I gaze at the hurt female through the open door of the healer's cabin. One of Arabella's assistants is changing her bedding. By some miracle, she has pulled through, even though she hasn't woken up. The swelling in her face is gone and the injuries around her mouth have closed. She's actually really pretty. Too bad she won't have a tongue.

"You've been checking on her quite a bit."

I turn around to face my mother. "We took her in. It's my responsibility as Alpha to ensure she isn't lacking for anything."

"And that's all there is to it?"

"What else would there be?" The truth is that some irresistible force is baiting me to her doorstep. An urge to see her, which is probably just driven by pity. Arabella found signs of old injuries, hinting that it wasn't the first time her old pack abused her.

"She smells of strength. I believe she's an Alpha born."

I shrug. "So what if she is?"

"Just saying."

The snapping of twigs draws my attention to the tree line. With one jump, a brown wolf cuts through the underbrush. Fur ripples along my spine but smooths when I recognize him. It's just mother's new weretoy. He stretches into his skins. I still can't believe how young he is; even my nineteen-year-old sister Everest has a few moons on him. His olive skin glistens with sweat and he sweeps a few dark curls out of his eyes. His features are similar to those of my father, forcing the guilt to rise to the surface. Self-blame always pops up when I watch mother with another male.

She reaches for him and their fingers intertwine. "Did you have a nice run, Seth?"

"I did, My Queen." He gives her a sweet smile.

I suppress a snort. Queen is one of the silly names she forces them to call her in order to be allowed into her bed. Surprising that she still finds volunteers after her unions get shorter with each candidate. She stumbled over this one on a new territory we seized over the summer. A son of the Beta, stripped of his powers. He must see the mating with the Luna of his conquerors as a form of redemption. My bet, he won't survive the next heat.

Mother releases him from her grip. "Get dressed and wait for me at the packhouse. I have to talk to my son."

Her gaze stays on him as he trudges away. He's such a wimp. Never once has he rebelled against her impossible demands. Only after he's out of earshot does her attention return to me.

"You don't like him, do you?"

"He's your play toy, Mother. I don't need to like him."

"You know, I wouldn't need those types of distractions if I had grandpups to care for."

Or if father were still around. "I don't think I can help with that. Still no female I'd like to mate with." My gaze flicks to Raelyn in the cabin. Alpha born. Leave it to my mother to match me with a wolf in a coma.

"Your sister will be here in a few days with her pup."

Ah, that's what she's getting at.

"It would be nice if Cassum and you could make your peace, Kendrick. It would mean a lot to me. She might stay if you allow her back into the pack. You could even consider making her your Luna. You and she would make excellent leaders as we expand further south. I'm getting too old for all this responsibility."

"Cassum has her own agenda. Being Luna was never enough for her."

"Time has a way to change the young. Cassum might not be the hothead she once was."

"And the father of her pup? What should I do with him? I doubt he'll stand idly by while Cassum and I invade his territory."

My mother's smile is thin. "I'm sure you'll figure something out. You owe me that much."

A subtle reminder that I destroyed her happiness. Not that I had a choice. After the Trials, my father had a chance to step down. When he refused, it was either him or I in the Alpha challenge. The guilt for killing him has been eating at me ever since and Mother is making damn sure I won't forget.

"Well, I should go. I promised Niccolo I'd work out with him this afternoon."

As her gaze roams over me, fondness reflects in her eyes. "You still grow stronger every day. Soon, you'll be able to take on the rest of the North American packs. There will be no one able to stop you."

I grimace. Overconfidence has been the downfall of many leaders. Physically, I might be stronger than the other Alphas, but some of them outshine me in wisdom. There's much more I have to learn.

I peck Mother's cheek. "I'll see you for dinner."

"Could you tell the hunters to get some bear for the claiming ceremony? We haven't had any in a while."

"Will do." As I leap, I shift and disappear into the woods with another long jump. Nose pressed to the ground, I pick up Nicollo's scent. He's waiting for me by the creek. I lap up some of the cold water and raise my snout toward the sky. It smells like snow. Winter will come early this year and my mother will have to make sure that the females gather enough supplies for the dark days.

Three fighter wolves join Niccolo and they circle around me. I bare my fangs with a growl. The attack is quick but anticipated. A fighter wolf lands on my back. Before he can dive his teeth into my neck, I toss him off. The second one is quicker and takes a good bite out of my shoulder. Rising onto my hindlegs with a low howl, I throw him off. My snapping jaw goes for his jugular. One fast nick and he crawls to the side of the attack field. This is just training—in real life, he would be dead.

Niccolo is the next one to strike. Our upstretched bodies crash into another. He knows me well enough to predict the kill bite, countering instead with a slash to my side.

Fuck, that hurts.

Blood drips off his muzzle and he cackles. Crushing him like a fly finally gives me the upper hand. My tongue licks his throat to show him he's out. After that, the last two fighter wolves are a piece of cake.

They charge at me again, this time all at once. Yowls and the metallic stench of blood cuts the air. I have to fight teeth and claw to fend them off. The cycle repeats itself until my muscles ache as hell. When I shake, blood splatters everywhere. I leap into the creek, allowing the cold water to soothe the pain. Lying in the stream after a good workout is the best.

When my cuts are sealed, I stretch back into my skins. The frigid water raises goosebumps on my skin, but the sensation of cold rubbing against my sore muscles is just too divine. With a sigh, I lean back and close my eyes, just to reopen them when Niccolo slides into a spot across from me. For a moment, the water turns ruby red as his wounds wash clean.

He grins at me. "That was fun."

"Mm-hmm."

"Arabella said the hurt female is doing better."

"She still hasn't woken up."

"Arabella also said you've been coming around the healer's cabin a lot. What's up with that?"

I watch him through hooded eyes. Why is everyone on my case about Raelyn today? "Speaking of Arabella, are you going to ask her to become your mate at my mother's claiming ceremony?"

When his face darkens, I grin.

Got ya.

"I dunno know." He grimaces. "What if she rejects me?"

"She is a female and under the old laws, she's not allowed to reject you."

"Hah, since when has that ever stopped Arabella? She's too hardheaded to follow those antiquated rules. None of the strong females do."

"True." A side product of progression; something that would've been unthinkable under my father's rulership. "But I don't think she's gonna reject you. You and her are true mates."

"What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"Don't be a wuss and take your chances. Otherwise, you'll never know."

"I suppose. Even though with Cassum there, it might be awkward."

"Cassum won't care. She got her own life. Besides, she was never sold on the idea of becoming your mate. Those arranged unions don't work. It was stupid of my father to even promise her to your family."

"Yeah, the old ways had a lot of flaws."

My teeth chatter from a sudden, cold undercurrent. "Let's call it quits for today. I'm famished and could do with a good book in front of the fireplace."

"Sounds like a plan."

~~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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