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.”

our history. Maxim’s schooling only allowed for

She knew that in human schools, creationism centered around God and believing

you’ve got the gist. Of course, we evolved out of that moon habit Ether that or it was never real to begin with. Who the hell knows? And whether that was a few hundred years ago or a few thousand, your

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 intertwined with vines like an ancient VIP area. Poised in the center of the room, the ring commanded attention, and overhead, a metal cage had been suspended giving it all an ominous atmosphere. Lita found herself anxious and excited for the showcase to start. She had

the curious 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 let herself obsess. She didn’t know anyone here. She made herself believe it. This was just idle curiosity from them. And really, they were probably

nerves were manifesting things that weren’t real. She just had to ignore it. Lita kept repeating those affirmations as Ace took her to a sidewall and

whole world

hardly felt Ace wrap a protective arm around her 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 breath out of her. She couldn’t breathe

vibrated and squeezed as Nyx whimpered and lay down on her paws. Are hugged her

Bonus Chapter–Honoring the Dead

didn’t know. She didn’t want them to see

she was. “These are all 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 been a year…but Stace mentioned that you don’t have anything of his. That your parents got rid of

Or maybe she stopped hearing 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.

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

he’d made for himself. It was all wrong. All wrong because her bother was

The taste told her they were tears. They had a brief conversation about James before he’d

rumble through her back. “But he was good people. A real jokester. Work hard, party harder kind of guy but everybody had nothing but good things

would mean he’d still be here taking these pictures, making those dreams of his come true. She felt clammy, feverish with the raging