Alpha Wolf’s Rejected Bride (Rose Hollow Wolves #2)
Chapter 1 - Brad
As I crest the edge of the first rocky outcrop beyond Eccles, a warm breath of air from the nearby desert rushes up to meet me. I turn my nose to it, closing my eyes as I pause to immerse myself in the scents brought to me from the far desert plains.
Below me, the small town glistens with tiny, twinkling lights.
Rose Hollow and Eccles are both hidden from human view, deep in the wilderness of Nevada.
They are named for the nearby points of Eccles Station and Rose Hollow campground, the villages themselves several miles from the map points and separated by a small range of mountains, as well as the western fork of the road extending from Hafen Way.
I’m too far south to see any sign of Rose Hollow, but I know she’s there, huddled on the other side of the main ridge.
The quiet charm of the place has been affected by the military base spreading around it, and the borders are lit by floodlights as my old comrades stalk the perimeter, on guard for enemy activity.
I look to the east of Eccles, where the thick forest and rough slope ease down to the desert plains. There are lights there, too, illuminating the huge stone disc that held the great snake.
Anomaly Eight.
At our last debrief, Rex didn’t ask Sloan any questions about the naming of the being by the military. That is typical of him—good Shadows don’t question their orders—but it has tugged on my mind ever since I heard it.
If this is number eight, where are the other seven?
I shake my head hard, hearing my furry ears slap my skull. I scratch the ground beneath me, and a low growl rumbles in my throat.
I came out here to get away from stress for a while, not twist my mind up into worse knots.
Turning my nose back to the warm wind, I follow the scent of the desert right up to the top of the peak. Below me, to the south, I can see the steep crags falling away from me, and the far-off lines of Hafen Way and the train tracks.
Something tugs on my heart as I think about all the unexplored corners of the earth I’ve never seen.
I wanted my work in Wolf’s Shadow to take me places—exciting places.
Over the ten years I worked with Rex and my fellow Shadows, I traveled extensively, and I thought I was satisfied enough to settle down.
So why am I so restless?
I turn my gaze east, back to the long, pale plains of the desert. The great distances call to me, almost begging me to come, kissing the sand with my paws as I disappear into another great adventure.
Ancient gods, pack wars, spells, and magic—not enough excitement for me?
I turn back to the north, seeing the lights of Eccles even further away from me now. This is the first time in months I’ve been able to get away by myself, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it. Even though part of me is longing for some action, I also feel a strong draw to return to the town.
The people are so lost. The incursion was devastating for both towns.
Even though I still report to Sloan occasionally and coordinate with Rex, I’m keeping that side of things away from the townsfolk. It’s been a few months since the incursion itself, and a couple of weeks since I was appointed alpha. The transition hasn’t been easy.
Actually, it’s been rougher than the road to hell!
The elders—Gen, Hazel, Gregor, and Mitchell—were initially so shocked, they didn’t protest anything Rex suggested. The legends and rules in the town were entrenched for good reason, and each and every one of them woke up that day to find their worst nightmare had come true.
Azarian had everyone fooled. No one guessed he was trying to awaken the ancient one, and it was unthinkable that anyone would risk the destruction of the entire town—and the surrounding area—for a shot at the legendary power.
Even more disturbing is the way the incursion unfolded. For the people of Eccles, the ritual has only ever ended in destruction. Their entire way of life was centered on protecting themselves and the surrounding populations.
Now the secret is out, and the old playbook is completely obsolete. New ground for us all.
For about a week after the incursion, the town was just shut down.
The military activity only made things worse.
Scarlett ended up bringing in the guild leaders from Rose Hollow to talk to local producers, and slowly, the town came back to life.
The big festival where the other Shadows and I retired was a massive celebration of rebirth.
And now, people seem to have almost forgotten about the snake…
Growling softly, I examine the wind again. I can’t smell anything strange, and my extra senses aren’t alert in any way.
It’s almost like I’m wishing for something to happen.
I shut those thoughts down quickly. I appreciate the opportunity to retire in such a nice place, and to use my leadership skills to help the town rebuild. I wouldn’t want anything to threaten the peace the townsfolk are currently enjoying.
But I know it can’t last.
Sighing, I prick my ears up, listening for the rumble of generators and machinery from the incursion site. I can hear some basic equipment humming away, and detect the faint flare of torches as people move around, keeping an eye on the rock and trying to wring secrets out of it.
It’s good that people are getting back to their lives and not thinking about it. I want the town to thrive, and it’s my job to keep them safe.
My mind drifts back to the meeting earlier today.
Even though the elders initially supported Rex and went along with his decisions, they’ve started constantly pushing me to post security and set up scouts to watch Rose Hollow.
It doesn’t matter how many times I explain to them that we’re all on the same side—none of them want to hear it.
Local farmers and craftsmen have embraced the union, with most businesses sharing resources and meeting regularly to exchange knowledge and wares. From what I can tell, the majority of the townsfolk are adjusting to the changes well and reacting positively to the packs being combined.
It’s the elders who are starting to pull back. Maybe it’s just an old habit.
I narrow my eyes a little as I continue to watch the incursion site. I can’t escape the feeling that the elders and first families are hiding things from me, even though I know they all gave full disclosure from the moment they found out the stone had been activated.
They were too shocked and scared to hide anything then.
Sighing, I think about tomorrow’s upcoming meeting, where I will no doubt have to explain—again—that the military presence guards the stone, Rex is our ally, and they can let go of their old routines regarding security and secrecy.
I don’t know them, and they don’t know me. I can’t expect this to go smoothly.
Simmering beneath my thoughts of pack dynamics, there is the constant threat of the old god, and what might happen if it reappears.
Even if I get slightly frustrated by the dynamics of leadership here and the petty squabbles, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for these people. I am committed to helping them.
There’s just something missing.
Turning back towards Eccles, I flick my ears back and forth. I should head back, but I’m enjoying the time alone so much, going back to town right now feels almost like torture.
Instead of heading down the mountain, I turn and trot across the high ridge, putting my nose to the dirt. The soil has a never-ending story to tell, and I immerse myself in my base senses, completely forgetting my human side.
Trotting down the side of the mountain, I’m completely under the spell of the woods and sky. The ancient song of the wild soothes me, and my human side fades away until I am all wolf.
Suddenly, all my hair stands on end at once, like I’ve trotted through an electrical current. My head whips up as I stop, one paw held in mid-step as my tail swishes in the wind. I can’t detect any immediate changes to the surrounding area, but my instincts have been triggered.
Somewhere further down the hill, I hear a clear snap of a twig breaking. Melting into the shadows, I pace with silent paws towards the sound.
As I get closer, I can hear sharp, panting breaths and the sound of feet hitting the ground in a hard rhythm. I put my nose to the ground, then back up to the wind, but I’ve dropped down into a gully and can’t catch the scent.
It sounds like someone jogging, but who would be casually running all the way out here?
My human mind begins to take over, and irritation starts to itch against me. The only person who could be out here has to have come from one of the packs or the military base.
All I wanted was a little time for myself, and my fucking job has come running out here to find me!
Picking up my pace, I bound up out of the gully and into the thicker scrub ahead, where I can hear the soft thud of footsteps. I can’t catch a clear scent, but it doesn’t seem to be a wolf.
Instantly, my senses are all on alert. If it isn’t a wolf, then it can only be an enemy. The odds of a random stranger being this far out into the woods are almost zero, and we are on constant watch for anyone trying to get close to the stone.
The incursion sent a ripple through the ether that would have alerted every mage on the planet. Stronger ones would have no trouble finding it, and the last thing we need is a random wizard showing up to poke the fiery snake with a magic wand.
I put on a burst of speed, powering through the forest towards the sound of running feet. I hear a sharp gasp as the person speeds up, but they are only human and don’t manage to widen the gap between us.
Now that I’m closer, the scent is blowing straight back to me, but I can’t tell much about it, except that it seems to be human. Something about it is shrouded, as if it were covered up somehow, and my suspicion kicks up a notch.
It’s not easy to mask a scent from a wolf. It has to be done with magic, or a fuck ton of skill.
Convinced that this is no civilian, I keep pace until we hit a break in the trees, then shoot forward with powerful strides and leap at the person’s back. As I sail through the air, I notice that it’s a woman.
A witch? It would have to be.
She lets out a sharp cry as I slam into her back and shove her to the ground. I do a quick roll and flip, growling as I turn back to face her. She scrambles to her knees and almost jumps to her feet, but I bark sharply at her, and she stays down.
“Please,” she says. “Just let me go.”
The sound of her voice seeps into me, as if every single cell in my body absorbs it, not just my ears. My blood sings, caressing my veins, and finally, I recognize the thick, sweet scent.
Like jasmine flowers, blooming in a hedge of honeysuckle…
“Just calm down, okay?” she says. “Don’t attack me. We can work this out.”
Emotion builds in my chest, ringing through my throat as a sharp whine. Details bounce out at me—her incredibly long, thick black hair, curling all the way down to her hips. Her soft, wide curves, pale skin, and beautiful, deep violet eyes.
The excitement and surprise that surge in me are quickly replaced by a rush of shame and fear. My skin prickles with hot needles, and it feels like my tongue is stuck in my throat.
I never forgot this woman, even though my time with her was very brief. I knew I was a fool to get involved with her—I was on a mission, and I broke every rule just to get close to her, knowing the whole time that I couldn’t stay with her.
Circumstances changed in a blinding instant, as they often do during Shadow operations, and I left without even saying goodbye. I tried to forget her and what I had done to her, but I realize now all I did was bury the memory of her under my next mission and my sense of duty.
It’s been three years, and I haven’t thought of her once since the last night I saw her.
When I held her in my arms and promised her it was forever, and disappeared in the night, leaving her to wake to the new day alone.
Nothing but broken promises and heartache left in the room where we shared our hearts and opened our souls.
Under the scrutiny of her intense, violet gaze, I actually back up a step. She looks frightened, but steady and in control.
Just like I remember her.
I take another step back, seriously considering vanishing into the woods before she recognizes me. It’s only momentary, a shock reaction quickly replaced by excitement and a strong dose of suspicion.
I have to find out what she’s doing here. Did she come to find me?