Chapter 1 - Evan

They call me ruthless. Maybe I am, but with only two weeks to lift the curse that's suffocating my pack, I can't afford to be anything else. I was raised to be the alpha, groomed from the time I could walk and talk to leadLake to glory. I never got the chance to be anything else, not that I would ever want to be. But sometimes, the pressure gets to me, and it gets harder to sleep at night. I don't feel like I have time to be anything other than a leader.

But I have to do what is best for my people, and this includes finding a female to be my wife, as per the terms of the curse that has plagued our pack for ages now. It was a burden my father faced. One that I will undoubtedly pass down to the next alpha, my son, someday.

I'd be lying if I said the thought of being tied down doesn't send me running. But if that's what has to happen, I'll do it. It's not like I haven't thought about marriage before. I'm thirty-three, after all, and I know what my responsibilities are. I've been with plenty of women in my life, but none of them have been the right one.

"I just can't believe that you've spent this much time procrastinating. You haven't even made an effort to find a mate. I can't even fathom what would happen if the deadline passes," my brother Rafe says, pacing back and forth in front of my desk. His arms are folded over his chest, and the tension in his shoulders makes me think he'd like nothing more than to throttle me right now. He wouldn't dare, of course. Rafe knows the consequences of such an act, just like every other wolf in my pack.

It would be a death sentence. Even if he is my brother.

"I've been busy," I say, and that's the truth. Running an entire pack takes a lot of time and energy. Add to that the fact that I had to deal with a pack war with those Stardust Hollow mutts, and it's easy to see why I haven't focused on finding myself a bride. That little she-wolf Callie caused a huge rift between our two packs when she went running to them for refuge. I was tempted to drag her back here and make an example of her, but since she married into another pack, killing her would've just made the situation even worse.

I don't like retreating, and I hate having to admit that I've made a misstep. So when I found out after launching the assault on their turf that Dante, her ex-mate, was the one who deceived us all, I had no choice but to withdraw. It was humiliating. Now I feel the eyes of my entire pack on me, judging me, waiting for my next fuck-up. They're comparing me to Ram, I know it. Even if they won't say it.

If I'm being honest, we need this marriage, and not just for the sake of the curse. After everything we've been through as of late, my pack needs something to boost their morale, and this is the perfect way to do it. Not only will it be a happy occasion, but it's the first step toward our pack becoming one of the most powerful and feared in the state of Missouri. With a wife comes an heir, and with an heir comes a continuation of our legacy.

"Busy? That's the excuse you're using?" Rafe scoffs, rolling his eyes.

I glare at him, not appreciating the accusatory tone in his voice. "I'm not making excuses."

"It doesn't matter, Evan. The deadline is here, and you need to start searching."

"And where exactly would you suggest I look? Have you forgotten the requirements for the female?" I ask, and Rafe falls silent because we both know that he can't refute what I'm saying.

The witch who placed the curse upon my pack was specific with the instructions for the one to break the spell. She told us that the female must be purebred, a virgin, and have no family ties or connections to our pack. She must come from an outside source, and she must be a wolf no one has laid claim to yet.

"If it was as easy as asking one of our women to play the part, it would be done already," I add, feeling frustrated. There isn't a female in Green Lake who would turn me down. Hell, most of them would sell their own mothers to be the one who marries me."

"Then ask another pack," Ethan suggests. "There are plenty who still go by the old ways. An arranged marriage isn't uncommon."

I think on his words for a moment. It's not a terrible idea, but I have my reservations. "I'll consider it," I tell him.

"Evan, you need to do more than consider. You need to do it. This is too important," Rafe says, his tone softening. "I know you've never liked the thought of marriage. But you don't have a choice anymore. It's your duty, and it's time to accept that."

I sigh. Rafe is right, of course. He often is. Sometimes, it annoys the hell out of me, but in this instance, I'm grateful. He's giving me the push I need to do what needs to be done.

"Groveling with another pack for one of their females isn't exactly the kind of thing that's going to make us look strong," I say, thinking out loud. "There must be another way."

Rafe shrugs, leaning forward in his seat. There's a look in his eye that I know all too well. He has an idea, and judging by his expression, it's one that just might turn the tables. "Maybe there is. If your aim is to appear powerful, then perhaps there's a way to get back at Stardust Hollow at the same time."

"I'm listening." I gesture for him to continue.

"Our pack is still licking its wounds from the last battle," he begins. "Not only was Dante killed, but we also lost a handful of others."

I nod with my jaw clenched tight. Every time I think of it, I feel a rage deep within me that's nearly impossible to control. Dante may have been an ass, but he was a member of our pack. It's hard not to take his loss personally.

"I'm willing to bet they have a she-wolf or two who is still pure," Rafe adds, the corner of his mouth lifting.

I lean back in my chair and steeple my fingers, contemplating his suggestion. "I can't imagine they would willingly hand over a virgin to us. Not after what happened. It's too soon."

Rafe shakes his head. "You're thinking like a politician, brother. You have to think like a wolf. I'm not suggesting you ask them for one of their women. I'm suggesting that you take her."

My brows furrow as his words sink in. It's a bold statement, but one that holds promise. "You're talking about abduction," I say. "That could start another war."

"If they find out," he counters. "Look, the battle is fresh on both of our minds, and you're right. We can't move in on their turf. But we can move in on their women. Just imagine the good it would do for our pack. Not only will you have a mate and have put an end to the curse, but you'd also have avenged Dante."

I can't deny the appeal of his words. If we were to get a hold of a she-wolf who met the witch's qualifications, it would be the perfect way to save face. Not to mention, it would make my pack trust me once again. They would look up to me, and maybe that's what we all needed right now.

But such a move wouldn't come without risk. If Ram ever found out what we'd done, the repercussions would be harsh. He and I have always had a tense relationship. Since that shit with Callie, it's only gotten worse. They would no doubt wage another battle against us, and we'd have no choice but to fight. It could be the death of us, or the death of them. There's no way to know for sure.

The only thing I know for certain is that a female is the key. And if we could pull this off, I would have one, and my pack would no longer be under the thumb of the witch's curse.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to save my pack from ruin.

"What do you think our father would say about this idea?" I wonder out loud.

"He'd probably have done the same thing. Our father was always one to strike when his enemies least expected it," Rafe says.

That much is true. My father was known far and wide for his cunning tactics, and for his ruthless leadership. It was a skill that helped him rise to power and to the position I inherited. But now I have to live up to his reputation. And part of that means doing things he wouldn't have hesitated to do.

His death was sudden and unexpected. My father was only forty-nine when he was taken by a rare sickness that ravaged his body. None of our healers could figure out what it was or how to treat it, and in the end, there was nothing anyone could do.

I have my suspicions that his death wasn't natural. Part of me thinks that the witch who cursed us used her powers to bring him down.

When he passed away, the responsibility of carrying on the family legacy was placed solely on my shoulders, and I'm not sure I've ever forgiven him for that. At just twenty years old, I wasn't ready. Now that I've grown into the role, it's still a burden that weighs heavily on me. But I'll carry it all the same. I have to, for the sake of my pack.

Our mother, on the other hand, died when Rafe and I were just pups. I barely have any memory of her. All I know is that she was well-respected and loved by all, and her death left a hole in our pack that still hasn't been filled.

Rafe and I were raised by nannies, mostly, but we did spend a lot of time with our father. He was the one who taught us how to hunt, how to fight, and how to lead. He was the one who made us want to be the best alphas our pack has ever seen. And while his methods were unorthodox and a bit heavy-handed at times, I can't deny that he knew what he was doing.

If only our pack had never been stricken by this blasted curse. Things would be so different. I wouldn't be sitting here, contemplating kidnapping a woman from another pack just to keep my own safe.

Now, as I look at Rafe across my desk, I see the same determination in his eyes that I feel deep in my bones. We both know what needs to be done. But whether we'll be able to pull it off is another question entirely.

I shake the thoughts from my head and stand from my chair. It's pointless to wonder about what-ifs and if-onlys. What's done is done, and I have to focus on the future.

"Let's make a plan," I say. "If we're going to do this, we're going to need one. We can't just waltz into their town and abscond with one of their females. We're going to have to be smart about this."

Rafe grins, and there's a wicked gleam in his eyes. He's enjoying this perhaps a bit too much. "Then let's get started. We've got work to do."