In the Alpha’s Arms

Bonus Chapter- Honoring the Dead

can already see that you disapprove,” Ace fought to keep his laugh suppressed but Lita saw it. He held up his hands in mock sumender. “Standard packs don’t involve themselves at the overarching level of the council. We certainly don’t. Cole just wants a place he can be proud of where we keep fighting our focus, not politics. Asher may not do certain things in his pack but the humans in our pack are told anything they want to know. You know

that

Lita relaxed her shoulders. She did know that and Jaz was proof. She was as close to the inner circle of the pack leadership as Stace and no one gave a damn about whether she had a woll

She thought back to the pack she’d unintentionally grown up in. Lita hadn’t even realized this world had politics. But it made sense. Everything about the werewolf world ran in line with the human one. Why wouldn’t there be some sort of social hierarchy? How long had they been building this type of society? How long had they been developing the guidelines she was still oblivious to?

If the theme of the room was any measure, the werewolf bloodline stretched pretty far back. But it could just as easily be for show, Lita had seen her share of wealthy humans claiming a historic bloodline for clout whether it was true or not.

Lita had never asked these questions. Had never thought of the history behind her own genetics. Much like humans, she assumed it was a situation no one understood. Science certainly didn’t have any clear answers they could prove. Only speculation and theories. Were werewolves one such miracle as humanity or some kind of mutation that occured in human genes? When Lita thought about it, she realized she’d never asked anyone any questions. But when would she have had the time? There were always so many more pressing issues. She’d been trying to assimilate as fast as she could but things like politics and rank hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“Ace?” Lita asked, rounding his body to stand near the wall so she could touch the cool metal.

“Hmm?” Ace backed up until he could lean against the same metal patter on the wall.

“Were there wolves back in ancient times? I don’t know why but I’ve always just assumed this is something modern. Something recent. But it sounds stupid now that I say it aloud.”

Maxim’s schooling only allowed for creationism. I know less than most in

in human schools,

begin with. Who the hell knows? And whether that was a few hundred years ago or

air he had when he fought and Lita followed, forcing her own shoulders high. Unlike the series of rings that she had seen spread out at the tournament, this showcase only had one ring. A simple square made of painted lines on the concrete. It fit the primal aesthetic to the letter, especially bracketed by loose velvet ropes that were

faces and Lita forced herself to stay calm. She didn’t know these people and they didn’t know her. Lita told herself she didn’t recognize any faces. A jolt of awareness hit her as she glimpsed a trimmed beard. Another hit as she caught sight of a familiar jumpsuit and heels in her peripheral. The glint of a bracelet she’d seen before, made her skin sweat. No, she wouldn’t

it.

the whole world

shoulders as she took a step closer to the wall. Her hands reached out instinctively, touching a half–faded picture of fames. She touched another, this one of him winning some kind of trophy. It hurt–enough to force a shuddered

the gym? Her chest vibrated and squeezed as Nyx whimpered

Bonus Chapter–Honoring the Dead

She didn’t want them to

people’s personal tokens of James. It’s a way for people to honor him. It’ll probably be taken down soon since it’s

him. Lita couldn’t even respond, her mind too full of James‘ face. But her body relaxed, accepting that Ace would watch her back. She zoned in on one photo taken of James while he was entering the ring–All raw power and focus. She’d never seen him so terrifying or determined. Except for the night he’d died. The thought was a knife re–opening

She blinked away the water, pulling away from Ace to step closer to the wall. James was so happy in the ring. So happy at the gym. He’d truly been in his element. And she’d never gotten to see him there. The loss of it all weighed her down, made her feel

All wrong because her bother was missing it. She couldn’t ignore the anger that grew in her chest. The guilt

taste told her they were tears. They had a brief conversation

jokester. Work hard, party harder kind of guy but everybody had nothing but good things to say about

She hadn’t seen James much that last year either. God how she wished she could undo ever seeing him again if it would mean he’d still be here taking these pictures, making those dreams of his come true. She felt clammy, feverish with the raging emotions she