ALORA

(5 years later)

My eyes stay on the ceiling as the breeze from the gap in the window whistles, rippling over me, making me cold.

Moving the thin fabric over me, even though it doesn't keep me warm. I shudder slightly when it hits my arm's recent new whip mark, making it sting. I grip the sheet tighter as I move my legs up and wrap my arms around my legs to try and keep warm.

Five long years have passed since I was placed in this damn cell, and five years I have been tortured more than my fair share. I don't think any rogues have been through the same fate as me. To be honest, I think they have better treatment than I do. They would kill them as soon as they put them in a cell, or they would make them suffer.

The screams some made, made my ears bleed. Many gave in after the first few attempts and died. Whoever came in here, they never leave. I always wondered about my fate, but it has been five years. Something told me that I wouldn't know until it was too late.

Madaline, my father's chosen mate now instead of his mistress, gave birth to a son. I haven't met him, and I don't want to. It would probably be evil if the baby were like my father or her.

I heard a noise outside the window, but it was hard to tell what was happening. It has been very noisy here lately. Guards who watch over me, Beck mainly, but they don't talk to me. They stay quiet and even participate in the torture that Madaline puts on me.

No one cares for me; they don't know who I am. My father made sure of it. He told the guards that I was a stupid human who wandered onto the pack grounds, and he didn't know what to do with me. It should shatter me with the way he speaks about me, but why should I now? He didn't want me in the first place.

Beck was left to guard me for the last five years. He never speaks to me, but I have grown on him over the last five years. Whenever Madaline tortures me, she makes him step outside, but afterward, he comes in and cleans my wounds the best he can. Beck was the one who gave me this fabric sheet to cover myself with when it gets cold here.

Another bang came from outside, making me flinch as my eyes stayed on the window.

What the hell was that? I tried to listen to what was happening, but hearing anything with the wind was hard.

I may have no wolf, but I do have some characteristics of one, such as heightened senses and hearing. I don't know if I have anything else, but they are the only two I know I have.

Another noise comes from outside the window, and a meow comes through as a little black fur head sticks through the window's opening, and its eyes look at me.

Moving slightly, I smiled as the little four-legged fur creature came toward me and climbed into the little opening between my legs and stomach.

This little black ball of fur has kept me company for the last few months. Who would have thought a cat would wander into a wolf pack and survive? I sure as hell didn't think so, not when my father was in charge. He would have had it for supper.

The cat snuggled into me, letting her heat sink into me as she tried to warm me up.

"Thank you," I whispered, placing my hand on her head and giving her a gentle smooth. "You shouldn't be in here, you know that."

I sigh as the cat moves and sticks its head under my chin, rubbing along my jaw as it starts to purr. I smooth over its smooth fur till it settles down to sleep. My eyes go to the cat, who looks back at me with its bright green eyes. "What do I call you?" I whispered as I stroked its head.

The cat let out a little meow, which only made me sigh.

"I can't keep calling you cat or pussy," I muttered. "It's silly. How about I say a name, and you nudge my hand when you like a name."

The cat bored its eyes at me. Damn, I felt stupid talking to it.

"Let's see..." I said and started to roll off names. "Angel, Lucky, Poppy, Aero..." The cat doesn't move as I groan. "What about..." I said, but stopped when a film I watched as a kid with my mum flooded my mind-The Lion King. I remember when Gamma Ryan brought it one day. I must have watched it so many times over the years, but it was the best thing I had from anyone.

"What about Simba, Nala-" I said, but the cat nudges its head as I say Nala.

I smile.

"Nala," I murmured. "Perfect for a gorgeous cat like yourself."

Nala purred as it settled back against me.

The door to the cells opens, which doesn't make her move as we hear the footsteps come closer. I place the thin fabric over her little head as I look to the gate when Beck comes into view. He stares at me but looks toward the way he came from. He moves closer and kneels. I watch as he moves something from his pocket and puts his arm through the barrier till he places an apple on the ground.

I stare at it momentarily, thinking I was dreaming as the last time I had food was two days ago. Beck only brings what he can, but it's never enough.

I look up at him, and he nods as he moves up from the ground and turns around. I watched as he got into the position of guarding me.

Moving slightly and trying not to disturb Nala, I grabbed it and bit into it. The taste of apple was sweet, something I missed every day when I was with my mother. She used to make an apple pie every Sunday in our little kitchen, and it was when the Gamma family came to see us. They would bring what we needed that week and leave after an hour. It was unconventional to say, but they were the only family I had besides my mother.

I ate the apple quietly, and once I finished it, I placed it in the next cell so it looked like it was from whoever it was in there last.

Madaline doesn't want me to feed. She stated that was my father's rule, but Beck had broken it several times. The only thing I am allowed on a daily basis, which Beck does every morning and evening, is fresh water. It has to be used for drinking and even washing. I hate washing in it as it is freezing, and Beck has to watch me, which is unnerving.

I bet servants get treated better than I do, and that says a lot about this pack. Many omegas are mistreated; I used to watch through the basement keyhole or the window. Omegas would be pushed around and beaten if they stepped out of line.

Gamma Ryan never laid a finger on them, but it was mainly my father or his Beta.

Beta Logan and my father have been friends since high school. He follows his every word, including mistreating me. I know what my father told him, and many pack members all believed him. Who wouldn't? He was the Alpha. After all, he doesn't tell lies about anything except when it comes to me.

There was silence around the cell until I heard the door open again.

Nala sticks her head up and looks over the sheet, but I push her back inside and flip it off, keeping her covered as I move it under the bed. I knew who was coming, and it was inevitable that she would be here, like clockwork.

"Wake up!" she screeches as I stumble from the bed and lean against the wall. My eyes move to her as she steps into view.

Madaline, ever since the first day I saw her, hasn't changed one bit. Only the wrinkles by her eyes give away her age now, and she also looks like she has added pounds to her weight. Whereas I am so skinny, if anyone saw me now and picked me up, I would be nothing in weight.

Madaline stares at me as a sinister smile appears on her lips. "Good, you awake," she said as she stood by the gate. "I have some news for you. Later this evening, we are being visited by alphas from all packs close to us," she said as I stood still and froze slightly as the cold air swiped into the cell. As much as I want to put the sheet over me, I know I can't, or Madaline would take it away. She knows it's there, but she hasn't done anything about it. I didn't want to add anything to the fuel of what she did to me.

Madaline looked at me and smiled. "Tonight, your father is declaring that our son, Michael, will be the next in line to the alpha position," she said, making my stomach churn. I know that role was meant to be mine, but after everything I have been through within this pack, I would rather die than be anything to them. "Do you know what that means?"

I shook my head as Madaline's smile grew. "Oh, let me tell you," she said. "That means after tomorrow, when everyone has left to return to their packs, your father and I will get to kill you."

My heart sank.

My eyes darted to Beck, who seemed to stand straighter than normal.

"You will die," she said, sounding happy. "But I must admit, I will miss these little chats and the punishments."

I said nothing.

Punishments are what she called the torture she inflicted on me. I never knew why she came down here until one day last week when she screamed out in pain. I watched it happen as she gripped her chest, like my mother. My father was doing what he did to my mother to her; he was with another. I used to watch my mother suffer every damn day when he was with her, and now she was getting the same treatment. I don't know whether it was karma, but when she witnessed her in pain, the torture she inflicted on me was unreal. I couldn't get up for days with the marks I had all over my body. Some are scars today, which are hideous.

"Saying that..." she said, pulling me from my thoughts and looking at her wide-eyed, but she laughed. "Na, I will wait till later. I have to get the pack ready before all the alpha's come," she said. "I am Luna, after all."

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. The role was my mother's, not hers. After Madaline gave my father the heir he wanted, he marked her and made her his Luna.

Being away from all the gossip around the pack has left me wondering what he has told them about my mother, but it may have something to do with me.

"I will see you tomorrow for your death," she hissed as she turned and looked at Beck. "You can leave now. You don't need to be down here at all."

Beck looked at me but moved away. There was nothing but a blank expression on his face as he walked away.

My heart sinks again as they both leave. I can hear the excitement in Madaline's voice as she tells Beck that she will be the one to kill me like she did her mother.

What the hell was I going to do now?

There was no denying it now, and I had to accept my fate. I would die tomorrow in the same hands as the ones who killed my mother.

I closed my eyes as a lone tear escaped. I prayed over the years to the moon goddess, the same moon goddess that was supposed to watch over me, but ever since my mother died, I was made to live in isolation away from everyone. Why would I put all my trust in her now?

I was done for.

There was no one to save me now. I had to accept that I was going to die

ALPHA SAMSON

The car goes over the bump, which makes me bang my head on the roof. I let out a low growl. "Careful," I grunt as I glare at my driver through the rear view mirror. His eyes widen and looks back at the road ahead of him.

"Calm down," Jenson, my beta said. "He is trying to get us there sooner like you wanted. You're the one who wanted to get there and leave early."

I huff as I look out the window and watch the forest pass us.

As an alpha to the largest pack in the state, I had to attend alpha ceremonies for young alpha's who would be taking the reins after their fathers handed them over to them. But this was all new to me. The alpha in question was staking a claim that he had a son and would be the one who would take over from him, whatever age.

"I still think it's strange that they are doing this," Jenson mumbles, making me look at him. "The child is barely five. Why would he announce this now? The child won't even have his wolf yet, let alone know how to fight anyone."

I said nothing as Savage, my wolf, grunted. He hated any form of celebration, even if it meant that he would find our mate one day, but that has been scarce over the years. I'm now twenty-eight and what you call our kind old, but we are not. If we were any other alpha, some elder would come to the pack and force the rule of picking a chosen mate, but they are scared of me; we are not your average wolf. We are bigger than all wolves, bigger than you can imagine.

Our pack is the biggest and most feared due to Savage and me. No wolf will dare to go up against savage, whereas no human will go against me. I stand at six foot nine and weigh over three hundred and fifty pounds.

Shaking my thoughts away, I looked at him. "Well, Alpha Karl hasn't had much luck with his family," I muttered. "He lost his mate and unborn child. He had to choose someone, and now they have one. They are not taking no chances."

"There is taking a chance," Jenson muttered. "Then there is taking it all too far. Five years old tho, what did you do at five?"

"Not the same," I grunted as I pulled the sleeve of my jacket into place. I was wearing a suit for this damn ceremony, and I hated it. Nothing fits me due to my size. "My parents had me at a young age, and not the same for Alpha Karl."

Jenson stared at me, but his eyes softened. I knew why he did that-my parents. I felt my heart sink at the mere thought of them. My mother died in a rogue attack, and my father died shortly after from heart failure. Some pack members believe that he died of a broken heart. He didn't take my mother's death well and locked himself away. It was hard to watch. Sometimes I wish I never met my mate as I don't want to have the same fate.

"We won't," Savage grunted as he came closer. "Our mate will be special."

I look back at him with an arched eyebrow. "Special, huh?" I asked. "How would you know that?"

Savage's dark brown eyes bored back into mine but said nothing. Lately, he hasn't been himself, but as soon as the invitation came, he was all for going, and I felt pressured into going by him, which is uncalled for. When has a wolf ever wanted to do a human thing? Never.

When I received the invitation, I was shocked to learn that the young alpha was not even old enough to agree to the terms, but underneath Alpha Karl stated that he wanted to know that he had a son who would take over the pack when he was old enough. He wanted all the alpha's to attend so they could be happy for the pack.

Part of me could understand the scenario and why he was doing it, but there was another part of me that there was something more at play. Alpha Karl had been a constant thorn in my side, asking me to turn up and see his pack. He is one of many allies I have around here, and he was one of them. I was initially unsure what to make of the pack, as there seemed to be more power play than what they could offer me. I want fighters and people I can trust that will be there if I need them someday, even though it is the other way around. Many wanted us to be there for them when they needed us, but Alpah Karl never asked when rogues attacked his pack.

Alpha Karl asked for advice about what he could do to make things better, and I suggested asking for some trainers to come to help from other packs. He asked me to send some, and I did, but the trainers came back with a different outlook. Most of his pack was scared of Alpha Karl, but there were loads of rumors floating around about him. Some were hard to register as true. I wanted to leave early and get there so I could see for myself.

Jenson and I planned to stay longer, leaving my gamma Oliver to keep things running with the pack back home. All I had to do was pretend to help out , while I kept Alpha Karl busy; Jenson would go around and try to find out the truth before I made a decision about sticking with Alpha Karl. I didn't need him. It was the other way around. I hated alphas who never respected their pack members. Pack members are what holds and makes a pack what it is. I might be ruthless as they come, but I respect every member of my pack, including all omegas. No one is left out.

"Samson," Jenson called out, making me look at him as he sighed. "The plan will be in motion when we get there. Do you think he will do anything?"

I shook my head and leaned back in my seat. "Hardly," I muttered. "I think he will be nice, possibly too nice for his good, or maybe have all the single she-wolves ready to pounce, I don't know."

Jenson's lips curled up into a grin at the mere mention of she-wolves, which only made me groan. "Keep your dick in your pants," I grunted. "We are not here to get laid."

"Speaking of the one who would rather have blue balls than have a tight cunt wrapped around his cock," he chuckled.

Savage roars into laughter in my head as I keep my mouth shut for a moment while glaring at my best friend. "At least I won't get a disease or something," I muttered, which made him look at me with an arched eyebrow. "You went there, huh?" he muttered.

I said nothing as I looked through the window again.

There was no reason for the lack of women on my part; many threw themselves at me, and I liked it, but being as big as I am, it is hard to find someone who can tame a savage beast like my wolf, who seemed to want to be rough. Many women would endure it until they couldn't take it anymore.

"We need mate more," Savage piped up in my head as he listened in on my thoughts, which I hated him doing. "Mate will take us. She will be a perfect fit for us, too."

I said nothing and shook my thoughts away; I watched as we approached Alpha Karl's pack.

"I am so not looking forward to this," Jenson muttered, making me look at him. His eyes were on the opposite window. "I hate all the falseness of these alphas. They show no shame when they want your attention."

I couldn't help but agree with him on that. Many alphas have done weird things, remembering one incident in particular where an alpha let their daughter come into my bedroom at night while I stayed, which didn't help her as Savage was on one, especially being woken up from his sleep. He hates being disturbed. That was a mistake and half; the alpha tried to make me take his daughter as my Luna, which was not for me. If anyone were going to be my Luna, it would be my mate, not a hot-headed bimbo who thinks everything should be pink and sparkle. Others have tried to play games with me and lost. It's a stupid alpha thing for me to see who is true to their word or who would swipe a rug from underneath me where I stand.

I said nothing to him as I turned my attention to the gates that were being opened for us. This was it. There was no going back now. I came here to do what I had to do, and no one was going to stop me.

ALPHA SAMSON

The driver drives further up the road, where a wolf waves us down. The driver stopped and opened the window.

The wolf looks at my driver and then sees me. "Alpha Samson," he said with a bow. "Keep driving ahead till you get to the pack house. Alpha Karl has got a packing space already for you."

I huffed and looked back out the window. My driver nodded and placed the window back up.

"Kiss ass," Jenson mumbled beside me. A slow smirk inched the corners of my lips up. Savage was close by but said nothing.

The driver drives past the wolf and heads further up the road until he stops in the designated space for me. I glance out of the windscreen to see a sign with my name and our pack.

"Stupid," Savage grunted in my head, retreating back further. Lucky bastard. He could retreat while I had to mingle. I could hear him chuckle, feeling my discomfort in all this.

"You ready," Jenson asked, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked back at him and grunted.

Jenson looked at me with a smirk. "Come on," he said. "It wouldn't be that bad. You never know. You may find your mate."

I stilled. As much as I wanted to, I prayed that she wasn't from this pack.

"Don't open the doors for a moment. Stick to the plan," I said, looking between the driver and Jenson. "I want to know if something is going on here and what. I want to know if I should trust this man or threaten his title if he comes to me again."

Both men nodded and opened the doors.

I sighed and opened my door. Stepping out, I unbuttoned my suit jacket. "Alpha Samson," Alpha Karl called out. I looked up to see the old alpha coming toward me.

I said nothing, but a mind link came through from Jenson.

"That wolf must have told him we were here," he muttered. "He won't leave you alone, I bet." That was a point.

"We will go to the party and take part," I said, not liking the idea, but it was hard to do. "Ask the driver to look around, see what he can find around here. I bet the locals will want to know about us/ Tell him to keep you informed of whatever he finds out."

"Okay," he said. "How do you want me to rescue you if you get invaded by the alphas or she-wolves?"

My eyes darted to him, feeling his amusement sweep through the mind link. "How about I yell at you through mind link to come and get me, or Savage will be playing."

The atmosphere through the mind link changed as worry flooded through. Jenson knew what Savage was like when he wanted out and if someone decided to take the piss. Savage would come forward.

"Just keep an eye on what is going on," I muttered. "No women tonight. This isn't the place to find any."

I shut the mind link and looked toward Alpha Karl, who looked concerned. "Is everything okay?" he asked, sounding slightly worried. "Do you have to go back to your pack?"

I stared at him and said nothing while Jenson spoke. "Our Gamma is looking after the pack," he said. "He was just mind-linking us that everything is alright. Alpha Samson wanted to have regular updates as we have a new training scheme come in for all pack members."

I watched Alpha Karl's face change, looking slightly intrigued. "Oh," he said. "You will have to tell me what you are changing. I might have to follow the same training as you. I want to make sure my son has the best warriors known to man, who will stand to protect him."

I gave him a nod but felt irritated.

Why would he want to do that?

"He is acting strange," Jenson's voice echoed in my head. "We need to keep an eye on him." I couldn't agree more.

Savage moved slightly and grunted. "Alpha is up to something," he grumbled. "I don't like him." That I could also agree with too.

"Shall we?" Alpha Karl said, motioning toward the pack house. "You are the first to arrive. I can show you around, and maybe we could go to the office to discuss some things."

The way he asked about discussing some things sent a shiver up my spine. He was lying. Something about the way Alpha Karl was acting was making me feel on edge, and I wanted to know why.

"Actually," I asked, looking at the old man. "I was wondering if we could have a room for the night. I am planning on drinking, and so is the driver. I am letting my men have the night off. Maybe we could have a meeting to talk things over."

"What the hell are you doing?" Jenson mumbled in my head, but I ignored him.

Alpha Karl's eyes light up. "Sure," he said. "I will have an omega set two rooms up for you all. Your beta and driver will have to share, though."

"That will be no problem," I muttered. "We will be in for in a moment. I have to contact my gamma about us staying, so he knows."

Alpha Karl nodded and stepped away. "I will see you in the pack house shortly," he said, walking away. I gave him a nod and watched as he walked away.

Once he was out of sight, I opened a mind link to Jenson, the driver, and Oliver, my gamma. "What the hell-" Jenson blurts out.

"Alpha Samson, what's going on?" Oliver asked.

"We are staying here," I said before they spoke again. "Alpha Karl is up to something. The way he mentioned discussing something with me, I felt weird. I want to know what the old fool is up to. That was the plan. I want to know what the hell he is doing."

I looked at the driver and Jenson, who nodded.

"So, you want me to look after the pack till you return like we originally planned," Oliver asked.

"Yeah," I said. "But be on standby. Whatever he is up to, I might need you and some warriors to come here without delay and make sure you place Lloyd in charge before you leave. He knows what we are planning."

"Okay," Oliver said. "I will rope him in what we are doing."

"Okay," I said. Oliver left the mind linking, leaving the driver and Jenson.

"What's your name?" I asked the driver. "Paul."

"Well, Paul, you can drink, but not too much. I need you to circle the locals and see what you can find. See if anyone has any information about this pack that is willing to talk about what happens here. I want to hear anything and everything."

"Sure, alpha," he said.

I looked at my best friend and sighed. "Me and you are going to be together," I muttered. "I'm going to need you as my bodyguard and keep people away from me."

"I was going to do that anyway," he said. "Especially after you told me about Savage coming out to play."

Savage grunted in amusement but said nothing.

"Enough when I asked you to look around," I said.

"I would have," he said. "And still will when you are getting ready. I take it we are staying in the room till the party starts."

I gave him a nod.

"Make sure we are not disturbed," I muttered, looking at him. "Paul, you will stay with us till then. I don't want you being coerced or anything by that alpha."

"Sure," he said, sounding a little defended. "I wouldn't do anything that will harm our pack." I nodded.

"We keep all communication through mind link when the party starts," I said. "Unless we are on our own and no one is around."

Both men agreed as I closed the mind link and looked toward the pack house. "Let's go," I said, moving away.

Savage came close. "I don't want to stay," he grumbled. "But I think we need to." There was something in his voice that made me stop and look at him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Savage's dark eyes bore back for a moment but sighed. "I don't know," he said. "I have a feeling that we need to be here. Staying might not be an option, but we can cover our basis."

That didn't sound good.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked, but Savage didn't say anything. His eyes stared back as he slumped down.

There was no way he would tell. The look alone was enough to make me know he would tell me.

I looked back and walked with the guys. "You know we have no toothbrushes or change of clothes," Jenson mumbled as we walked up the pack steps.

"You care because-" I said, glancing at him as we approached the door.

"I don't," he said, smiling. "But it would be nice too-"

"Why are they staying?" a woman's voice growled inside the pack house, making us stop. I looked toward Paul and Jenson, who stared at the door. I placed my finger to my lips, letting them know to be quiet as we listened.

"You promised me we would-" she said, but the aura from Alpha Karl came flooding through, even making me men shudder in responses. "Control yourself," he growled. "And keep your voice down. We don't need them to know what is going on."

My eyes dart to Jenson, whose eyes widened.

I felt Savage move in my head and growl, not liking what was being said.

"Fine," the woman said. "I'm going to vent my anger, but I will state if they haven't gone tomorrow, we have to tell them to leave. We can't let it drag on anymore."

I heard enough and opened the door, stepping inside to find Alpha Karl and his Luna standing at the bottom of the stairs.

Both turn to look at us in surprise and recover quickly as fake smiles are placed on their lips. "Alpha Samson," Alpha Karl said, stepping closer. "Your room is on the ground floor to the left. Darla here," he said, motioning to a young girl to come over. "She will show you."

I gave him a nod and looked toward his Luna.

"Luna," I murmured. "I hope we are not putting you out."

Luna looked at me and smiled. "No, Alpha Samson," she said. "I will let you settle in and will see you later. I need to get ready."

I gave her a nod and looked at the young girl, who was looking up at me with wide eyes. "Darla," I said with a smile. "Show us the way."

The young girl's cheeks turned pink as she turned around and walked away, leaving us to follow her. A mind link opened up from Jenson.

"That was weird," he said. "Wonder what the hell is going on that they don't want us around." "I know," I muttered. "Makes me wonder if they stopped alphas from staying here." "I can ask around when I am out later getting to know a few people," Paul blurts out. "Sounds like a plan," Jenson said, looking at me. I gave him a nod but said nothing.

We stopped when Darla opened the door for us and stepped aside. "Let me know if you want anything else," she said with a small smile. "The rooms have joining doors, so you don't have to come out to enter this one."

Jenson thanked her while I entered the room and looked around. It was big enough for, and it would do for now, it was only for one night.

Jenson closed the door and sighed. "Now, what?" he asked.

I looked at him and grinned.

"We wait until the party," I said. "Not until others arrive."

They nodded, and we all sat around the room.

This would be a long wait, but we need to know what the hell is going on here. My gut was having a field day, but something was niggling at me and also Savage, but what?