. "What?"

I look at him expectantly, and he narrows his eyes. "I don't know. Isn't this the sort of thing you should ask a woman? Do you think I go around thinking about your personality all day?"

"Fair point," I shrug.

I watch Patrick leave, and my fingers tap on my knee some more as I ponder the events of last night. Sophia has a tendency to act before she thinks. While I do admire her drive to protect others, the fact that she risks her own safety to do so bothers me. Twice, I've had to save her.

Frustrated, I rake my fingers through my hair. What am I supposed to do? On one hand, I have to find the Silver Wolf and mate her so that I can use her powers to overthrow Queen Karina. But on the other hand, I will be sacrificing my own heart, and I will be hurting another person. Normally, I wouldn't care. After all the humiliation and tragedy I have suffered over the years, it feels like the heart that beats inside my chest is made of stone.

"My whole life I've been told I'm worthless, that I'm not worthy of being loved. Am I expected to believe that my fated mate should think otherwise?"

Sophia's words are like knives piercing that stone heart. I bury my head in my hands.

I watched her cry. I watched her reveal all the emotion she tries not to show in front of people. Even in the alleyway, she broke down. She's scared, she's in pain, and there's nothing I can do about it.

I've been able to glean very little about Sophia, but I do know that she's an orphan with no family and that the pack doesn't entirely like her.

I didn't approach her in the woods with any ulterior motive, but I'd had a feeling when I followed her home last night that she would do something drastic, and I was right. She tried to run away. I wonder if I should have let her. But the idea of her going so far away from me had been impossible to digest. So, I was selfish. I nudged her back toward town. But she clung to me, not wanting to go. And I didn't want her to leave.

What am I supposed to do about this situation? Am I supposed to hurt her over and over again? Is she going to become a casualty in my pack's fight for revenge?

Is that something I can accept?

Unable to sit still, my mind attacking itself, I get to my feet. I want to go for a walk. I need to clear my head. The pack has to come first. It always has to come first. There's never been any doubt about that. But now, I feel torn.

Grabbing my coat, I make my way outside. Instead of heading into town, my feet take me in the other direction, toward the woods.

"I can bring you some food tomorrow, if you want."

She's kind. She has a soft heart. I wonder how bruised that heart is. And I wonder how many bruises I will leave on it.

I feel like a monster. For the first time in my life, I feel like I am the monster. Sophia deserves someone better than me. She deserves someone who can make her a priority.

Deep in the forest, I finally reach the stream. Looking around, I see a small backpack propped against the oak tree. I pick it up and rifle through it.

Sandwiches, fresh bread, juice bottles.

My lips curve involuntarily. She kept her word. She came all the way out here to leave this bag for the black wolf.

Suddenly, something strikes me. If she came back to this spot, does that mean she's gone? My whole body goes still. She was worried about money. If she retrieved her stash, does that mean she's in the wind? Panic fills me as I scan the area, but I can't catch a scent.

Damn scent blockers!

Dropping the backpack of food, I begin sprinting in the direction of the one place I know of where she may be.

If she has run away, how am I supposed to find her without her scent? My wolf howls desperately inside the cage of my mind. Logic is flying out the window as I realize that I may never see Sophia again.

I burst past the tree line and head straight for the Dancing Bear. She's always at the bar this time of day. She has to be there.

But when I throw open the door of the barely filled restaurant, she's nowhere in sight. Patrick and the others look up in surprise, and Patrick lifts his hand to call me over. I slam the door shut and walk down the road, racking my brain to try to figure out where she could have gone. I've just passed the entrance to the alley when I hear something heavy drop to the ground. A familiar voice curses loudly, and as I turn my head to look that way, I see Sophia picking up a trash bag and tossing it in the bin.

I stay in the shadows, watching her. There are circles under her eyes. She grips the edge of the garbage can and leans her body forward. Her head lowers, and a heavy sigh leaves her mouth. Then, after straightening up, she turns around and walks back into the bar.

Relief fills me. Sophia is still here.

Leaning against the wall, I tuck my hands in my pockets and stare out into the street. She looks tired. If I go in there, though, she won't acknowledge her exhaustion. I'm still smarting over her comment about my rock-like personality. But I can tell she's hurting inside, and I don't know how to fix that.

As I stand there trying to figure out what to do, I see the blonde man from last night walking down the street. He has a small box of chocolates in his hand. He passes in front of me and goes into the bar.

Noah Black.

Gaining access to this town was no easy feat, and after going through that, there is no way I don't know who Noah Black is. He's next in line to become Alpha of the Red Rock Wolf Pack, which is one of the three most powerful packs in the South Alliance. While I know who Noah is, I couldn't dig up much information on him before coming here. So, I didn't know much about him till last night, and all of it is from what Sophia told me.

He was a bully to her. That tells me a lot about the person he is.

I wonder why he is in Oakrest. I refuse to let him do anything to Sophia.

Against my better judgment, I follow him inside the building. He's leaning against the bar talking to Sophia, who has a guarded look on her face. I take a step forward when I see him slide the box of chocolates toward her.

His voice is low, but my ears catch the conversation.

"…I know you like chocolates. I got the ones with hazelnut."

She stares down at the box, as if not quite sure what to do. There is reluctance in her gaze. "I don't need chocolates."

"I know you don't need them." It bothers me that he's talking to her as if she's a fragile little bird, his voice gentle and caressing. "But I remember that you used to like them. I hope you still do." When she doesn't say anything, he sighs. "You don't have to accept them. I just wanted you to have them. I saw them in the shop, and I thought of you, so I bought them."

My eyes narrow into slits as I move even closer. What is this man up to? Why is he buying Sophia chocolates and talking to her like this? It's almost as if—

"Seems like your girl is being courted," Jared, another senior lieutenant in my pack, snickers from the table next to where I'm now standing. I give him a death stare, and his laugh transforms into a cough. The two men sitting on either side of him, Derek and Saul, slap him on the back.

I want to go up to the bar, but I have to keep a low profile. Seeing the way Sophia's hand curls around the small box makes my blood boil, though. She shouldn't be accepting gifts from Noah Black.

My beast growls in irritation. Somebody is trying to encroach on our territory. I can feel my wolf looking through my eyes, determined to shed blood. An unmated male is near my woman. That is unacceptable. Following only my instincts, I'm about to approach them when Patrick steps in front of me, his tone hard and low. "What do you think you're doing?"

I look up at my friend but all I see is someone blocking access to my mate. My voice is a rough snarl as I order, "Get out of my way."

Realization dawns in Patrick's eyes as he looks back over his shoulder and sees Sophia.

"Oh, shit."

Grabbing me by the shoulders, he drags me out of the bar. The other guys follow.

I have enough common sense left not to attack Patrick, but as soon as we're outside, I bare my teeth at all five of my men. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

My second-in-command stares at me, horrified. "I knew you were acting strange around that woman. I just thought you had a thing for her. Why didn't you tell me she's your fated mate?"

The haze clouding my judgment fades away at his words, and I stare at him. "What?"

My friend stares right back at me. "Why didn't you tell me the waitress is your fated mate?"

"How do you know—?"

"My parents were fated mates, remember?" Patrick's expression grows heavy. "You look at her the way my father used to look at my mother. I thought I was wrong at first, but this confirms it. Your wolf was in your eyes, Alex."

I clench my jaw and look down at my feet.

Patrick runs his hands over his face. "This changes things. This changes everything."

I glance through the window of the bar and see Sophia looking at me. As soon as our eyes meet, she immediately looks away.

Noah is still leaning close to her. I don't like it.

I don't know how—perhaps because it's Patrick who is standing in front of me—but I am able to restrain my will. I look at my old friend, and my voice is dark. "No, it doesn't. This changes nothing. We're going to stay on track."

"But, Alex—"

"I don't want to hear it," I cut him off sharply. "I'll meet you back at the motel. There's another cage match tonight. Let's see if we can corner the wolf shifter and find out whether she's the one we're looking for."

I can see Patrick's desire to discuss this matter, but there's nothing that any amount of discussion will change. All five of these friends of mine have risked their lives to come here with me to search for the Silver Wolf. If the South Alliance discovers us, they could execute us on the spot. They could also wipe out our entire pack. We are taking a huge risk, and this is no time for me to think of myself. I am the Alpha, and with that power comes responsibility. I am responsible for the lives of my pack members, for their happiness. And if that means sacrificing my own, then so be it.

*** **

I ignore the sounds of the humans around me as they cheer on the two fighters in the cage. My attention is on the slim female with the fox mask. Even from across the room, I can tell that she is holding herself back. Her movements are graceful and agile, and I'm pretty certain she could knock out her opponent with one blow. However, she seems to be putting on a performance for the crowd. I watch her take two strikes from the other fighter and stumble backward. The crowd boos in response, but I'm silent.

I can see what they can't. She deliberately opened herself up to her opponent. She wanted to get hit.

I'm no fool. These matches are fixed. At least, the ones that involve the Wily Vixen are.

The first time I saw her in the cage, I had my suspicions. There was something about the way she fought. Humans, even the best of fighters, don't have full control of their bodies. Shifters, on the other hand, even the untrained ones, move with a specific grace. It's easy to spot a shifter in a fight.

I saw one other man in the crowd that first night who was keeping an eye on her movements. I remember how it wasn't hard to break into the secure area where nobody but staff is allowed and how I was not the only one who wanted a word with the female fighter that night. If I hadn't stepped in, I have a feeling she would've killed the man who towered over her. Mountain Man, he was called—the opponent she had humiliated in the ring.

While I was able to confirm that she is indeed a wolf shifter, her claws being the biggest evidence, I have not been able to talk to her. If only I could identify her and approach her outside this arena. Unfortunately, she takes scent blockers. That means the only way I can actually identify her is with the smell of her blood, but she's very careful not to get so much as a cut during these fights—just a lot of bruises, which don't help me.

I have to figure out something soon. I'm sure the Silver Wolf is in this area; there has to be a reason why this town is so protected. My men and I have infiltrated other towns along the border of the South Alliance, and none of them have had this kind of security. The witch who foretold the prophecy has been helping us disguise the color of our fur, but the potion she made for us only lasts for a couple of hours. We have just a few bottles left, and that means we don't have much time.

My men and I have combed the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Silver Wolf. But so far, we have not come across anything. The prophecy stated that the wolf is "hidden, even from itself, found in the most unlikely of places, covered in the sweat of humans."

That made no sense to me and still doesn't, so I don't really know how Queen Karina came to the conclusion that the wolf is located along the border of the South Alliance. She never revealed the full prophecy to me, or why she wanted access to the Silver Wolf, when she sent me on what looked like nothing more than a wild goose chase. All I was told was to locate the wolf and bring her to the Queen. However, while my family may no longer lead the North Alliance, I still have friends in hidden places, allies who saw the injustice that took place years ago when my pack was forcibly removed from its leadership role and my parents were murdered. These friends have been my eyes and ears in the Queen's domain.

My thoughts return to the present as the Wily Vixen grabs her opponent by the neck and tosses him to the ground, on his back. As she lifts her head up, I feel her gaze brush against me. It's like a caress against my skin, and my wolf rumbles. The night I ambushed her behind this building, I smelled her arousal. She was attracted to me; I can use that. As long as I can get her into my bed and give her my mating mark, she will be the biggest weapon in my pack's fight to take back our rightful place as leaders of the North Alliance.

But only if she is the Silver Wolf. I don't know if she is. I need confirmation of that.

If I ask her outright, I doubt she'll tell me the truth. I have to earn her trust and secure a place in her heart first.

I feel the guilt rise within me, and I squash it like a bug. She is our last hope. If Queen Karina gets hold of the Silver Wolf, she will be able to control all three Alliances. I can't have that. She has to pay for what she did to us.

The match ends in victory for the Wily Vixen, and I watch her leave the cage. She stops in front of somebody: Mathew Rivers, the owner of this arena. She seems to be discussing something with him before she uses the door to enter the restricted area of this basement. I move quickly. Slipping upstairs and outside, I make my way around the outside of the building.

Breaking the lock on the back door, I step inside and quietly close the door behind me. I head down the stairs and find myself standing in the small kitchen. Soft murmurs of conversation can be heard from down the hall. I hear footsteps, and I take cover behind the wall adjacent to the kitchen. It's a human, from the smell of it.

He knocks on a door. "It's Mathew."

I hear the sound of a lock opening, and then a door creaks. The door closes behind Mathew. I decide to wait for him to leave, and within a couple of minutes, the door opens and as he walks out. I hear him say, "I've left some meat roast in the fridge for you. Make sure you eat it. That's a nasty bruise you've got."

My eyes narrow. Does this human know about the Wily Vixen being a wolf shifter?

It seems to be the case. I peer around the corner and see the same man with whom the female fighter was talking after the match. He walks away. Ten minutes later, the door opens again, and this time, the woman walks out. Her face is concealed by her hood.

She takes one step forward before she goes still. It must be instinct because she withdraws the fox mask from her pocket. I'm already moving, trying to prevent her from putting it on so I can finally see her face, but when my hand lands on her shoulder, she immediately ducks and sweeps the floor with her leg.

I am so focused on looking at her face that she takes me unawares, and I fall to the ground. However, when she tries to run, I grab her foot and yank, causing her to fall right on top of me.

Her body feels familiar, pressed against mine. Our faces are inches apart, but she has managed to get the mask on. I don't have to see her face to know how pissed off she is.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

I feel kind of foolish, but I hold on to her waist. "I want to talk to you."

"And this is how you choose to go about it?" she demands, furious. "By attacking me?!"

"You won't give me the time of day!" I retort.

"Because I don't like you," she spits out, and the vicious edge to her words take me aback. I'm sure I haven't done anything to warrant such fury.

"You don't even know me," I point out.

Her voice is tense. "I'm getting to know you plenty right now."

For a moment, I don't understand what she means, and then it hits me.

I'm hard, and I'm pressing against her.

My eyes widen in shock. I didn't even realize I was so turned on. My wolf, on the other hand, is pacing inside me, vibrating with the need to sniff this female. There's something about her that is getting my animal agitated. It wants to bite her, lick her, groom her. It can't decide what it wants, but it's getting worked up.

Bewildered by this turn of events, I grit my teeth. What the hell is going on?

I release the poor woman from my grip, and she stands up. Her mask is still securely fastened to her face as she looks at me.

"What do you have to say to me that is so important?"

As I get to my feet, I close my eyes briefly, counting to ten and imagining Patrick dancing in the shower, naked. The horrifying image helps with redirecting my blood flow.

When I open my eyes, the female fighter has her hands on her hips, and I don't know how, but I can tell she's glaring at me from under that damn mask.

"Are you from this town?" I ask her, still fighting the embarrassment from a moment ago.

"Yes. Of course I am."

"Do you mind if we talk without the mask?"

She lets out a sound that sounds like a cross between a sob and a hysterical laugh. "You must think me very stupid. If you want to talk to me, it's going to have to be with this mask on. The only reason I'm talking to you at all right now is because you won't stop harassing me!"

"Fair enough," I murmur. "Do you have a sponsor for the matches you take part in?"

My question seems to take her by surprise. "A sponsor? No."

"Then, I would like to sponsor you."

She stares at me silently, and I wish I could see her face so I could know what she's thinking.

"Why?" she asks bluntly. "What do you get out of it?"

I shrug, knowing I have to play this very carefully. "I've been watching you. You're good at what you do. I would like to sponsor somebody who I know can win fights. It means more money for us."

"That's it? And what's in it for me?"

I hesitate, not really sure what motivates her.

"I can make sure the pack security doesn't find out what you're doing."

The Wily Vixen crosses her arms over her chest. "They won't, with or without you."

"We can also offer you more money than what you're earning now."

It's a gamble, but when I see the way her body stiffens, I realize I've finally caught her. That's what this is about. She needs the money.

"How much more?" she asks warily.

"How much do you make per fight now?"

"A grand."

I blink. One grand? That's all she's been making? Whoever is paying her that little is clearly extorting her. A grand is nothing for a fighter like her.

"Is that per fight or per day?"

She doesn't answer me.

"We're willing to offer you four grand per fight."

Her arms fall lax by her sides. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly so," I reassure her.

"What's in it for you? Aside from the money aspect?"

She's sharp. Sharper than I gave her credit for.

"I believe in trust," I say carefully, studying her body language. "If you agree to this, I expect you to trust me, and that means with your identity as well."

She shakes her head. "I'm afraid that's not possible."

"Why not?" I ask calmly. "If we're investing money in you, then don't we have a right to know who is working for us?"

She shrugs. "Sure, if revealing my identity wouldn't put me in danger. But it will. And no amount of money is worth that."

"Before you make a decision," I say quickly, "take a few days to think it over. And if you are interested, this is where you can find me. Just ask for Alex Stone."

I take out my business card and hand it to her.

Not wanting to overplay my hand, I turn around and begin walking away. As I go, I discreetly look over my shoulder and see her reading the card. Then, she pockets it.

My lips curve in satisfaction.