Page 5 of Forced By the Alpha

“We need stability. Cohesion. Something that brings us together.”

“A good hunt?”

“That’s temporary. Camaraderie for a night.” He sat down in his chair. His, not his father’s, and put his feet up on his desk. “I need a mate. The pack has no future now. Em’s our only female. She mates with someone, it gives them the edge. An heir to pass the lineage down.”

“Is that why you’re so testy about me and Em?”

“No, that’s because it's gross. She’s my sister.” Devon shook his head, disgusted. “I want one of the Rosewood females, Jo.”

“You’ll never convince one of them to leave their pack. They’re thick as thieves over there. A real family.”

“I’m not asking her.” He pointed at Jonah. “You’re going to get her for me. Willing or not, she’ll be my mate. Take the pack. Stay close to the Rosewood border. They have a female who can’t seem to follow the rules.”

“Dev, dude, if we do that, the Rosewoods would start a war to get her back. They’re not going to take a kidnapping lying down.”

“Then we kill two birds with one stone. Stabilize my position, weaken the Rosewoods. It’ll give our pack something to fight for.”

He could see the trepidation on Jonah’s face. Unlike the others in the White Winter pack, Jo was a good boy. Honest. Kind. Just too loyal to leave Dev’s side.

“I’m not asking. Take the pack and get out there. Bring her to me.”

Chapter 3 - Beth

“God, stop being such a baby about it.” The female, Golden Eyes in her wolf form, sneered at Beth.

In human form, she had blonde hair and light, honey-colored eyes. If it weren’t for the disgusted look on her face, she would have been gorgeous. She shoved Beth between the shoulders, pushing her onward.

The pack had forced her far from the Rosewood lands. They’d traveled through the forest in wolf form until they’d reached a clearing, carrying her every step of the way. At the foot of a house that was more mansion than log cabin, despite its wood siding, they shifted into human form and insisted she do the same.

Beth had refused. She felt safer in wolf form. The pain from her injury was dulled. She was faster. More agile. But they had insisted, Golden Eyes threatening to slit her throat then and there if she didn’t turn.

She’d give in. Obviously. What else could she do? The pain of her likely broken ankle had doubled her over.

“I could carry her, Emma.” One of the men offered. He was lanky, muscled like a swimmer, and his eyes softened every time they looked at Beth. “She’s hurting.”

“Shut up, Jo. She’s weak. This is what our alpha picks?” Emma curled her lip, jutting her chin at Beth. “Huh. Guess it makes sense, actually.”

“Watch it.” Jo jabbed his finger at Emma. “You’re on thin ice as it is.”

Through the fog of her pain, Beth clung to every word. Was there strife in the White Winter pack? She could exploit a divide in the ranks to get back to the Rosewoods.

“You’re a bleeding heart. You drag us all down.” Emma spat back at Jo.

He shrugged her words away and came up beside Beth, looping her arm around his shoulders to take most of her weight.

“Thank you.” Beth didn’t want to thank him. She wanted to sink her teeth into his neck. But if she was going to exploit a weakness in the pack, she needed to find a way in.

The face he gave her was anything but friendly. “I just don’t want to spend all day watching you crawl up there.”

Fair enough. Beth looked up at the long set of stairs that led up to the house. Supported or not, it was going to suck. She gritted her teeth. With Emma glaring at her, she refused to show another wince.

By the time they reached the top, Beth was sweating from the pain and clinging to Jo for dear life. To his credit, the man hardly seemed to notice her weight. He was strong. The White Winter pack seemed to have that in common. Ferocious fighters, unmatchable strength, and dirty tactics.

Her alpha always said it was because they had nothing to lose and nothing to fight for. Just ego.

The stairs led to a wrap-around balcony. She wanted to pause, catch her breath, but Emma threw open the glass doors that let into the house.

“Honey, we’re home!” She bellowed, cupping her hands around her mouth.

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