Page 1 of Return of the Alpha

Prologue

James

My heart and soulwere ripped from me the day my mate was killed. I always said shewas everything to me and that dark day proved it. My howl ofdespair was heard far and wide, sending animals running for shelterand my pack members into a panic.

I was deranged in mygrief and my pursuit of vengeance. My wolf was never far from theforefront, always ready to kill and maim. Blood and violence werethe only thing that calmed our grief for mere seconds.

Peyton, my daughter,was lost to me—the only part of mybeautiful mate that remained. She was the last piece of my brokenheart and the reason I didn’t just lie down and die. But I couldn’tstand to look at her. She is the spitting image of her mother.

I knew the packwould care for her until I was able to return. Your pack is as muchyour family as your own blood is, and I was their Alpha. Theywouldn’t let any harm come to Peyton.

Each day, I spentmore time in my wolf form, the pain easier to bear when I let mybaser, animal instincts take control. Each day, it became harder toreturn to my broken human form, to deal with the grief thatthreatened to drown me at any moment.

Until the day Ifound myself in a trap, my left hind leg mangled deep in theforest. I fully believed that death would finally find me but allthat came was more pain. Physical and mental pain at the hands ofmen that existed to hunt and kill us shifters. The anguish atknowing my daughter was alone in the world, believing I hadabandoned her, was the worst part of all.

After more than tenlong years of living in a cage I know I will die in, the mostunexpected thing happens.

I am saved.

Chapter One

James

“Why do you smelllike my daughter?” I ask lowly.

I have the female,Emmaleigh, pressed against the wall, my hand at her throat. I’m nottrying to hurt her, but I do want answers. Perhaps I am losing mymind after all these years in a cage. Have I forgotten what mylittle girl smells like?

“Um.” She stares upat me with trepidation. “I live with a pack. I smell like a lot ofpeople.”

That makes sense.What are the odds that the first female I have seen in years wouldknow my daughter? Probably less than one percent.

“Why did you comehere?” I ask. I’m not sure I can trust her, but I release her allthe same.

“We have beenfreeing shifters,” she says, turning her back on me and walkingaway. “Our Alpha is tired of being attacked, having our peoplehurt, taken, or killed. We are taking the fight to these hunterassholes.”

I follow her betweenthe cells, listening to her words. This Alpha sounds like the typeof person I can support.

“And what do you dowith your rescued charges?” I ask as we reach the top of thestairs.

She turns back tolook at me, assessing whether I am a threat or not.

“Offer a home, apack. Feed them, clothe them, let them heal,” Emmaleigh explains.“No one is forced to stay, it’s their choice.”

“Your Alpha allowsstrays?”

Anger bubbles in mychest. Perhaps he is not the man I thought he was. Strays aredangerous, sowing discord in a pack.

A growl is the onlywarning I have before Emmaleigh shoves me against a wall. I wasn’texpecting her strength and if I hadn’t been locked up for so long,she wouldn’t have been able to overpower me. Her forearm against mythroat holds me in place.

“I am not a fuckingstray,” she seethes between clenched teeth. “And if you can’trespect our way of life, feel free to head back to your littleglass box or wherever the fuck you came from before ending uphere.”

I know she can sensethat I am Alpha. The fact that she stands up for not just herself,but her Alpha and her pack, has admiration swimming through myveins. I hope my daughter has grown to be a woman like this.

“My apologies,” Isay raising my hands in surrender. “It’s been a long time since Ihad a pack.”

Stepping away shenods. “I know the feeling.”

Turning, she headsoutside, and I follow. I can’t remember the last time I wasoutside. Breathing deeply, I allow the fresh air to fill my lungsbefore exhaling. I take in the trees and the grass and the clearblue sky above me. I feel like a child experiencing everything forthe first time. My wolf pushes at my mind, begging to be let out sohe can also reconnect with nature, but I hold him back.

---