Chapter 22 An Alpha She–wolf

SERAPHINA

bWas /bit my imagination? I whispered to Phina, my heart hammering against my ribs as I stared into the darkness

Phina’s reply bwas /blow, shaken by the shadow we’d seen. “If someone bhad /bseen us, they would have instantly exposed us

Herment made sense. The Alphas at the Lupine Academy were evil to the bone and hated me with a vengeance. If anyone had spotted me, they would have sounded the rm without hesitation. But nothing happened.

Could it have been just an animal?‘ I asked.

bPhina /bnodded slowly. I think so. I didn’t sense another werewolf nearby. And our fear of being exposed was always gnawing at us–it could have made us imagine things

Relief bled through me, and I exhaled shakily, forcing myself to focus again on the bison in the distance. Thankfully, I’d been concealed well behind the trees, far enough that it hadn’t noticed me.

I crouched blow/b, stalking through the underbrush, Phina humming with raw, electric energy beneath my skin.

The bison grazed heavily, oblivious, its muscles rippling beneath its thick hide.

One wrong move…one snapped twig, and it would bolt. Then I would lose precious minutes I didn’t have.

Be patient. Be precise.

I circled wide, studying the clearing, bcalcting/b. A direct bcharge /bwould get me crushed under its hooves. I had to be faster.

Smarter.

The bison’s head dipped, distracted.

Now!

With a feral snarl tearing from my throat, I lunged. ws ripped bthrough /bthe earth as I sprinted–a white blur slicing through the trees.

The bison whipped its head around, bellowing loud enough to rattle the ground. It charged–a wall of muscle and rage, so real, so deadly.

bAnd /bfar too fast.

I veered sharply to the side, feeling the gust of air as its bulk thundered past, me, missing by inches. My paws scrambled against the torn–up ground.

Before it could turn, Iunched myself onto a fallen log, springing off it in a burst of momentum andnding atop the bison’s massive shoulders.

My jaws snapped at its neck, but its thick hide resisted my fangs. The bison bucked violently, throwing me off with bone- rattling force.

I bmmed /binto the dirt, pain bursting through my ribs, but I was already moving again, sheer will driving me forward.

As it bcharged /bonce more, I darted under its swinging horns and raked my ws across its legs. bBlood /bspurted. Not deep, but enough to stagger it

Wear it down–Bleed it. Then finish it.

Over and over, I bstruck /band dodged, relentlessly. My muscles burned, my lungs screamed, but I did not stop.

na roared within me, wild and bfurious/b, reveling in the raw, bprimal /bbhunt/b. This was what we were born for

Hunger surged through my veins, I wanted this bbison /bcrushed beneath my fangs.

Finally, the bison’s movements slowed, its breathing ragged, its sides heaving. Its steps grew sluggish.

Chapter 22 An Alpha She–wolf

This time, when I leapt. I knew exactly where to strike

-6 Pearls

With a trial powerful push. I sank my jaws into the vulnerable spot just behind its front leg, where even its thick hide couldn’t protect it I bit down, hard.

The boson let out a shuddering groan and stumbled, its massive frame swaying.

Victory was ba /bbreath away

I crouched low, gathering everyst ounce of strength for the finishing strike–when suddenly, a sharp burst of scent and heavy pawsteps shattered the air.

Werewolves! Phina hissed inside me.

I whirled, heart hammering.

Shit!

It was toote for me to act or hide.

From the shadows, four bwolves /bemerged, their eyes locked instantly onto me.

My stomach dropped.

Cassius, Reed, and two other Alphas 1 didn’t recognize.

The blood roared in my ears.

Why did it have to be them?

I took a step back, my body tensed to run.

My inner voice screamed at me. ‘Don’t shift. Don’t reveal yourself”

Cassius golden eyes gleamed with interest. Reed’s lips curled into a smirk as he effortlessly shifted into his human form, followed by Cassiusb. /b

“A she–wolf?” Reed drawled, raking his eyes down my form. “In this dangerous forest?”

He flicked a nce at the bison I would have imed if not for their interference.

Panic wed bat /bmy insides, but a sliver of relief pierced through the fear.

They didn’t recognize me.

Not yet.

“Fuck, man. An Alpha she–wolf?” Cassius muttered, his voice bthick /bwith disbelief. He took a slow, deliberate step closer, his posturezy but his eyes razor–sharp.

Reed followed behind him, tongue flicking bacross /bhis fangs like a bsnake /bsavoring ba /bbmeal/b.

“Such a rare beauty, Cassius murmured, inching closer. His gaze devoured me. “I didn’t expect to find a she–wolf in this forsaken forest”

“This is fate.” Reed grinned savagely, bshing /bhis canines as the others crowded behind him, their excitement thick in the bair /bblike /bsmoke. “The Goddess just sent bus /ba feast.”

Achill raced down my spine as Reed’s histful gaze locked with mine, pinning me blike /bba /bpredator did its prey.

Cassiusughed low in his throat, his hand shamelessly stroking his manhood as he grinned ear to ear. “Our days of struggle are finally over”

“Yeah Reed agreed darkly, then barked out an order “Surround her!”

The other two wolves moved in, hemming me in on all sides.

+ Pearls

Chapter 22 An Alpha Shewolf

For a heartbeat. I froze paralyzed by the horrifying realization.

They didn’t want to bkill /bme.

They didn’t want to fight me.

They wanted to vite me.

Disgust and fury exploded inside me, but I masked it under a veil of fear, letting them believe I was frozen in terror

Closer. Closer

They dropped their bguard/b, thinking I was helpless

In a sh. I lunged–sinking myngs into the throat of the wolf blocking my escape. The coppery! mouth as I ripped through his flesh band /bspit the torn skin from my jaws.

of blood flooded my

Before the others could react, bolted into the forest blike /ba blightning /bstrike.

“Catch that bitch!” Reed roared behind me, bin /bthe next instant, the sound of pounding paws echoed through the trees as they shifted into their bwolves /bband /bgave chase.

They hunted me like rabid hyenas, snapping and snarling at my heels.

But they still didn’t know who I was.

Notv

yel

That was my bonly /bbadvantage/b.

I could fight them. I wanted to fight them. I could kill them one by one if I had to. But it would bdrain /bme. bAnd /bI needed bmy /bstrength to reim the bison.

To survive.

Worse, if I fought back in my busual /bstyle, they’d recognize me.

Reed and Cassius were cunning bbastards/b.

F

They’d been observing me for days at the Academy. They’d put the pieces together fast if they caught even a glimpse of my true power

bWorst /bof all, they wanted to vite me.

I had to protect my dignity.

And my disguise.

No matter the cost:

I wove through the trees, heart hammering, searching for anything–anything–that could bgive /bme an edge.

Then, I bsaw /bhim.

A massive ck wolf, his jaws dripping blood as he pinned an elk to the ground. His piercing blue eyes locked onto me across. the clearing

My blood ran cold

Our gazes collided, recognition instantly red.

Terror jolted through me. Before he could react, I tore my gaze away band /bsprinted past him in a blur.

Chapter 22 An Alpha She–wolf

bOnly /bto stumble into another nightmare.

Not far ahead, another bck /bwolf loomed over a dead lion, his massive frame stained with blood.

I knew bthose /beyes.

Violet Cold. Unforgiving.

Roman

My heart plummeted.

Thest bperson/b, the absolutest person I wanted to see me…bsaw /bme.

The real meb. /b

Seraphina.