Page 18 of Forced Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #3)

The first boom is merely a sound, a brief glow, and smoke. The second is so powerful, the ground shakes, and Brent Manor shivers from her towers all the way down to her deep dungeons.

What the fuck was that?

Damon races away from me, heading for the gates. I can see a few others following him, but everyone else is just running around, screaming like crazy.

“Stay calm!” Clara yells. “Everyone, please, don’t panic! Follow me to the back of the courtyard.”

“No running,” Lexa calls. “Don’t push! We need to get clear of the buildings in case it was an earthquake!”

That was no earthquake.

I follow the crowd, my head down and my eyes on the ground. I feel ashamed that I didn’t immediately stand up with the other girls. It’s my duty as luna to lead the pack when the alpha is called away, and I just stood there, trembling like a rabbit about to drop dead from shock.

Low murmurs rise around me as some people begin to give in to their fear and others succumb to anger. I see a few young people break away from the crowd and shift, heading for town.

I should go. I should do something. I feel like such a coward.

Even though I am afraid to run towards danger, that’s not the whole problem. I’m not great in my wolf shape, and I’d probably be a liability.

“Come through, everyone,” Regina orders, ushering people through the courtyard. “We’ll set up a relief center out here and organize rooms in the manor once we know it’s safe to go inside.”

“Brent Manor has stood through generations!” Isla says indignantly, squaring up to Regina. “She will hold steady through this as well!”

“Even if it is an earthquake?” Regina challenges. “We have no idea what’s going on out there, and it could be dangerous inside.”

“I don’t see why—”

“Isla,” I cut in, hurrying over to put myself between the two women. “I agree with Elder Glass, at least for the moment. Let’s take some time in the back garden just to be sure the shocks have stopped. Then we can go back inside.”

Isla looks like she’s about to argue with me, but I see her face change when she realizes I’m not just her daughter’s friend anymore. I’m her luna.

“Do you really think the manor isn’t safe?” Krista asks, appearing by her mother’s side. “Would an earthquake actually bring it down?”

“It depends on the quake,” I answer, relieved that my voice sounds smooth and confident. “It could be a deep, natural one or something done by magic. Either way, all of us saw the spires shake. I’d like to make sure the tremors have stopped before we risk going inside again.”

I’d bet anything it’s not an earthquake, but we’ll stick with that explanation for now.

“Okay,” Krista says, putting an arm around her mother. “I trust you, Winnie.”

I watch my friend walk out into the back courtyard, and I feel strangely cut off from her. For the first time, I wonder if my new position will put distance between me and the people I’ve known my whole life.

I don’t even miss my old life at home, I realize with shock . All I did was sleep late, stay up all night, and bounce around, looking for things to do. This could give me direction. A purpose.

“You’re doing well, dear,” Regina says to me condescendingly. “It’s good to see you working so well with people.”

“Thanks, Regina,” I reply blandly. “I appreciate your support.”

“There’s plenty of food and drink out on the tables back there,” Regina says, gesturing to the courtyard. “And chairs. But we might need some blankets. Some of the older folk looked like they were going into shock.”

She narrows her eyes, almost glaring at me.

This is a challenge.

“I’ll go inside,” I say bravely. “And come back with some blankets.”

“Brave of you, dear.”

Shut the fuck up.

I turn and walk away from her, refusing to react to her tone. I never liked Regina. Though growing up, I’d only mingled with her at events like this, I truly had no idea she was such a bitch.

It might be an effect of her position. If the war with Valentine Creek is serious, then she would have learned to be merciless and cold.

I draw in a trembling breath and touch the stone scrollwork around the back door. It feels solid. Brent Manor has stood for generations and radiates security, almost as if it’s alive.

Everything looks safe inside, but I can’t help remembering the way little puffs of dust flew off the walls after the last tremor. I hurry up the hall to the main closet, grab a stack of blankets, then rush back to the courtyard.

Most of the guests are sitting in chairs set around the smooth, circular area that has been ringed with lights to make it a dance floor. Behind that, long tables decorated with lace cloths hold massive platters of food and several bottles of wine.

This was going to be a really nice evening. I wonder what the hell happened out there?

The moment that thought runs through my mind, a chill of fear pierces my heart.

Damon ran straight into it! So did all the other alphas! Oh my God, Galen! They could all be dead by now!

“Hey, thanks for grabbing these, sis,” Lexa says, nudging me as she takes a few blankets. “How does the manor look?”

“Solid as a rock. But—”

“Good. We’ll need to get these old-timers inside soon. They’ll also need something a bit more substantial than champagne and finger sandwiches.”

“Lexa, aren’t you worried about the guys?”

“Of course I am,” she answers. “But this is our job, honey. We take care of the pack while the boys run out to meet the danger head-on. Would I rather be by my mate’s side, shoulder to shoulder? Fuck, yeah. Will I leave my vulnerable pack all alone, though? Absolutely fucking not.”

“Okay,” I say. “I hear you.”

“Good. When things settle down, we should have a chat. Just us girls.”

“Sure. About my duties as luna?”

“No,” Lexa laughs, walking away. “About how to decipher your new husband’s signals. I speak fluent street trash, and I can translate for you. The short version is that boy’s mad for you.”

“He is?” I gape at her, shocked.

“Later,” Lex replies, waving as she disappears into the crowd.

I hurry over to the older folk who are seated around the dance floor, handing out blankets and offering comfort. Some of them don’t look well, and I know we’ll have to head back to the manor soon.

It’s been a while since the last tremor. We should be safe. If only the boys would come back.

Before that thought can cause me worry, I hear howls spiraling from the direction of town and baying sounds exploding out from various directions. Within seconds, the alphas and warriors are pouring into the courtyard.

I see Damon running in the lead, a truly gigantic black wolf. In fact, he’s much bigger than the others and has the darkest, thickest coat of fur.

So dark, it shimmers blue, without even a hint of white markings.

When he shifts back to human, he stumbles, and I see blood running down his leg. I rush to his side, throwing the blanket around his shoulders.

“Damon, you’re hurt!”

“It’s nothing,” he says, brushing me off. He gathers the blanket around his shoulders and strides into the center of the courtyard.

“The town has been attacked,” Damon announces.

There are gasps and mutters through the crowd, and more than one scream.

“All we know at this point is that two buildings were blown up and several on the main street are on fire. While this was going on, homes were raided on the opposite end of town.”

People react with varying degrees of fear and anger, but Damon keeps his composure, asking for calm.

“Firefighters are dealing with the situation on the main street. Scouts and warriors are sweeping the hills. I’d like to thank Alpha Galen and Alpha Kit for their support.”

From their places in the crowd where they’ve joined their mates, Galen and Kit acknowledge Damon’s gratitude with a wave and a nod.

“We still don’t know why the attack happened, or who—”

“Of course we know,” Regina hisses, her voice as scalding as acid. “This is what happens when we go easy on Valentine Creek!”

Damon focuses on her as she comes forward out of the crowd, his face a mask of calm that barely covers his anger.

“We have no evidence Valentine Creek was involved,” he says evenly.

“The attack is the evidence!” Regina yells. “You weakened us by retreating. Now they have come for us; the second they saw an opening.”

“I don’t believe this to be true,” Damon says carefully. “But a full investigation is underway, and once we have irrefutable proof, then we will—”

“We should move now,” Regina says forcefully. “Attack first, then we can investigate. We should sweep the hills, kill, and capture any wolf we find.”

“I won’t allow that, Regina!” Damon yells. “No killing anyone without evidence. I command it!”

“You’re weak,” she spits. “We need a strong alpha, and if you can’t do what needs to be done, we’ll hold another challenge. And this time, you won’t leave the ring alive.”

“Bring it on,” Damon snaps, losing his cool. “I beat your best already, and I’ll do it again. Your persecution of Valentine Creek is unjust, and I won’t allow a blind attack until we’ve had a full investigation.”

“Of course, you would say that,” Regina says, her voice low. “Because you’re just like them! You’re the son of—”

“Enough!” I scream, jumping in front of Damon to break Regina’s focus.

I’m pretty sure I know how that sentence was going to finish, and my reaction to protect Damon was instinctual. Even though Regina could be giving me an open door to walk out of this marriage by throwing down another challenge, I’m not sure I want to take it.

Especially if it means that Damon dies. I don’t think I could stand that.

“Elder Glass,” I say in a strong voice. “Our alpha has spoken. You will cease this disobedience immediately, and I will excuse it only because you seem distraught by tonight’s events. Too much stress is not good for a woman of your years.”

I hear Damon chuckle behind me as Regina’s face goes white with rage.