He stepped closer, extending his hand. “I’m Alex.”

  “Alex?” I studied him. “I don’t know an Alex.”

  “Did you get to the Faeble in time?”

  I gave him a double-take. “The wolf?” My face heated. How was that possible? “I d-don’t understand.”

  “Have a seat.” He sat at the base of the trunk. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to rub my ears this time.”

  My face and neck grew inflamed with heat. I slid down to sitting.

  “I’m a werewolf, too,” he said. “Only I live as a wolf and only turn human on the full moon.”

  “What?”

  “We’re called wolfborns. Instead of being born human, we come out as wolves. Many consider us a bad omen. Most are drowned at birth.”

  I gasped.

  “But those of us who were spared have formed our own pack.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know any different.”

  “But wouldn’t you rather be human most of the time?”

  “It’s actually pretty peaceful living the way we do.”

  I tried to wrap my mind around it.

  “You want to talk about what’s bothering you?” he asked.

  “Are you sure that’s how you want to spend your one night as a human?”

  He laughed. “It beats spending another evening in the Faeble. Not that it’s a bad place, but it’s nice to have someone else to talk with—especially someone who trusted me in my wolf form.”

  “Wait. Where’s the rest of your pack? I’ve never seen you with any others.”

  Alex frowned. “Some hunters came through recently. They took most of us out. The rest of us were separated. I think they left the area, not that I can blame them.”

  “Why did you stay?”

  He shrugged. “It’s my home.”

  “But aren’t you lonely?”

  “Of course. But someone needs to stick around to take care of the new wolfborns. We find several a year. They’ll never survive on their own—unless born to another wolfborn.”

  “Why don’t you stay with Toby’s pack?”

  Alex shook his head. “Like I said, others view us as an abomination.”

  “Not these guys. They have a vampire living with them. Surely, you can’t be worse than that.”

  He gave me a double-take. “They’ve got a vampire? Like, as a pet?”

  I smiled. “No, she’s married to one of them.”

  “No way.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “Well, maybe they would accept me.”

  I patted his shoulder. “I’m sure they will. Plus you could keep an eye on the property, as a wolf when they’re humans and as a human when they’re wolves.”

  He seemed to be considering it.

  “Let’s go. I’ll introduce you to Ziamara.”

  “Maybe you should talk to the other wolves first.”

  “I’m sure they’ll be happy to have you on board. They pride themselves in being a pack that accepts everyone. You’ll add to the diversity.”

  “But what about when I find a newly abandoned wolfborn?”

  “I’m sure they’ll let you raise him there. I—” Everything spun around me.

  Alex grabbed my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  White dots formed all around. “I…”

  “Talk to me!” He shook me.

  My eyelids closed and I couldn’t fight them…

  When I opened them, I was in a strange house. I shot up in bed. No, this wasn’t a new place. It was my childhood home.

  I sniffed, smelling eggs, bacon, and coffee. Noise sounded outside the room. It sounded like my family was already up, getting ready for the day. I got up and rummaged through my dresser, finding an outfit that had once been my favorite.

  After I had brushed my hair, I went into the bright, cheery kitchen. My father sat at the table, reading a newspaper. My mother was flipping bacon. Two of my three brothers were wrestling in the corner near the door.

  “Take it outside,” my father barked, not looking up from the paper.

  “They’re just being pups,” my mother said. She turned to me and smiled. “Go wake your sister, would you? I don’t need you kids late for school again.”

  I returned the smile and turned around. My sister bounded down the hall. “I’m already up.”

  “Good,” said Mother. “Everyone sit for breakfast. It’s getting close to the full moon, we need to eat up.”

  I took my normal seat.

  “Boys!” Father snapped.

  My brothers stopped wrestling and came over to the table, still eying each other.

  “Can we please go to the school dance?” asked my sister.

  Father folded over the top of the paper and glared at her. “No.”

  “But, Father.”

  “I said no. There will be no more discussion.”

  “But we don’t have to go with regular boys. We can—”

  “No,” roared my father. He slammed the paper down. “Are you all trying to test my position as alpha? If you don’t respect me, how do you expect the rest of the pack to? There will be no dances.” He paused to make contact with all of us kids, his dark brown eyes narrowed. “You each have your own mates picked for you. We’re not following the world’s ridiculous dating trend. Bring it up again, and there will be blood.”

  “Let’s eat,” Mother said, her voice chipper. “We don’t want to be ravenous the day of. Build up our strength now.”

  Father pulled the paper back in front of his face. “She said to eat.”

  We all grabbed our forks and dug in.

  “There’s plenty. Have thirds, kids.”

  The room was nearly silent as we filled up. I already noticed a greater than usual hunger.

  My sister poured some juice. “I heard an unmarried girl from our pack is seeing someone from our rival pack.”

  Father slammed down his newspaper again and glared at her. “Elsie, you need to stop. If something that ludicrous was going on under my nose, I’d know about it—and deal with it severely. Death would not come swift enough for that girl. Stop trying to go to the school dance.”

  I held my expression steady, but my insides shook. How had anyone found out about Toby and me? We’d been extremely careful. Or was she referring to another couple? Maybe she was making it up, having no idea how true it really was.

  Elsie scowled. “You might want to consider getting with the times, that’s all I’m saying.”

  “Are you trying to bring down my wrath on you, child?”

  She took a bite of eggs and shook her head. “Just saying that times are changing. Maybe we should try to—”

  “To your room! Now. Before you say something that brings your death.”

  My mother’s mouth dropped and she begged Elsie with her eyes.

  “Death would be better than living here,” Elsie muttered and rose from her chair.

  “What did you say?” demanded Father.

  “I said, yes sir.” She pushed in her chair and stormed into the hall. Her bedroom door slammed shut.

  “You people had better talk some sense into that girl,” Father said. “She’s close to finding herself as an example for the entire pack. I will not allow the world’s ways to pollute the pack. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” we all muttered and went back to eating.

  My heart thundered, not only for how close Elsie was walking the line but also for myself. Toby and I had fallen in love, hard. He was all I could think about, and we wanted to get married, even if it meant running away to do it. I would so much rather live as his wife than under my father’s thumb for the rest of my life.

  Not only was he always a tyrant, but the jerk he’d picked for me to marry was no better. I shuddered just thinking about Franklin. Though not even engaged, he acted like I was his property.

  I avoided him like the plague, using studies as my excuse. But soon, I would graduate and the engagement would begin. There was no getting around it. The alpha picked marriage partners for everyone at birth, and no one dared dispute Father’s decision.

  I was determined to be far, far away from the pack before Franklin had an opportunity to propose. As it was, every time he saw me, he spoke of nothing other than the large home we would own and how well I would keep it, all while giving him a new pup each year for the duration of my fertile years.

  He made me sick. Toby was his polar opposite, kind to a fault and never using his strength to intimidate anyone.

  We needed to make our move soon, which meant I would have to talk with Toby. School was easier, but still tricky.

  The day went by in a blur, and I wasn’t able to get anywhere near him because he was always with someone from his pack or someone from my pack was near me.

  That night, I was woken to a loud clatter, followed by shouting. My father was yelling—that was no surprise—but I couldn’t tell who the other person was. It sounded like either my mother or sister. Worried that he might hit one of them, I climbed out of bed and crept out to the living room.

  A glass vase lay shattered on the floor between my father and Elsie. He was in his pajamas, but she wore her nicest dress and hair ribbon. Maybe even a little of Mother’s makeup that we weren’t allowed to wear. Father said not until our wedding day.

  “Back to bed,” Father commanded, not even turning to me.

  “What happened?”

  “You needn’t worry yourself over it. Back to bed!”

  “C-can I help?” I asked and gave Elsie a look to let her know I wouldn’t leave her alone.

  “Did you not hear me?” he bellowed, finally glancing my way.

  “I—”

  “Fine. Your sister snuck out to the dance. You stay here and watch. It’ll teach you both a lesson.”

  My stomach twisted so tight I was sure I’d throw up.

  Elsie shot me a pleading expression.

  I swallowed. “Maybe we can talk about this in the morning after everyone has had a chance to calm down.”

  “Calm down? I need to take care of this while my anger is still fresh. Why do you think an alpha is given so much power and fury?”

  “To fight off enemies.”

  Father snorted. “It’s sure a good thing women aren’t alphas. Nature got that right.” He turned back to Elsie. “You are going to regret disobeying my orders. Everyone else will learn never to cross me.”

  She turned to me, tears in her eyes.

  He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “You have humiliated me on top of insubordination. What do you think will happen now? The pack will think I’m weak. That I can be walked over and ignored. And why? All because my daughter showed everyone it’s all right.”

  “Father, I’m sorry.”

  He sneered at her. “I’m sure you are, but sorry doesn’t change anything.”

  “I’ll do anything.”

  Father pulled out a long, thick knife from his pocket and aimed it at Elsie.

  “No!” I ran to him and pulled on his arm, keeping the blade from touching her.

  She ran for the door.

  He shook me off and bound toward her. He slid the knife right into her abdomen. The blade stuck out through her back. He pulled it back and replaced it in his pocket.

  Elsie’s eyes widened and her hands reached for the wound. Red oozed over her hands.

  I cried out and lunged for her.

  Father blocked me and held me back, digging his fingers into my arms.

  “Elsie!”

  She opened her mouth, but no words came.

  I turned to Father. “How could you?”

  “Let it be known that this is the fate of anyone who dares to defy me.”

  My sister crumpled to the ground.

  I turned and struggled to free myself from Father’s grasp. He only clung to me tighter.

  “Elsie,” I cried.

  Her face had paled and she stared at me with eyes nearly vacant. The pool of red around her grew bigger.

  Then her eyes shut.

  I screamed.

  Chapter 32

  Victoria

  My father stared at me, his eyes wild and crazy. “Go to your room and pack your things. Tomorrow morning, you’re marrying Franklin. No more school—it clearly corrupts young minds. I won’t have that for my pack any longer. We’re forming our own school.”

  “Father…”

  He let go of my arm and shoved me toward Elsie. “I won’t make another mistake again. I’ve given you children too much freedom, and that is over. Right now. Prepare for your wedding.”

  I flinched, ran to my room, and got dressed. I packed quicker than I’d have thought possible, but it wasn’t to be with Franklin. No, I was nothing more than a means to an end to him. A maid and pup-producing factory.

  Toby cared about me. He wanted what was best for me, even though it meant he would lose his position as future alpha of his pack.

  I packed one bag and sneaked out my window. In the background, Father screamed at my brothers about the upcoming changes. No more wrestling and acting like brats.

  As quietly as I could, I slid out of the window and landed on the ground. I closed the window and crept toward the woods. If anyone saw me sneaking away, they would report it to Father right away. I took the longest way possible to Toby’s village, again being as careful as possible not to be seen. Everyone knew I was the rival pack’s highest daughter.

  One wrong move and… I winced just thinking about the decapitation.

  I found the alpha house and crept around trees and bushes until I got to Toby’s window. I threw a pine cone against the window, hoping he was in his room, and alone.

  His curtain moved. An eye peeked out from a small opening.

  I waved. He held up one finger and then the curtains closed.

  My pulse was on fire. So many things could go wrong, yet I was left with no other options. Not when I would be forced to marry Franklin in a matter of hours.

  Toby came around the house. “What’s going on?” he whispered. “Not that I don’t want to see you, but my father’s preparing—”

  “We have to go now.” I couldn’t bring myself to think about Elsie, much less talk about what had happened. Not even with Toby—not then.

  “Right now? We were going to plan—”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to explain anything. It’s now or never.” I glanced around to make sure no one was watching us.

  Toby took a deep breath. “Are you in danger?”

  I nodded. “I have to leave with or without you. I’d prefer with you.”

  “You think I’d let you go alone?” He shook his head. “Let me grab some things.”

  “Okay.” I leaned against a tree while he ran back inside. It took him a while to come back out. I started to fear something was wrong, but finally, he ran out with a pack slung over his shoulder.

  “Sorry about that. My father started questioning me, but I convinced him I just needed to get outside on my own.” He took my hand in his and we ran deeper into the woods.

  “Where are we going to go?” I asked.

  “There’s an abandoned home a few towns over. I thought we’d start out there. I’d hoped to set it up first, but I’m sure we can make do.”

  “As long as we’re together, I don’t care if we live in a swamp.”

  He squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  We ran through the woods for several miles before I heard something. It sounded like half a dozen sets of feet running in our direction. “What was that?”

  “Hopefully just some wild animals.”

  “You don’t think one of our families are after us?”

  “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, but can you go faster?”

  My father’s angry face popped into mind. “Yes.”

  We picked up our speed, but the running only grew closer.

  Horse hooves.

  I turned to Toby, panic-stricken.

  “Could be wild horses.” He sounded less sure than I felt.

  The clomping footsteps grew closer, closing in. Then the horses and their riders surrounded us.

  I clung to Toby. His father and several key leaders glared down, aiming rifles at us.

  “You, son, have made a grave mistake.”

  “No,” I pleaded. “It was me.”

  He bared his teeth. “Clearly. Shall I behead you rather than him?”

  A cry escaped my mouth.

  Toby scooped me up and ran, darting between two of the horses.

  “Put me down,” I insisted. “I’ll only slow you down.”

  “I’m not letting them kill you.”

  “And I don’t want you to die, either. Let me run.”

  He refused, and continued running.

  “Toby.”

  “Let me do this.”

  “I’m only slowing you down.” I glanced behind to see the horses chasing us.

  Toby darted between trees and around other plant life.

  “Please,” I begged.

  “I know a shortcut up ahead. They’ll never see it coming, and we’ll—”

  A shot rang through the air.

  “Let me go.” I squirmed, but he held tighter. “I don’t want to get us killed.”

  “You won’t.”

  Another shot. The bullet flew right past us, only inches from Toby’s head.

  “Come on,” I pleaded.

  “Okay.” He slowed and let go.

  I jumped down and ran. We went much faster without him carrying my weight.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Toby grabbed my arm and pulled me into a thick bush. Thorns scratched me as we fell into the shrubbery. My arm hit a thick branch, bruising it.

  I gasped for air. “What now? They’re going to find us easily enough.”

  He put a finger to his mouth and then pointed toward the other end of the bush. We crawled through, with thorns scratching my arms the entire way. My bag also kept getting caught on the branches. I was determined to keep up with Toby, though.

  More shots rang through the air. They sounded close.

  I shuddered.

  Toby led me through a maze of bushes until we came to an empty den, barely large enough for the two of us. He pulled me inside and wrapped his arms around me.

  “What lives here?” I sniffed, smelling a mixture of smaller animals.