ALEX

I’ll never forget the look on Valek Deveraux’s face when I make my decision.

But I don’t even have time to see it through the blur in my own eyes, or to register it before Reid starts tugging me away.

"Come on," he mutters smugly. Pain throbs where he holds me, and I hate that I don’t pull away.

I hate that I don’t fight.

I look back once.

Then again.

Valek doesn’t move.

He doesn’t even look back at me.

"You're not going to cry, are you?" Reid huffs, half-amused.

I don't answer.

What would I even say?

At this point in my life, it almost feels safer to be in my enemy’s pack than to be in a home where all my packmates do is scorn me. Where my lover says nothing, where my father stays silent, like I’m not his only daughter.

Like I don't exist beyond the talent I bring to the game.

He promised he’ll never force me to return to the pack against my will, but I’m back in town and the first person he sends my way is the Alpha of the pack.

How ironic.

And Reid.

I don’t ask why he’s here spontaneously.

I don’t even ask how he knows I will return today.

We push through the glass doors into the cold air outside, and I immediately shudder.

Leaning against the hood of Valek’s jeep, arms crossed, is Valerie Deveraux, pale blonde hair, silky straight, black leather fit.

Her lip curls when she sees me.

"Oh, look. The golden bitch arrives."

Reid’s grip on my wrist tightens slightly. “Ignore her.”

We continue walking to his SUV.

But she’s already pushing off the Jeep and coming closer.

“I told Valek you hadn’t changed,” she sneers. “Told him it was a waste of time picking you up. You’re still the same pathetic mutt who left us when shit got real.”

“Val,” Reid warns, jaw tight.

Valerie scoffs. “Oh, please. You two deserve each other. Cowards and losers. I told you Reid, that you’ll finally find someone—”

“Say one more word,” Reid growls, stepping in front of me, “and I’ll rip your tongue out right here.”

He’s not bluffing.

I know it.

But she doesn’t seem fazeed.

Valerie Deveraux is just as fearless as Valek.

She cackles mockingly. “Go ahead. Protect her. She’s good at hiding behind people. Bet you don’t even know your daddy’s dying, do you?”

My chest twists.

She steps closer, eyes gleaming. “Didn’t think so. He never told you? That’s what happens when little dogs run with their tails between their legs. You have one chance to be back at the pack but if you leave with—”

"Reid," I whisper.

I don’t want to be here anymore.

Especially not with Valerie already losing her temper, and just seconds away from throwing fits.

I beg Reid through the blur of my eyes when he peeks back at me over his shoulder.

Valerie’s voice is rising now. “You lose access to the pack. You lose access to your father.” She is shaking with rage, “You lose your access to the team, Russo.”

Reid doesn’t flinch. “Move.”

She steps even closer, eyes wild. “You really think we’re going to lose her again? After we built her up, she’s gonna throw it away for the asshole who tanked her career?”

Reid’s jaw tightens. “Last warning.”

“She’s not leaving,” Valerie spits. “Not with you. She’s our best center. You think I’m letting you steal her out of spite?”

I freeze.

This was never about me.

Just the game.

Reid tries to grab the door handle.

Valerie shoves his chest back. “You don’t get to wreck her life twice.”

Reid shoves her out of the way, and opens the car door. “Get in now.”

I climb into the back seat.

And the sound shuts off.

Like someone hit mute on the whole world.

Outside the glass, Valerie’s mouth is still moving, her arms flailing wildly.

I slump into the seat, and pull my knees to my chest.

Tears slip down before I can stop them.

One of Reid’s men tosses my duffel into the trunk. Another loads the last suitcase.

Reid slides in beside me. The door clicks shut.

He stares at me.

Like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t know if he should.

I don't look up.

And I don’t stop crying.

~~~

The Paxton pack is miles from the city. Ragriz’s a little closer to the human border. This? This feels like nowhere. Nothing but trees, long stretches of road, and silence thick enough to choke on.

During the ride, Reid doesn’t say anything, he looks like he is fuming, jaw clenching, eyes blazing red.

His phone chimes all through the ride and his hand tightens around it so hard his knuckles are pale.

By the time we pull into his estate, my eyes are swollen as shit.

Reid doesn’t look at me right away. Just grits, “Get yourself together,” like it’s a favor.

The car stops.

He opens the door before anyone else can, and steps out.

I wipe my face, trembling now as I reach for the handle. I don't know if it's the ride, or the fact that I'm stepping into another pack that doesn’t belong to me.

But Reid doesn’t wait.

He slams his door and starts walking.

I want to ask, what now?

What do I do now that I’m here?

But I’m not even given the chance to say a word.

One of the men opens my door. “Let’s go.”

I blink at him, still catching my breath as I step out. Another one’s already unloading my things from the trunk.

“Keep close,” the first man says. “Don’t stop, don’t speak, just walk.”

When I hear the gasps, I almost retreat into the car.

People are everywhere.

Spread out across the huge estate like they’d been watching from the moment we pulled in. Some lean on balcony rails, others linger by the steps and garden paths. Their clothes are all shades of black and grey.

Reid’s inner circle maybe.

One guy standing near a motorcycle has dried blood down his jaw like he forgot to wipe it off, he grins at me when our eyes connect.

I feel like I’m being walked into a mafia’s territory rather than a pack with families. For a second, my mind runs wild with thoughts.

I should’ve never come to Crystal Falls.

I should’ve run harder at the airport.

I shouldn’t have gotten into Reid’s car.

God. I chose this.

I came home with a demon.

And just as I expect, they start murmuring.

“Who the hell is that?”

“She’s not one of ours.”

“She doesn’t smell like pack.”

“She human?”

“Nah. Look at her eyes. She’s something.”

“Think she’s a rogue?”

“A rogue? He wouldn’t—”

“Why would Reid bring her in?”

“His mate?”

“She’s not wearing a mark. So not claimed.”

“What about—”

“—Shh!”

My stomach clenches as Reid’s men fall into place. One ahead, one behind, both close. I realize they’re shielding me from the attention.

They don’t say anything, but they move in sync.

I keep my head down.

We pass two girls sitting on the low stone edge of a fountain. One nudges the other, not even bothering to hide it.

“She’s shaking.”

“She should be.”

“If Reid brought her in, and he’s got his men guarding her... that means he’s got his eyes on her.”

I gulp.

The voice drops to a whisper, “We all know how that ends.”

Valek

Valek

Words travel faster than fire.

By the time I step onto Ragriz soil, my phone keeps vibrating with notifications in their tens. Packs forum, social media, group chats.

I peek in maybe once or twice.

Alexandra Russo Seen Entering Paxon Territory with Alpha Reid.

Ex-Ragriz Center Chooses New Pack?

The humans watching from the outside don’t remember who she is yet, but our people do. Every single wolf in this territory knows what it means to see that girl wrapped up in someone else’s colors.

She chose them.

She chose him.

She chose him over me.

The alliance might have kept us from open war, but no one ever said the enmity was gone.

And now… for the first time since my father died, Ragriz’s loyalty is being questioned.

I can feel it under my skin.

I slam the car door shut and stalk up the front steps of the estate.

And of course, the first person standing in the entrance, coughing, old, and shriveled is Coach Russo himself.

He looks like shit. With sunken in eyes, and lungs wheezing before he even spoke. You’ll think decades of being a hockey coach and a werewolf will make his old age seem stronger and healthier.

Coach Russo’s current look counters the saying that athletes age better.

“You found her?” he asks, voice weak.

I don’t answer.

I move past him.

He follows.

“Valek.” He says my name like he still has some kind of right to it. “Did you see her? Did you talk to her? Why didn’t you bring her home with you?”

I keep walking, toward the double doors.

“She’s not thinking straight. I know that girl. She doesn’t make choices like this. Someone’s…. someone’s manipulating her.”

No.

She made that decision herself five years ago.

My fists clench at my sides.

Valerie walks behind me, boots clicking on the stone.

Coach turns to her.

Wrong move.

“She’s my daughter!” He barks, "You should’ve pulled her by the hair if you had to.”

Valerie snorts. “No. You should’ve raised a better daughter.”

He stares at her.

Sneer drips from her voice. “She’s a cocky, arrogant little brat. You know that, right? She has no shame!”

“Shut up!” Coach growls.

“She belongs to us,” Valerie hisses. “And you let her walk away like a little bitch!”

“Valerie,” I mutter.

She doesn’t stop. “You didn’t raise a wolf. You raised a coward. Not worthy to be called a Ragriz! She deserves to be brought in and punished!”

I stop walking.

The doors open in front of me. My men step back without a word.

I don’t have it in me to scream.

Not now.

“Give me space,” I say. “Nobody follows me in.”

And I walk through the door, shutting it so hard behind me the wood rattles in its frame.

Valerie’s voice cuts off.

I stand in the silence of the entryway, shaking with rage, or maybe sadness. My chest is tight and my teeth aches.

My wolf won’t stop pacing inside me. He’s hurt, not angry, not possessive.

Hurt.

And this house mocks me.

The stupid banner above the fireplace says Welcome home, Lex. Big red letters in gold stars. Streamers tangled in the corners of the wall.

She always hated things like this, said they made her feel watched.

The cake’s on the counter.

Half-frosted.

I made it anyway.

Like a fucking idiot.

I stare at the banner till my vision blurs.

Then my hands quiver as claws rip through my palms, and my bones groan with the shift.

I step forward, a balloon squeals and bursts near my feet.

And then, I lunge.

I tear the banner down with both hands, shred it in two.

“FUCK!”

Another balloon pops underfoot. Streamers fly across the room, I launch a chair against the wall. My claws rip the edges of the table, it groans as it crashes into the floor, the cake follows after.

I match all over it, frost smearing against my shoes.

My fangs are out, spit dripping down my chin as I growl and tear and rip until the living room is nothing but broken pieces.

The door slams open.

“You’re such a coward,” Valerie growls.

I whip around, chest heaving, breath shaking.

Her eyes are glowing red and her fists are clenched. She’s already shifted partially, just enough to show she’s ready to snap my neck.

“You should’ve rejected her when you had the chance.”

My voice breaks out of me roughly, “I never had a chance.”

She storms in, stepping over the destroyed table like it’s dust, “Then you should’ve made one. You knew what this was turning into and you still let it ride out like some love story.”

“I loved her!”

“Exactly! And now look what that’s done.” She jabs a finger at my chest. “You can’t think straight. You can’t even lead. Meanwhile, the Paxons are gaining the upper hand. You think they’re not going to use her? You think she’s not already on their side now?”

I step toward her.

She doesn't flinch.

“She’s not—”

“She is, Valek. The second Reid claimed her, we lost the only leverage we had. Now they’ve got her talent, and our secrets if they know how to break her down right. Which they do. And you’re here throwing chairs like it’ll bring her back.”

I shove past her.

She grabs my shoulder and yanks me back.

“You think this is about you?” she screams. “You think this pain you feel is special? Our whole team is failing. Every game is lost to the Paxons. And now there’s talk of someone leaking our plays to Reid Maddox. You really think that’s a coincidence?—”

I freeze.

“You didn’t even notice,” she spits. “Because you, as a fucking ALPHA, HAS BEEN BAKING CAKES FOR A WOMAN INSTEAD OF LEADING! You should’ve rejected her when you had the chance.”

“I couldn’t reject her,” I shout. “I tried. Do you get that? I tried, and I couldn’t. I couldn’t make myself say it.”

Silence fills the room after that, only the sound of our heavy breathing, and my thoughts being very loud.

You never tried to reject her.

Yet, you lie.

Valerie shakes her head. “Father must be proud of the man you’ve become.” The sarcasm in her voice grates my nerves. “Weak!” She growls.

Claws dig into my palms. “SHUT UP.”

She steps closer. “You haven’t touched a woman in five years, and it shows. Your head’s not in the game. You’ve lost your edge, brother.”

“I said shut the fuck up.”

But she doesn’t.

Of course she doesn’t.

“You can’t even keep your focus during drills. You think the team hasn’t noticed? You think Coach hasn’t? Your dick’s in the way.”

Blood drips down my fists. “I’m your Alpha!” I roar and the whole room shakes. “You don’t talk to me like that!”

She spins on her heel, walks toward the door like I’m not seconds away from exploding.

Then she stops, calm as hell, and looks over her shoulder.

“I’ll have a line-up of women outside the estate every day from henceforth,” she says sweetly. “You better pick this time. Fix your head. Get your dick wet.”

I swear I’m gonna put a hole through a wall.

But she’s not done.

“Oh, and I’m watching,” she adds, hand on the doorknob. “Someone’s been feeding Reid information. And he showed up at the airport for Alex like it was clockwork.”

She opens the door.

“That wasn’t a coincidence, brother. So unless your dick’s been talking to the enemy, I’d suggest you start thinking with your fucking brain ALPHA.”