Way of the Wolf: Redemption

*Edited*

Chapter 3: What's in a name?

The Alpha Female was watching me. She always seemed to whenever we happened to walk near each other. Today she was with the ancient male I swore had woven magic throughout the pack during the last night they’d spent in their summer camp, and they both repeatedly glanced back at where the Beta and I kept pace behind everyone.

The magic wielding male often walked near us, but I’d never made him much mind. Hair a stark white from age, he was slowed by an awkward limp and often paused to lean against the wooden staff he used. It seemed to take him great effort to travel for such long periods of time but he never fell behind; not that I thought the pack would leave him. Wolves often slowed to walk with him a while, though few offered him help, and those who did were quickly punished by a quick whip of his staff. Still, they didn’t want him to be alone simply because he couldn’t keep up at all times, and for some reason, that made my mouth fill with a bitter taste.

My mood wasn’t helped by the hushed whispers shared between the pair a few metres ahead. Grim expressions were cast my way again, and the way the older male showed a lick of pity only made me bristle. Even with a broken leg, I could have taken him on, I was sure, so who was he to pity me? I was fed up. Of being stared at and spoken about, especially when I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said. No matter how I strained forward over the Beta’s shoulder, all I could make out was the odd word.

This time when they looked back at me, I bared my teeth and growled, but the sound barely managed to escape before a hand come down sharply on my thigh. I gasped at the sting, stiffening against the Beta's back. The strike hadn’t hurt beyond the initial burn, but if he was anything like the wolves I knew, the next time would leave a bruise. They always started off lightly.

"Come now, don’t be grumpy, that barely would have hurt,” he crooned, smoothing his thumb over the same spot. “There’s no need to growl either. Signy and Sol aren't doing any harm by looking, especially as they're most likely discussing how best to help you. You’ve behaved well the last few days, but if you regress to acting out again, they might decide their help is wasted; while you and I both know it's not."

I don't want any of your help, it was on the tip of my tongue, but on seeing he wasn’t going through with his promise to tie me back up if I so much as growled, I decided not to test him further. Instead, I ground my teeth together and forced my gaze away from the watching wolves.

Happy that I'd decided to heed his warning, the Beta lengthened his stride again.

How much longer would they keep acting like they were saving my life and doing me a great service by taking me captive?

I let out a disgruntled huff.

The landscape was beginning to change, I noted. Trees of oak, willow and others that lost their leaves in autumn became tall standing fir and pine, the air filled with a pleasant minty aroma. Ground thick with foliage had become bare and rockier, but plenty of animal scents and tracks were still there. We’d been walking North for days, and then turned West, but days and weeks had blurred together so much that I found it impossible to gauge how far we’d travelled or where we could possibly be.

“When we have a break, Madden wants you to try and walk a few steps,” the Beta said, perhaps trying to distract me from my brooding.

I couldn’t answer. A creeping feeling of panic had begun to fill me at the thought of the tens, maybe hundreds, of leagues that were between me and Valdis. How would I ever find him again?

The Beta didn’t press me to answer. He’d grown used to my bursts of willingness to talk that turned to despondent numbness just as quickly. Emotions ebbed and flowed like the tide, anger tumbling into frustration, to hopelessness that led to loneliness, that would eventually have me opening up to talk again. Still, he continued to speak to fill the silence as he always did, and his rich timbre was annoyingly nice to listen too even if I didn’t pay much mind to exactly what he said.

“We’ll see the mountains soon. They look blue against the sky at first, and you have to squint to see the pass even when you reach them. If you don’t know where to look, you could walk right past the gap. Their walls have guarded our pack for many generations during winter because it freezes over completely for months on end, and leaves us with human free territory. Even in the warm months, humans stay away. They don’t know the safe path to use.”

Human free territory, I mused. How spoiled and cushy the lives of this pack were.

He'd called the valley through the pass the pack's homeland a few times. I'd been under the impression these wolves had no home, like myself, that they wandered the wilderness together.

But I guess even Wanderers need a place to go back to.

Resting my chin on his shoulders, I began to add to the landmarks I’d been memorising to help guide me back - a tree with bark that made the face of an owl, a cluster of odd-shaped rocks. Hopefully the mountains would give me a sense of direction to run in, because the pack didn't come and go from their homeland often enough to have worn any visible tracks into the ground. They must have been following something though, or maybe they were guided by instincts, or saw markers that my eyes missed. Landmarks were few and far between when every group of trees looked the same as another.

I could get lost for weeks out here.

Sighing heavily, I nearly thought I was imagining it when I heard a rustling noise building in the air. I held my breath and closed my eyes, straining to make out what I was sure was. . .yes, a running water. There was a river somewhere close by.

The Beta chuckled and dug his fingers into my leg when I hoisted myself higher up his back to see the ground slowly sloping downwards. The trees grew sparser too, and after a few more steps, in between their trunks, I caught sight of lush green grass. When the Beta stepped out of the treeline, I might have gasped in awe.

Miles of flatlands stretched on before us before hitting the mountains in the distance that were indeed a dark blue against the pale sky, its uneven and rugged outline reaching round until they softened to the gentler hills around us. A slow flowing river cut the valley in half, winding with snakelike bends that were narrow enough to jump across in parts.

I couldn’t deny the area was beautiful. Breath-taking even. The river glinted silver in the light, cutting through thick grass that swayed like waves towards shore. Snow capped the highest mountain peaks, reflecting such a bright white that was blinding to look at for too long. There were worse places to be held captive, I supposed. I’d never stopped to take notice of my surroundings when running with Valdis, there were always more pressing things to do, but there was definitely peace to be found in appreciating the land that gave us all food and shelter.

It was hard to believe Autumn had begun with winter on the way when there was still so much green. I could feel how soft and tickly the blades would be if I rolled around in it, how rich and earthy the scents would be as they filled my lungs, how hot the sun would feel when we escaped the shade. Sky full of hunting birds, bees jumping from wildflower to wildflower, rabbits skittering quickly out of the pack’s way, it was clear this land was full of life. Prime hunting ground and a good place to hide away from the world.

"We'll spend the night by the river and then move on through the valley tomorrow.” The beta sounded relieved, and lifted a finger to point to two twin peaks in the distance. “Our home, the one place we always return to, is through those mountains. There is no other way in or out.”

I nearly rolled my eyes at his attempt at a subtle warning that escape wouldn’t be easy if I didn’t fancy the idea of climbing over mountains.

"How much farther is it from here?" I inquired, keeping my gaze where he’d pointed even as I felt him peer over his shoulder at me, probably with that now familiar knowing look.

"A few days. Don’t be deceived, in a week or two, all these animals will disappear. In the dark months, there's nothing for miles around. Hunting needs to be done in groups because a lone wolf won't survive out here; not in the heart of our territory," he answered, words carefully chosen as if he didn't want to accuse me of thinking of running, but wanted to make sure I understood what I’d be risking if I did.

I propped my chin on his shoulder, humming to show I understood. Now was definitely the time to act compliant. If what he said was true, I wanted to be free of them in the next few weeks, so I needed to gain enough trust that I might be left alone for a moment or two. I also needed to hope I’d be able to make progress with my leg.

Yips and laughs rang out as the pups began to roll down the grassy hill, those in fur chasing after on unsteady legs and paws too big for their bodies. My lips twitched into a smile. The small bundles of energy were impossible to harbour hatred against, even if they would grow to be pack wolves. I envied them. They had no troubles. Food was plentiful so fights for it were more about first rights than fear of starvation. The only thing they had to fear, and I knew some of them did, was me. I wondered if the adults would be less wary of me around their young if they knew I’d once been beaten for saving two pups.

Innocents like them deserved the world. Watching them over the last few weeks had brought me some reprieve from skulking. They even made me bite my lip so I wouldn’t laugh as they immediately started running back up the hill to roll down again, forgetting about the rule to stay away from me so they could start from the very top.

The Beta shifted his grip and moved out of their way, reaching out to ruffle the hair of a few who dared get close enough. They grinned up at him, eyes full of adoration, and curiosity when they darted time. I let them look, my smile growing when a dark haired she-wolf no taller than the Beta’s hip dared share her smile with me too before throwing herself down the hill.

My neck prickled with awareness and I twisted to see the Alpha staring. Even from a distance he was terrifying. He stood tall and broad with muscle, with streaks of grey in dark hair, and a multitude of scars glittering over sun-darkened skin that told of a male used to coming out on top. Midnight eyes studied me carefully with a passive expression that gave little away.

I forced my own face back into a scowl, but he’d ready seen my fondness for the young in his pack. He’d seen me softening around the edges. I was oddly glad he had. I didn’t want him to think I was evil enough to harm them.

Thankfully, the Beta didn’t linger any longer. He walked slowly to avoid colliding with one of the pups, and I began to relax against his back again until I realised he was making for the river’s edge. From this height, I could see it wasn’t deep, nor was it frothing from strong currents that could pull someone under, but the sight still made my throat close up, and the Beta grunted as my nails dug into his bicep. He stopped short, and then promptly turned around so I could no longer see the water.

He’d taken note of my reaction to the river when he first stumbled across me, and now this, he knew. He knew I was scared of the water. And, while I was grateful he paid such close attention to my ever-shifting moods and wasn’t willing to test my limits today, I worried he could use that knowledge to his advantage.

“I’m going to put you down, are you ready?” he asked.

I nodded.

He chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. “I can’t see you; I need an out loud answer.”

“Yes, I’m ready,” I said.

He lowered me gently, crouching until he felt my good leg reach the ground. The limb shook beneath my weight and my head swam a bit, but it felt so good to be able to sink my toes into the grass and the rich soil beneath. Gods, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stood on my own.

The Beta turned slowly, his hand reaching out to steady me. My very bones felt they would snap if I took my own weight much longer, but when my gaze met the intense reddish brown of my captor’s, I knew what would be asked of me next. It was hard to resist the urge to bare my teeth when he kept his hand wrapped around my upper arm. I didn’t want to try to walk. Not yet. Especially not with the whole pack dotted about. If I collapsed, or hurt myself, it would be in full view of them all. The further humiliation would break me.

A shadow fell over me, and I looked away from the Beta to see the grinning Healer loping over with his leather satchel swinging at his side.

"How's the pain today?" he asked, bobbing his head at both of us in greeting; though his question about me was aimed at the Beta who answered as if he knew me in and out.

"She's didn’t need anymore herbs after this morning, so I can safely say the pain isn't as bad today. She's a little irritable, but made no move to attack me for once. All good progress.”

I glared at him as he spoke, but he didn't even glance my way. His attention was entirely on the other male and his prognosis of my health.

The Healer looked me up and down with clinical eyes, taking note of the progression of my injuries. He stepped into my space and I tensed as his hands began to move over my body. A stern look from the Beta kept me still, his grip tightening ever so slightly on my arm, but my hands still flexed when fingers prodded at the bruise on my breast. I was little pleased when the Healer froze and cast a wary gaze up. He could sense my patience was wearing thin. I nodded for him to go on, and a flash of surprise crossed his features before he did so.

I studied myself as he did, perhaps with a less trained eye. I'd healed well considering how weak I still felt, but healing was a draining process. The bite on my breast was still itchy, but most of my bruises had faded to yellow or disappeared completely. This was maybe the healthiest I'd been in years, definitely the least hungry I’d ever been in my life.

The Healer crouched to look at my leg last, the only part of me still mottled a gruesome black and blue. Manipulating the limb, he made me flex my leg and circle it around while he mumbled to himself. When he was done, he stood slowly and motioned for the Beta to step away. I wobbled on one leg when he released me to follow the Healer a few metres away, then frowned at their hushed voices. The healer didn't want me to know whatever he'd found, and whatever he was saying made the Beta grow tense.

With nothing to hold onto, I was exhausted after only a minute, but just I was about to give up and sink into the grass, the pair returned. The Healer had that unconvincing grin plastered back on his face, but it didn’t bring me the ease he probably thought it would.

"Let's try and get you walking again then, yes?” he encouraged, clapping his hands together. “Baby steps though. For now, I want you to try and place your foot flat on the ground if you can. Bjarke will be right next to you if you need him. He won’t let you fall.”

I wasn’t sure I believed that.

The Beta moved to stand beside me, and offered his arm with an expectant look. Behave. I sucked my teeth, looking between his arm and my battered leg. Reluctant, I placed my hand on his forearm and tried to find comfort in his steadiness as I braced myself for pain. What if I couldn’t do it? What if the bone hadn’t healed right despite their efforts? What if I could never walk again, would I be stuck with this pack forever?

The Beta shifted to stand slightly behind me and I felt the warmth of his other hand hover near my hip. “Put more of your weight on me, that’s it. Stretch your knee first to work out the stiffness and then place your foot down.”

“Don’t put weight on it yet,” the Healer added.

My nails dug into the Beta's arm, and I swore my heart was going to hammer out my chest, but I did as I was told. My hip clicked audibly, followed by my knee popping as I stretched out my leg. It felt like pushing against a great weight as I forced my leg to straighten and tentatively rolled my ankle before finally placing both feet on the ground. The cool grass tickled the sole, and while a flare of pain shot up my shin, it was bearable.

"That's good. Now try a little weight, take a step if you can,” the Healer continued, his finger tapping his jaw as he studied me.

I scrunched my nose. So much for no weight yet. The Beta peeled one of my hands from his arm and turned me to face the Healer, nodding his head in silent request for me to try and reach the other wolf. I felt like a pup taking their first step with the way the pack watched on, and I was sure many of them wished this would end as badly as I was imagining it would.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and grit my teeth as I forced myself to take my own weight. A little more. And a little more. Until all the Beta was providing was a steadying support. But the minute I tried to step forward, my knee buckled beneath me. I yelped as I dropped, but the Beta didn't let me fall, pulling me carefully upright again while I huffed out my frustration.

"Try again," he urged quietly by my ear.

I didn't want to try again. Especially when I’d heard laughter at my stumble, and the sound of the river to my right was making blurry images flash through my head. My breathing quickened as panic swelled, every sight, smell and sensation overwhelming to my senses.

“I don’t want to. Don’t make me.”

The Beta squeezed my hip. "I know this a lot, Little One. Take a deep breath, block it all out. All that matters is you right now. Take a step, that’s all you have to do, just one step and we’ll stop.”

I didn't understand the sympathy nor concern in his eyes. Why did he care so much? Surely it would be better for all of them if I remained unable to move on my own. Or perhaps the Beta really was beginning to tire of lugging me around all day.

Not wanting to appear weaker than this pack must have already found me, I forced myself to obey. A sharp pain stole my breath when I placed my foot back on the ground, but I pushed on. With the Beta murmuring encouragement at my ear, I took my first step in over a month, my entire body shuddering with the effort it took.

The Healer clapped and hollered, drawing yet more attention to my struggles.

One step, that’s all they said I had to do.

I lifted my foot quickly, and grabbed for the Beta’s arm again, eyes stinging with the fire that burned through the veins in my leg

"Am I done now, Healer?” I hissed through clenched teeth. My good leg began to tremble, threatening to give up too, and my lungs burned with exertion despite the fact I’d barely done a thing. I’d had enough. I was ready to be exiled to my spot at the edge of camp to be forgotten about. I'd prefer it to this.

The smile on the blond male’s face faltered but stayed in place. "I suppose. One step is still progress. And my name is Madden, you're free to use it. In fact, I’d prefer it if you did.”

“You don’t care what I prefer so why should I care what you do?”

The odd words they used to address each other weren't significant to me like they were to them. I wasn't going to start using names; another step to losing my way of life. Another step towards being tamed. But the Beta wasn’t pleased with my clipped reply, and maybe despite being at my back, he could tell my lip was lifted in a snarl. He tugged on a strand of my hair and my head fell back to meet his gaze.

"Maybe I should make you walk by yourself to where we'll sleep tonight. Madden has been nothing but patient and kind to you, and without him, who knows what state your leg would be in now. So, stop being rude."

I could have laughed but the awkward angle of my neck meant all I could really manage was a smirk. What was being rude when I was a prisoner?

My amusement vanished when he tore his arm from my grip, released my hair, and stepped away. I scrambled to grab him before I lost my balance, but I was already falling back. My ass broke my fall, and I sat dumbfounded and blinking. It hadn’t hurt really, I’d avoided putting pressure on my injury, but my pride had been greatly wounded. The Healer didn't look too happy either, shooting the Beta a displeased glare. A gaggle of pups giggled where they watched by the river, and while the adults had better sense, I caught a few smirks.

Vision going red, my fingers curled into claws as I lashed out at the Beta’s leg, but the male stepped out of the way so my nails only grazed the roughspun fabric of his trousers. I could feel his disapproval boring down on me, and one warning growl that rattled my insides was all it took to make me freeze.

Was he going to tie me up again? Deny me food? Something worse?

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of submitting, but I lowered my hands to the grass and averted my gaze in the hopes the small appeasement would douse his mounting frustration with me.

I had to bide my time, I reminded myself.

"Ask for my help, and I'll help you," he said, offering a hand just out of reach.

Out of spite, I growled and dragged myself back up without his help. It took a lot of gritting my teeth and harsh breathing, but I eventually managed to force my way upright again.

He smirked at my stubbornness. We both knew that small act of defiance would be all I'd get, because though I could stand, walking was out of the question. My tongue ran over my teeth as I silently tested his name, even as it crossed my mind that I could just sit where I was and sleep there tonight to show him I didn't need or want his help. He'd probably let me to teach me a lesson.

But when he twisted as if he was going to walk away, my stomach erupted in butterflies. Swallowing down my pride, I closed my eyes and forced out the words, "Don’t go. I need help."

"I know you know my name too," he drawled as he turned back to me, taking great pleasure in my reaction. “Asking nicely will go a long way too.”

"Please help me, Beta."

I nearly screamed when he gave a throaty laugh and shook his head.

"That's my rank not my name.” He cocked his head and threw his hands out in exasperation. “Why do you have to make everything harder for yourself? What do you get out of it? Until you can act at least civilly, you can stay here.”

This time he did start walking away, his long strides putting so much distance between us so quickly that I worried he was out of earshot when I finally swallowed my pride.

"Bjarke!"

Throat closing up, I stumbled forward to try and reach him but ended up nearly falling to my knees. Panic and pain blinded me, my hands flying out to break my fall, but hands caught me before I did. I blinked, expecting to look up and find the Healer’s face as he’s been closest, only to find myself staring up at the Beta instead. Choking on a sob, I clung onto the male who caused me to feel such conflicting emotions. I wanted away from him, but the moment he’d left, I’d wanted him back, and now he was, I couldn’t make myself release him. How? How could I have allowed myself to become dependant on him?

There was no amusement in his expression when he hooked two calloused fingers beneath my chin to tilt my head up. I was too embarrassed to meet his gaze, and too aware of how close we were pressed together, chest to chest, with the whole pack pretending not to watch. The Healer didn’t bother pretending. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes darting between us both with a smile slowly stretching his lips.

“I’m sorry,” the Beta rasped, sliding his other arm around my waist so I could rest against him. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I pushed too far. I’m still learning your boundaries just as you are, forgive me. It won’t happen again.”

I was both infuriated and relieved by his apology. My fluttering heart settled as my body rocked to the sway of his, but something was missing, and when I realised what it was, I could have screamed again. I wanted him to make the sound I claimed to hate, to feel his chest vibrate beneath my cheek as he purred. Instead, I could hear the pounding drumbeat of his heart, but his earthy rich scent held a sour note that was never usually there.

I frowned. “You were frightened too?”

He stiffened, and I smirked. I’d finally got one up on him. I could read him well too.

“I thought I’d hurt you.”

My frown deepened and I nosed at his chest as if to brush the Beta’s new, unsettling demeanour away. “You were no where near me.”

Copying my actions, I felt the brush of his own nose against the top of my head, and heard him inhale deeply, his chest expanding. He let the breath out slowly, and I knew he’d edited whatever he’d originally wanted to say when he finally spoke, “You’re still healing. I was charged with looking after you. If my leaving you to stand alone caused you pain, then it is my fault.”

Knowing he took the blame, knowing he understood my reliance on him, caused an outpouring of irrational anger. Did he think he owned me? Did he think I would be fooled by his feigned concern for me? I slapped at his chest and finally met his gaze with narrowed eyes. He knew to lean back before my snapping teeth could make contact. Gripping my arms tight to hold me in place, he chuckled.

“I understand,” he said, accepting my warning for what it was even when I myself didn’t understand. “I’ve apologised for causing you distress. I would even give you my throat if I could trust you wouldn’t take the chance to bite, but I can’t, so you’re going to have to make do.”

The admission caught me off guard; the fact I believed him more so. Yes, there was a teasing tilt to his lips, but those strange ruby brown eyes were sincere. It satisfied me enough. And for a moment my brain flashed an image of this dominant Beta submitting to having my teeth at his throat. It sent a flush of warmth through me, and I blinked at the sensation, and how suddenly nervous I was being so close to him.

The Beta sniffed the air again and something about him became both intrigued and wary. He took a small step back to create space between us and cleared his throat. “You use our names from now on, alright?”

I rolled my eyes, but gave a huff of agreement. Anything to make this interaction end.

My easy agreement was received well. The Beta...Bjarke, gave me a dashing smile that softened my hackles and unnerved me all at once. The Healer...Madden, let out a strained laugh and rubbed the back of his neck as he averted his gaze.

“Well then. Make sure you eat well tonight, both of you. I’ll leave herbs for her to take before she goes to sleep and when she wakes; Jakkon doesn’t plan on stopping until we reach home tomorrow so it’s going to be a long day.”

I would need all the energy and awareness I could muster to memorise the trail, and the herbs would steal that away from me, but the ache growing up my leg was becoming impossible to ignore. Could I grit my teeth and bear it?

Fires began to pop up along the edge of the river, a bigger one built more central to where the pack spread out over the flatlands. It was still light, and would be for a good few hours yet, but without the cover of the trees, and with the mountains funnelling the air, a chill had begun to set in. I longed to be near one of the fires, or even one of the torches anything to get rid of the ice fingers crawling across my skin, the ghost of Madden’s touch still haunting me.

Bjarke, the damned Beta, swept me up into cradled arms and carted me over to where a wooden post had been hammered into the ground. Worried my earlier outburst had earned me back the rope around my wrists, a whimper of dismay caught in my throat. The Beta hushed me and carefully placed me on the cool grass so I could rest my back against the post, then held up both hands as he leaned back on his heels.

I searched him and the grass around me for any sign of rope, or something else he could use to trap or punish me, but there was nothing.

“You’re not in trouble for your reaction earlier. You took a big step.” His lips curled in amusement at his own joke, unperturbed by my lack of the same reaction. “It took a lot for you to trust us today, but you did, and I can’t punish your for that anymore than I can punish you for your emotions. Madden is right, they’re yours to have. . .but while I understand I frightened you by threatening to leave, it doesn’t mean you’re not going to have to learn to redirect or voice what you’re feeling instead of acting out. My leg is not a scratching post for your claws anymore than my throat is a toy for your fangs.”

He was. . .teasing me?

I shifted uncomfortably. It was embarrassing enough that he’d seen how reliant I was on him without him trying to jest with me. Open and honest, his gaze held mine unflinching as I tried to figure out if he’d use my reliance on him against me.

Tilting my chin up, I offered gruffly, “Without you, any one of the wolves around us who thinks I should have paid for ruining the pack’s hunt could kill me as easily as a spider catches a fly stuck in their web. You are all that stands between me and them.”

Bjarke looked over his shoulder at his kin and shrugged. “You’re probably right; that’s why I was chosen. Even out of my sight, few would dare come near you knowing you’re under my charge. If they did, they would face my retribution.”

I rolled my eyes. As if he would hurt a member of his own pack if they came after me. But my disbelief garnered a strange reaction. The huge Beta flinched as if I’d wounded him, his expression hardening and eyes flashing with a dangerous red sheen. I’d questioned his honour.

Wiping his hands on his knees, he stood and turned away from me.

I kept my head down. When did I start caring about whether or not I hurt the feelings of some pack wolf?

His shoulders heaved, and he ran a hand over shirt cropped hair before turning back. "If you remain still while I get us food, and you eat nicely, I’ll let you sleep free tonight. I don’t think I need to tell you warn you what will happen if you misbehave anymore.”

I glowered, then blinked when the Beta threw my assumptions about his intent right back at my face.

He tipped his head, a gesture I understood more than I understood how these wolves talked; there always seemed to be hidden meanings I didn't catch in their words. He was clearing the air between us, and as pitiful as it was, I clawed at the chance for forgiveness. Bowing my head without thinking, I finally offered the male a little of the submission he wanted. Instincts told me that even if this was all a big game, the Beta had kept his word, and whether he wanted to or not, whether I wanted to admit it or not, his very presence was keeping me alive.

If he trusted me, this would be over soon. If he thought I was learning, he would loosen the leash further. With that in mind, I went one step further and tipped back head to bare my neck.

The Beta choked.

I had to dig my nails deep into my thigh to keep the position, it stung red hot, as hot as the shame that burned my face, but I sat still, waiting for him to accept. He stepped forward and brushed his fingers along the length of my throat - not the nip of teeth I was readying myself for, but the feather touch might as well have been a branding iron for the way it seared into my skin.

"Nice try," he murmured. “Try not to growl at anyone while I’m gone.”

And just like that, the scorch of his fingers left my skin, he turned on his heel, and marched away like he couldn’t stand to be near me another second.

I slumped forward, reeling from the tidal wave of emotions as I rasped shallow breaths, still shaking from the force of will it had taken to bare my neck to a male I was yet unconvinced wouldn’t have snapped it. And the damned Beta hadn’t even accepted my submission! It hadn’t pleased or appeased him as I thought it would. Why? Wasn’t that exactly what he wanted whether or not it had it been too obvious a ploy? Perhaps it had been considering I’d tried to claw his leg off not ten minutes before. If only he knew I hadn’t done it out of self-preservation alone. . .

That’s why it felt like a stab to my gut. He’d all but rejected me.

Biting my lip to stop the tears blurring my view of the Beta’s back from falling, I shook myself and slammed a fist against my thigh hard enough to bruise. A moment of madness. That’s all it was. I’d lost sight of who I was and who Bjarke was. I sneered at his name. Of course, he hadn’t accepted my submission. If he did, there would be no honour in the pack killing me later.

“Damn them all,” I muttered.

Shuffling until my back was to the pack, I stared out dejectedly towards the darkening Eastern sky.