The Highlands Wolves

LAIKA

“But—” I started.

Carolyn cut me off. “It’s been eight years, and you haven’t left the Southern Province. This is an opportunity for you to see the outside world.” Her voice was soft, calming. She didn’t know the terror those words filled me with.

“I know what it looks like,” I said. “I was born there, so I know what it looks like.”

No way was I going back to that hellhole. I was an outcast, a pain in their asses, and an abomination to the largest pack in all of the Highlands.

“A lot’s changed in eight years,” Olivia, Carolyn’s second oldest, said. She was the quietest of the lot. If she had an opinion about this, I was doomed.

“What’re you so afraid of?” Lyall chimed in.

My eyes met his. Didn’t he see? Wasn’t he the one who found me in the Northern Province, mangled and on the brink of death? He nursed me to life, and his surprise when I made it was a sight to behold—he thought my injuries were too severe, that I wouldn’t survive.

“The Northern Province gave me this.” My small fingers pointed at the scar on my face. “I was unwanted, and you think I will go back there and smile at the people who did this to me?”

“You don’t know who did that; I’m sure it was a rogue attack,” the alpha said. He wasn’t so frustrated with me that he used his alpha status on me, but we would get there soon enough.

“My enemy could still be there,” I said through gritted teeth. Was still there, I wanted to add, but thought better of it.

“We are traveling with our guard. Plus, you’re more than capable of protecting yourself. Whoever hurt you before found you at your weakest, but now you’re strong. Do you hear me, Daughter?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to say a thing.

“It will be fun, believe me,” Madison said beside me.

Nothing about this was going to be fun. If I attended the gathering with them, I would be viewed as part of the alpha family. Wherever the family went, I would be there too.

That monster was the next in line to be alpha. I wouldn’t be able to escape him. Over the years, whispers of his cruelty reached me. He had continued his quest to eliminate rogues and those he deemed genetic failures. Those who would taint the race’s blood for the worst. Those that were weak, like me.

No one challenged the Northern Province. They were the biggest pack with the largest army. They were arrogant and ruthless. And always victorious.

“It’s settled then,” Alpha Clarke said, and I closed my eyes once more. This week was getting worse and worse. After this, I feared I wasn’t going to be the same ever again.

After breakfast, I left the table as quickly as possible. I had a day to gather myself before we made the journey to the Northern Province. A day to make sure my anger was kept in check.

My wolf stirred inside of me. “We will be fine,” she said to me, but I highly doubted it. Seeing that monster and being in his presence for three weeks was going to be hell on earth.

By the Moon Goddess, how was I going to survive this?

I headed toward the training center—I needed a physical way to rid myself of this frustration. To curb the fucking fear and find solace in the last remaining hours I was free.

Adam caught up with me. Good, I thought, ~I needed someone big and strong to spar with~.

“You don’t like this idea,” he said as he slowed his jog.

“If only I had a choice,” I said.

“Drink wolfsbane,” he suggested. Just a drop would keep me in bed for a week. But what would stop them from taking me either way?

“It’s easier if I just go,” I said.

“Why do you lie about not knowing who attacked you? For years I’ve watched you, seen how fear grips you anytime someone mentions the Northern Province. It’s lessened over time; the first year was the worst.”

“I’m no liar,” I snarled.

“Whatever. The truth will come to light one day. It better not destroy this family, or I will hunt you down and finish you.”

My feet stopped. I turned to him and stared into his green eyes.

“Don’t intimidate me—I’m not Madison.”

“As I said, you better not hurt this family—they’ve done a lot for me.”

“Then we’re on the same page. I mean them no harm,” I said through my teeth and continued walking.

“Good,” he said as we entered the training center. The floor was littered with mats and equipment for fighting. Adam walked to the middle of the room and stood in position. I followed him, ready to fight.

“I don’t want to see you crying after this,” he said, smirking and folding his hands into tight fists.

“Stop talking. Let’s get it on already.” I smiled, jumping up and down on the balls of my feet in anticipation. There was an addictive rush to being part of a fight like this one.

My hand connected with his jaw, and he cursed. Soon, we were exchanging blows and kicks. After this whole ordeal, I was going to be a bruised mess. And thanks to my werewolf genes, I would be fine by the end of the day.

We fought until Coach Benson told us to give it a rest. I dropped to the floor, and so did Adam.

“That was incredible; you hit like a man.” He laughed, his chest rising up and down.

“I’m glad you think like that.” Gosh, my body ached. That’s what I needed—a dose of physical pain to numb the emotional torture I was feeling after losing Lyall. I needed to get my bearings quick, before I lost it and this upcoming journey just made things worse.

“Can we go again?” I asked Adam.

“Perfect.” He went to his feet fast and pulled me up. I didn’t give him a warning before kicking him in the gut. One good thing about Adam was that he didn’t hold back because I was a girl. He struck me as he would his equal, just what I needed.