Sylvia's Torment

By Veronica Del Rosa

Second in the Enforcers and Coterie series, Sylvia's Torment delves deeper into a world where magic co-exists peacefully with the ordinary, for the most part . . .

He waited to claim her . . .
Has time run out?

Derek wants Sylvia back – now. His Beta. His second-in-command. His lifemate. As a Top Alpha, few obstacles stand in his way. But even with nearly infinite resources at his fingertips, he's spent months searching for his missing unclaimed mate, her agony slowing driving him feral. If he doesn’t find her soon, he'll destroy everyone in his way.

Abducted.
Tortured.
But not broken.

Three months since her abduction, Sylvia keeps a mental tally as day passes into night. Torture and endless rounds of experimentation push her to the brink. Silver in the walls burns her, drugs keep her complacent. Freedom is a dream. Rescue is impossible.

If she escapes, will she be sane?
If she comes home a damaged werewolf, will her pack accept her . . .
Or kill her?

Bonus novella included: Unexpected Werewolf

Lori hadn’t expected her world to change. Go to work, avoid her asshole boss Ed, and spend time with friends. Then he came into her life. With a few simple words, he altered everything. Can she accept the new and the unknown?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Veronica Del Rosa
• Release date: Feb 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310628979

Veronica Del Rosa

An avid reader, I enjoy paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy books. It wasn't a far stretch for me to write a paranormal fantasy. I'm also a computer/sci-fi geek and I've been in computer field for well over 15 years.

Book preview

Chapter One

Derek woke up drenched in sweat. His heart pounded, threatening to burst from his chest. Dread, despair, and helplessness crashed through him. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Elbows resting on his thick thighs, he dropped his head onto his hands. Scrubbing hard at his face, he tried clearing the cobwebs of sleep. When his fingers brushed a lock of black hair hanging across his forehead, he pushed it back, combing through his short mohawk .

Anger—this time his own emotion and not hers—had him standing, fists clenched at his side. He prowled over to the en suite bathroom. Muscles rippled as he moved. His massive body graceful and lethal.

A predator hiding in human skin.

His shoulders brushed the edges of the doorway, and he ducked to avoid hitting his head on the door frame. It was sheer habit, no longer conscious thought since he’d lived here for decades.

He flung back the shower curtain, turned on the taps and let the water warm up. Settling the curtain back into place, he jumped into the shower and pulled the knob. Water cascaded over him, failing to soothe his temper. He slammed a fist into the tile, wincing as it cracked under the onslaught.

How long could he stand this? How much more until he snapped?

His cell phone rang, a special tone indicating it was his mother. His sensitive hearing picked out the faint noise above the rushing water. He sighed. Ignoring her was not an option. She’d just call back until he eventually picked up. He didn’t have to look far for where he’d gotten his own stubborn streak.

Cursing, he turned off the water and grabbed a nearby towel to hastily dry off. Slinging the damp terry cloth around his hips, he stalked over to the nightstand.

Be polite, he reminded himself and forced a calming breath before picking up the cell phone.

Hello, Mama. Respect and love seeped into his voice. While he didn’t feel fit for company, he couldn’t deny the peace that enveloped him when speaking to his mother.

My son, how are you? Amaka asked, a hint of worry shadowing her words.

She must be very worried to let it colour her words. Amaka was the Top Alpha for all of Africa, a brutal position that required she maintain iron-clad control at all times. Emotions were a weakness.

I’m fine, Mama. A little tired. He tried to appease her concerns, but she would have none of it.

Do not lie to your mother, she replied sharply. I can still thrash you. Now, let’s start again. How are you?

He repressed a sigh, knowing she’d hear it over the phone. I’m upset, Mama, tired and weary of this. I can’t sleep, and I want to rage at everything. I fear I’m losing my mind. I feel her beating at me, her hopelessness and her fear. We haven’t found her, and I’m going insane.

Oh, my dear boy. I didn’t realize you could feel her. You didn’t tell me, she accused him lightly.

Damn, he hadn’t meant for that part to slip out. It showed just how distraught he was. Normally he was tight-lipped about anything personal, even with his dear mama.

Well, there isn’t much you can do, so I figured no reason to burden you. You have enough to deal with. I heard about the traitor. You’ve taken care of the situation?

He knew better than to express any concern over his mother. It’d be viewed as doubt of her abilities. She’d been an Alpha for almost as long as he’d been alive and was more than capable of handling her pack.

Ice-cold steel hardened her words, and he was grateful he wasn’t on the receiving end of her displeasure. Yes. He challenged me and lost. He’s dead.

Rustling in the background and a soft, insistent whisper. Amaka, we must go. Now.

Derek, I must leave. I’ll contact you when I can. You have my number if you need me. Do not worry. I’m sure you will find her soon. I love you, Son. He barely had time to reply before she’d hung up the phone.

Restless now, his skin was tight and itchy. Long strides took him to the bathroom, and he tossed the towel into the hamper. Stalking naked to the nightstand, he tossed his cell on it, worried he’d crush the delicate device in a fit of anger.

Silence shrouded him, pure silence in his mind. His own chaotic thoughts to keep him company and nothing more. Where was she?

Grasping his skull with his fingers, he threw back his head and screamed in rage and frustration. It ended in a mournful howl as his body went through the painful transformation from human to wolf.

It was cowardly to hide in his wolf form, to push aside his humanity. However, even worse than her despair was the silence that followed. The worry that this time she’d slipped away into death. The minutes, hours, until he felt her again were always agony. His nerves were shot after enduring close to three months of her pain, of encouraging her to hold on.

Sleep was next to impossible with only short bursts here and there. He was becoming irrational, short-tempered, and a danger to his pack. He should step down as Alpha, but he refused to sever the one link holding them together. If he stepped down it meant he gave up the pack link, the psychic communication he had with his entire pack, including her.

He paced the room, walking past the bed to the door and back again. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and growled with aggression. A huge, dark grey wolf, larger than most wolves, he neared four feet tall at the highest point on his shoulders.

The intelligence gleaming in his bright amber eyes pissed him off. He didn’t want his human side so close to the surface. He wanted to escape into his animal’s baser instincts, to run free without worry and fear. He didn’t want to think about what was happening to her, how he’d failed to save her.

The urge to slam into the mirror took hold, and he almost gave into it. Splinter his reflection, destroy it, fragment himself. It seemed fitting for his reflection to echo his state of mind. Pinning his ears back, he exposed his teeth in a snarl and turned his back on the mirror. None of this was helping her.

For three months, he had searched for her. He had called in every favour, sent his whole pack out each night and had not a single lead on his missing packmate, his Beta. She was still alive, he sensed her, yet he was no closer to finding her than the day she went missing.

He told her that involvement with that damn Mage Enforcer, Jackson Thorne, would cause her trouble. But she was too fucking stubborn and pig-headed to listen to him. She was very by-the-book when it came to her job, but she refused to follow orders about her personal life. And look where that had gotten her: kidnapped, tortured, and who knows what else.

Sylvia had told him the showing at the Art Gallery of Ontario was for pleasure. Nothing more than a night out to enjoy some culture. She had wanted time away from her duties as both a Werewolf Enforcer and a Beta. She had failed to explain that her night out was with an informant. Failed to arrange for proper back up when she met with an unknown person.

Intellectually, Derek understood her need to help Jackson, a close friend, and circumvent the rules. After all, he was a fugitive from the very organization Sylvia and Jackson worked for, the police of the preternatural community. She claimed he’d been falsely accused. Who better to help than one already on the inside?

Emotionally, it made no difference. His Beta had paid a hefty price for her friendship with Jackson.

He shook his head, trying to free his mind of human thoughts, wanting to lose himself in his other half. Tonight, he was going to hunt. He needed blood in his mouth, the ripping of flesh and the taste of meat. A green space in the city, the woods behind his house teemed with wildlife and his muscles quivered in anticipation.

Dashing out of his bedroom, he pounded down the stairs and through the hallway. He had enough presence of mind to use the sliding door in the kitchen and not break the window, unlike the previous time. His packmates were getting tired of cleaning up broken glass.

Chapter Two

Astonishing. She survived a near beheading ."

I told you she would. 4626 has taken more punishment than any of the other subjects. The weaker ones died. It’s time. We start the next phase soon. She has the genetic code.

Voices penetrated the hazy fog. The words made no sense. Beheading? No, not possible. She tried to shake her head, deny their cold, dispassionate statement, and pain ripped through her neck. Trembling fingers touched the tender area and the raised tissue of healing skin told her the truth.

They’d cut off her head.

Or damn near close to it.

Curling into a tight ball, arms wrapped around her knees, she squeezed her eyes shut and refused to cry.

She would not cry.

---

Exhausted to the bone , Sylvia laid on the floor and wondered again why they continued to torture her. They didn’t ask a single question, didn’t want any information beyond what the bastards wrote on their clipboards. Just stared at her like she was a bug beneath their notice except for what they learned from her .

A lab rat, an experiment.

She thought they wanted secrets. They did, but not any she could tell them.

Vivisection occurred on a daily basis. Each time they drugged her, she’d wake up with a new pain. The scars lasted long enough for fresh ones to appear.

The miracle of her regeneration.

The curse of it.

Curled on the floor, she huddled not for warmth, but for comfort. The brightly lit room lacked a bed and blankets. They wouldn’t even allow the dignity of clothes. Kept naked with nothing to cover herself, she spent much of her time in this position.

Then again, given the number of times she woke up bloodied and mangled, it made sense they wouldn’t waste time and money on clothes.

Eyes tight against the harsh glare that never disappeared, she breathed slow and even. Another tactic to break her. Constant light. Destroy her sleep cycle and keep her off-balance. Made no difference, though. Her wolf always knew when night fell. The rare time joy coursed through her body in this hellhole. Each night she howled in abandon, welcoming its presence.

And to mind-fuck them.

It was the little things that kept her sane.

They monitored every move, every breath she took. They didn’t realize she could do the same. Exceptional hearing meant little escaped her attention. Not like she had much else to do while recovering.

Sure, they’d sound-proofed her room, but for a human’s weak set of ears.

When her howls echoed through the hallways and her captors wondered why, she hid a smile from their cameras. Underground with no windows, they missed the setting sun. The sun sank below the horizon earlier and earlier each day by a few minutes, summer inching its way into autumn.

She counted days by the change from night to day and back again.

Ninety-three hellish, painful, hopeless days.

Three months ago today, they’d abducted her. Taken her from AGO when she met with her informant. A hazy memory surfaced, one of him snickering over her moments before she succumbed to the drugs. He’d set her up, dangled enough information to interest her and betrayed her. Another man had snuck in behind her and shot her with a tranq. When she woke, her world had narrowed to this small room.

The experiments began soon after.

Small ways of outsmarting them and destroying their complete control over her became a life raft she clung to in desperation. They would not break her. She refused to crumble for these cowards.

As an Enforcer, her training covered this. Made her stronger than them.

Her claws lengthened, reacting both to her anger and the need to release her wilder side. She hid the evidence, curling her fingers into a tight fist. Not once had she shifted. It wreaked havoc on her, denying the other half of herself, but they wanted to study her wolf.

Again she took great pleasure in thwarting their plans.

Drugged most of the time, her wolf would be nearly useless if she tried to escape. Reaction time slow, critical thinking almost nil. Even now in her harshly lit cell, they kept her drugged with a low dose. A month ago, she stopped puzzling over how they had found a drug that worked on werewolves.

She no longer cared.

Opening her eyes to the glare, she gave them a moment to adjust. Even though she’d studied this room a thousand times trying to find something useful for an escape, she looked again.

For an inane moment, she marveled at the cleaning staff’s dedication. No dust in her room, spotless and smelling of disinfectant. Did they hire out or have internal personnel?

What would they put in the job description?

Must have high threshold for blood and torture, a love for sterile environments, and able to clean without being seen.

Maybe they had brownies on staff, their passion for housework well known among the preternatural community. She snorted quietly, recognizing the insanity of her thoughts. Who cared how the place got cleaned?

Turning her sluggish mind back to the problem at hand, she tried to create an escape plan. Soon they would go too far and kill her. Or worse, break her. Her pack would never accept her if she broke. The Enforcers would remove her from their ranks. A weak wolf didn’t last long in her world.

Most of her adult wolf life, she’d trained to deal with situations like this. Many considered Werewolf Enforcer training torture and inhumane.

Good thing she wasn’t human.

The bare room, no bigger than a storage closet, had one wall made out of bulletproof glass. All the better to spy on her. Not like she hadn’t already spotted the cameras hidden in the ceiling. She had no moments of privacy. They recorded everything she did.

Her toilet was little more than a hole in the floor, and once a week, they hosed down both her and her room.

The remaining three walls and the floor were made of concrete. Even if she had the energy, it would take too long for her to dig or break her way through the hard, thick material. Accidental touches of the walls revealed its painful secret.

They had mixed silver in with the concrete, causing burns on her skin whenever she accidentally touched it. She was thankful—ha, thankful in this hellhole—they didn’t add silver to the floors or she would’ve cracked long ago.

Glancing upwards, she saw nothing of importance on the ceiling, save for the two cameras and several manmade holes. No cracks, no wear and tear, nothing to aid her escape.

A part of her had given up on escaping.

That sense of hopelessness destroyed her more thoroughly than anything these ‘scientists’ put her through. The realization that she may die here, on their whim, sunk her deeper into despair.

Her regenerative abilities meant she could take almost anything they thought up. And these bastards were a cruel, sadistic lot. Her Enforcer training now seemed like time spent with children. Harmless, playful children.

Agony now walked hand in hand with her, whispering all its grim secrets in her mind.

Her near-immortal life span weighed on her, an albatross choking her. Could she spend years, decades, or more here without going insane?

Never to see her family again or her pack. Never to see Derek.

A memory took hold, distracting her from the pain. At the age of thirty, she’d been close to her Change, considered an adult by human standards but only a teenager in the eyes of werewolves.

Mom, do you really think I should go? I’ve heard he’s tough and mean. He doesn’t even smile. I’ve seen pictures of him, and he’s always scowling.

Maternal love shone in her mother’s dark blue eyes as she brushed a strand of red hair from Sylvia’s cheek. Sweetie, I wouldn’t send you if I thought you couldn’t handle him. You’re headstrong and stubborn. A weaker Alpha would be ground under your feet. Derek will help you control your wolf, teach you how to merge and understand your instincts.

What if Derek’s a chauvinist jerk like Perry? He was part of the reason for this transfer. She’d talked back one too many times, and the Alpha didn’t like it. In his world, women were pretty things to sit quietly and be admired.

No one’s like Perry. Perry didn’t realize Alice was the reason so many of the women werewolves no longer sat on the sidelines, content with a housewife’s existence. She held weekly meetings and discussed ways to gain equal rights within the pack. But even with her mom’s quiet campaign, Sylvia was suffocating.

Thank goodness, Sylvia muttered.

And if he is, then prove him wrong. Where’s your backbone? We didn’t raise a timid woman, her mother chided.

I don’t know what it is, but Derek scares me. His deep, unfathomable eyes pulled at her even in pictures. The dark brown irises almost glowed in contrast to his black skin. She dreamed about him, almost obsessed over him during her waking hours.

Pausing to consider Sylvia’s words, she finally responded, Do you think he’ll hurt you? We’ll stop the transfer then.

No, don’t, Sylvia rushed to respond. He won’t hurt me. We would’ve heard rumours if he abused his pack. I’m just being silly, letting fears of the unknown worry me.

Alice opened her arms. Sylvia gratefully accepted the embrace.

Sylvia almost smiled. Derek had exceeded her panicky expectations. While he didn’t smile often, he had made her welcome in his pack. The other members had opened their hearts to her. They’d become her family, a tight-knit one she missed almost as much as she missed her freedom.

Faint footsteps.

Her ears twitched.

She gave no other response to the sound. No reason to give away her strengths to the enemy. Staying prone on the floor, she waited, wondering what they had in store for her today. She had no way of fighting them off. Aggression just made them increase the drug dosage.

Initially, she had refused all food and water, afraid of consuming their drugs. She had quickly learned they had no need to tamper with her food. Tiny holes drilled into the ceiling allowed them to pump knock-out gas into her cell. The glass wall/sliding door had a small window so they could shoot a tranquilizer dart at her.

And when they felt daring, they used a needle to inject sedatives right into her vein.

The first time they had used the more personal approach, she had attacked, clawing one of them across the face. They’d tranqed and savagely beaten her in retaliation. Whenever she saw that man’s scarred face, fierce satisfaction rolled through her. He’d never forget her, even after they tossed her in a shallow grave.

Idly, she wondered which method they would favour today, unable to drag up any emotions to care one way or the other.

A scientist stopped at her glass wall and gazed at her. His dirty-blonde hair was shaggy and in need of a cut. Stubble covered his chin and cheeks and his lab coat was wrinkled. He looked as if he’d spent too many nights sleeping at his desk.

Any sympathy she might’ve had was erased as soon as she met his stare, the cold, empty stare they all adopted. In their eyes, she was little better than an animal, a lab rat to be experimented on—for the good of humanity, of course.

Heaven forbid they have problems sleeping at night.

Experiment 4626, stay where you are, he said as he slid open the door.

Standing in the doorway, he pulled a needle from the pocket of his lab coat. He removed the cap and pushed the stopper to remove any air.

A thought fluttered in her brain. An air bubble would stop her heart. Perhaps for good? A permanent end to her suffering?

Berating herself, she pushed the suicidal thought away. She was stronger than them.

They would not break her.

They would not.

With eyes glazed from previous druggings, she watched as he stepped closer to her, no fear or hesitation. For a fleeting moment, she wanted to rush him, rip his throat out and escape out the door. But where would she go? How far could she get before they captured her?

Listen to me, Sylvia. The sound of her name startled her. For the past few months, they had addressed her as 4626. She’d almost forgotten her name. She cocked her head to the side, curious as to who spoke. The scientist’s mouth hadn’t moved. It felt like the pack link, but he wasn’t a werewolf. She’d smell it if he was.

I’ve cast a spell to let me speak to your mind. We don’t have much time. The drug I’m giving you is diluted. It’ll last for approximately three hours, and then your metabolism will break it down. You’ll have a chance to escape. I’ll create a distraction and free as many prisoners as possible. Take out any guards you find. Snarl at me if you agree.

She rapidly went over the implications of this. Could she trust him? Was this a trap or was he serious about helping her escape? Why, why did he want to help her? His dead expression gave nothing away, and yet there was something about his scent. It teased her, told her she could trust him. Hoping she wouldn’t regret it, she snarled at him, giving him her agreement.

Without hesitation, he crossed the small room and stopped within inches of her. Faster than she expected, he slid the needle into her arm and injected her. Sylvia’s vision blurred, darkness edged in, and her last sight was of a slight grin from the scientist.

It almost made him handsome.

Chapter Three

Panting from exertion, Derek laid on his side, surrounded by pine and maple trees. The crisp autumn air ruffled his fur and helped cool down his overheated body. The scent of rabbits teased his nose as they scampered away from him. A deer fled through the underbrush, spooked by his earlier crashing through the woods. He hadn’t bothered with stealth, simply wanted to run himself ragged. Perhaps then he could sleep .

It hadn’t worked so far, but one could hope.

He normally loved this time of year, when the leaves changed colour and the nights grew longer. However, he felt no joy in the shifting of the seasons. It served to remind him Sylvia wasn’t with him.

A faint rustle of leaves to the left. Could’ve been from the wind, but the twig snapping wasn’t. He growled low in his throat, warning the intruder. He was in no mood to play. Even after running himself into the ground, he still had too much pent-up energy. His heart beat faster in anticipation as he now hoped it was a foe. He could do with a no-holds-barred fight.

Victor stepped into the small clearing. Mage Enforcer. Specialty, demon hunting. Partner, Jackson Thorne. And the reason for Sylvia’s abduction.

He kept his hands loose at his sides, palms out to show he came in peace.

Derek grunted in disappointment. He’d love to rip him apart. A shame the Mage Coterie valued him as an Enforcer. Why, he had no idea.

Personally, he found the man to be aggravating, irritating, and a little too smug. Although, truth be told, he had a few more reasons as to why he hated pretty-boy Victor, ones he didn’t like to admit.

Wolf, I need to talk to you.

Derek curled his lip at that. Like he gave a shit about what Victor wanted or needed. This mage had dragged Sylvia into a mess she couldn’t handle. As Jackson’s partner, he’d asked her to investigate the disappearances of several civilians. Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been fine, except he’d also told her to keep quiet about it. She’d hidden her activities from everyone.

It had left her vulnerable.

He stood up and ambled away. A slow, leisurely retreat, meant to show how far beneath contempt the mage was to him. Victor’s next words stopped him dead though.

We’re breaking Sylvia out tonight, and we want some wolves with us. The calm statement tore through him, making him forget his animosity. Nothing mattered except Sylvia. He’d work with demons and Fae if needed.

Derek changed into his human form, a faint shimmer surrounding him as his body contorted. Bones snapped and reformed. Within seconds, he’d shifted. He tried to recall where he’d stashed his clothes but promptly stopped caring. Nudity didn’t bother werewolves the way it did humans. And honestly, he hoped it bothered Victor. He took perverse pleasure in discomforting him, had since the day he’d met the smug bastard over thirty years ago.

It was a shame the man didn’t react in the slightest.

Where is she? How did you find her? He held his breath while he waited for an answer. If this was a joke, he’d rip Victor to shreds.

We’ve tracked her to a small town up north, past Timmins. Some kind of research facility with military security. Markus is negotiating with the Fae. Portal’s close to the building Sylvia’s being held in. Victor’s toneless voice rubbed Derek raw. His jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth. They could’ve been discussing the weather instead of rescuing Sylvia. Did he care so little for her? He’d seen the two of them together. Sylvia desired him.

Claws broke through his fingertips.

Make him bleed. Tear him apart. He doesn’t deserve her. The thoughts pushed him one step closer into the fathomless ocean of rage waiting to suck him under. Drown him until all he breathed was hatred.

She’s all that matters. Don’t fuck up her rescue by killing Victor. Sylvia, the tether that kept him on this side of sanity. With conscious effort, he reined in his temper.

How many wolves do you need? I control all of the ones in Ontario, around six hundred of them. Thirty in the Toronto pack alone and ready to move out within the hour. I can also contact the ones around Northern Claybelt, see who’s close enough to help.

Victor nodded. Gather everyone in the Toronto pack. Have them meet us at headquarters. Tell your northern wolves to wait for us at the southern end of Little Goose Lake. About twenty minutes north of Timmins. They don’t move in without us. Anyone who doesn’t follow orders will be severely punished. Markus said he’d take great personal pleasure in chastising anyone who jeopardizes this rescue mission.

Markus’ involvement buoyed him. Another Mage Enforcer, one whose name was synonymous with unwavering persistence. The toughest assignments went to him since he always produced results. And as Derek’s friend, Markus had a personal stake in this rescue.

A tingle of electricity danced up his spine. Silent and watchful, Derek steadied himself while Victor gathered magical energy. Mages creeped him out, even the rare few he called friend. How Sylvia spent huge chunks of time with them, he had no clue. The change in atmosphere, the pressure build-up, and the faint stench of ozone when they cast spells made his skin itch. Even small ones requiring little energy affected him.

And this was no small spell Victor cast.

Goosebumps covered his exposed flesh.

Attack. Disrupt the spell. Dissipate the energy, his inner voice urged. He stood motionless and ignored the sensations. Seconds later, Victor disappeared as he teleported to the downtown HQ.

Sylvia’s been found. We rescue her today. Gather at my home. Derek sent the message to his packmates in Toronto. He changed back to a wolf, faster in this form. The wind sliced through his fur, and his paws barely touched the ground as he raced home.

As he burst out of the woods, a flurry of bird wings heralded his arrival. His home backed into the overgrown greenbelt his pack enjoyed roaming and hunting in. Normally he loved his large backyard with its massive oak tree, industrial-sized grill, and abundant picnic tables that were ideal for pack gatherings. But now he cursed the extra fifty yards for delaying him, for being one more damn obstacle between him and Sylvia’s return.

Circling around to the front of his house, he changed back to human and snagged a pair of jeans draped on the porch railing. One of his packmates had known he’d need them—most likely Zmitro, his right-hand man—and he was grateful for the gesture. His long legs now encased in denim, he thundered up the stairs and through the open front door.

Empty when he’d left, the main room had been filled with werewolves in his absence. Several were in human form while others had come as wolves. The body heat and scents overwhelmed him, especially after the clean, cool air of the woods.

Emotions blasted him. Anger, sorrow, fear, and hope mingled together, making it almost impossible to distinguish who felt what.

Pride stirred in his chest. The pack had dropped everything to answer his call. A close-knit family, only thirty in the Toronto area, they spent holidays and weekends together. Lives intertwined, celebrations and sorrows shared. Each one missed Sylvia as much as he did. Her abduction tore a gaping, raw wound within the fabric of their world.

All sound stopped, and every head swiveled toward him. Being the focus of so many werewolves would’ve unnerved a lesser man. Derek hardly noticed. In fact, he would’ve been angry if they hadn’t given him their undivided attention.

The front foyer hosted several pack members while many more stood on the curving staircase. Eagerness and the fierce need for blood radiated from each one. These wolves considered Sylvia a daughter and a sister.

Messing with one wolf invited the fury of the entire pack.

As everyone knows, the mages have found Sylvia and need our help. His deep voice carried throughout the room. No one dared to interrupt or ask questions. He tolerated complete obedience and nothing else. We will meet the mages at HQ, and from there, we’ll use a Fay portal.

Muttered voices erupted and swiftly died. Trusting the Fae and entering their realm occurred only in dire situations.

A snicker undermined the seriousness of this meeting, and a near silent gasp echoed through the pack. Who would dare? He scanned the crowd, searching for the offender. Several members shuffled to the side. There. Derek’s lip curled as he spat out, What the fuck are you doing here?

"Same as everyone else, Alpha, Shawn’s emphasis was meant as an insult, not a title of respect. I heard the call to help the little wolf you lost."

Shawn’s sneer unleashed the fury within Derek. The other wolves, their backs to Shawn, missed the undercurrent and many shouted in surprise when their Alpha attacked. Derek barreled through the crowd, uncaring of who he hurt in his desire to pummel this smug prick. The ocean of rage drowned him, narrowing his world to this Lesser Alpha who wished to take Derek’s position as Top Alpha.

That Shawn would dare to goad him with Sylvia’s abduction . . . Derek’s claws ripped through his fingertips, reacting to his anger. His hand shot out, seemingly of its own accord, aiming for the bastard’s neck. Maybe a torn throat would teach the other werewolf some manners.

Another hand grabbed Derek’s wrist, halting his forward momentum. He checked the urge to continue forward. Not many had the strength to match Derek. His size alone gave him an advantage over most.

Derek, what are you doing? Zmitro demanded.

Dealing with this asshole. I’m fucking sick of his attitude.

Zmitro leaned in, his mouth next to Derek’s ear so only he’d hear the urgent whisper. "We talked about this. He wants to prove you’re unfit. If you’re labeled as rogue, he won’t need to