Page 6 of Wolf Unleashed
“Don’t get flippant with me. You’re the one who brought the enemy intomypack.” Soren towered over Rafe, who remained in his chair, not moving a single muscle.
He could flee, challenge his father for leadership, or sit there like he had when he was ten years old getting lectured on why he shouldn’t push Eero off the edge of the waterfall.
But he can swim,Father.
He could have struck a rock beneath the water and broken his neck.
Then his wolf would have healed him.
Wolves can’t heal the dead. I need Eero. He’s my heir.
It’s your duty as his second to protect him as well as all of the pack.
“You’re not listeningto me, Rafe.” Soren scrubbed a hand over his face. “What am I to do with you?”
Rafe rose. “I’m a grown shifter, Father. I make my own decision, and I’ve mated Alyssa Monroe. If you can’t accept her, then we leave.”
Even as Soren charged toward him, Rafe could hear the growl emanating from his alpha’s wolf. No alpha liked being threatened.
“You’re my heir. There is no other to take my place, thanks to the humans.” He motioned toward the door, in the direction of Rafe’s cabin. “That female out there is the reason you’re my heir and not Eero. Don’t make me regret my choice.”
“Choice? What choice? I’m your heir by default because you won’t consider Freya.”
“Choose a female as my heir?” Soren laughed.
“She’s your daughter. Of the alpha line. And she’s strong even though she’s young. If you’d only take the time to train her—”
“Do you hear yourself, Rafe? That female out there has warped you. You’re starting to think like the humans.” Soren put a fatherly hand on Rafe, pushing him to sit in the chair. Rafe didn’t resist. Until his father threatened Alyssa or threw them out of his territory, he’d try to reason with him.
“Perhaps this female of yours can prove herself.”
Deep in his chest, Rafe’s wolf started to growl.
“You’ve changed, Rafe,” Soren said. “And not in a good way. But if you intend to keep that female, here especially, you will do as I say.”
Chapter Three
ALYSSA
The knife came down on her, splattering blood all over the kitchen.
“Stop, please!” Alyssa cried, but her father never listened to her.
Out of the darkness, a tall man with blond hair and a gentle smile struck her father. Tiernan stepped between her and the blade until her father sliced open his chest and ripped out his wolf.
Now two wolves lay dead at her feet.
“Your turn, Alyssa,” her father said.
She tried to run but couldn’t. A howl escaped her, the beast inside ready and eager to fight.
A bright white rope, thin but strong, wrapped around her torso, making her feel warm and secure even as a familiar scent tickled her nose.
Maddox.
She strained to see where the white rope led but couldn’t see into the darkness. Then she felt that familiar tug pulling her away from the kitchen, the blood, the death…
Alyssa tried to follow, but her feet remained glued to the tile floor, the blood seeping into her shoes. The rope grew taut, too taut, as if Maddox were leaving her, getting farther away with each breath. A thread snapped, hanging limp from the rope.
