The scent can only belong to a Stormfire wolf, but why would one of them trespass into our territory? Unless my parents invited them. Could that be why I’ve been summoned?
I slip out of the trees and run across the field towards my home. The three-storey, red-brick building has been in my family for generations. The slanted roof is covered in a thick blanket of snow, and icicles dangle from the gutters to overshadow the wooden porch. My dad’s car is parked in the driveway, and the shed, which we use for shifting, has been left open.
Slowing my gait, I scan the ground. Fresh paw prints. They’re triple the size of my own when I step into them. I take a cautious sniff, and sure enough, burning leaves cling to the indentations.
I hurry into the shed and shift back. Rummaging through my bag, I dress quickly, lock the door behind me, and climb the porch steps. Only the kitchen light is on. Mum must be cooking dinner. My stomach clenches, and a feeling of dread washes over me when I touch the door.
Someone with magic has been there. The only creatures who can use magic nowadays are demons. Not even the headmaster at the academy is able to cast spells; he has to summon a demon to do it for him.
I take a deep breath and open the front door. One step, two steps over the threshold, and my heart clenches at what I see inside our little kitchen. My mother, held by the throat by the largest man I’ve ever seen, and my father standing beside her as pale as a ghost. The unfamiliar male towers several feet above the both of them, and his grasp on my mum’s throat.
“Welcome home, Lilith Thornblood.”
His deep, powerful voice sends a shiver running down the length of my spine. He’s completely naked from the waist up. His torso is covered in symbolic tattoos the same black colour as his hair. Thick gold bands encircle his arms, and a black medallion with a ruby centre hands around his neck. The jewel glows just like his crimson eyes, all of them cutting into me like molten shards.
“I believe introductions are in order,” he says, flashing the tip of his fangs in a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
My mother’s wide, terrified ones never leave my face. It kills me to see her so afraid. Even my dad has cowered a little in size; a gesture meant to convey submission in the presence of an alpha.
“I know who you are.”
He lifts a scarred brow. “Oh?”
I peel my gaze from the hand on my mother’s throat to glare at him. “You’re the alpha of Stormfire. You guard the Gates of Hell. Apparently, you have quite the temper and once wiped out an entire pack just because their alpha stole from you.”
The alpha inclines his head. “The very one.”
He regards me through the barest slits of his eyes. A minute shake of his head threatens disappointment as he looks at me. Look isn’t quite the right word. The Stormfire alpha is dissecting me into pieces, stripping me naked with his gaze until I’m only flesh and blood. From his stony expression, I appeal less to him than a mildly interesting object, and for some insane reason it raises my hackles.
Despite everything my parents and pack have taught me, I make a point of holding the alpha’s gaze as boldly and firmly as he holds mine. “What do you want?” I practically spit out at him.
My dad crosses the length of the kitchen and slaps me so quickly I stumble back in surprise, my body thudding into the back of the door. I’m used to his temper, and his fists, but still, I didn’t expect this hit.
“Show the alpha some goddamn respect!”
The impact forces me to break eye contact, but not before I catch sight of the alpha’s eyes glowing a deep shade of black.
“Touch her again and you’ll lose more than a hand.” He adds just the slightest bit of pressure to my mum’s throat, and the tips of his claws dent her skin.
She doesn’t so much as draw a single breath. Dad takes a big step back from me in fear for my mum, his mate’s, life.
The alpha cuts his gaze to me. “Come.”
He drags my mum from the kitchen, and my dad slowly takes up the rear, his expression a little grimmer than before. My heart thrashes so violently I can scarcely make out their footsteps as they head into the dining room. For a moment I just stand there in the kitchen, and then I follow suit, each step laced with a growing, burning hatred for this alpha. And my dad. Why is he letting this alpha treat my mum this way? It’s almost like he couldn’t care less about her. While he’s always been like that towards me, he’s never disrespected my mum. I don’t even care if he’s only doing it because there’s an alpha in our home. It’s unacceptable.
If my mum didn’t appear so terrified in the alpha’s presence, I’d grab a knife from the kitchen and swing at the alpha, then I’d take my mum away where my dad can never find her again. She’s always deserved better than him.
We both deserve better.
Once I reach our open-plan living room, everyone is seated at the dining table; the alpha where my dad would usually sit, my mum beside him. I sweep my gaze over the surface, unsurprised to find it set for only one. Of course the alpha would eat before any of us. It’s customary in packs that alphas should eat first and, usually, alone. With a wave of his tattooed hand, a thin chain slithers around my mum’s wrist. It wraps around the table leg, binding her to the alpha’s side. She glances at me standing in the doorway, her eyes wide and stark with fear, and more searing-hot fury consumes me.
The alpha pulls out a chair and gestures to it dismissively. “By all means, have a seat.”
Everything about this male pisses me off. From the arrogant way he struts around my home like he owns it, to the manner in which he curls the edge of his lips and looks at me like I’m a piece of meat… So typical of every other alpha out there, and yet so, so much worse.
He doesn’t even wait to see if I’ll obey his command. With not a care in the world, he claims the seat at the other end of the table and reaches for the bottle of red wine. My dad sits across from my mum, leaving only the pulled-out chair at the end for me. My every instinct screams to shift and challenge this alpha, but I’m not an idiot. Not only does he hold my mother prisoner, but I’m willing to bet his wolf is three times the size of mine. I’d be dead before I could so much as sink my teeth into his throat.
There’s really nothing for it. If I’m to figure out what the hell is going on and get my parents out of this alive, I need to play nicely; something I’ve failed to do so far in my eighteen years.
I settle down on the opposite side. The silence is so tense I could cut it with the alpha’s butterknife. Instead, I lift my eyes from the polished surface of the table and look at him.
“Why are you here?” I repeat, ensuring my voice is firm. “And what do you want?”
My dad slams his fist on the table and prepares to stand. “Dammit, child! How many times have I told you? Do not speak unless spoken—”
The alpha’s voice stops him. Dad freezes in his half-crouched position, and his worried eyes flick to the other end of the table.
“You’d do well to follow your own advice, Valerio.” The alpha narrows his eyes on me. “At any rate, I see no problem in answering her questions. She is my mate, is she not?”
Chapter 3
Lilith Thornblood