Chapter 23


    Alpha Ryker


    We enter Shady Crest territory, right at nightfall. Vanessa and Alice walk in front of Kane with their


    wrists tied together while Leon leads the pack warriors. Alpha Zenith’s warriors are all spread out,


    making them easy targets. Our arrival must have sounded an rm. They retreat toward the


    packhouse.


    ‘Alpha Zenith knows we’re here,’ I yell out. Seth is mind-links me: Alpha! ‘They know you’re here!’


    ‘Good!’ I say.


    ‘Oh no!’ Seth says.


    ‘What is it?’ | ask.


    ‘It’s Astrid! You need to hurry! She’s shifting!’ Seth says.


    ‘Seth, tell Astrid I’ming for her. I will be with her as soon as possible,’ I say.


    ‘Leon, Kane, we need to move fast! Astrid is shifting!’ They nod. Leon and I shift into our wolves. Kane


    supervises Alice and Vanessa in his human form.


    ‘We will be right behind you, Alpha!’ Kane yells out.


    We run until we can see the packhouse. There are hundreds of pack warriors ready and waiting for us.


    I shift into my human


    form and put my pants on. I scan the area for Alpha Zenith, keeping my eyes on him, and slowly walk


    toward him. Alpha Zenith paces toward me, and wee face to face. He cracks his neck from side to


    side. He is shirtless and ready to shift.


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    ‘Hand Astrid and Seth over now. No one has to die,’ I say. Alpha Zenithughs.


    ‘Astrid belongs to James and this pack now.’ he says.


    ‘Kane! Bring them out!’ I yell. Kane steps forward in front of our pack warriors with Alice and Vanessa.


    Alpha Zenith grinds his teeth and lets out a growl.


    ‘I thought I’d bring your Luna and daughter along for the show, I grin.


    ‘Or we can trade. Astrid and Seth for Vanessa and Alice.’ Alpha Zenith res.


    ‘Or I can kill you and im your pack and have everything! want!’ He snaps.


    ‘War it is!’ I say, growling.


    ‘War it is then!’ Alpha Zenith yells as he walks back to his warriors. He shifts into an ugly,rge, grey


    wolf. His ear is missing, and he is worn and ragged. I shift into my ck wolf


    and let out a howl, signalling war. In wolf form, my warriors charge toward Alpha Zenith’s warriors. I


    lose sight of him and charge toward the others, attacking us, crashing into them,


    and biting any area of fur exposed to me.


    Two wolves run toward me and pounce. I quickly rip the throat of one out while the other bites my leg. I


    whimper, release the wolf I have hold of and lunge at the wolf, gnashing my leg. wing his face, he


    releases me. I pounce and bite into his side, tearing arge piece of flesh from him. He retreats,


    yelping. I observe the two packs fighting. It isn’t a pretty scene.


    | shift back into human form to look for Astrid! I run toward the packhouse.


    ‘Leon! Follow me!’ I yell. Leon follows as we race into the packhouse. I can hear Astrid’s screams


    beneath the floor.


    ‘Leon, a door must lead down to the cells,’ I figure.


    ‘Astrid!’ I yell, running through the house.


    ‘Alpha! Here! I found the entrance. It smells so good, likevender and musk, Leon says. I push past


    him to time-poor for his observations and run downstairs.


    Seth is in the cell on the left. A girl sits on the ground in the cell on the right. Astrid is curled up on the


    ground, screaming in pain


    ‘Astrid!’ I rattle the door, but it’s locked.


    ‘Where’s the key?’ | ask.


    “Ryker!’ Astrid screams, trying to crawl toward the door. She copses in pain and lets out a scream as


    a bone snaps.


    ‘Astrid, I’m going to find the key, okay?’ I run up the stairs. Leon is watching the girl in the other cell.


    ‘Leon! What are you doing?’ The girl is also gazing at Leon.


    ‘Mate!’ They both mumble in a trance.


    ‘Leon, if you want to save your mate, I suggest we find the key!’ I yell.


    Leon nods, and we search in vain for the keys. Then, finally, I hear them dangling in someone’s grip


    behind me.


    ‘Looking for these?’ A male voice behind me asks.


    James dangles the keys in front of me enticingly. John is with him. I shift into my wolf, as quick as


    James and John do. I lunge at James and bite into his chest. John bites into my ribs, and two snap in


    his lock-hold. Leon lunges at John, pushing him off of me. James and I fight each other, neither backing


    down. We are both covered in gashes. Astrid screams in pain. I lunge at James, biting down as hard as


    possible, ripping a sizeable chunk of flesh from his neck. Knowing he will bleed out, I finish him quickly,


    instantly snapping his neck. John lets out an anguished howl. Leon uses this to his advantage and rips


    John’s stomach open.


    | grab the keys back in human form and unlock Astrid’s cell. I


    throw them over to Leon to free Seth and his mate. Our chemistry envelopes us in a sentimental


    degree as I hold Astrid in my arms. I gently wipe her hair from her face.


    ‘Ryker! You’re here! She cries.


    ‘I promised you I’d be here for your first shift,’ I whisper.


    I hold her tightly through her screams, feeling the discs in her spine snap as I hold her in my arms.


    ‘You can do this. It will all be over soon. I promise,’ I assure Astrid. she cries again as another bone


    snaps. Her muzzle develops, and her fangs protrude from her top jaw. Glossy white fur clothes her


    body, tearing off her skirt and blouse. Herst scream bes a majestic howl.


    ‘Astrid! She tries to stand on all fours and struggles with her bnce.


    ‘Whoa!’ Seth and Leon say, amazed. ‘She’s a pure white wolf! Seth adds.


    Unsteady on her feet. I help her bnce.


    ‘Steady now, nice and slowly. I have you.’


    She is beautiful: the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen. She is sorge, simr to me in size.


    ‘Pure white wolves are only from


    ‘Moonstone Crest. Astrid is thest of her pack. Her mother, Alyssa, was a future Luna, and her father


    was Alpha Axton, she exins.


    “How do you know?’ | ask. She is holding Leon’s hand tightly. Leon has his other arm around her waist


    and the biggest grin on his youthful face.


    ‘Alpha Zenith is Alyssa’s true mate,’ she exins. We all freeze as Astrid growls and yaps.


    ‘It’s okay, Astrid, I say. I kneel so she can lick my face. She is like a gigantic marshmallow: she is so


    soft and squishy when I wrap my arms around her. She tries to y fight with me, nipping at my ankles


    and rolling onto her back in myp.


    I’m excited too. You’re the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen.’ I smile.


    ‘Seth, see how our warriors are going. We need to defeat Alpha Zenith.


    Astrid lets out an angry growl at his name.


    ‘I know. Try to shift back into human form. I promise shifting back doesn’t hurt at all. It will only take a


    moment when you shift again, and it will be less painful, I exin.


    I’m going to fight. Amelia, stay here till the fight is over, Leon says.


    ‘No!’ Amelia shouts. I’m going to fight too!’ She says, ripping


    off her clothes and shifting into her wolf with Leon. They leave the cell. It’s the first time Astrid and I


    have been alone since she left. My eyes well with tears as I adore the love of my life and her sweet,


    fluffy face.