“No one really comes to the pack house library, except for the occasional high school student doing a research project,” Kalindi said as she led me down a steep staircase. “Although it is an ideal place to plot and strategize—no prying eyes or distractions.”
We entered a room with a low ceiling and a dozen tables and chairs, surrounded by dusty discolored bookshelves on every wall.
Kalindi was right. This place clearly hadn’t seen much use in recent times.
Sitting at a table in the corner were two girls around my age.
One of them looked similar to Kalindi, but less edgy and toned. That must be Ela.
The second girl was a pretty blonde, with gray eyes and glasses. She shot out of her seat as soon as I approached and extended her hand.
“Victoria Spencer,” she said, introducing herself. “I’m so glad you thought to start a book club. I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
I exchanged a knowing look with Kalindi.
“Pleasure to meet you, Victoria.”
“And this is my little sis, Ela,” Kalindi said, wrapping her arms around the other girl. “She’s a legal assistant, here at the pack office.”
“I’d shake your hand, but my sister is squeezing me to death with her vise grip.” Ela laughed.
“Do you work here too?” I asked Victoria.
“Oh no, I sometimes work at my mother’s bakery, but honestly, when Ela told me about this book club, I just jumped at the chance to have something social to do,” she said, starting to relax. “I don’t get out as much as I’d like.”
“She’s mated to Beta Ryland,” Ela said, loosening her sister’s grip. “So she gets the whole mating into the Royal Pack thing.”
“Really, you’re mated to Ryland?” I said, surprised as Victoria blushed.
“Yes, he was very excited when I told him I’d be spending time with the Luna,” she replied.
“Oh, um…please just call me Bambi…both of you,” I said embarrassed. “I’m not a fan of titles.”
“Done and done,” Ela said with a smile.
Ela waited until her sister was gone then instantly leaned in close to me.
“Okay, spill,” she said, excited. “What’s the real reason you wanted to come here? It can’t actually be about the books, right?”
She clearly had the same quick mind as her sister.
“Yes, tell us, Bambi. I need some excitement in my life,” Victoria said, pulling me into the chair next to her.
“It’s not that interesting, but…”
They both looked at me with wide eyes.
“I’m here to research…the Great War,” I revealed.
“No, nothing like that.” I laughed nervously. “It’s just that Ekon doesn’t keep any books on the war at his estate…like, none at all. And I have some questions I need answered.”
“Okay, now you’ve got my attention,” Victoria said, intrigued. “I know about Alpha Ekon’s aversion to anything war-related through Ryland.”
“My parents died in the Great War,” I explained. “And I think Ekon knows more than he’s telling me.”
Ela rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Sounds risky. I’m in. And don’t worry about Vicky over here. Just because she’s mated to the Beta doesn’t mean she’ll snitch.”
“Like I said, I need some excitement in my life,” Victoria said, leaning back in her chair.
I looked at my new friends with a determined smile.
“So, where do we start?”
Victoria got up and walked over to the dustiest shelf in the room. She pulled out a massive book that looked like it hadn’t been checked out in ages.
“Perfect, then let’s get started, ladies,” I said, eager to dive in.
When I arrived home from the library, I heard yelling from Ekon’s office.
I crept quietly to his door, which was slightly ajar.
As I peeked through the crack, I could see Ekon, pacing around Ryland in a fury.
“That cunt sniffer has a lot of nerve showing up here—to my pack,” Ekon growled.
I covered my mouth in shock.
“Fuck that treaty. I’m not providing hospitality to a fucking Blackwood,” Ekon spat.
“I understand your concern, but Hunter Blackwood isn’t his father. He didn’t start the Great War. He inherited the Pack from his father, much like you, and we have a duty under the king to—”
“Don’t try to be diplomatic about this, Ryland. A Blackwood is a Blackwood. They’re all rotten bastards. Especially the cunt sniffer.”
“He does have a…certain reputation…I’ll admit, but this is a chance to bury hatchets and show that the Jedrek Pack is willing to mend old wounds,” Ryland responded. “It’s only one night, and then he’s off to the Northern Pack.”
“I won’t let that snake go to the Northern Pack alone,” Ekon growled. “He’s plotting something. I’ll escort him there myself and see what his intent really is.”
As Ryland walked close to the door, I quickly backed away and ran up the stairs to my bedroom. I sat down on my bed, trying to deconstruct everything I’d just heard.
An Alpha named Hunter Blackwood was coming here for the night. And his reputation clearly preceded him.
I’d heard that name before, but I couldn’t place it…
Max would know, that I was sure of. I pulled out my phone and began typing.
So Hunter Blackwood slept with another Alpha’s mate? Mating bonds were extremely difficult to break. It was almost unheard of.
I didn’t know if that scared me more than the fact that his father had helped start the war that killed my parents and countless others.
Either way, Hunter Blackwood was bad news…
As we stood at the gate of the compound, Ekon looked more tense than I’d ever seen him. Ryland stood at his side while Kalindi stood at mine, and all the staff and soldiers lined up behind us.
This was a typical reception for an Alpha. I’d done this many times alongside my brother at our pack back home, but never as a Luna.
Ekon hadn’t told me anything about Hunter Blackwood, probably hoping to shield me from him, but it was better that I knew what I did.
I was prepared for his tricks.
As the heavy iron gates creaked open, a long motorcade began to drive through.
Ekon’s eyes grew darker, and the hair on his neck stood up. He looked like he was holding back from shifting.
The motorcade stopped in front of us.
“Cunt sniffer,” Kalindi growled under her breath.
I smiled to myself. This welcome may have been mandatory, but it wouldn’t be a warm one.
One of Blackwood’s soldiers opened the door of the luxury car in the middle of the motorcade. A tall, muscular man with tan skin and dark hair stepped out.
He had a devilish smirk on his face, and his yellow eyes sparkled with mischief under the floodlights of the compound.
He definitely looked like trouble.
“Alpha Supreme Jedrek,” he said, extending his hand as he approached Ekon.
I could tell that it took everything within Ekon not to extend his claws instead.
Hunter Blackwood turned to me next and looked at me with an insatiable thirst in his eyes.
He closed his eyes and sniffed the air around me.
My stomach dropped. I was frozen as I waited for his next move. And then his eyes flashed back open, and his gaze bore into me.
“You smell...nice,” he said, lightly licking his lips.
