Page 30 of Forced Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #3)

Standing on the shores of Redhorn Lake, looking up at the peak of the same name, I feel like Valentine Creek might be the most beautiful place in the world.

My hometown is gorgeous—and so is Cyan Lock and Gryphon Eyrie—but this town has a unique presence, a sense of peace.

The town is nestled in the fork of the creek itself that flows from the lake right under Redhorn Peak. The place is so small that there is only one main street. There are almost no shops or other modern amenities.

Of course, that’s mostly because Gryphon Eyrie kept them within their borders for so many years, allowing no trade. Now that the town has opened up to the nearby packs, it can finally grow.

The cold wind rustles the trees above my head, flowing down into the valley and whipping up small waves across the lake.

Laughter echoes through the park, and I see Nico leading a bunch of kids in a game of kickball.

Delicious, smoky smells fill my nostrils from the nearby barbecue, and I see a few guys pointing at the flames with their tongs as they sip their beers and discuss how to perfectly cook steak and ribs.

“Winnie?” I hear Krista’s voice calling and turn back towards the picnic area.

“I’m here,” I say. “What’s up?”

“What were you doing off in the woods?”

“Oh, I just wanted to stash away some goodies for later. As a surprise for Damon.”

“You’re a devil,” Krista giggles. “All those years being an ice princess, and now you’re a nonstop, red-hot, juicy tomato.”

“I just had to find the right guy,” I laugh. “Maybe someday Iris can do the same for you.”

“I’ll take a pass at the moment, thanks! The last six months have been rough enough. I don’t want any more upheaval.”

I wrap my arm around Krista’s waist, and we walk towards the picnic area together.

All around us are blankets laid out to catch the last rays of the afternoon sun and camp chairs set up around wooden tables.

People are laughing and joking together.

It warms my heart to see all four packs getting along so well.

“Winnie!” my mother calls to me. “Over here, dear.”

I look over to see my mom in a chair between Damon’s Aunt Betty and Uncle Gerald, waving her glass to get my attention.

“That’s my cue,” Krista says, letting go of me. “What’s it like suddenly getting a whole new family?”

“Bizarre,” I answer. “But at least I’m used to having one. Damon has no idea what to do with himself, surrounded by so many cousins, aunts, and uncles.”

“Hey, Winnie,” Krista says, holding my hands tightly. “I know I’ve said this before, but I just want to say it again, for the record. I’m really sorry for everything I said about Damon. I really didn’t know—”

“All forgiven,” I say, hugging her. “I said some pretty mean things about him, too, but I just didn’t understand his past. Now that we’re here with the Creek, everyone can heal.”

“I hope so,” Krista says, giving me a wave as she walks away.

I turn to my mother, who is still waving to me. Betty and Gerald wave, too. Betty gets up to shuffle over and give me a big hug.

“Oh, dear girl! How lovely it is to have you here. Drake would have loved to meet you! I’m sure he’s there in the afterlife with Sara, watching over you both and just being so proud!”

“Thank you, Betty,” I say, returning the hug. “I certainly hope so.”

When we first came to Valentine Creek six months ago, we didn’t know what to expect. None of us was sure if the town was actually hostile or not. The rumors were so old, we didn’t know if they had any basis in fact or if it was all complete fiction.

We brought a small group from Cyan Lock, Quartz Key, and Gryphon Eyrie, staking camp at a distance and sending in a messenger. All three alphas were surprised that the town welcomed us in with open arms, embracing us as brothers.

Damon had been especially anxious about meeting Allan, the alpha who killed his father in the challenge, only to find that Allan had recently died in his sleep at a very old age.

So when we entered Valentine Creek, it had no alpha, and Damon, as Drake’s son and the alpha of Gryphon Eyrie, could have easily laid claim to it.

The people of the Creek only had one request of him, though, and it was to return their true alpha to them.

“Come and eat, dear child,” Betty says, hustling me over to the picnic blanket. “I’ve got fried chicken, cookies, and those mud chocolate cupcakes you like.”

“Betty, I’ll be fat!” I protest, sitting down with her.

She ruffles my hair affectionately. “It would do you good to get some meat on your bones,” Betty says, handing me a cupcake. “You’ll want to get those hips nice and broad for bearing.”

“Betty,” I groan, feeling my cheeks getting hot.

“It’s a fair point,” Mother says, leaning forward. “Gryphon Eyrie will need an heir, and soon, too. You'd better get on it.”

“Mom!” I shout, mortified. “Will you stop?”

“Never,” she says gleefully, taking a sip of wine. “Gerald, you must tell me how you press these grapes. Everything in the Creek is made here, isn’t it? No outside ingredients?”

“Correct, ma’am,” Gerald says, getting into a detailed description of grape-picking methods I couldn’t follow even if I wanted to.

“The elders are very pleased with Damon’s cooperation,” Betty says, reaching over to pat my shoulder. “And Alpha Kit, too.”

“It was no problem,” I answer, gazing at the barbecue area where the men are. “Damon wanted to stop the war, not make it worse.”

Betty’s eyes follow mine, and we both watch as the alphas walk through the crowd together, Galen, Kit, Damon… and Xavier.

Six months ago, Xavier was a lesser council member of Cyan Lock, an ordinary guy with a simple life. Only after Allan’s sister asked for the return of the true alpha did we find out Xavier was originally from Valentine Creek.

And Allan’s son.

They’d hid him away at the Lock, trying to keep him safe from the feud. He might have lived his whole life never knowing he was an alpha’s son if we hadn’t come to liberate the Creek.

A lot of people had worried about potential conflict between Damon and Xavier, but all Damon wanted was to help the young man take up his position and be the best leader he could.

Peace in the Range depended on the alphas working together, and for the first time ever, the new generation was closing the gap, erasing a hundred years of suspicion and division.

“I’m going to catch up with Damon,” I say, getting up.

Betty grabs my hand before I can leave, giving me an intense look. “You’ll stay close to him as it gets dark, won’t you, girl? And have the pack all together indoors before the stars are too bright?”

“Of course, Betty,” I reply, smiling. “We’ll take care of each other.”

As I walk away from her, my mind worries over the small, odd superstitions of the folk in Valentine Creek.

Always indoors before the stars are at zenith. No one to go into the mountains on a new moon night. And on days of the equinox, do not leave the town lines for any reason whatsoever.

Even though Damon and I have discussed it and asked around the town, we can’t understand why the rules exist. Pack elders from other towns have suggested it’s probably just because the pack was isolated for so long, they got a bit weird and kooky.

Damon has his back to me as I sneak up on him. He’s giving Xavier a lecture about pack politics.

“You see, son, the key is to be authoritative but not aggressive. You want people to listen to your words and take them on board, but not blindly obey.”

“Damon!” I shriek, digging my fingers into his waist.

He leaps about a foot into the air, spinning around so fast, he almost falls straight on his ass. “Jesus, Winnie. What the fuck?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I giggle. “Did I interrupt your serious lesson?”

“I’m just giving him a few pointers.”

“Xavier,” I whisper, elbowing him. “What’s it like to be called ‘son’ by a guy only two years older than you?”

Xavier looks tongue-tied, and I feel a bit sorry for him. He’s clearly got a lot to learn, having left his whole life behind to come and be alpha of a pack he never even knew existed.

Must be one hell of a head trip to find out your parents are actually dead and the woman who raised you was your aunt.

“That’s it,” Damon mock-growls, lunging at me. “I’m sorry, Xavier, but I’ve got to go and teach this vixen a lesson.”

I leap away from Damon, laughing as I start to bolt. I can hear him chasing after me, and I head straight for the trees, towards the little glade I found earlier.

As I approach my setup, I slow down, giving Damon plenty of time to catch up but still not making it easy for him. I time it exactly right, and he tackles me down on top of the blankets I brought earlier.

“Well, now,” he says, pinning me. “It looks like someone set me up.”

“Can’t imagine who,” I say, grinning.

Damon bends his head down, kissing me softly, teasing me with his lips. I start to writhe under him, loving the way his hands pin my wrists to the ground, the way his hard body on top of me presses me into the soft blanket.

He keeps teasing me with soft, short kisses until I wriggle free, wrapping my legs around his waist and trying to wrestle him.

“Hmm, looks like I got a live one,” he muses. “It’s going to take some work to subdue her.”

“Well, it would be awfully convenient if someone left restraints just lying around… somewhere very close nearby?” I jerk my head to the side, showing Damon that the cuffs are hidden just under the edge of the blanket.

“Very convenient indeed,” he agrees. “How am I going to hold you down and grab for the chains at the same time?”

“With great difficulty!” I yell, twisting out from under him.

Damon curses softly, and I hear the chains clank together as he grabs them and comes after me. I’m just scrambling to my feet when he hooks my ankle and yanks me back down to the ground, quickly throwing himself on top of me to click the cuffs into place.

“There,” he says. “Got you.”

“Oh no,” I moan. “What will I do?”