“What? No!” I half yelled the moment the Alpha broke the news to me. His demeanour suddenly turned dark at my reaction. “No?”

“You dare say no? It’s an order Grace!” His height over mine, but I was not fazed by his stature, nor was I scared of him.

“I am not getting married to anyone, especially not an enemy,” an enemy I inherited by being a member of the Blue moon pack.

“I won’t let you ruin this peace treaty,”

“You will have to marry Alpha Pierce. Remember I have your mother with me,”

That was it for me – I charged at Alpha Brooke and slammed him against the wall. He snarled at me, “you asked for it!” he growled before charging back at me.

I ducked every single blow I could, but unlike me, he was faster, his claws finally digging its way into my flesh.

“You may be one of our best warriors, but until you can truly defeat me and get your mother out of my hands, you must do as I say!” he said before slamming my body against the wall. I felt the pain shoot through my body, coupled with the wound on my shoulder.

I got on my knees and bowed my head accepting defeat, a show I must put on if I really want to survive long enough till I succeed in my plans.

“Yes Alpha!” I replied whilst wincing.

I watched his retreating back, knowing fully well that my marriage to Pierce would not be the only thing it takes to protect my mother from Brooke. But regardless, I’ll do anything to make sure my plan is not ruined. Perhaps, I would need to push it back a little.

I forced myself off the floor and made my way to the clinic. Without a word to Harold, I made for the medicine counter, grabbed a few painkillers, and got ready to go out.

“Had a fight again?” it was Peculiar. She was standing at the door, and behind her was Harold. They were both in charge of the pack’s clinic.

“Mind your business!” I snapped.

“No one is your enemy here, Grace,”

“Let us help you,” Peculiar offered.

“The last time I checked, you have never been a friend,” I gibed.

“When are you ever going to let go of that incident?” she pouted, pointing a finger at me. This made me glare at her.

“You tried to kill me on Rico’s order!” I said, reminding her of the last time she almost injected me with wolfs bane mixed with a rootless poison.

She opened her mouth wanting to say something, but I was not going to listen. I pushed her out of the way and walked out. Harold knew well to pave way for me.

I don’t hate them, I despise them – Rico was my mate. But he thought I was not worth him because everyone knew I’m more like the Alpha’s slave than his adopted daughter. And when it comes to power, I would not be able to give him that. If not my rank in the pack as a top warrior guard, we’d never had lasted a year. Rejecting him at the end of the day, was the best decision I ever made.

I took a couple of painkillers and went to my post, guarding the territory at the South.

“Guardian, you’re back!” Steve said, running towards me. His smile immediately dropped when he noticed my wound.

“Let me help you,” he said, trying to support me. But I didn’t need him to. “I’m fine!” I said to him, rejecting his offer to support my weight.

“Alpha should not be treating you this way – you’re a guardian,” he said. If there’s someone who I believe cares about me, it is Steve. But, sometimes I wonder if it is because he trains under me.

“It’s okay!” I said to him. Then I pulled out the little rum bottle on me, and poured it’s content on the wound while gritting my teeth. Steve looked like he could feel my pain but could not do anything about it.

“Focus on the job at hand – we’ll be done by 4 PM” I said. That’s when our shift will end, and Rico’s group would take over. I’d hate to see him coming; I would rather face Brooke in a brawl over and over again, than to cooperate with Rico.

Barely an hour away from the time our shift will end, I heard a rustling sound close by. From the scent, I could tell someone was there.

Without wasting time, I immediately rushed towards that direction, chasing the person down.

“Who are you?” I said right after pinning him to the ground.

“I’m here on behalf of Layer pack, sent by Alpha Pierce,” he said raising a token in his hand.

“Weak!” I muttered before letting go of him. He stood up right after.

“Blue Moon pack does have some strong female Warriors,” he said, laughing and brushing off the dust from his clothes at the same time.

“Hand him over to us!” a familiar, yet unwelcomed voice hits my ears. It felt irritating.

“Why should I?” I asked him, with hostility enveloping my voice.

“We chased him down here!” Rico replied. On hearing that, I seized the young man.

“Well, I caught him,”

“You either beat me or back away,” I said challenging him, knowing fully well Rico would choose the latter rather than having a fight with me.

Rico took a few steps back while signalling for his men to pull back. I smirked at the sight of that. “Since you are already here, Steve will fill you in. I’ll take the prisoner from here,” without waiting for a reply, I took the young man from Layer pack away. Using my wolf speed, we soon arrived at the pack house.

“Tell Alpha Brooke I brought him a surprise,” I said to the wolf guarding the door to Brooke’s office. But I didn’t need to do that, I could have just sent him a signal like the rest of the guardians do, except, I hate him too much to want any connection with him.

“There will be no need of that,” Brooke said, walking out the door majestically. He wore a proud look as he approached us, but his pride suddenly dissipated, and was replaced with a look of confusion, then surprise.

“What? Surprised to see me?”

“I’m here to take my bride!” the young man from Layer pack said, leaving me confused as well.