Page 4

Briggs

The next morning brought no relief from the guilt and self-hatred.

Drained from a fitful sleep and hungover, I groaned as I sat up.

A surge of water came out of nowhere.

Frigid liquid dripped from my face and down onto my chest.

My growl rumbled deep in my throat as I blinked away the shock, only to find Colten standing at the foot of the bed, an empty bucket in his hand.

Ruby sputtered indignantly.

Fury painted her features as she glared at Colten.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You have no right to enter my room like this!"

He lifted an eyebrow. " Your room?"

“Why are you here?” I snagged his attention before their argument could escalate.

"Ivy's gone."

“Gone where?”

“She left the pack, Briggs. I doubt she’s ever coming back. She didn’t take anything with her. Didn’t so much as say goodbye or kiss my ass to anyone, not even her brother.”

The words struck me like a blow.

It sliced through the haze of last night's whiskey and revulsion of Ruby's touch, a touch I had once welcomed when we were using one another for nothing more than a physical outlet in years past.

Ivy had been saying something about leaving to Caleb and Emery last night, but they were all she really had.

Wolves didn’t choose to go rogue unless they were facing banishment or some other awful situation.

Did you not put her into an awful situation?

Onyx challenged.

Did you not threaten to banish her?

My heart clenched but I couldn't let them see how much it affected me. Not Ruby. Not even Colten.

"Maybe that’s for the best," I stated flatly, pushing myself to sit up the rest of the way.

Water dripped from my soaked hair, sending icy trails down my back. "Maybe she’ll be better off without us."

"Without you , you mean," Colten shot back.

Ruby's laughter cut through the tense air like a knife.

"Finally, the little mouse has scurried away.”

She stretched languidly beside me on the damp sheets. "She knew she couldn't compete with a real Luna."

My wolf begged to tear into Ruby for insulting our mate. I fought his instinct.

“I rejected her. If she’s chosen to live as a rogue, she’s no longer our concern.”

Colten’s scowl swung to Ruby then back to me.

He tapped fingers on the bucket. "I agree, Alpha. Leave her be. Ivy’s gone and we have more important things to deal with."

"Like what? You throwing water all over my bed?" Ruby sat up, the sheet slipping down to reveal her large breasts.

"Like ensuring the well-being of our pack," I answered for him.

I rose from the bed and started putting on clothes. I couldn't stand the sight of my chosen mate any longer than I had to.

“You can start by cleaning up my bed, Beta.”

Colten tossed the empty bucket aside with a clang. "I don’t think so, Ruby."

The Alpha in me demanded obedience from all members of the pack, even my closest friend. "Colten, I expect you to show respect to your Luna."

"Respect is earned, Alpha , and she's never done nothing to earn mine."

"Watch it, Beta ," Ruby hissed, baring her teeth. "Or I'll remind you just how easily I can make your life miserable."

"Try it," he challenged before turning to leave the room.

Colten paused at the door, nodding towards the naked female on the bed. "Good luck with that.”

The door slammed shut. It was a habit I’d need to break him of soon.

"Come back to bed, darling," Ruby beckoned with a sultry smile. "Let's celebrate some more. We didn’t get a chance to mark one another. I bet it will feel even more intense once we do. Plus we only went one round last night and I know you’re good for three or four."

"I have work to do. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Wait.”

I held still and watched Ruby rise up onto her knees and reach for me. Her lips brushed against my neck. One hand on my shoulder, the other grabbing my cock on the outside of my pants.

“Are you sure?” she whispered in my ear, nipping at the lobe.

With my wolf hiding away and sulking, unlike last night, my body easily responded to Ruby’s attention. I clenched my jaw, suppressing the urge to give in to a rage-fuck.

"Maybe later," I said, pushing her away gently.

"Fine," she pouted, her eyes smoldering with unfulfilled desire.

As I left the room, I could feel her gaze burning into my back. She’d have to get used to my avoidance. I could only give so much, which she knew.

Once I was outside, Onyx decided to rise. He paced, restless and agitated. Our mate was out there, alone and unprotected, while I was here in Darkwood with the wrong Luna.

I needed to know where Ivy had gone. To make sure she was safe.

I spotted my Beta leaning against his truck, arms crossed and staring at the ground.

"Colten.”

The big male’s head lifted and watched with wary eyes as I approached.

"I want you to find her,” I told him.

“Ivy?”

“Of course, Ivy.”

“And then what?” he hedged.

“Bring her back."

His blonde head shook. "Why? So she can watch you play happy family with Ruby?"

"Are you ignoring a direct order from your Alpha?”

Steel eyes narrowed into slits. “No, Sir.”

I didn’t like his tone. “You’ve already pushed too far today, Colt.”

His jaw worked back and forth, making the scar on the side of his face look like it had come alive.

“Get a small search team. Talk to Woodson, or one of our other hackers, in case she tries to access any of her accounts. And keep this under the cone, Colten. Understood?”

“Understood. May I go now?”

“You may.”

He got in his truck and drove away. My friend had never been so contemptuous with me and I couldn’t allow it to continue.

I deserved it, but he was more than my friend. He was my Beta. Open hostility between us would breed discord amongst the pack.

It was a good long while before I was collected enough to head to my office.

The hours passed and day turned into night. After dinner, Ruby continued her attempts to seduce me, but my mind remained focused elsewhere.

I left Ruby in our bedroom under the pretense of needing to take care of pack business. She sulked, but didn’t protest too much when I went downstairs to my study.

Two nights later, it was well past midnight when I received a call from Colten. He wanted to speak with me in private.

I had him meet me in my main office, inside the packhouse. His face was grave as he sat down in the chair across from my desk.

“Alpha,” he nodded.

He wasn’t returning with good news.

"Our trackers picked up Ivy’s scent and followed it for about fifteen miles north of here,” he said.

“And?”

“And it disappeared.”

I waited for him to continue, but he just sat there. I rose and paced back and forth behind my desk.

“What does that mean?” I asked impatiently.

“It means she’s smart. She found a creek system and traveled in the water to hide her scent.”

“Did you—”

“Yes. For two days we searched upstream and downstream, and along every offshoot we found. We never found the trail again. It rained yesterday morning so it’s no surprise there was no further sign of her."

"I want her found and I want her found now.” My voice came out harsh and ragged with frustration.

"Briggs," Colten sighed. "As your friend, not your Beta, I need to say this. What you did at the ceremony was horrible. If you force her to return, to watch you and Ruby together, then you're not the man I thought you were. You'd be beyond cruel. Ivy doesn’t deserve it."

His words stung. My wolf whined and retreated deeper into my soul, leaving an impenetrable darkness in its wake.

He leaned forward. “I don’t understand why you’ve done this, but I’m begging you to leave Ivy alone. If you’re going to keep Ruby as your Luna, give your true mate as much peace as you can.”

“I still want you to find her.”

“Briggs—”

“Don’t tell me anything. Don’t act on anything. I just need to know she’s alright, that nothing terrible has happened to her. That’s it.”

Colten, my Beta, my oldest friend in the world, crowded my personal space.

“You know I love you like a brother, that I would do anything for you, do only what’s in your best interest, right?”

I nodded. “I know.”

“Good. Then I beg you to hear me when I say this. If you ever ask me for Ivy’s location so you can force her to return to Darkwood while Ruby is still living as your chosen mate, I will leave this pack and never come back.”

Colten’s threat was still ringing in my ears hours later when my head hit the pillow that night.

Alpha Briggs McClellan