Her Light
Nike Blackwood is something of a rarity in the werewolf world, being one of the only known female alphas. After killing her sadistic father and taking over the alpha position, Nike struggles to manage her pack as well as her three younger sisters. In the face of ongoing attacks from outside, Nike meets with a neighboring pack and discovers her destined mate, Toby. But love is scary to Nike, who’s only seen its dark side. Will her mate be able to show her there’s nothing to fear?
Age Rating: 16+
Prologue
Nike Blackwood
My father was an abusive husband and a cruel father, but he was a great leader and alpha until he lost his mind.
I resemble him far more than I care to admit, from his pale blond hair to his cold green eyes.
Eyes that he turned cold from a young age.
Too young.
As the eldest of his four daughters, I took the brunt of his cruelty. He tried to break my spirit, but I stood strong. Our mother taught us that everyone should be treated equally, no matter their gender, and that a true leader is always fair and just. Begrudgingly, my father saw the alpha blood was strong in me and started my alpha training when I was twelve years old.
I did better than he ever imagined a female could. But that didn’t stop him from wanting a son—the “rightful heir” to the Blackwood Pack, as he said every time I did something wrong.
No matter how small the error or how hard I tried, I was never good enough.
No matter how hard I worked to be stronger, faster, smarter… It was never enough for him.
He would admonish and yell over and over until I became colder and harder, shying away from emotions as he saw it as a weakness when the only thing an alpha needs is to be strong enough to keep the pack safe from threats.
My father was as calculating as he was cruel and managed to keep what was truly happening in our home private, and no one suspected the truth until he went too far one day.
My youngest sister, Eris, had just turned two a week before when the pack doctor informed my parents that my mother would not be able to bear more pups. My father was furious—he would not have a son. The abuse and cruelty increased, and soon, there wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t picking my mom up and treating her wounds.
The pack started to sense their alpha’s vicious and continuous anger and noticed their Luna was no longer interacting with them. My father’s leadership suffered, and he became tyrannical and pushed me harder than ever.
Always too hard.
But still, my mother would smile and tell me how proud she is of me. Of all her girls. Because we are stronger than our father believes us to be.
My mother taught us what was really important in life.
Happiness. Compassion. Honesty. Loyalty. Love.
But I don’t believe in love. How could I when my world was shattered because love wasn’t enough? My parents were mates, and mates are supposed to love each other.
If love was as good and powerful as Mom said, why did my father kill her in a fit of rage?
