Scarred

R.L. Burchett

The day after having her heart broken, Raine volunteers for an international member exchange with the infamous Blood Ridge Hollow pack-home to the Lycan Alpha who killed the Dark Witch. Nervous but determined, she gains the trust of an elite group of warriors, falls for a mysterious wolf who keeps to the shadows, and discovers the truth about her complicated past and prophesied future, But when the Dark Witch's followers threaten her new life, will Raine be able to prevent her return and save the people she loves?

Chapter 1

Prologue

SELENE

Kayden Ridge never feels as powerful as he does when he's leading his pack. He can sense the respect and admiration of his warriors as they follow him into the darkest pits, and even the trees seem to whisper his name in awe.

But I watch from heaven worriedly as they venture deeper into an unknown part of the forest.

Kayden jerks his head left, feeling an ominous presence in the air — one that does not belong in the forest. He senses a powerful, malicious energy lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The alpha holds up a hand to signal his pack to stop their approach. He motions for them to spread out around him, then steps forward. When he does, he sees the source of the energy: Mandora, the dark witch of the forest.

Mandora stands with her hands on her hips, scowling at the werewolf pack. Her slender frame is draped in a midnight-blue gown, her raven-black hair cascades down her back, and her long fingers grip a staff that pulses with a dark, foreboding energy. She would be stunning if not for her crimson eyes, which burn with hatred.

The dark witch watches the pack, eyes narrowed in anger, and then her lips curl into a snarl. "What is it you seek here?" Her voice is as cold and hard as a winter night.

Kayden steps forward again, his silver eyes blazing with determination. "We seek to pass through this forest," he says firmly, clearly trying to remain calm in the face of her power.

"You dare trespass in my domain?" Mandora sneers. She steps closer as well, her staff raised.

If only I could intervene, I think.

Summoning all of his strength and agility, Kayden hurls himself at the dark witch. For all her power, he is faster than her, and he lands a punch that sends her flying back.

indora recovers quickly and raises her staff, unleashing a wave of burning magic. The next moment, Kayden howls in agony as flames sear his flesh, leaving deep, painful scars on his face and chest.

"In the name of the darkness that binds us," Mandora begins to chant, "let these words be the witch bond that separates us. Let no power, no matter how strong, unbind the chains of our forbidden song. Let no heart ever come near that does not bear the strength of fear."

The werewolf staggers back, his eyes blazing with fury. Then, with a snarl, he leaps forward, claws extended.

"Let no love ever touch our souls," the dark witch continues, "unless it is written in ancient scrolls. Let no pain be felt between us forever unless it is written in the starlight never. By my dark power and will, let a witch bond be cast between us still."

Mandora smiles as she finishes her curse. "I block the bond formed within your soul. Only true love will make it take hold."

On the last word, Kayden rakes his claws across the dark witch's chest, ripping out her heart. Her body then falls to the ground, lifeless.

As the werewolf pack gathers around their alpha, their howls of victory echo through the forest, but I say. Kayden may have won this first battle against the dark witch, but the scars of his sacrifice will forever remain.

***

RAINE

"Raine," Shelby's high-pitched voice sounds over the intercom, "you are needed in the alpha's office."

I grab a towel to wipe my face, then head toward the office. When I arrive, I knock lightly on the door.

"Come in," the alpha's deep, gravelly voice calls out.

I open the door and enter. "You needed to see me, Alpha?"

He smiles, showing off his pearly whites. "Yes. How is training going?" he asks as he wraps his arms around me.

"Training has been going great, sir."

The alpha begins to kiss my ear, then moves down to my jawbone.

"Not during business hours, Alpha," I say, playfully smacking him away.

"Fine, Raine," he says as he sits back down in his chair. "I will see you at dinner tonight."

I smile and nod before leaving his office. On my way out, I catch his secretary glaring daggers at me.

Shelby is the only one who knows of our relationship. It's only an innocent romance, but she hates it. Jealousy is not a good look on her.

I go back to the gym to finish my late afternoon workout. After, I take a hot shower and get ready for tonight's pack dinner. The alpha makes sure to have the whole pack together for a big dinner at least twice a month.

Drake and I started flirting a few years back, before he became alpha, but things were never serious. In the beginning, he was a playboy, always sleeping around. And I could not hold it against him because we were only flirting.

Recently, though, Drake's stopped having so many flings. He says he wants to prove how much I mean to him, so I've decided to give our relationship a real chance. We're starting off slow, and if things feel right, we'll officially become an item.

We have rules, though. The most important one is no one else-unless one of us meets our fated mate.

It's not uncommon these days for wolves to have chosen mates. It's harder than ever to find your fated mate, so if you do, you have to respect and cherish that bond. Having a fated mate is an honor and privilege, one no one takes lightly.

***

A little while later, dinner is running smoothly when the gamma asks, "Raine, can I talk to you for a bit after dinner? It is about some new defensive strategies."

I glance at Drake, who is mingling with several other pack members-as an alpha should. "Of course. No problem."

Once dinner is over, I follow the gamma to his office. He shows me his defensive strategy plans, as well as some offensive strategies.

"These are really good," I say. "But it's late, and I'm exhausted. We can meet in the morning to discuss how and when to introduce them into the training. We will probably start with the more experienced warriors first."

I start to leave, but the gamma blocks my path.

"Wait, can we finish a few more things? It should not take long."

I furrow my brows, confused and frustrated. "Gamma, with all due respect, I am going to my room. And if you touch me again, I will break your arm."

He gulps in fear and moves out of my way.

I exit his office, knowing Drake will be waiting for me. But as I begin ascending the stairs, I hear a noise coming from the alpha's office.

Thinking Drake is probably finishing up some paperwork, I head to his office and slowly open the door to see if he is busy. When I poke my head into the room, moans fill my ears. My heart stops at the sight before me.

Shelby is bent over the desk, and Drake is pounding into her from behind.

I quietly shut the door, trying not to startle them, but my heart is breaking. Barely holding it together, I run to my room, where I can cry in peace.

As I lie in bed, tears staining my cheeks, I hear my doorknob begin to jiggle. I can tell by the scent it is Drake, so I quickly pretend to be asleep. When he enters, he groans once in annoyance, apparently buying the charade, and then leaves.

I stare into the darkness. If only Drake knew that his father, the former alpha, had trained me to be a deadly killer.

The old me would not have just walked away. The old me would have torn Drake and Shelby both apart... But I had changed over the years. I will not go that route again.

Still, I will not play the victim either. I just need to figure out how to tell him that I know and that this is over without killing him.

I will never be his or anyone else's, for that matter. Love is a weakness. I should have never let him get so close.

***

I wake up late to Shelby's rat voice on the intercom. "All high-ranked members, please make your way to the training grounds for a meeting with the alpha."

As a trainer for all the warriors, that includes me. I roll my eyes and rise to my feet.

Realizing I hadn't changed last night, I throw on some sweatpants and a tank top. I run to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth, and wrap my hair in a tight bun. I put on a stoic expression and make my way out.

When I arrive on the field, the alpha, betas, delta, gamma, and lead warriors are all there. I wonder what is going on — why this meeting is taking place.

"Thank you all for gathering on such short notice today," Drake begins. His voice is stern and professional, but it makes me want to hurl.

"I received a call this morning from a pack in Italy that wants to form an alliance. I need two volunteers to go to Italy for six months to teach our fighting techniques and strategies to them. Two of their high-ranking members will come here to do the same. So, any volunteers?"

True Campbell is the first to raise her hand. She's a good one for the job. As her trainer, I know that she is very strategic and disciplined in everything she does on the field.

Everyone else is hesitant. Why would they want to leave their families for six months straight?

I raise my hand, and Drake's eyes grow wide. He frowns, but I don't care.

"True Campbell and Raine Hart, go pack your bags for your journey. You will be heading to the Blood Ridge Hollow pack immediately."

The name sends chills down my spine. I've heard the stories of this pack. It is not only the strongest pack in Europe but in the entire world.

Supposedly, the alpha of Blood Ridge Hollow was cursed by the same dark witch he killed. People say he is now more beast than man.

But I find that I do not care. Beats dealing with Drake for the next six months. As I head to the pack house, I hear the alpha calling me. "Raine, why did you volunteer?" I roll my eyes as I turn to face him. "Because, Alpha, I am the head trainer for our warriors. Who better to train than me? It is a part of my job."

Staring at him blankly, I add, "Drake, you should go. I think Shelby is waiting on you."

He coughs, realizing I found out. "Baby, it is not what you think. I had too much to drink, I was lonely, I needed a release, and she was there."

I take a deep breath to remain calm. "Alpha, stop. Do not embarrass yourself. We are not children, so let's not act like it. We will never be. Now, if you do not mind, I have to pack for a long-awaited trip."

As I turn on my heel and walk quickly back to the pack house, I mind-link True, asking her to meet me out front in twenty minutes. I then hurriedly grab two large suitcases for my journey and throw several outfits in one and all my necessities in the other. Everything I can think of that I'll need.

After a bit, I hear pounding on my door, but I ignore it, knowing it's Drake. I grab a hoodie and throw it on, then grab my cellphone for the flight.

When I open my door, I see an enraged alpha in front of me. I push past him, heading for the front door, but he grabs my arm roughly and pulls me to the wall.

"Why?" he spits in my face. "Why are you acting like a spoiled brat? You are acting like a child, Raine."

I pull his hand off my shoulder and twist his wrist until he falls to his knees. "If you ever touch me again, Alpha, I will

cut your balls off and feed them to your whore."

Before he can respond, I grab my suitcases and drag them outside. True is already there, standing by a cab. I throw my bags in the trunk and climb in the vehicle.

As we drive away, I feel relief, but the pain is still there. Fortunately, True is too hyped to notice.

"I am so excited for this," she says. "I have always wanted to go to Italy."

"I heard it is a beautiful place," I respond lightly.

Apparently realizing I'm not in the mood for talking, True becomes silent. Thirty minutes later, we get through security at the airport and sit near some windows by our gate. We have another thirty minutes until our boarding

time.

"Hey, Raine?"

I look over.

"I guess something happened between you and the alpha?"

I stare at her, wondering how she knows.

"Raine, everyone could tell you two were flirting. And I saw the way you looked at him."

I nod. Apparently, I'm not as mysterious as I thought.

"You trained us to be observant," True continues. "We would be failing you if we didn't notice. I will confess, though, I have always wanted to be like you."

I furrow my brows. "Me? Why?"

True smiles. "Seriously? You're a badass, Raine. Strong, powerful, graceful, and kind. Nothing ever gets you down, so don't let this get to you. He may be our alpha, but as a man, he sucks."

I laugh. She's right.

As we board the plane, I become nervous. I hate flying, but I try to distract myself from my fear by focusing on True. I want to get to know her better-and her me.

After takeoff, I say, "Well, True, it's a long flight. I'm going to get some sleep before we land."

She smiles but just keeps staring out the window in fascination.

I put on my sleep mask to surround myself in darkness, then put in my headphones. With Machine Gun Kelly's "F*CK YOU, GOODBYE" blaring, I drift off to sleep.

Chapter 2

KAYDEN

I have become quite accustomed to darkness these days. Since the battle since being cursed —I stay away from the pack. The only time I run the grounds is at night.

People stare and point at my scars. They make up stories about me. I no longer want to deal with any of it.

But right now, I'm stuck in the office.

"Alpha, you have a call on line three," Alexandro says through the speaker.

I pick up the phone and push the red, blinking button. "Alpha Ridge speaking."

"Hi, Alpha Ridge, this is Alpha Bennett returning your call."

Yes, Alpha Bennett from Colorado. I have heard a lot about this alpha trying to find ways to overthrow me, so I've decided to form an alliance to keep an eye on him. Being halfway around the world, I need inside details, and this is a good way to do it.

"Yes," the man says, "I was calling you about the alliance we talked briefly about before."

The line becomes silent, so I prompt, "Yes, Alpha Ridge, but I was wondering what exactly you were proposing?"

"Well, I figured to initiate the alliance we could share a few things. I was thinking I could send two of my high-ranked members over to train your warriors and work with you. To share strategies and techniques. And you could do the same. That way, two of mine are there, and two of yours are here."

I hear him humming, probably in thought.

"That is a great thought," I respond, clicking my pen a few times. I need a timeframe— and fast. "How long do you suggest we do this exchange?"

"Approximately six months. Gives us plenty of time to get to learn each other's customs."

"I think we are in agreement, Alpha Ridge."

"Wonderful, Alpha Bennett. I already purchased the tickets in anticipation of your agreement. Plane leaves soon. I will send the itinerary to your email. Have a great day."

I hang up the phone, feeling satisfied. I then mind-link my beta, "Enzo, plan is in motion. Notify the two warriors that the flight leaves in an hour."

I walk over to the window to watch the morning training exercises. People who have visited the human realm say our training is like a military bootcamp, but I notice our new warriors seem to be doing just fine.

Gamma Garrett is starting the daily warmups, which are the same every day: fifty pushups, fifty sit-ups, fifty pull-ups, and then a three-mile run. Once warmups are finished, the warriors practice hand-to-hand combat. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, this time is dedicated to defensive training; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, it's offensive training.

I have not trained with the pack for years. I work out only at night in my personal gym, then let my beast out to run when the others are sleeping. It is better like this; I have a short fuse these days, and staying away means no worries.

Anyway, it is routine now: office work, dinner, workout, run, shower, then bed. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

"Window watching the trainings again, I see."

I turn. Beta Enzo is standing at the door.

"Where else would I be, Enzo?" I ask, raising my brow.

"How are you ever going to break this curse by staying hidden? The only people you ever see are me and Alexandro."

I stare at him.

"Hey man, sorry, but I don't swing that way. And you are not my type."

I give a short chuckle.

"Seriously, Kade, you cannot let this curse control your life. We all miss you and the things we did before. Shutting out the world does no one any good. I have known you since diapers, and I know you are lonely and in pain."

Annoyed and frustrated, I say, "You know nothing, Bernardi. This is the way it was meant to be. This is what fate decided. I deal with it, and you need to come to terms with it too.'

When I turn back to finish watching the training session, Enzo huffs and stomps out of the room. Why he still hangs on to hope is beyond me.

tried to be a part of them. I tried to live my life and tried to meet girls despite the curse. But they just laughed and made jokes at my expense.

They thought they were being funny, but people don't realize what words can do to a person. So, I separated myself from them.

Seeing that it's now ten-thirty a.m., I decide to get some paperwork done. I have a lot to do with two non-pack members coming to stay with our pack for half a year, and it's going to take a while. Now is as good a time as any to get started.

***

Several hours later, Alejandro calls through the speaker, "Alpha, your dinner is ready."

I buzz him in the room. Only the beta and I have the code.

"Your skillet Sicilian chicken, roasted vegetables, and baked potato, sir."

I look at the full tray. "Alexandro, sit and eat. There is more than enough, and I have a few things I want to talk about."

He looks nervous at first but gladly sits for the meal.

"How has your time in the pack been?"

About three months ago, the beta and I found Alexandro tied up in a cell. he was malnourished, beaten, and dehydrated. We brought him back here, and once he healed up and told me his story, I gave him a job as my assistant.

He does not judge me, and I do not judge him.

"Good, Alpha."

"Call me Kayden."

He nods. "Kayden, at first, it was difficult because I did not know anyone, but everyone made me feel welcomed. The pack is family-oriented but is strong and well-disciplined. It is a great pack, and I am proud to be a part of it."

Alejandro hesitates, then starts eating his meal. I know there is more he wants to say, but I don't push him any further. I just dig into my meal and enjoy a good dinner with a friend. I don't have company often.

After we finish, I head to my room to get ready for my evening workout. Today is Monday, so I focus mostly on cardio, doing about two hundred reps with the jump rope.

Once my heart is pumping, I work on the punching bag. I usually do this for about an hour-until I am drenched in sweat.

Now that it is completely dark out, I decide it's the perfect time for my run. I head to the south side and release my beast.

My beast is very large because I'm half wolf from my mother's side and half lycan from my father's side. People fear my beast—and for good reason.

I take off, running the full perimeter of the territory. But as I approach the south side again, I see headlights coming up the driveway.

Damn, I forgot about the two members of Bennett pack coming.

I run as fast as I can back to the entrance of the pack house, then hide in the forest. Out of sight, I watch as the SUV parks and a woman exits the vehicle.

Judging by her height next to the SUV, she's probably about five-and-a-half feet tall. She's slender, fit, and very tan— possibly Latina. She has wavy, chocolate-brown hair pulled into a low ponytail, and when she turns back to the vehicle, she smiles.

My attention is then caught by the second woman exiting the SUV. She's slim and fit like her friend but tall-maybe even my height, six feet. She has dark-brown hair pulled into a bun. Both women wear sweats and hoodies.

"Ron," I mind-link their driver, ~"show them to their rooms— the two last rooms on the floor beneath mine— so they can have their privacy."~

Ron immediately takes a couple of the women's bags and begins escorting them into the house. Before they enter, the taller woman stops and turns toward the forest, staring in my direction. I know she can't see me, but it's like she can sense me.

Tomorrow, we will see what they are made of, but for now, I wait until they are out of sight and likely in their rooms to emerge. I shift back to my human form and make my way to my own room.

I need to check in with my two warriors. If Bennett's members are here, then mine have probably arrived in Colorado.

Chapter 3

RAINE

Eleven long hours later, we finally arrive in Italy. The jet lag is crazy. It's 9:30 in the evening, and all I want is a long, hot shower and a bed.

I can tell True is exhausted too, but her eyes are wide, and her smile is contagious. "Raine, look at this place," she says excitedly. "It is amazing. The weather is different too."

I smile at her, then scan the crowd outside the terminal for our ride. After a moment, my eyes land on an older gentleman—probably late thirties or early forties. He's standing next to a black SUV with a sign saying "Bennett's

Two."

As I walk over, I give him a genuine smile. "Hello, my name is Raine, and this is True."

"Hello ladies, my name is Ron, and I will be your driver this evening."

Ron takes our bags and throws them into the trunk, then opens the rear door for us. "Here you go, ladies."

Such a gentleman. And I am loving the Italian accent.

"Well, ladies, we have about an hour's drive back to the pack house. I figured the airplane food would not suffice, so I took the liberty to stop and get you a few pizzas. Trust me, they are nothing like those in America; they are better. I also got a few sodas and a bottle of red wine. I went with my wife's preferences, so hopefully you approve."

True smiles, and I laugh.

"That was very thoughtful, Ron," I say. "Thank you. I must say your wife is one lucky lady to have such a gentleman for a husband."

He chuckles. "My wife is the one who turned me into such a gentleman. I was a wild one back in my day, but she toned

me down and made me the man I am."

I smile. Just by the way Ron talks, I can tell how much he loves his wife.

"Listen to me blabber on like an old fool," he says. "How about you ladies—anyone special?"

True replies, "No, sir. I'm waiting for the one who can handle my Latina fire."

We all share a laugh. From the time I spent training True, I know she's right about that Latina fire.

"And you, Ms. Raine?"

"No, Ron. No one special here, and I'm not looking. I have other things to focus on."

I turn and look out the window to regain my composure.

"Don't mind my intrusion," Ron begins, "but do not close yourself off to love. We are men, not animals. We are not all the same.

"Love can make you feel so many things but, most of all, happiness. If someone can bring the light out during your darkest day, that's worth finding."

I smile and take a sip of red wine before digging into the pizza.

As we drive to the pack house, True and I look out the windows. Italy is just beautiful. If it's this beautiful at night, then I can't wait to see it in the light.

Ron interrupts my reverie. "I hope you do not mind," he starts. "I am going to turn on a bit of music."

I smile again. Music has always been an outlet for me.

He turns on Tom Jones's classic "She's a Lady," and I giggle. Ron begins singing along, and by the first chorus, True and I are moving a bit to the beat and singing along with him.

Not long after, a giant house comes into view. It's so elegant that it looks like a castle, and I'm in awe. I swear it could've been plucked right out of a fairy tale.

True wastes no time exiting the SUV. Turning back briefly, she beams at me and says, "Raine, come on."

I climb out behind her. Ron assists us with our bags again, saying, "Ladies, the alpha is busy at this time, but he has asked me to escort you to your rooms for the evening."

We nod and begin following Ron, but I have the weird feeling we're being watched. I stop and turn toward the forest

line. I feel like there's something out there, but I see nothing. Wary, I follow the others into the house.

A minute later, Ron stops in front of a door. "This is one room and the other across the hall is open as well."

"Thank you, Ron," I say. "We appreciate it. Tell your lovely wife we said hello."

He smiles and takes his leave.

"Raine, can you believe this pack house? You could fit three of ours in here. There's even another floor above us!"

She's right. This place could be in a magazine.

"Yes, it's biggest place I have seen. Which room would you like?"

True looks back and forth between the doors. "That one," she says, pointing. "At least we are close together since neither of us know anyone."

I nod and wave before entering my room. The expansive room is just as gorgeous as the rest of the house. The white walls are textured, and a huge chandelier hangs in the middle of the room over a giant bed. I feel like a princess.

I put all my clothes away in the closet and dressers, then go into the equally elegant bathroom. After storing my necessities, I waste no time jumping in the huge shower. The hot water on my skin is relaxing, and I must spend an hour in there, just letting the water hit me.

Eventually, I put on a cotton bathrobe and wrap my hair in a towel. I then go to the balcony to look at the grounds I'll be traversing for the next six months.

The air is warm, but a small breeze is blowing. I see that my room is the only one with a balcony, and I feel a bit privileged.

"Raine," I hear True call from inside my room, "are you in here?"

"Yeah, out on the balcony."

True appears a moment later, dressed in fresh clothes and smelling like her usual vanilla body wash. "Raine, I have a question about something that has been bothering me."

I just stare at her.

"Before we left, the alpha approached me and gave me his cell number. He said when he calls to answer or text back.

Why would he do that?"

That is odd.

"I do not know," I reply carefully, "but when he does, let me know what he wants. But don't tell him you talked to me."

True nods. "By the way, nice room," she says. "I am going to crash for the night. We have a big day tomorrow."

I smile. "Good night, True."

"Night, Raine."

When she leaves, I close all the blinds. I sleep naked, so I want to make sure no one can see. I then drop my bathrobe and curl into the giant bed, feeling like I'm lying on a cloud floating in the sky.

***

In the morning, I am awakened by a knock at the door. I grab my bathrobe off the floor and wrap it around my body before answering.

"Hello, my name is Enzo," the man says when I open the door. "I am the beta here at Blood Ridge Hollow. I wanted to introduce myself and let you know our training starts in an hour."

"Thank you, Beta," I respond. "My name is Raine. I will be there, thank you."

He nods. "It's just to the east of the pack house-you can't miss it." He then turns and leaves.

I walk back inside my room and decide to stick to my usual workout outfit: black bodysuit and camo pants. The pants are very comfortable, like a combination of jeans and sweats. I then throw on my Nike tennis shoes and go to the bathroom, where I brush my teeth and put my hair in a tight ponytail.

Once I'm ready, I walk into the hallway and find True waiting for me. She's in her usual tank top, sweatpants, and black Nike shoes. She also wears a tight ponytail.

"Ready, Raine?" she asks.

I nod, and together, we walk outside to find the training grounds. We turn left, toward the east, and quickly spy the warriors. True looks eager to join them, but for me, training is just business as usual.

We walk over, and Beta Enzo greets us. "Hello, ladies."

True blushes and shakes his hand in silence. I simply say, "Hello, Beta."

Our presence does not go unnoticed for long. In response to the warriors' stares, Beta Enzo calls out, "Everyone, listen up. This is Raine and True. They are from the Bennett pack in Colorado, in the US. They will be here six months and will show us their techniques and strategies, as we will do for them. Today, they will observe, and then we will go from there. Gamma, back to you."

The beta then turns back toward us. "Sorry, ladies, only observing today. You can have a seat over there. Alpha's orders."

I roll my eyes when he leaves. "Come on, True. Let's observe."

We walk to a bench on the side of the training grounds and watch as the warriors begin. Their regimen feels like a bit too much to me. They're only warming up, after all.

Then the warriors are paired up and begin working on offensive positions and techniques. I take note of a few things for when we train with them, and I know True is too.

After an hour, the beta comes over. "Hello ladies. How is everything so far?"

"Good," I say, "though there are few things I've noticed."

He nods, waiting for more information.

"You guys have a very strong routine, but not every warrior is the same. You need to pair them up with someone that challenges them. If you ever go into battle, the opposing side will not fight the way your pack does. You have to be ready for those different techniques as well."

True chimes in, "You have to see each member's weakness and work on it until it becomes a strength. We are only as good as our weakness."

I smile in pride at my own little prodigy, but Beta Enzo just says, "I will let the alpha know of your findings." Then he leaves us alone again.

Once the training is finished and the warriors exit the field, True and I go over to begin our own warmups and workouts for the day. We're not just going to sit around for six months, though I have the feeling that's what the beta expects.

A few minutes later, I hear, "What are you guys doing?" I turn to see Enzo once more.

"Working out. Is that a problem?" I ask.

He does not answer.

"We did not get to participate or do what we came here for," True says. "We are not going to just sit on our asses. We are going to work out."

Enzo looks taken back by her intensity, so I try to ease the tension. "Our job in this alliance is to teach our skills and learn yours, not sit on the sidelines and act like fangirls. I take my job very seriously. Observing can be a great thing to do, but you guys did not involve us in any way.

"Just because you are number one in the world does not mean you're the best. It means your alpha has made his mark."

I then turn on my heel and walk away. Sidelining us was clearly the alpha's doing, but he has not even bothered to show himself.

***

Despite our obvious frustration, True and I are told to observe, not participate for the entire week. Having had enough, I turn to her during training and ask, "Want to go for a run?"

She smiles, fed up as well, and we take off. We run laps in the woods until we near the training grounds again and notice that the warriors have stopped training. They're just watching us.

The gamma and beta both approach, but the gamma is the first to speak. "It was very disrespectful for you two to walk out on our training like that. You are on our pack grounds, not in your backyard. You will treat us with the respect we deserve." My blood boils. "Respect? Respect is earned, not handed out like candy on Halloween. Where is our respect? We were

brought here as part of an alliance, yet all we've done is sit on a bench and in our rooms.

"I get it-you're following the alpha's orders, right? Well, tell your alpha to get over his ego. We are here for a job-a job that we do very well—but he wants to treat us like we know nothing.

"I did not get where I am because I have a pretty face, Gamma. So, if you ever shout in my face like that again, I will show you exactly how I became what I am. Are we clear?"

For a minute, we both just glare daggers at each other. The others are speechless. Then Beta Enzo says, "Everyone, calm down."

Gamma snaps his head toward his beta. "No. She wants to talk the talk, then pay up."

I smile. I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of me fighting him. "Pick your best fighter then, Gamma."

He lets out a low growl. "Gio, get up here now."

A well-built warrior rushes to the gamma's side.

"True, would you do the honors?" I ask.

She smiles widely.

"What's this?" the gamma demands.

"You chose your best fighter, and I choose mine."

Beta Enzo glances at the tower of the pack house, then sighs. "All right. True versus Gio. Human form only. You win by knock out or submission. Are we clear?"

They both nod and move toward the middle of the training grounds. Everyone forms a giant circle around them, and then the beta shouts, "FIGHT!"

More chapters soon