The Highlands Wolves

ALARIC

I needed a drink, and fast. The arrival of the lesser packs had me traveling around all corners of our pack’s compound, making sure everyone settled in okay.

The summit organizers were no help. I had to explain things slowly to them like I was talking to a first-grade child. I was working like a damn peasant trying to make sure everything was in place.

I’d been at it all day, and my mother was finally taking over, leaving me to rest.

There was only one pack left to arrive, those from the Southern Province. I was glad my mother would be the one to deal with them. Those motherfuckers believed that peace, not war, was the answer to anything and everything.

I had a different opinion. Life was war, and if you stayed and watched on the sidelines, you were bound to be hit by a flying arrow.

Though, as much as I hated their philosophies, the place produced gems of women. When I was bored with the faces here, I visited the Southern Province to slake my thirst. It was a fountain of women…not just women, but perfect women. Maybe I would seek out one of them before the end of the summit.

I poured a glass of whiskey over ice from the stocked bar in my suite. The sip went down smooth, and I took a deep breath to further calm my rage.

Nora came out of the bedroom wearing black lingerie that left little to the imagination.

“Come to bed,” she purred in her forcibly sweet voice that was beginning to bore me.

She was beginning to bore me. I really needed to dump her. She was the longest-running girlfriend I ever had, and a needy one at that.

“Not now,” I growled.

“We haven’t been together in a week. I’m horny!”

I gave her my full attention. What once was extraordinary to look at, was just so plain now. I had the urge to tell her to go and put some clothes on.

“Listen, and listen well. I’m frustrated right now. Nothing is going as it should. I don’t have time to deal with you. You need to leave me alone, now.”

Her lips trembled in an obviously fake pout as she turned back to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her, leaving me in peace.

I finished the glass and told myself to stop there. It would be shameful for the son of the most powerful alpha in the Highlands to be seen drunk by the guests.

Later that evening, I made my way to the dining hall for dinner with the alpha families. Nora left before I did. The woman was pissed, but I didn’t give a fuck. There were more important things on my mind.

For example, the Southern Province alpha had two daughters that I knew had now bloomed into women. They were too young when we last met, but I was eager to see them tonight.

I looked around the room. The only empty chair was next to Nora, who looked like she suffered from a serious case of constipation.

My wolf stirred in excitement. What was wrong with him? Nora was never attractive to him.

I sat next to Nora. Normally, she would grab my hand or whisper sweet nothings in my ear, but not this night.

“Glad that you finally joined us, Son,” my father said. I turned to him and bowed my head in respect. I took in the guests seated around the table, stopping and doing a double take.

In a far corner next to Alpha Clarke’s daughter was that weakling of a mate, Laika.

My wolf stirred again. So, this was what it was about? That filth had incited his need? Really? I was ashamed of my reaction; I thought we were past the attraction, past the freaking tie.

Her eyes were down, looking away from me. And for once in my life, I considered her beautiful.

Someone poured wine in my glass, bringing me out of my stupor. Staring would rouse unnecessary questions. No one here knew her. She never visited the alpha compound when she lived in the Northern Province.

“So, I heard you adopted Laika,” my father said.

I felt Nora’s eyes on me, but I refused to look at her.

“Yes, Lyall found her. She had been badly hurt by someone.”

“That’s so sad,” my mother said, her eyes on Laika.

If Laika spilled that I was the one who hurt her, I swear on the Moon Goddess I was going to kill her for real this time.

“We’re glad she survived. There was little hope, but she pulled through,” the luna of the Southern Province said, smiling warmly at Laika.

Laika’s eyes met mine. It was then that I saw the scar running from the middle of her cheek, down to her neck, and over her shoulder to where her dress concealed the rest of it. Even with the scar, she was breathtaking.

I blamed it on the whiskey I had earlier.

Would I be able to do what I’d done to her again? Even though I tried to sever our tie back then, it hurt me all the same. Another dose of that kind of pain was uncalled for.

I was pretty sure she was never going to come near me again, let alone claim I was her mate. That silver sword was warning enough—the scar a testament to who I was and how far I was willing to go.

Toward the end of dinner, Laika excused herself. I gave her a head start before following. No need to be hasty about it.

Her red dress billowed in the air. She was walking fast, almost running. I took a turn, quickened my pace, and cornered her in a dark corridor.

She gasped as I slammed her body into the wall.

“You should be dead,” I said.

She remained silent, her chest rapidly falling up and down.

“Why are you here? To tell everyone what I did to you? Believe me, darling, telling them won’t fucking work,” I said, staring into her eyes.

I sneered. “Look at that scar. I bet you think of me every time you look in the mirror. You’re so ugly.”

Suddenly, I was pushed back and my hand left her neck. Her knee came up and landed in my gut.

I staggered away from her. This was unexpected. Did she just manhandle me?

“Stay away,” she said, her jaw trembling.

My feet refused to move. She left me there, the sting on my face and the ache in my gut.

“Incredible,” I whispered, fascinated. Heat flooded my loins. She was feisty now—no longer the weakling I’d feared would ruin my superior status at school. My wolf cooed, and I smiled. This was going to be so much fun after all.

***

I couldn’t sleep that night. I rolled in my bed, the sheets wrapping around my body. My cheek warmed at the memory of her small, powerful hand smacking it. My insides heated up—the need to go to her thick in my veins.

Sweet Moon Goddess, the image of her fierce strength lingered in my brain. It was the only thing I could think of. I yearned to go to her, but to do what? Taunt her some more? Or do what mates do?

Years ago, I tried to sever the tie between us, to erase it from existence. But it looked like I failed.

Laika returned a new woman. The naive, meek version of her was long buried. Now she was a woman with strength enough to move an alpha. To move this alpha.

What happened to her after that night? And that scar, that long, thin line running from the middle of her cheek down to her breast only made her more appealing. I ought to think she was ugly, but no, there was something inviting about that scar.

I lifted my hands in the dark room. By these hands she wore that scar, and by these hands I was going to have her.

My dick thickened as the image of her kneeing me in the gut earlier floated through my mind, and I smiled. My hips rolled and I cursed. Goddammit, it felt so good, like she was here with me. Maybe I was losing my mind, or maybe my excited wolf was messing with my head.

Someone pounded on the door to my room, breaking me from thoughts of Laika pressed under me. Letting out a string of profanities, I rolled out of bed and stalked toward my door. It had better be good.

Conan Murray stood there, rapidly rubbing his hands together. He looked around, jaw clenched, as if he suspected someone was spying on him.

“Why are you here?” I hissed, moving to give him room to enter. He didn’t hesitate, and I closed the door behind him.

“Is it true? Is she alive? Tell me it’s all lies,” he rambled.

I went to the bar for the second time today.

“Answer me,” he demanded.

I handed him a glass of whiskey. He was reluctant but took it anyway. Conan wasn’t one to refuse a good drink over panic, or was it fear?

“She is.” I gulped down the liquid and poured myself another glass.

Conan’s eyes widened. “Are you telling me that the girl we killed is back from the dead?”

“Yes, she’s back; yes, she’s alive; and fucking yes, she’s here.”

He swallowed the contents of his glass in one go. “My goodness,” he said, signaling for me to fill his glass again.

“She won’t tell.” I tried to reassure him, but he was so worried that he didn’t care.

“You sure?”

“No one would believe her, Conan. I’m the son of the alpha, you’re my beta, and she was a nobody without evidence.” I gripped his shoulder to get his attention. “It would be her word against ours. She can’t risk it.”

“You better be right,” he said, letting out a huge breath.

I was certain. Laika was strong now—she could fight—but I was certain she wouldn’t risk the heat and attention if she said anything.

I took another sip of whiskey. How in the world did she survive what we did to her? The fact that she was alive said something about her.

Maybe we were wrong to think she was weak, inferior. Laika was a fighter. I could see that now. And I was going to see how much of it was inside her.

My lips pulled into a smile as anticipation gripped me. Her coming here was nothing but a fucking blessing to me.