Chapter One: Restless Wolves and Family Ties

I could've been doing something way more productive today than tagging along with the alpha to pick up his little sister and parents. Like, say, getting laid—something that hadn't happened in far too long thanks to the insane workload we'd been buried under. Rogues meant paperwork, and screwing up the forms when you killed one could get you killed right back. One misplaced checkmark, one sloppy signature, and the werewolf council would have your head—literally. I'd seen it happen once, two years back, to a beta from a rival pack. Poor bastard didn't double-check his kill report, and the council's enforcers showed up at his door. They don't mess around.

I stared out the passenger window of Cade's sleek black BMW as he drove us to the airport, the hum of the engine a faint buzz beneath my restless thoughts. He'd insisted I come along, claiming I was "part of the family" and he wanted company for the ride. If I could've dodged this hour-long trip, I would've, but when your best friend and alpha asks, saying no isn't really an option. Loyalty's a chain that binds tighter than steel in a pack like ours.

As grumpy as I felt being cooped up in the car, I was glad to keep him company. Not that I was great company right now—lost in my own head, barely saying a word. The forest blurred past in streaks of green and brown, the occasional deer darting through the underbrush. I envied them their freedom; my wolf itched to run, to shake off the tension coiling in my muscles. Sitting still was torture.

A snap of fingers jolted me out of my daze. "You alright, buddy? You've been quiet the whole way," Cade said, raising an eyebrow before focusing back on the road. His voice carried that easy confidence he'd grown into since taking over as alpha three years ago, but I caught the flicker of concern in his glance.

I sighed and decided to spill it. "Yeah, just thinking I could've been getting laid instead of stuck on this ride with you." I forced a laugh, trying to lighten the weight of it.

He chuckled, a deep rumble that filled the car. "Don't worry. Once you find your mate, you'll never feel like you're missing out." He shot me a wink, his grin smug and knowing.

Cade had found his mate almost a year ago—a girl from a neighbouring pack he'd bumped into at the mall, of all places. She'd been buying a smoothie; he'd been grabbing protein bars. One whiff of her scent, and he'd been a goner. They'd been glued to each other ever since, the kind of couple that made you roll your eyes but secretly ache for what they had.

The thought of finding my own mate tugged a reluctant smile onto my face. "Is it really that good?" I asked, genuinely curious. I'd been waiting three long years—years that dragged on endlessly, each full moon a reminder of what I didn't have—and I was ready to settle down. If only I could find her. The longing gnawed at me, sharper lately, like my wolf knew something I didn't.

He grinned, eyes softening as he stared ahead. "It's the best. I've never been happier. She completes me—and, well, you'll figure out the rest when it happens." He laughed again, a sound so carefree it almost pissed me off.

I was happy for him, genuinely. Cade had a solid Luna by his side, adored by the pack. She wasn't with us today because she was heavily pregnant with the future alpha, due any day now. The pack buzzed with anticipation, bets circulating on whether it'd be a boy or girl. I'd put ten bucks on a boy, mostly to mess with Cade, who swore it'd be a girl.

But thinking about my own mate left a hollow ache in my chest. What if I never found her? What if I was alone forever? At twenty-one, I wasn't old, but in a pack where most paired off by nineteen, I felt ancient. I shoved the thoughts away, focusing on the road signs flashing by—Airport: 5 miles.

We pulled up to the terminal, and I practically leapt out of the car, my legs screaming for freedom. I hated being confined—vehicles were the worst. I'd rather run in wolf form; it'd probably be faster anyway, cutting through the forest trails instead of winding along these human roads. My wolf paced inside me, restless, claws scraping at my restraint.

I trailed Cade inside as we headed for arrivals, settling into hard plastic seats facing the gate. Elbows on my knees, I leaned forward, watching people stream by—businessmen with briefcases, families dragging suitcases, a kid wailing about a lost toy. Waiting drove me nuts—I'm too impatient—and I fought the urge to tell Cade I'd just run home. He'd probably laugh, then order me to stay.

Their flight had landed twenty minutes before we arrived, so hopefully they'd grabbed their bags by now. I was about to lose it, my knee bouncing like a jackhammer, when a stunning woman caught my eye. Long brunette hair swayed down to her waist, shimmering under the fluorescent lights, and her face looked like it was carved by angels—sharp cheekbones, full lips, eyes that sparkled even from a distance. Her legs—damn, those legs—stretched out from a knee-length blue dress that hugged every curve, the fabric clinging in a way that made my mouth dry. She walked toward us, hips swaying with a confidence that hit me like a punch, and I bit my lip, already plotting to slip her my number.

She kept coming our way, smiling at me—a soft, curious curve of her lips—before her gaze shifted to Cade, and her smile widened into something radiant. Great, she's into him, I thought, deflating like a popped tire. Typical alpha magnetism.

Then Cade shot up, chair scraping the floor. "Electra?!" he called, almost like he wasn't sure, before rushing toward her. "I almost didn't recognize you!"

"Cade!" She grinned, meeting him halfway and pulling him into a tight hug that lifted her heels off the ground. "You haven't changed a bit!"

And that's when it hit me—I'd been ogling the alpha's sister. A massive no-no, especially as the beta. She'd changed so much since I last saw her; that cheeky thirteen-year-old I remembered, all braces and gangly limbs, was gone, replaced by this gorgeous woman who could stop traffic. My stomach twisted with a mix of panic and something hotter, something I couldn't afford to feel. "No hug for me?" a voice broke through my spiralling thoughts. Electra stood over me, smiling, her tone teasing.

"Oh, uh, hi—good to see you too," I stammered, scrambling to my feet for an awkward hug. Her scent hit me—wildflowers and something sweet, like honey—and I pulled back fast, praying she didn't notice me adjust my jeans as heat crept up my neck.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" Cade asked, saving me from the moment.

"They hit the bathrooms," she said, turning to him with a casual shrug. I used the distraction to calm myself down, taking slow breaths. She wasn't eighteen yet—she hadn't found her mate. Once she was marked, maybe I'd stop seeing her like that. At least, that's what I told myself.

Their parents showed up soon after, Mr. Harris with his greying beard and Mrs. Harris with her warm, maternal smile, lugging mismatched suitcases. We piled into the car, and I ended up sandwiched in the back between Electra and Mrs. Harris—awkward as hell. Electra's thigh pressed against mine, the heat of her skin seeping through her dress, and I stared straight ahead, gripping my knees to keep my hands still.

"So, how've you been, dear?" Mrs. Harris asked me out of nowhere, her voice cutting through the low hum of the car.

I nearly said "sexually frustrated" but caught myself, forcing a grin. "Good, yeah. Just keeping Cade in line and dealing with the rogue mess." My voice dipped at the end, a slip I regretted instantly, because Mr. Harris caught it.

"Rogues? You didn't mention that, son. Is it bad?" he asked, concern sharpening his tone as he twisted in the front passenger seat to eye Cade.

Cade's eyes flicked to mine in the rear-view mirror—pure glare, promising I'd pay for this later. "Not too bad," he lied smoothly. "Just a couple this month." Try two this week, I thought, biting my tongue. That was unheard of, even in rough seasons.

"Two in a month?" Mr. Harris growled, his voice dropping an octave, the old alpha in him surfacing. "You should beef up patrols—keep the pups safe."

"I am, Dad," Cade snapped through gritted teeth, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. Yep, I was definitely in for it.

His parents had been visiting Electra at her training academy two months ago—a prestigious program for young wolves to hone their skills—when the rogue sightings spiked. We'd upped patrols and kept it from the pack, not wanting to spark panic, but this many rogues in such a short time? Something was off, and it wasn't just bad luck.

"Do you know where they're coming from?" Mr. Harris pressed, leaning forward. "Maybe a nearby pack disbanded?"

"I've checked," Cade said, irritation bleeding through his calm façade. "The other packs are just as clueless. They're dealing with it too."

I tuned out their bickering—Mr. Harris questioning Cade's every move, Mrs. Harris chiming in with gentle suggestions—letting my gaze drift. Electra's leg brushed mine again, her dress hiked up slightly from shifting in the cramped seat. She stared out the window, headphones in, ignoring the argument, her profile serene against the glass. I stole a glance—her curves were impossible to miss, the way her hair fell over one shoulder—and cursed my werewolf hormones. Weeks without action had me wound tight, my wolf snarling for release.

I looked away, knowing Cade would boot me from the pack if he caught me staring. The rest of the ride, I blasted music through my own headphones—some thrashing metal to drown out my thoughts—and kept my mouth shut.

An hour later, we reached the pack house—a sprawling, dorm-like mansion nestled deep in the forest, its stone walls weathered but sturdy. It housed thirty comfortably, with extra rooms for guests, though not everyone in our thousand-strong pack lived here. Some blended with humans in town, working regular jobs, others stuck to caves or built homes nearby. Our forest kept us hidden, meeting most of our needs—hunting grounds, fresh water, seclusion—except when rogues stirred trouble.

Rogues were feral, cast-out wolves consumed by hate, stuck in their beast forms. If you caught them early, you might save them—rehabilitation was rare but possible. Too late? You killed them—but only if you were certain. A wrong call meant facing the werewolf council's death penalty, a guillotine blade of justice that didn't hesitate. I'd filled out enough kill reports to know the stakes, my hands trembling every time I signed my name.

I bolted from the car, dodging Cade's family as I raced inside and up to my room on the third floor. They saw me as another son, but I wasn't in the mood for their reunion—or Cade's wrath over the rogue slip. My room was a sanctuary—dark blue walls, a messy bed, a desk piled with patrol schedules and half-read books. I flopped onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling, debating my next move. My phone was in my hand before I knew it. "Hey Shauna, wanna meet up tonight? ;)" I texted. Shauna was a friend with benefits—no strings, just two mateless wolves scratching an itch. She was a warrior, all lean muscle and sharp wit, and she never asked for more than I could give.

My phone buzzed. "Sure, it's been ages—I thought you'd found your mate. 8 at your room xo."

I laughed, a dry sound. If I had, I wouldn't be this desperate. If my true mate didn't show up soon, I might just settle—Shauna or someone else. The thought twisted my gut, but I pushed it aside.

A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. "Kyan, you in there?" Electra's voice, light and hesitant.

"Yeah, come in," I said, keeping it casual, sitting up to lean against the headboard.

She eased the door open, now in sweatpants and a baggy tee—less distracting, thank God, though her hair still fell in waves that caught the light. "Wanna play video games? Mom, Dad, Cade, and the Luna are in the office. Thought we could hang out."

Back in the day, Cade, Electra, and I were inseparable—tree-climbing, prank-pulling hellions. But four years apart? She could be a stranger now, her time at the academy shaping her into someone I didn't know. Still, I nodded, and we headed to the games room down the hall, its walls lined with shelves of controllers and discs, a massive TV dominating one end. I should've been in that meeting, pouring over maps and patrol logs, but this felt easier. Cade would catch me up—probably with a fist to my jaw first.

"How's it been since I left?" she asked, breaking the silence as we walked, her sneakers scuffing the hardwood.

"Quiet," I admitted, hands in my pockets. "Boring without you. Well, except for the rogues. They've kept things... interesting.

"She went quiet, her steps slowing, then asked, "Is the Luna nice? I haven't talked to her much."

"Yeah, she's great," I said with a smile, picturing the petite blonde who'd tamed Cade's wild streak. "Always with Cade, keeps the pack in line. She's got this way of making everyone listen without raising her voice."

"I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt soon," she laughed, a bright sound that echoed down the hall. "He didn't waste time knocking her up."

"Guess that's why we find mates after eighteen," I said, a little bitter, kicking at a loose floorboard. "The urge to mate and have pups hits hard—and it'd suck if we were too young to handle it."

She studied me, her green eyes sharp. "You haven't found yours yet, have you?"

"Nope." I kept it short, my jaw tight. "If I had, I'd be with her now, not moping around."

"Oh," she murmured, and we walked the rest of the way in silence, the air between us heavier than before.

In the games room, we grabbed PS4 controllers and fired up Resident Evil—her pick, surprisingly badass for the girl who used to scream at horror movies. I dominated, mowing down zombies with precise headshots while she grumbled, her character stumbling into traps.

"How are you so good?" she asked, nudging me with her elbow, her competitiveness flaring.

"Practice," I grinned, dodging a lunging monster on-screen. "Downtime means zombie-killing. Beats staring at patrol reports."

"So when you told Dad you were busy with rogues, you meant this?" she teased, smirking as she lobbed a grenade at a horde.

"Nah, just when I'm off patrol," I said, shrugging, my focus split between the game and her proximity. She smelled like wildflowers again, faint but maddening.

We played another hour, and she got pissy as I kept winning, her score lagging further behind. When she lunged for my controller, I yanked it away, laughing. She tried again, climbing over me in a scramble—and suddenly she was sprawled across my lap, our bodies pressed tight, her breath warm against my neck. My jeans tightened again, my wolf howling in my skull.

"Got it!" she crowed, snatching the controller triumphantly. She looked down, her face inches from mine—then froze, staring into my eyes. Her heartbeat raced, a staccato I could feel through her skin; mine matched it, a wild drum in my chest. I clenched my jaw, fighting every idiot urge to close the gap.

A low growl cut through the air, sharp and lethal. Electra scrambled off me, her face flushing, as Cade loomed in the doorway, arms crossed, glaring daggers. "Kyan, a word?" His voice was ice, each syllable a promise of pain.

I sighed inwardly, dragging myself to my feet. Electra flashed me a quick, sorry smile, her eyes wide with guilt, as I headed toward Cade. He stepped aside, letting me through, his glare burning holes in my back. This wasn't going to be fun.