† Maddock †

The sound of a foreign engine rumbling down the road did nothing to help calm my heightened senses. My damn wolf was furious that I’d rushed away last night before Sage could feel the carnal things he wanted me to do to her.

To appease him, we’d slept outside our bedroom window. Which was a horrible mistake.

I could sense her desire in the early morning hours. The heating scent went straight to my core and jerked me awake with a raging stiffness.

Was she dreaming? Touching herself? Who was she thinking about?

Five seconds.

That’s how close I’d come to shifting and bursting into the room.

But the pups stirred and began plotting their day, putting an end to that plan. I needed to get the second cabin built soon and kick them out of there.

“Hey,” Sage said shyly as she looked up to me with those honey brown eyes when I opened the door to her ridiculous little car.

“Good morning.” My voice was hoarse with my wolf. “How did you

sleep?”

Her eyes widened and her pulse quickened. “Fine. Thanks for

asking. How about you?”

The growl in my chest was from both me and my wolf. We wanted her out of this car with her back pressed against it and our teeth against her neck. To demand to know what she’d been feeling hours ago in our bed.

“Are we early?” Coral jumped out of the car.

“Right on time.” Kera crawled from the backseat over Sage’s lap, moving in front of me as she stepped outside.

“Get out of my way,” I snarled through the pack link. My entire body ached with the need to be closer to Sage and the pup was blocking her.

“Chill out, Uncle Maddock.” Kera winked as she shoved her shoulder into my arm. “She really likes you.”

“What?” I stood with my fists clenched, trying to process the meaning behind her words.

She likes me. My wolf howled in triumph while my sluggish brain tried to fight through the fog.

“Likes me? What was she saying?”

My now least favorite niece walked away laughing with the latent pup in tow.

“What exactly is this training thing about?” Sage asked as she stood from the car and closed the door. I inhaled her scent deeply, calming myself.

Gods, this woman was messing with my head.

“We train the warriors to keep the pack fit and ready to defend the territory if needed.”

Sage stiffened and I was struck dumb for a moment, wondering what I’d said wrong.

She lowered her voice as if only to speak to me, not seeming to understand that any other wolf in the vicinity could hear her anyway. “I don’t want Coral fighting. What if she gets hurt?”

The war in her eyes was torture and all I could think about was easing her discomfort.

“There hasn’t been a battle since I was a teenager and that was near the southern gates of the purist city hundreds of miles away. Training these wolves is just a precaution. While the other packs may dislike us, they

know better than to encroach on our territory. But strong wolves need an outlet for their aggression so they don’t turn on each other. Coral wouldn’t fight with us anyway, not unless she proved herself worthy. I’ve seen bloodshed and I wouldn’t take the chance with bringing an untrained wolf into a dangerous situation.”

Sage chewed the inside of her cheek as we walked away from the car. There seemed to be a million questions brewing in her brain, but she let the tension go with a sigh. She smiled at me and nodded. My chest filled with a humble pride that my mate had decided to trust what I said.

It was the truth.

I’d never put a wolf in a situation that could end in their death or the deaths of others without the proper precautions. Although the times of war were far behind us, I could still remember the foolish errors that some Alpha’s had made. Gabriel didn’t have that problem though.

Even as a Beta representing the Cerberus pack with me beside him, he was a strong enough leader to get all our wolves home.

But coming home was a mistake for him.

“What about Kera?” Sage pulled me from the dark thoughts that surrounded my past. “She’s only seventeen. Why does she train with you?”

“Kera can handle herself.” I smiled as my mate’s concern for my niece filled my soul with warmth. Sage already seemed to care for her as strongly as she did for her younger sister. “Not only is Kera a born alpha wolf, she’s one of my best fighters.”

“I thought Apollo was the Alpha. Is there more to this that I’m not

understanding? How many Alphas are there?” She walked beside me up the hill to the training grounds.

“I’ll tell you a secret.” I lowered my voice like she did, using it as an excuse to lean closer and inhale her scent again. “Alphas are a bunch of assholes. Thankfully, they are rare and there are never many in one pack

because they don’t stop fighting for dominance. There is only one Alpha, but there are other alpha wolves.”

Sage laughed. The sound of it rippled across my skin and the tension eased from my back as we fell into an easy pace. “Do the other shifters

have some kind of designation too?”

“Every wolf is placed in an order of sorts,” I continued whispering in our conspiratorial game. “A Beta is the second in command of a pack whereas an omega is the runt, but every wolf has a personality that aligns with an alpha, beta, or omega. Only those with titles of leadership assume the actual role of Alpha and Beta.”

“What does a Sigma do?” Sage asked as she bumped her hip playfully against my thigh. “You said that was your role, but you don’t seem like the kind of guy who is second place in anything.”

I’ll show her what we do.

I ignored my wolf and the urge to grab her waist so I could bring her body next to mine again. Her compliment strengthened my restraint as we crested the hill that overlooked the training course.

“I’m nothing like those jerks.” I breathed the words against her ear. “And a Sigma does whatever he wants.”

The sharp little gasp as she sucked in air almost made me come undone.

“I’ll…um…stay here to watch.” She was flustered, stumbling over her words.

I rolled my lip between my teeth to hide my smile. “Not a chance.

You’re stuck with me today.”

*

The Cerberus pack of warriors was a rag-tag crew of mutts, but these wolves were some of the best and strongest. The humans could use more conditioning though.

Normally, they’d complain about staying in their human form and dressed for training, but news travels fast in a small town. I could sense their interest in Sage and the latent pup. It filled me with pride to have my mate on my arm as I introduced her to her new pack.

Even if she didn’t know she was my mate. But we were getting there.

“Kera and Coral are the only women here,” Sage said after I’d made a few introductions to the mated male shifters who kept their distance, baring their necks in respect.

I’d already called the order for Alder and Kera to take teams of six and lead them through sprints. Her remark caught me off guard and I watched them train, trying to see the normal routine through my witch’s eyes. “There aren’t many women interested in fighting.”

“They could if they wanted to, right?” She focused on Kera who was leading her team across the field. Coral stuck close to my niece. The latent pup was quick on her feet and didn’t fall behind.

“There are no rules against it if that’s what you’re asking.” I scratched the back of my neck, wondering if this bothered my mate.

“Are all the other packs like this?” Sage looked up at me. Her honey brown eyes were swirling with curiosity.

“Like what?” I arched an eyebrow as my gaze traveled down to her lips. Her frown was almost as sexy as her smile. Almost.

“A bunch of men trying to prove they are better than the women.” She motioned with her thumb back to the training grounds and my eyes followed where she directed.

There was a muted tension in the team Kera had selected as they struggled to keep up. Like always, she kept her chin held high despite the complaints and growls.

“That’s just because Kera can kick all their asses and they haven’t been able to live it down that a teenage pup bested them.”

But as I continued to watch, I saw the same wide berth being given to Coral. The men were pushing themselves with the challenge thick in the air to be first to the finish line, yet Coral and Kera were a few steps ahead and moving as one. It was the first time I’d ever seen Kera smile during training.

Huh.

This was something new.

I let out a howl, calling them back to the center pits with the rope nets suspended for climbing.

Sage shivered beside me.

“Are you cold?” I should have brought her a jacket.

Shift. I’ll keep her warm.

“Keep your shirt on.” She laughed. “I’m fine. Hearing your wolf howl gave me the chills.”

“Good or bad chills?” I asked, putting my arm back into the sleeve. “Just the chills.” She shrugged and then quietly added with a soft

smile, “It wasn’t all that bad.”

If she could hear the howling of my wolf right now, it would definitely give her more than chills.

“Uncle Maddock, are you going to give the order?” Kera snapped me out of the fog.

“Teams of two!” I yelled, hating that I had to turn away from my

mate.

Kera and Coral paired up, navigating the rope course with a

supernatural grace. Their descent down the back net was quick and they high-fived each other before jogging to the back of the line. Whatever worries Sage had about her sister were unfounded. The latent pup was holding her own so far.

David got tangled on the net and Alder, Joseph’s asshole son, left him behind.

“I said teams of two,” I barked the command. Alder blew out a sweaty breath as he climbed back up to help his packmate.

“Isn’t the Alpha supposed to be here?” Sage asked nervously, biting on the edge of her nail as she watched the exhausted men fall in line behind her sister. “Coral said he could help her with the shift.”

The sun had already risen over the treetops, warming the morning air and drying the dew on the grass. I had hoped that today of all days he would make a point to be here.

“He’s always late,” I explained.

As if speaking of him wakened the demon, Apollo came marching through the woods barefoot and bare chested, wearing only a faded pair of jeans. His cold gaze swept over the field as he approached and then he met my annoyed glare.

The shifters stopped what they were doing and lowered their head in reverence.

Coral and Sage locked eyes, confused, and neither female bowed. “Good morning, brother.” Apollo’s nostrils flared as he came up to us. “It’s almost noon.” I clapped him on the back, probably a little too

hard. But he didn’t stagger or smell of hops and he was alone without his nasty Beta’s influence. I’d take sober over on time. “Come and meet our new guests.”

Sage stilled beside me, her entire body going rigid as she thrust out her delicate hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her voice was so strong despite her nerves that I stared at her, awestruck. “They say you are the Alpha around

here and you’ll have to forgive us for our ignorance, but we’re still learning what all this means.”

Apollo hesitated, taken aback by her boldness, and–Gods bless my little brother–he actually looked to me for support before addressing my witch. If I wasn’t busy trying to hold back laughter, I might have cared that my unmarked mate was reaching out to touch an unmated male.

“Go on,” I told him. “I don’t think she’ll bite, but she’s full of surprises.”

Humor played across Apollo’s face as he took the bait and ran with

it.

Too far.

He lifted her hand to his beard covered lips and planted a kiss against her knuckles, watching me as he did. “The Gods have blessed us with your arrival, but I would have to say the pleasure is all mine to be in the presence of such beauty.”

My wolf began to growl and Sage pulled her hand away, resting it on my forearm as if she could somehow sense it would calm my beast.

It helped. A little.

“I trust our Enforcer is taking good care of you,” Apollo continued as if he didn’t know I was about to rip his throat out.

“More than enough.” She looked to me with appreciation and my wolf sighed in content. “But my younger sister needs your help now. I don’t know how much you’ve heard about us, but we came from Ethica and, until a few days ago, we never knew she had Lycan DNA. Our late father left us this address and said Coral’s mother was from the Cerberus pack. We’re trying to learn more about her heritage and hoping you can help her release her wolf.”

“I’m aware of the situation.” It was only then I realized how hard he was trying not to look at the training grounds. “And I intend to help the latent pup.”

His lips touched her skin.

“Touch her again and I’ll kill you.”

“I’m surprised you let me get that far.” He chuckled.

“So, you can help her.” Sage continued, unaware of the tension radiating through our pack link. “And she’ll be safe? Will it hurt her in any way?”

Apollo looked past her to the woods and I could sense his

annoyance at dealing with someone who didn’t understand pack structure, but he would not disrespect my mate.

“Answer when she speaks to you.”

He smirked as he glanced back at Sage. “All of our pack members are safe as long as they follow the rules and if she’s a Cerberus wolf, she’ll embrace the pain.”

Apollo turned on his heel to leave, effectively dismissing the conversation.

It would have been effective if my witch wasn’t right on his heels and refusing to stop asking questions. “What do you mean by that?”

“Enough.” He held up his hand.

“I’m warning you to watch yourself.”

Worry dripped from her pores as she moved to stand in front of the Alpha and ignored his command. Apollo’s gaze narrowed. My wolf surged forward as I bared my teeth, stepping beside my mate.

His wolf flashed in his eyes and I was ready to end him here, but he blinked and fought for control of his temper. From somewhere in the depths of his soul, he found the diplomacy that he’d been lacking for the past few years.

“If you’ll forgive me, Sage. I need to speak with the latent pup before I can give you more answers.”

“Coral, come here.” Sage folded her arms over her chest, not bothering to move from her spot in front of the Alpha. Her eyes never left his face.

If she could sense his outrage, she didn’t let on. She wasn’t budging because she didn’t trust him.

Let me out. My wolf was fighting for control with the need to reassure his mate that she was safe.

The girls came jogging to Sage’s side.

Coral’s cheeks were flushed from the training and a sheen of sweat coated her skin, but she brimmed with excitement as she held out her hand. “Alpha Apollo, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Coral and I’m hoping you can help my wolf.”

Apollo’s nostrils flared as he stared at the pup for longer than necessary and I knew he was seeing Melinda.

“She’s not her mother.” I tried to ease his anxiety.

Apollo nodded and his meaty palm engulfed the girl’s hand in a rough shake. “Welcome to Cerberus pack. Our blood flows through your veins.”

Coral’s smile brightened and she shifted from foot to foot. “So, um, what do I have to do to get this freaking wolf of mine some play time?”

A few chuckles sounded from the group of shifters who’d gathered closer to watch the strange interaction. Kera hid her smile behind her hands. Even Apollo’s lips twitched for a second, but it stopped as a pained expression crossed his face.

He released her hand and took a few steps back as he looked over

the group. “Brothers, we have a latent in our mix and she needs her family to free her beast. You will all shift as one under my command to pull her wolf along with us into the great Cerberus pack.”

His voice was like thunder as it radiated Alpha power and I nodded my approval, grateful for this moment of clarity from my brother.

“Prepare to shift.”

Kera and the men pulled off their clothes. Coral’s eyes widened when she turned to Sage and my witch was bright red as she looked to me.

“Does she really need to be naked out here in front of everyone?” Sage whispered.

I ignored the snickers of the other pack members. “Yes, unless you want her to get strangled in the clothes as a wolf.”

She reached for Coral’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. The pup began to hastily undress. Sage tried to move to block her from view, but it was pointless. No one spared a glance at the human girl’s form.

The pack was ready, silent, and waiting for the Alpha to give the

order.

The air hummed with vibrations when Apollo focused his attention

on the pup. His pupils dilated and his chest heaved with power. “I am your Alpha. I will guide and protect you as you run with our pack. Release the bonds that hold you, wolf. Join us on the hunt.”

He howled, setting off a chorus of response that stretched past the training grounds and into the valley of the Cerberus clan homes.

The ground beneath us shook and the wind cracked as he commanded the shift.

With this many wolves shifting at once, the taste of magic was thick in the air. Even my own wolf wanted to hunt with his pack. If I didn’t have a choice in the matter, I would have joined them. But my witch couldn’t shift so I chose to stand by her side.

Apollo was also holding back his beast. He remained focused on the girl who stood shivering while covering her chest with her arms as bones cracked and fur sprouted on every wolf around them.

“I command you to shift.” He took a step closer to the pup. His voice was still hoarse with power.

Coral closed her eyes and nodded. The wolves surrounding her began to claw at the earth and pace.

“Is this normal?” Sage stood her ground in the circle of wolves, still close enough to shield her sister, as she turned to me with worried eyes.

I shook my head, unsure if it was or not. “She’s Cerberus pack and her wolf belongs here. Her Alpha is the only one who can command a shift. It should happen instantly, but maybe she needs more time because she is older than other latent wolves.”

Kera brushed her body against Coral’s legs, giving comfort to her friend. Something about the movement made Apollo snap.

In two long steps, he was towering over the pup as power rolled along his skin. He bared his fangs, growling. “I told you to shift.”

Coral looked up at him with tears filling her eyes, but she didn’t

whine or complain. She nodded again, muscles tensing and relaxing, as she tried to give herself over to the beast.

The rest of the pack was getting restless under the tension radiating from Apollo. His jaw was working, anger twisting his features, as he grew more frustrated at the disrespect.

“Step away from her,” I warned him. “Shift!” He drew back his hand.

Faster than I would have thought possible, Sage was between the Alpha and her sister. “Don’t you dare touch her.”

My knuckles cracked as claws extended and my fangs drew blood from my own lips as my beast struggled for control. Kera snarled, moving in front of Coral.

Apollo’s fury filled glare turned to Sage. “Are you challenging me, witch?”

The earthy rich smell of magic in the air intensified to something stronger than an Alpha’s presence, blasting heat at the whining wolves who looked for the source. We all felt the force of it, but only I knew where it

was coming from because I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Sage planted her hands against Apollo’s bare chest and shoved. “No, but I’m telling you to back the fuck off and not to touch my sister.”

Kill him.

Confusion twisted Apollo’s face as he shook his head like a wolf drying water from its coat. He regained his composure and turned his face

to the sky. “When is the next full moon?”

What just happened?

“How the hell would I know that?” Sage looked at the pack of wolves surrounding her and then to me. The quick flash of horror in her eyes was enough to make my fangs and claws retract.

“Two weeks,” I bit out the words as my wolf retreated. Both of us were equally confused. A moment ago, I was finally ready to destroy the only brother I had left and now the Alpha had his shoulders hunched as he asked about the calendar.

“The full moon will call to the wolf. We’ll try again on that night.” He turned and walked away, leaving the rest of us staring after him.

Sage released a tense breath and started gathering Coral’s clothes from the ground with shaking hands. “Get dressed. We’re leaving now.”

I wanted to touch her, pull her against my chest to give her comfort, but I was still concerned about what had just happened and didn’t want to upset her more.

Never in our lives had Apollo backed down from a display of

dominance like that. It wasn’t the nature of the beast. He could have easily tossed her across the field.

True, he wouldn’t have arms if he’d so much as made a move in that direction. But I knew it wasn’t fear of retribution that had stopped him.

“Why did you do that?” Coral’s angry whisper pulled me from my thoughts as she yanked the shirt over her head.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Sage whispered, looking to the wolves still gathered in the circle who now watched her as if she were some kind of moon goddess.

“I’m not leaving.” Coral dug her feet into the earth and clung to the coat of fur on Kera’s back. “He was trying to help me. You shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

“That man is dangerous,” Sage warned.

“I can take care of myself,” Coral said. “Stop trying to protect me from everything. Can you please just go away?”

Sage took a step back as if she’d been slapped. I wanted to shake the pup by the back of her neck for speaking to my mate that way.

“Okay.” I watched as my witch shut herself down as easily as the snub of a candle flame. She showed no emotions on her face, but I could

smell the salty tears burning behind her eyes. “I’ll see you when you get back to the cabin.”

She held her chin high and her shoulders straight as she marched across the field, leaving her sister alone with the rest of the wolves.

*

“What should we do now?” Kera’s voice came to me.

“Shift back and pair up for wrestling drills.” I walked behind Sage at a respectful distance, still processing the turn of events. Did she not see what she had done? The power she commanded was unlike any I’d ever felt. How did she not know she was a witch?

My wolf wanted to roll on the ground at her feet. He was so damn proud of his mate. She’d calmed the beast of my brother with a single touch while screaming in his face.

“Why are you following me?” Sage whipped around and I froze in my tracks. Her eyes were red rimmed, but her gaze was distant as if she was too fed up with this world to let her tears fall.

I wrapped my arms around her, unable to help myself. My mate needed comfort. I held tight as her tense body relaxed against my chest, aching for more than this simple embrace, and she inhaled my scent.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. That was so crazy. For a minute, I thought he was going to slap her, but maybe I overreacted.”

“You were right. He was losing control, but I wouldn’t have let him hurt the pup.” As much as it pained me, I let her go so I could look into her eyes. “Why don’t we go do something fun together to get your mind off

things?”

That sounded more sexual than I’d meant to imply, but if she wanted…

Sage shook her head as she looked to the field behind us and sighed. “I hate to ask you for another favor, but do you mind staying with her

until the training is finished? I’d feel better if I knew she was safe.” Her brown eyes were filled with so much sadness that my wolf howled in pain. “I’ll take a rain check on the fun though.”

“Anything you want.” My body physically ached when I let her go, but the promise of fun later was enough to quiet my beast a bit.

“Thank you.” She slipped away and jogged back to her ridiculous little car.

I cracked my neck from side to side as the frustration rolled through me in waves. This training session was going to run much longer than usual and by the time I was done, that latent pup was going to have a good grasp on respect and apologies.