I grew up with a plan.

I already knew from the very beginning that my whole life would revolve around reclaiming the territory that rightfully belonged to my father's name.

I wouldn't stop until I got it back, even if that meant playing a game of seduction with Alpha Maddox, the ruthless Alpha of the Dark Forest Pack, to get my way in.

But what I didn't see coming was Xander Trevino — Alpha Maddox's brother and his new Beta. Xander was cold, dismissive, and my fated mate. His being distant and unbothered by me should have made it easier for me to put my game into action, but it didn't. Because every time we collide, sparks fly and I am left weak to my core.

Being weak was not part of the game.

*****

This book is a spin-off novel from the Alpha Blood Circle Series but can be read as a standalone. 

*****

Follow me on my I G and F B for updates and teasers - author.cassa.m

NADINE.

I closed my eyes as I relaxed my shoulders. According to the taxi driver who was taking me there, I was just less than ten kilometers from the nearest border of the Dark Forest Pack.

I waited all my life for this moment.

I wanted to enter the Dark Forest Pack territory. The pack that rightfully belonged to my family. The pack that was taken by the Trevinos under the false pretense of friendship. They killed my grandfather, the then-Alpha, while he was sleeping, while they were in our territory posing as comrades.

I was not born yet when that happened, but I lived my whole life knowing about their treachery, and I had made it my goal to make the Trevinos fall to their knees. I would take our pack back at whatever cost.

Even if it meant losing my own mate.

The Goddess surely knew how to play games. She gave me a Trevino for a mate.

Beta Xander Trevino of the Dark Forest Pack.

Two weeks ago, I met him at the Claiming Ball. But instead of claiming me, he went away with a promise that he would come back for me. The ball ended, and I had never seen him again.

He didn’t know I was a Montrell, their family’s worst enemy. And I had no intention of revealing my identity to him just yet. As cruel as it may seem, I would use this bond as my gateway to infiltrating their pack and taking what rightfully belonged to us.

And tonight was the best reason to be here.

I would go into heat at the peak of the full moon. Without my mate beside me, many things could go wrong, so I had a valid reason why I wanted to be here. I was also hoping that my heat would be enough to entice him to claim me.

I wanted him to claim me.

I heard only a few things about him. Among them was about him being a decent man and that he was a man of few words.

But then his Alpha, who was also his half-brother, had a reputation for being ruthless and abusive. So I had doubts about Xander, thinking that he might be like his brother, as they shared the same blood.

But it didn’t matter to me. I was here for revenge. If I had to play the victim to reach my goal, I would do that.

After I paid the driver, he helped me unload my luggage and left.

Once he was gone, the man looking at me from the border fence approached, and we exchanged information. He told me to wait, as it would take approximately thirty minutes for Xander to come from the packhouse.

Thirty minutes was nothing compared to how long I had waited for this moment.

A car finally came, and once the driver’s door opened, the scent of rich mahogany mixed with raspberries and sandalwood reached my nose. It was exhilarating. I almost moaned in pleasure the moment he stepped out of the car.

He was really good-looking and buffed in all the right places. His biceps were big, but not so big that they would scare me off. Just enough to make me feel secure if he wraps me in his arms. And his almost shoulder-length sandy brown hair was just perfect to cap his rugged look. He was definitely worth swooning, despite being a Trevino.

But my moment of fantasizing about him was cut short when I saw the other door of the car open, and his Alpha came out.

I swallowed as I tried to calm the erratic thudding of my heart. I stood up straight and forced a smile out of my lips to mask the many emotions and questions in my head.

What if Alpha Maddox said no to having me as Xander’s mate? Would Xander agree with him?

I wanted my mate to stand up for me. Otherwise, my plan would all go to waste.

“What are you doing here?” Xander’s voice came out cold as he walked toward me while his Alpha remained in front of their car, leaning his back against its front hood.

Xander’s forehead creased as his gaze drifted to the luggage beside me before looking at me again.

“I…” I paused. I was taken aback by his question.

“Didn’t I say I would look for you?” He asked, and my heart was constricted by the anger in his voice. He surely didn’t want me here.

“It’s been two weeks.”

“And? I said I would...”

“It’s a full moon tonight,” I mumbled. I wanted to snap back at him, but I didn’t want to blow up my cover, so I swallowed my pride.

“I’ll drive you back home, and then we’ll talk.” He answered icily.

“I don’t have a home anymore. I... renounced my pack. They never wanted me anyway…” Lies. Everyone at home knew I was traveling and trying to find my purpose in life. But I renounced my pack without asking permission from the current Alpha. So it was true that I no longer had any pack.

“Fuck!” He muttered under his breath. His eyes dilated before he spoke, but then again, his voice and his words cut my heart. “Stay where you are, and don’t say anything.”

My jaw clenched. I didn’t nod or reply, but I let my eyes tear up. I wasn’t even acting. I expected to be brushed off like this, but I didn’t know it would hurt.

We stared at each other for a few seconds, and when he realized he would not get a reply from me, he turned around and faced his Alpha.

“Alpha Maddox, permission to leave the territory...” He began, but the Alpha pushed himself off the car and walked toward us. His eyes were fixated on me, and I was not even sure if he heard what Xander was saying.

My eyes shifted between him and Xander. My mate’s forehead creased as he followed his Alpha’s movement.

“Welcome to my territory, Nadine. You are free to stay in the packhouse while waiting for my Beta to make up his mind.” Alpha Maddox spoke in an authoritative voice as he stood before me.

My face lit up. Even if Xander didn’t want me, it seemed Alpha Maddox was willing to take me in.

“Maddox!” Xander exclaimed, and I was sure I saw anger flitting in his eyes.

I turned my gaze away from my mate, and it landed on the Alpha, who I didn’t notice extended his hand in front of me.

“Did you hear me? Nadine, right?” He asked.

I bit my bottom lip and nodded my head before taking his hand. His grip on me was tight as we shook hands, and the way he was staring at me made my blood boil. He was looking at me as if he were undressing me.

“I’m sure Xander is having a hard time deciding if he’ll take you or his chosen.” He added.

“His chosen?” I repeated.

So, he had a chosen mate. No wonder he wanted me away from here. But I would not give up easily.

“Maddox, enough.” I heard Xander tell his brother.

“Better she knows the truth.” The Alpha chuckled, still holding my hand. “I can be a good company while he thinks things over.”

A smug grin tugged on his lips, and it looked wicked. I wanted to pull my hand back harshly, but I didn’t want to offend him. He was my only way into this territory.

“Alpha, my hand,” I said in a soft voice, flashing him a nervous smile.

Before he could reply, I felt sparks explode from my elbow before my arm was pulled away.

The Alpha let go, and his eyes went to Xander, who was already beside me. He scowled at him, but my mate ignored it and pulled me away.

“Let’s go,” Xander said.

I thought Alpha Maddox would be furious at what he did, but he just turned around and walked toward the car while Xander kept his hand on my arm while his other hand was clutching my two bags.

Sparks were exploding everywhere in my body, and his scent swirling around me made my knees weak, so I kept tripping. If not for his hold, I would be on the ground already.

“I don’t want you anywhere near the Alpha.” He said in a low voice, but I could sense authority in it.

I wanted to deflect his order, but I kept my mouth shut and discreetly rolled my eyes. If he kept being rude to me, I might do the opposite of what he wanted.

Xander opened the door of the back seat and let me inside before going to the trunk and placing my luggage there. He was already in the driver seat when the door beside me opened, and the Alpha slid in.

My eyes widened as I met Xander’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

“What are you waiting for? Drive away.” Alpha Maddox spoke as he inched closer, and I could feel his skin brushing against mine.

“I thought you wanted to sit in the passenger seat, so I let her sit at the back,” Xander told him.

“I changed my mind.” The Alpha answered nonchalantly.

“Nadine, move and sit beside me,” Xander said coldly.

“Nah. She can sit here. I don’t mind.” Maddox licked his lips and rested both arms on the backrest of our seat, where his arm ended up brushing against my shoulders. I felt every part of my face burning.

But I liked this. If I couldn’t get into my mate, I would get the Alpha.

I met Xander’s eyes again. His eyes were dilating, and his jaw was tightening.

“Nadine.” It was only one word, but it was full of warnings—for me or the Alpha.

My hand reached for the door handle, and I pulled it open. “I would like to sit beside my mate, Alpha,” I said politely before I hurried out of the car and moved to the front seat.

I didn’t know why I said or did that. Maybe because my wolf wanted Xander, and she wanted to sit beside him and not the Alpha.

As soon as I closed the door, Xander drove away. I had no idea how long we sat in silence before Alpha Maddox spoke. “Have we met before?”

My heart thundered. Did he recognize me? I changed the color of my hair and straightened it in the hopes I wouldn’t look like any of the Montrell females.

I was still contemplating my answer when he spoke again. “Maybe not. Or I would never forget such a beautiful face as yours.”

“Maddox!” Xander growled, and his hands tightened around the steering wheels.

“What are you complaining about?” The Alpha chuckled before his gaze shifted to me. “Forgive my brother. He doesn’t know how to appreciate the beauty in front of him.”

“Can you fucking cut that? Stop flirting with my mate!”

“Does it hurt? Did you remember that Mindy was mine before you came and decided you wanted her for yourself? Now, you have two females, and I have nothing!”

Mindy? Was she his girlfriend? The chosen mate. Did he really take her away from his brother?

My gaze was drawn to Xander, waiting for him to counter what the Alpha said, but he didn’t say anything.

I wanted to ask many things, but I shut my mouth. My teeth clenched as I focused my attention on the forest we passed by.

For some reason, the revelation about Mindy made me furious.

I knew I was not here for the bond, but that didn’t change the fact that he was clearly choosing her over his own fated mate. And my wolf couldn’t accept that.

My mate didn’t want me because of Mindy. It seemed I had another person to add to my most hated list.

NADINE.

We arrived at the packhouse, and the first thing my eyes looked for was Mindy. But I didn’t see her. I saw other females around. They were probably the Omegas of the packhouse.

They looked at us when we came in, but no one greeted me, even when I smiled at them. And Xander didn’t even bother to introduce me. They all made me feel like I was not welcome. They just continued with their routine without giving me a second look.

I also thought Xander was the one who would show me my room, but he let someone else take me. I was directly ushered to the second floor. And no matter how I tried to converse with the female who walked beside me, she never replied and only told me where my room was.

And then I was left on my own.

I didn’t even know what I was supposed to do.

I had been walking back and forth, contemplating whether I should go down and introduce myself to anyone I would meet and, at the same time, try to find out who Mindy was. But then I was not sure if I was welcome to do that. I didn’t want to look aggressive.

I was still undecided when I smelled Xander’s scent. Even if I didn’t want to, my body jerked up, and a smile curled on my lips. I couldn’t deny that I was excited to see him again.

But I reminded my wolf to restrain herself. Xander, too, was the enemy.

“Hi!” I greeted him as soon as I opened the door, flashing him my widest smile.

“Can I come in?” He asked. His deep, baritone voice sent shivers down my spine.

I didn’t reply, but I opened the door wider. He stepped in and waited for me to close it before he spoke again.

“I won’t be staying long. I just want to leave some instructions before I go.”

“What do you mean?” My eyes squinted.

“Don’t go out of the room while I’m away.”

“What? How about dinner? Are we not going to eat together?”

“I’m done with dinner.”

My mouth hung open at his words. I knew he didn’t want me here, but I didn’t expect him not to invite me to my first meal in this territory.

“How about me?”

“I’ll have someone bring dinner before I go.”

I bit my bottom lip to stop my teeth from chattering.

“If you want to leave the territory, just say. And I will drive you anywhere. A hotel in the city. Or an inn. Just say it.” He added.

He was throwing me out. But I would not give him that pleasure.

“No. I want to stay.” I smiled.

“Then it’s settled. Do not open the door to anyone, even if it’s the Alpha.”

“Am I not supposed to meet Mindy?”

“What?” He looked surprised by my question.

“I’m not allowed to go out or even open the door. I’m assuming it’s because I’m not allowed to bump into her.” There. I finally said it. “Will she be upset if she finds out you met your mate?”

“Whatever you have in mind, throw it away. Don’t believe Maddox. My brother knows how to offend everyone, especially me.”

“So, she’s not your chosen mate?” I just wanted an answer.

“I’ll get something for you to eat. Do you have any requests?” He asked, ignoring my questions.

“I want an answer.”

“We’ll talk once I’m back. Or if not, we can talk tomorrow morning.”

“I want to talk now.”

“What do you want to talk about? I don’t have much time. It’s a full moon, and I will be helping pups who are shifting.”

“Exactly. It’s a full moon. I will go into heat.”

“I know…”

He was still cold.

I had two choices. Either return the animosity he was showing me or pretend I didn’t notice how rude he was to me.

I chose the latter.

“I’m excited, Xander…” I bit my bottom lip and fluttered my lashes. “I’ve heard so much about a female’s heat.”

I was hoping my act would tug something in his heart.

“Are you? What do you think will happen?” A smile finally crawled on his lips, and in an instant, it made my pussy throb. Hard.

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on you. You can also tell me what to do.” I smiled at him before throwing him another question. “I think it’ll be amazing.”

“Do you think so?” He asked, his brows hiking up.

I bobbed my head excitedly, still smiling at him. “Are you not excited?”

Xander grabbed my hand and placed it over his front, making my body jerk. I felt his erection, and it was getting harder.

“Oh, Goddess…” I mumbled softly.

“Does it tell you how excited I am?”

Before I could stop myself, I had already squeezed his shaft.

“Nadine…” He grunted. And my name came out so alluringly from his lips.

“Sorry…” I tried to pull my hand away, pretending to be embarrassed by my action, but he wasn’t letting go. If anything, my action only made his cock swell more.

“Are you really sorry for doing that?” He asked as a smug smirk tugged on his mouth.

He was already handsome with a stoic expression on his face, but with a smug smirk on it, he was absolutely gorgeous.

I shook my head.

“I didn’t know I was given a naughty mate.” His eyes dilated, and the way he was staring at me made heat rise from my stomach.

I couldn’t help the seductive smile that curled on my lips. And I swear, my eyes might be twinkling. I like where this is going.

“You’re beautiful… Especially when you smile like that.” He let go of my hand, and I slowly lowered mine, even if I didn’t want it away from his cock. Because, as crazy as it might be, it was my only proof that this man was also attracted to me.

Xander cupped my chin and let his thumb brush against my skin. My lashes fluttered, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes as I reveled in his touch.

The sparks and his addicting smell were making me and my wolf lose control.

Focus. Focus. I kept telling myself.

“We’ll talk later. I have to go.” His voice snapped me out of my reverie and made me open my eyes.

He was still looking at me, his knuckles continuously brushing against my skin.

“Can you stay? Please.”

“I have to go.” He repeated. This time, his voice sounded throaty, and his eyes kept dilating. His wolf wanted me. I had to take advantage of that.

“Please…” I said in a raspy voice before parting my lips.

I was ready to beg more, but his thumb brushed against my bottom lip, and the expression on his face as he parted his own lips made me speechless.

He looked so sexy. He watched his thumb move as he slowly pushed it into my mouth.

I moaned before closing my lips around his thumb. A growl reverberated from his chest as I began sucking it, and my hands flew to his torso, clutching his shirt as I pressed our bodies closer together.

“Harder…” He grunted as his arm snaked around my body, and his hand landed on my ass.

The fire started igniting in my stomach, spreading all over my body.

I closed my eyes and sucked his thumb harder, but then he slowly pulled it away from my mouth. I whimpered while opening my eyes, only to see his face closing in. My heart skipped a beat, and the moment his lips brushed over mine, I felt a wave of warmth envelope me.

My arms coiled around his neck as his hand gripped my waist. His kisses started gentle and soft until they became aggressive, devouring every corner of my lips until his tongue forced his way inside my mouth. And I just let him in.

The taste of him — it silenced every thought in my head and made me want him more.

Focus. Focus.

A sultry moan escaped my throat when I felt my body being lifted and my back landing on the soft mattress. Xander was kissing me bruisingly hard, and the grunts coming from his throat let me know how hungry he was for me.

His actions were building my confidence. He wanted me.

My hands went to his hair the moment his lips left mine and trailed down my throat. “I want you…” I mumbled.

“Damn, Nadine… I can smell your arousal…” He groaned as he pressed his bulging erection against my front.

NADINE.

“Damn, Nadine… I can smell your arousal…” He groaned as he pressed his bulging erection against my front and I couldn’t help but grind mine onto him.

“Fuck!” He growled as his hand gripped my hair, and our eyes met. “My wolf wants you!”

“Yes.. please…” I moaned. “Take me…”

His hand moved, and goosebumps raised on my skin as he trailed his calloused palm along my thigh while our mouths fought for dominance. His fingers brushed on the tiny fabric covering my core before he slipped it to the side and began touching my folds. His touch was rough, but I reveled in it, and in no time, I could feel my pussy leaking.

He pulled away from my throat and pushed his body up so his face paralleled with mine. I whimper in disappointment because I wanted his lips on my skin.

“Aren’t you too wet for me, mate?” He asked as he licked his lips. His eyes dilated again while his two fingers slid in between my folds and penetrated my pussy - stroking in and out of me.

Whimpers and moans escaped my throat until I began gasping for air. He was finger fucking me hard while grunts and groans rumbled in his chest as if he couldn’t get enough of me.

“Is this what you’ve been looking forward to, little mate?” He asked and my delirious state wouldn’t let me answer.

Instead, I wrapped my legs around his waist, and arched my body, wanting to make more contact with him.

This caused my dress to slip, revealing the skin of my thighs.

I was still lost in the sensation, rubbing my core against his fingers as I kept moaning, when I realized he had stopped moving and that his body had become rigid.

My eyes snapped open. I saw Xander as his expression turned into a scowl. I followed his line of sight, and his eyes were directed on my right thigh, where my big tattoo was — a rose with a snake coiled around it.

I could tell from his expression that he didn’t like it. Was a tattoo a deal-breaker for him?

“Who are you?” He growled as he pulled his hand under my skirt.

“What?” I asked, confused. I propped my elbows on the mattress and pushed my body up.

His gaze met mine. His eyes dilated as he let go of my body completely and rose from the bed.

“Who are you?” He repeated.

“Nadine…” I answered, but my heart was thudding too loudly, as if it would jump out of my chest.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m your mate.”

“Really? Are you here for me or for Tristan?” He was growling again.

My eyes widened at his words.

Shit! How did he know about Tristan? Tristan was the former Beta of this pack and I was sure he had never told anyone about us.

He was my ex-boyfriend. He went missing, and the next thing I knew, news spread out that he had died of a rogue attack. Others might have believed that, but I didn’t. But I had no way to prove that my theory was right — that he was killed by Alpha Maddox and not by rogues.

But if he knew I was Tristan’s girlfriend, would I be in jeopardy?

“Fuck! Fuck!” He brushed his hands over his long hair as he kept growling.

“You’re scaring me!”

““Don’t lie to me! You’re Tristan’s girlfriend! Are you here for him? Too bad for you, you will never hear or find answers about him!” He said in a cold voice.

I opened my mouth to speak. I wanted to defend myself, but he beat me to it.

“Do you love him?”

“He’s dead already!”

“Do you love him? Answer me!”

“What is the sense of that question when he’s already dead?” My eyes widened when the realization hit me.

What if he had something to do with his death? I had always assumed the Alpha killed Tristan, but what if his Beta was also an accomplice?

“Just fucking answer me!” I felt jealousy rise in his aura, and for some reason, I wanted to clear up any doubts he had.

I shook my head as I tried to reach for his hand. “I’m here for you.”

“Stop with your lies. You’re not here for me.” He moved before I could touch him. He went to my luggage, harshly opening the zipper.

I rushed to him and tried to get him off my bags. “What are you doing?”

“Stay back there!”

“Those are my personal things! You have no right to inspect them as if I’m hiding illegal items!”

“Don’t you?” He asked, his eyes dilating, before he pulled a pair of black leggings from the stack of my folded clothes. “Put this on.”

“No…” I shook my head as I inched backward from him. Was he throwing me away from this territory, and he wanted me to have more suitable clothes than this dress?

I didn’t want to cry. I already knew many things could go wrong today, but I didn’t expect my heart to get broken by how he treated me. I thought I could take everything, but the pain coming from his blatant rejection was something I wasn’t prepared for.

Focus, Nadine. Focus. I need to stay here. I told myself.

“Please… I have nowhere to go.” I kept moving backward. I didn’t notice the bed until I bumped into it, and my knees bent, making me fall back on it.

Xander moved fast and, without warning, slipped the leggings onto my feet and into my legs.

“Stop!” I tried to kick him off, but aside from his strong grip, the pain in my heart made me weak. “Xander, please!”

“Don’t let anyone see this tattoo!” He said, his teeth gritting. He was holding my hands together while his other hand pulled the tights up on me.

“Why?” I finally gave up fighting.

“Just do what I say!” He successfully did it, and once he was done, he coiled an arm around my waist and pulled me off the bed, taking me along with him. The band holding my hair snapped, and my hair ended up almost covering my face, but I didn’t have the energy to fix it, even if it was blocking my sight.

“I want to understand what’s going on. What did I do wrong?” I asked in a painful voice.

Xander didn’t answer and proceeded to open the door. He looked along the corridor, and when he saw no one, he took me out of the room and locked the door.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Stay quiet.” He said in a hushed tone, and it was taking all of me not to freak out. He was holding me by my waist, almost half carrying and dragging me. It was painful, but I knew complaining would just lead me nowhere.

So I tried to numb myself. I had no idea what happened. One moment, we were into each other, and the next thing, he was throwing me out.

We walked down the corridor and down the stairs, but instead of going to the ground floor, we proceeded to another staircase going down, which I believed was the basement of this packhouse.

“Where are you taking me?”

“I said don’t make a noise.” He said coldly.

I wanted to scream and defy him, but I was too tired. It had not even been hours since I came here, and I already feel defeated.

“What is this?” I asked when he opened a metal door after he punched in the code.

“Get inside.”

“No. No.” I pushed him off me, but he was faster. He grabbed my waist again and placed me in the secluded room. He dropped me on a single bed before walking away with a fast stride, closing the metal door without even looking at me.

“No!” I screamed as anger surged through my whole body. He had put me in a bunker, and without a code, I knew I would never be able to get out.

I pushed my body off the bed and went to the door, trying to punch all the possible codes I could think of, but it kept beeping. I kept trying until I got a warning.

One more wrong code and it would notify the Alpha directly.

My body shook as I screamed. But I kept fighting to keep my tears from falling. As much as I wanted to get away from this bunker, I didn’t want to deal with Alpha Maddox, as I knew my heat would come soon.

Females who met their mates and were not marked would go into a wild heat every full moon, releasing a scent that would attract every unmated male. The unmated males would go into a haze with only one goal: to fuck the source of the heat.

And the last person I wanted to be around when I went into heat was Alpha Maddox. Given his reputation, I was sure he would take advantage of me.

I kept slamming my palms on the metal door before I rested my forehead against it as I murmured while my tears rolled down my cheeks. “I will make you pay, Xander Trevino! Mark my words!”