Break of the Moon: Broken Alpha, #1

By Sophia Hampton

Rose innocently believed her life was perfect

She had it all: a job she loved, a beautiful home, a fiancé who was prince charming himself, financial stability, and a caring family. Rose Greyback’s life was a dream, and nothing could wake her from it. 

Beckett is on the run and ready to take down anything in his way

Beckett Abruzzi was on the fast track to becoming Alpha of the infamous Adolfo Pack… until the once-defunct Del Diavolo Pack stages a violent uprising. Against all his instincts, he forces himself to lay low while he plans his revenge. But they’re not giving up so easily, and Beckett is running out of places to hide. 

The last thing they expected was to crash

Relying on a total stranger who couldn’t be more different than them was never in the plans. But sometimes, fate has a way of changing things for the better, even if it’s in the form of an unassuming bride-to-be unintentionally saving the life of one vengeful Alpha, who belated realizes she is much more than what she seemed to be… 

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBook Publishing World
• Release date: May 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513075471

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The gathering was hurried because it was so necessary. The result was that some packs had only their elders present and other packs had every member present. The packs had been in an uneasy truce for a century but there were still resentments and old arguments ready to boil over. Things would have boiled over if the situation that they faced now were not so serious. The wolves sat in the council room, most of them quietly, waiting for the council to speak.

The doors to the chamber blew open and every head turned. Whispers started, whirling around the massive room. Eyes locked onto the lean frame of the man walking into their midst and a few of the females shivered with desire while a few of the males gave the newcomer a contemptuous glare.

Beckett knew they were staring at him. Let them stare, he thought, I don’t give a damn. He still smelled of the sage and the wind, of the high hills where he had been exiled due to his youth and stupid youthful passion. He had accepted the need for that exile but it hadn’t been easy. It had been a lot easier to nurse his broken heart in silence and without the recriminations he would have faced if he had not been exiled for his crimes.

He approached the elders seated at the council’s place and spoke. My father died this afternoon as you know. As his son, and heir, I should speak in his place. You all know my history with Nyha so I wish to ask the council to allow my uncle to speak for the Adolofo pack.

Silence, stunned and deep met his request. His uncle was a vengeful man and wolf best known for his ability to duck responsibility and party like he was going to die the very next day. He was hardly the kind of Alpha who should lead a pack. Beckett could see speculation in every eye that looked back at him. His request was unusual, to say the least. After all, he had not ceded control of the pack; he had just asked that his uncle be allowed to speak for his deceased brother.

One of the Elders spoke, Why should we allow this?

Because you do not trust me in this matter and I know you have no reason to. Beckett spoke quietly but proudly.

There was a general murmur of agreement and a few more whispers, his sharp hearing allowed him to hear every word and his pride stung but he refused to flinch. He saw the eyes of a few of the council members sharpen with admiration. He also knew, without turning around, that many of those watching were wary.

Beckett didn’t blame them, the thing he had done had been reprehensible and maybe even unforgivable.

If you are here for our forgiveness, began Sebastian, leader of the Hallin pack, You must know we won’t offer it.

I don’t want your forgiveness, Beckett returned sharply. I have my own forgiveness and that is enough.

I see, and what if we do not offer you our respect either? Sebastian gave him a frosty stare that spoke volumes about his feelings for the younger wolf but if he had hoped to upset Beckett he was to go unsatisfied.

Then you don’t. I will earn my place back, and do it gladly. I don’t expect you to respect me simply because I survived the exile. Beckett knew that would be a far harder battle. One day some of the wolves here might forgive the past but respect would be far harder to earn than their forgiveness.

One day, although not this day, I will stand as Alpha of the Adolfo pack and when that day comes it will not be solely because I am heir by my bloodline but because I earned the right as the strongest and most respected of my pack.

Again, the whispers ran around the room. Finally, Sebastian asked, Have you gained a new uncle then? Surely you don’t mean to have Cassel stand for your father today.

Beckett said, I mean exactly that. Cassel is a good man and while he is a bit untamed he is the eldest of our pack, and older than many on the council. He has seen a lot of battles and survived and I stand by my decision.

Beckett had learned patience in the high hills. He stood there awaiting the council’s decision with one lean hip cocked to the side. He could feel a few females sizing him up and he was happy about that, he could use a heated mating. It had been way too long. But first, this had to happen and he could not afford to back down or become distracted by the females in the room, even though a few of them were sending musky scents of arousal his way.

Very well, one of the elders said and the others nodded in unison. Cassel will speak for the Adolfo pack but hear me Beckett, if it is ever discovered that you had any part in the doings of the Diavolo pack...

I have been in exile for ten years. None but one man knew where I was sent. I followed the letter of the law and stayed where I was placed because I believed I owed that debt. His words were clear, shutting off the words that had been about to come from the elder’s mouth as effectively as if they had been a steel gag.

Be that as it may but the next time you do anything like that you will be sentenced to drowning.

Beckett bowed his head. It was harsh and he knew it but he also knew that they were right to still be angry. His crime had been silence and that silence had cost many lives, including the life of the son of the elder who had spoken.

Cassel walked forward. He was strong and proud and, as a second son, he had always been one step behind his older brother, but he would never have been Alpha. Cassel was too independent, he loved to roam freely and he was too quick to change. He preferred life as a wolf and he often shunned those who were born of bites. He also had no patience for the halflings, one thing he had in common with many of the Elders beside which he now sat.

The gathering continued but it did not get far. The massive double doors were kicked open to reveal a beautiful woman, her black hair cut into a punkish style and her lean body clad in glistening leather. Her eyes went around the room and her throaty laughter echoed off the walls.

Well, here you are plotting my death and here I am, ready to see you meet yours.

Nyah! Beckett leaped forward, his hand going to the gun he had tucked into his waistband. His eyes locked onto hers but instead of seeing her beauty all he saw was his long awaited and craved revenge.

CHAPTER ONE

Rose stood at her bathroom sink, carefully brushing her teeth. Her thick blonde hair drooped in a loose topknot she had pulled it up into before getting into the shower and her skin glowed from heat and the sweet smelling sugar scrub she had used.

The wind blew through an open window and she paused, her head cocked to one side. Growing up the daughter of a very wealthy businessman had had its perks but there had been an almost constant fear too. She’d been trained early to listen for intruders or any other noise, to always be prepared to run if she needed to.

The wind sighed softly then died down. The window slammed shut and she heard John utter a low curse of irritation rather than fear or concern and her muscles relaxed.

She laughed softly at her own foolishness. She’d been raised in quiet suburbs, and she had probably never been in danger and she was most certainly not in danger now since her father was retired.

The truth of the matter was that her mother had been bored and lonely and she drank too much and when she drank she always thought she and her young daughter were about to be kidnapped. Rose had always been able to see the good in everyone and she had been able to see the good in those actions of her mother’s even if nobody else had. Why, her freshman year in college she’d been able to fend off a drunken frat boy with one of the self-defense moves her mother had taught her.

She’d never been in any danger at