Chapter 1
Nadia could make a run for it. Just head out the door of the sprawling mansion, down the drive, and flee Slate Pack territory. Her knees tensed to do just that, but she forced herself to stay still.
“You wanna run?” her sister whispered out the corner of her mouth, looking beautiful in a blue ballgown as she stood in the vestibule.
Nadia edged away from the antique table with its spray of wildflowers and leaned to whisper in Emily’s ear. “I’m thinking about it.”
Em glanced down, no amusement in her black eyes. “Say the word.”
She could. Really could just escape this disaster. Instead of taking the easy way out, Nadia shook her head. “I appreciate it.” And she did, more than Emily would ever know. They’d only found each other months before, but Nadia would die for her younger-by-a-year sister.
Too bad she hadn’t gotten the height. Em stood about six feet tall, whereas Nadia was short for a wolf shifter at only about five-foot-six. Their platinum blonde hair and dark eyes were similar, however.
Emily turned completely toward her, focusing all of her impressive attention. “This is ridiculous, Nadia. Come home with me.”
“I am home,” Nadia said, her voice still quiet. Emily had mated Jackson Tryne, Alpha of the Granite Pack, who was the hottie of all hotties on a magma scale, and she now lived hours away.
Their father, Philip Nightsom, turned toward them dressed in a full tux, his silver hair slicked back. He’d been wounded not too long ago and hadn’t fully recovered as of yet, since he’d been injured with pure silver. “I’m with Em. You don’t have to do this.”
Nadia steeled her bare shoulders and glanced down at her opulent black gown and the crystal sequins decorating the tight bodice. The luxurious material cascaded to the floor. Her back still hurt from being stabbed by that asshole Bulwark, who now challenged for her hand. He should be in prison, but apparently, the old laws trumped the new ones.
“I know I don’t have to do anything.” She’d finally found a home and a pack, and she didn’t want to leave. Even though she’d only been in the territory for a couple of months, she understood duty and enjoyed having a purpose. Even a stupid-ass backward one like this.
The door opened, and Jackson walked inside, shutting it behind himself. Unlike them, he hadn’t deigned to change into formal wear and still wore faded jeans and a dark T-shirt. With his black hair and stunning blue eyes, who cared? Danger emanated from the wolf shifter. He looked at them. “Philip? This is the last time I’m gonna offer to protect your pack with my own. At least until you recover.”
Philip sighed, his chest not as wide as it had been just a couple months ago. “My pack has spoken, Jackson. They’re not waiting, and you know it.” He glanced down at Nadia. “However, I’m fine if you take Nadia out of here and to safety.”
Nadia shook her head, and her hair slid over her shoulders. “That would put us at war. You know it, and I know it.” Besides, she could figure a way out of this. Somehow.
A clamor went up outside.
She strode toward the door. “Let’s get this over with, all right?”
Jackson glanced at Emily, who slowly nodded. He opened the door, his jaw set tight.
Nadia walked out onto the large wrap-around deck, facing the circular drive with its snow-covered grass in the middle. In front of her stood five males, all tall, all strong. Fanning out behind them were the pack members, standing on the drive and along the tree line. So many of them.
Steam rose from the five males in front of her. The chilly winter weather didn’t bother any of them. She tried to keep her face stoic as she walked to the edge of the deck, her father and sister flanking her. This was so freaking weird. What kind of wolf pack had rules like this? The others didn’t. Only hers. Figured.
“So.” Solomon Rowland hitched over the icy porch from the corner, his brown hair wind-swept, his boots at odds with his formal wear. His tux appeared more navy-blue than black. He clutched the pack’s grimoire in his hands. “Quite unexpectedly, we’ve had five challengers step up for the trials.”
“No shit,” Emily muttered.
Nadia barely kept from elbowing her sister and instead stared at the males. All five had dressed in black battle gear. Dark shirts, pants, weapons. Her gaze glanced to the male on the far right, Caidrik, who’d been her assigned protector the last couple of months. He’d offered to fight for the Alpha position, and she’d agreed, surprised to find other challengers stepping up. He stared back at her, his eyes an intriguing glowing coal.
Solomon cleared his throat and opened the book, flipping pages until he could read. “Proper notice was sent out to the various wolf packs, and these five have answered the call.”
“Yeah, thanks for that,” Emily said, not so quietly.
Solomon blinked, looking up. “Ms. Nightsom, the pack elected me to the librarian position, and I followed the guidelines in the grimoire.”
Yeah, the guidelines nobody else even knew existed. Why had Nadia dug that old book out of the basement? She was nosy and curious, darn it. And look where it got her. Plus, the final third of the book was in a language she couldn’t decipher.
Solomon was one of the few who could read the old language, and once elected as the librarian, the only person who could keep the grimoire during the trials. Most of the old timers couldn’t even remember what was in the ancient book.
Philip motioned for Solomon to continue.
The young wolf shifter looked back down. “As per the rules, when a new Alpha not in the direct lineage of the current Alpha challenges for the position, it’s open to everyone with Alpha blood. Something that hasn’t happened in centuries.” He looked up at the males. “In a moment, I’ll ask for you to introduce yourself to the pack and state your lineage, which I’ve already verified.” A light pink tinged his cheeks. “Since, ah, our current Alpha has an unencumbered daughter, she, ah, I mean.” He swallowed again. Loudly. “She is, um, available as a, I’m sorry, a trophy to be gained as well as the position.” He blanched. “I’m sorry. That’s what the book says. I’m do apologize.” He chewed on his lip.
