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Chapter 1 – The Gall

Nadia

God, but my butt hurts.

I shift uncomfortably on the wooden bench that I’ve been sitting on since the ferry station opened at dawn, glaring up at the departure board as I’ve been doing for hours, waiting for my ferry’s dock to be announced – across the bay, backhome.

Far, far awayfrom ColefuckingKincaid, that Alpha jerk whoclaimedme last night – in front of his entire family, in front of mydad.

I scowl, turning over the events in my mind for the millionth time, getting just as steamed and mortified about it as I was since the moment it happened.

That smug jerk coming down the formal staircase inside the damnpalacewhile I was just standing aroundwaitingfor dad to stop talking to the King so we couldgo. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to dad when he said it would be no big deal to wait for him there – I haven’t gone back to the palace since I was eight for areason.

Ihatethose stupid royal wolves – I never wanted to see them again.

The moment Cole had seen me again, he had juststaredat me under those lowered brows, all unflinching and adamant as he strode down the steps and over to me, announcing in a shaking voice that I – Nadia Amir – wasn’t going anywhere. That his mate and future Queen’s place wasthere. Withhim.

Even now, my cheeks redden, my eyes narrowing as the scene rolls through my mind. For all I know, steam starts to pour out of my ears.

And it’s not even just that I don’twantto be the damn Queen or be married – or mated, or whatever – to that prick! It’s Cole’s younger brother Jude’s ringinglaughterthat really gets to me.

Princess Iris had been shocked, butJudehad laughed hysterically, apparently flabbergasted at the outrageous idea that I, a lowly human in a world of wolves, could ever even beconsideredgood enough to date his stupid brother. Because, of course not – wolves havealwayslooked down on humans. For hundreds of years, they have considered us second-class citizens –

In some parts of the world, wolves evenenslavehumans –

And while things are different here in Clythera, where there is at least asemblanceof equal rights…it’s still an idea to be laughed at that a pathetic human couldeverbe worthy of power. That a human girl could be striking enough to be attractive to an all-powerful Alpha wolf.

God, if I ever see that Jude jackass again I’m going to kick him right in the balls. I should have done that in the first place.

How dare he? How dare helaughat me, make a mockery of me - in front of everyone?

But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. This is the world we live in, after all. Wolves just…take what they want.

And Cole Kincaid? Apparently, he wants me.

Well, fuck what Cole Kincaid wants because I’moutof here. No big, burly, lurking, hulking, bird-brained idiot Alpha mates for me – not today, not fucking ever.

A sudden change on the departure board has me blinking back to the present, and my mouth turns to a grim little smile when I see a dock and a ferry name listed next to my time and destination.The Intrepid,dock four.

Great. Time to get thehellout of this city and gohome, where things are normal. Back to my mom and sister – back to see if my nursing program has accepted me into the humanitarian mission I applied to. Which they…initially rejected me for because of some…veryminorsubversive action on my part.

And I mean, theydefinitelyshouldn’t have! I wasn’t doing anythingreallywrong – just protesting for human rights! It’s notmyfault the protests occurred during enrollment week. When lots of prospective students were visiting.

At least…it’s not singularly my fault.

I stand, striding off for the fourth dock, the pain in my aching butt and back making me consider that maybe it was a bad idea to sneak out palace last night. The King advised that we stay the night so we could stay and discuss this “mate business,” but I couldn’t stand to be there even a minute longer. So I left with nothing but my backpack to wait alone on this freezing pier until the boats started running. At the time, I couldn’twaitto get out of there – but my aching body makes me consider, now, if I wasn’t just…a little hasty with that.

I push the thought away, readjusting my backpack as I focus my gaze on the big blue ferry pulling up to the fourth dock. A little snarl lifts my lips with contempt when I seeKincaid Seawayswritten on the side.

Fucking Kincaids. They own everything, don’t they?

But suddenly the boat stops moving forward. A flicker on the dock’s electronic sign draws my eyes up. My steps stutter to a stop, a gasp falling from my lips when the sign flashes once, the time of departure erasing, suddenly replaced with the word CANCELLED in big white letters.

“What?” I gasp. Groans erupt from passengers around me. “What the hell?”

My shoulders slump as I come to a stop twenty feet from the dock, realizing that I’ve got to wait, like,sixmore hours for the next ferry. God, all I want to do is getoutof this fucking place – out of this stupid Alpha city, packed with wolves –

“Where thehelldo you think you’re going?”