A Clash of Wolves

Quinn

Jaxon was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode. His wolf was on the brink of taking over, ready to rip the other Alpha to shreds.

Anthony, unfazed, got back on his feet and squared up to Jaxon.

“Ha! I knew it was too good to be true,” Alpha Anthony sneered. “This was all a sham! Where’d you pick up this girl? Some cheap brothel?”

Jaxon was struggling to keep his wolf in check. “You’re one to talk, living in a damn swamp,” he shot back.

This only fueled Anthony’s anger.

“Anthony, enough!” his Luna snapped. “Stop provoking him!”

“Hey, I was just having a laugh! This jerk almost knocked me over! And he just insulted our pack!”

By now, the wolves from both the Shadow Moon and Marsh Oak Packs had gathered around their Alphas.

Things were spiraling out of control.

“I won’t let you disrespect me or my Luna!” Jaxon declared.

“You’re even dumber than I thought!” Anthony retorted.

Neither of them was going to back down. Their pride wouldn’t allow it. They were on the brink of a full-blown fight.

I had to intervene.

I focused all my energy on Jax, trying to reach him through our mind link. I’d never initiated it before, but I had to try.

Suddenly, I felt my thoughts merge with his.

His mind was a whirlwind of chaos. Bits and pieces of his thoughts flashed around me. It was hard to concentrate, but I pushed through until I made contact.

Quinn

Jax, stop!

Jax

Quinn?

Quinn

You can’t do this!

Quinn

You have to stop!

Jaxon

You haven’t shifted!

Jaxon

How are you doing this?

Quinn

I don’t know, but that doesn’t matter!

Quinn

You can’t let him get to you.

Quinn

You have to back down.

Jaxon

Back down?

Jaxon

Are you crazy?

Quinn

You have to!

Jaxon

Do you have any idea how weak that will make me look?

Quinn

If you continue down this path, there’s only one place it will take us.

Quinn

We can’t let that happen.

Quinn

Think of the pack!

Quinn

Is this what’s best for them?

Jaxon was torn. He knew I was right, but could he swallow his pride?

Jaxon took a step forward, and Anthony matched him.

“Go on,” Anthony taunted, “make a move!”

They stood there, locked in a stare-down, ready to attack. But then Jaxon broke eye contact and relaxed his stance.

“Alpha Anthony, I’m glad you could make it to our gathering tonight. Please, feel at home. Enjoy the festivities.” And with that, he turned and walked away.

“That’s right,” Anthony jeered, “run away like the Beta you are!”

The crowd gasped.

Jaxon paused but didn’t turn around. I could tell he was fighting the urge to retaliate, but he found the strength to keep walking.

Jaxon

I stood on the terrace, overlooking the courtyard filled with my pack.

Were they still my pack?

I’d never felt so humiliated. I’d been disgraced in front of the other packs, in my own home.

I knew they saw me as weak—lower than the lowest pack member. Even a Gamma held more respect than me now.

I’d kept the peace, but at what cost?

~Was it worth it?~

I didn’t know how we’d recover from this.

Carl

So brother, you finally see the truth.

Jaxon

Carl!

Carl

That the Alpha title never belonged to you.

Jaxon

You know nothing!

Carl

I read your thoughts, I saw the way you bent over in front of the others.

Jaxon

Fuck you!

Jaxon

I should have killed you!

Carl

But you couldn’t.

Carl

You can’t.

Carl

It’s a shame, really…

Carl

To drag our family name through the mud…

Carl

Father would be so disappointed.

Carl

I think it’s time I reclaim my rightful place as Alpha.

Carl

We’ll see each other very soon.

“Jax?”

“Jax?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and saw Quinn. I turned away, embarrassed.

She reached out and touched my shoulder. “Jax—” she started.

“I don’t want to talk.”

“Okay. I just wanted to say I’m proud of you,” she said softly. “What you did took courage. It was the right thing to do.”

I knew she was right, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

“You did something admirable. Even if you don’t believe—”

“Just go, please. I need to be alone,” I cut her off.

I could tell she was hurt, but I didn’t want her to see me like this.

And so, she left.

Quinn

I walked back into the ballroom and down the stairs.

The room was buzzing with talk about what had just happened. I wanted to hide, but I knew I had to face it.

When I reached the bottom, I was met by Alpha Anthony and his Luna. She’d obviously given him a talking-to, judging by the way he was cowering next to her.

“Luna Quinn…,” he began, “I want to apologize for my behavior earlier on behalf of the Oak Marsh Pack. I shouldn’t have said what I did, especially in public. I have no excuse.”

I was skeptical, but his humble demeanor suggested he was sincere.

“If Alpha Jaxon hadn’t kept his cool, things could have turned bloody. He was the bigger man, and for that, I owe him my gratitude and respect.”

He turned to address the crowd.

“He put his pack’s safety first—a true leader. His dedication only confirms our decision to fully support the Shadow Moon Pack against the rogue threat!”

The crowd erupted in applause. One by one, the other packs pledged their support too.

I was stunned.

~Did that really just happen?~

The DJ started playing music again.

“And as a symbol of our unity,” Alpha Anthony said, extending his hand, “would you honor me with a dance?”

~Oh, God. Is he serious?~

“Please, I insist!” Anthony urged.

Time stood still.

I was stuck.

This was the one thing—THE ONE THING—I’d been determined to avoid.

Suddenly, I felt sick as all eyes turned to me. Everyone was waiting for my response, expecting me to accept.

The tension was palpable.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Saying no might offend him, but saying yes was out of the question.

So, I just stood there.

Paralyzed.

Like a deer in headlights.

The Alpha of the Oak Marsh pack was poised to whisk me away. “So, what do you say?” he asked.

I had to respond.

“Umm…,” I stammered.

~Get it together, girl!~

“I…I’d love to, but…but—”

“But she’s already promised her first dance to me,” a voice I knew all too well chimed in from behind.

All eyes turned. It was Jaxon!

He descended the stairs and positioned himself in front of me.

Relief washed over me!

My heart fluttered.

I wanted to throw my arms around him right there.

“Of course!” Alpha Anthony declared. “I was just telling her, my pack—”

“I heard. And I appreciate your support,” Jaxon said, shaking the Alpha’s hand, a symbol of our pack’s unity.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to escort,” he said, taking my hand.

“Very well,” Anthony agreed, “but I demand the next dance!”

Jaxon whisked me away, and before I knew it, we were on the dance floor.

Other couples swirled around us as Jax and I locked eyes.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I confessed, my nerves getting the best of me.

“Don’t worry. Just feel the rhythm and follow my lead.”

He wrapped his other arm around my waist and drew me in close.

And then…we were dancing.

My feet faltered at first, but my long dress concealed my missteps, and Jaxon’s arms kept me steady.

“Just focus on the rhythm,” he advised. “Let the music guide you.”

~One, two, three, four…~

~One, two, three, four…~

~One, two, three, four…~ the pulsating music echoed.

Jax was guiding me in some sort of electronic dance music. Not that I’d ever been to a club.

I could feel my heart pounding in time with the music, which began to take over my movements.

I was getting the hang of it.

When I glanced around, I noticed people gradually clearing the dance floor to watch us.

My heart started racing again from the attention we were drawing. The spinning room was making me dizzy.

Yep, it was the wine—definitely the wine.

I began to sway a bit.

“Look at me and ignore everyone else,” Jaxon suggested. “It’ll help you keep your balance.”

And I did. Our eyes met as he pulled me in closer, and everything else faded away. I was able to block out everyone else and just exist.

The way he looked at me made me feel exposed yet desired…needed.

All resentment toward him evaporated.

Our faces were just inches apart. I could feel his breath on my lips. The temptation to kiss him was growing stronger.

I didn’t realize that we had stopped dancing.

Before I knew it, we were leaning into each other and our lips met. He gently caressed my lips with his, sending a surge of adrenaline through my body.

We held each other tighter.

I didn’t want him to ever let go.

As the music began to fade, applause filled the air.

When we looked around, we realized we were the only ones on the dance floor. Everyone was watching and clapping.

My cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and so did Jaxon’s. It was endearing.

I had to admit… I could get used to this dancing thing.

As we started to leave the dance floor, I began feeling dizzy again.

“Are you okay?” Jaxon asked.

“Yeah,” I said, clutching my forehead, “I’m just not feeling great. I think I need to—”

Suddenly, all my senses vanished. I lost all feeling in my arms and legs and crumpled to the floor.

Everyone gasped.

“Quinn?!” Jaxon cried out.

I let out a piercing scream as every inch of my body ignited in pain.

My ears started ringing, and my vision blurred.

“What’s happening to me?!” I managed to choke out.

Jaxon rushed to my side, his face filled with horror.

“You’re shifting,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

“You’re turning into a wolf.”