Alpha's Moon (Shifter Ops 1)

Lance backs away looking dazed, his muzzle bleeding. Deke drags Channing now, trying to run in a circle to catch the brown and white wolf’s tail.

This is ridiculous. Time to escalate things.

I stride onto the lawn just as Channing lets go of Deke and leaps out of the way. Deke doesn’t quit. The black wolf lunges for Channing again and again.

“Enough,” I order. I put the force of my alpha command into my tone. It should stop the fighting at once.

But instead of stopping, the black wolf turns and races my way, its jaw spread in a snarl as it launches at me in attack.

Deke

I get close enough to see the whites of my alpha’s eyes before Rafe throws himself out of the way. I crash into the side of the lodge, cracking a shutter. The impact makes a section of the gutter fall but the stone wall holds. I’m on my paws as quick as I land, shaking my head to clear it.

I’m broken, bleeding, but there’s no way I can stop. I have to fight. There’s a roaring in my ear, a sick churning in my gut. An engine fed by pain that drives me on and on.

I lost Sadie. There’s nothing left for me. But I can still fight.

I’m disoriented, and by the time I get my wits back, a black and orange wolf slams into my side. I snarl and lunge, trying to catch him, but Rafe dances out of the way. He backs onto the lawn, facing me in challenge. A smarter wolf would stop and go to its belly before its alpha.

My wolf isn’t smart. It wants to die. I show my teeth in a deadly smile, and hurl myself at Rafe. This time he’s ready for me, and doesn’t bother skipping out of the way. He side steps and slams his shoulder into mine, unbalancing me. I find my paws again and lunge. Rafe knocks me over again. A third time, and he snaps at my haunch, a tiny nip that draws blood. And my wolf goes crazy, attacking and charging Rafe over and over as he rips into me. He’s a second faster, a hair stronger, and a million times as lethal. My wolf rises to the occasion, but Rafe bleeds me little by little. And then, finally, he knocks me to my back. I try to move, and he pins me with his weight.

There are teeth on my throat. I go still.

The light is breaking in the east. My last dawn. I don’t fear death. I don’t welcome it either, but if I can’t live with Sadie, there’s no more reason for me to walk the earth.

Rafe growls against me. He’s got me pinned. I scrabble my paws, hoping he’ll make it quick.

“Stop,” Lance is yelling. “It’s a trick.”

Rafe growls again but doesn't move.

“It’s a trick,” Lance insists. “Look at him.” He points to me. “Think about how he’s acting. He wants the bite.”

Rafe’s body goes still. And all my hopes are destroyed as he pulls away. I flip onto all fours, and I bare my teeth in Lance’s direction, but he ignores me. He’s figured it out.

Rafe shifts and stands as a man. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Lance gestures to me. “He wants the bite. He’s trying to get you to kill him. Whenever he had you in a hold, he didn’t kill you. He kept going until you had him pinned. He’s not out of control. He planned this.”

“Is this true? Suicide by Alpha?” Rafe crouches to look me in the eye. I duck my head. “If that’s true, then you are in control, more than you think.” He grips the scruff of my neck and hauls my head up again. I show him my fangs, but I don’t mean it. Fight’s over.

“Change,” Rafe orders, and my spine bows backwards as the wolf releases my body.

Rafe backs away, giving me space. In man form, I’m still bleeding, but my wounds are healing.

“Bastard,” I mutter, but I take my alpha’s hand when he offers to help me up. He grips my shoulder, and I wince. My skin is still sensitive from the shift.

“This changes everything,” Rafe says.

“No,” I growl, but inside my heart, my wolf raises his head, wanting so desperately to believe.

Sadie

It’s my father’s phone call that changes everything. It’s Wednesday, a school night, and I’m pacing in my living room. I cancelled our girl’s night. I can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t think. I had a few days with Deke, a few days of heaven, and now I’m left with nothing. My ovaries are in bed, eating bon bons and moping. My heart is a cracked and bleeding mess.

My phone buzzes. I snatch it up and answer on autopilot.

“Sadie,” my father’s nasal voice drones. “Finally. I’ve been wondering if you were still alive.”