Wolf Rebellion: Kingsrose Renegades Pack, #2

By Finley Quinn

Rejecting my fated mate was an act of rebellion.
Now I wear it like a badge of honor.

When I moved back to Kingsrose, I didn't think I'd be running off just as quickly. With my mates and I branded as traitors, we're now on the run. Free from Pierce's clutches for the time being, there's a growing list of objectives I need to accomplish before continuing to defy fate.

- Uncover the secrets of the Wolf Moon's Gift
- Find out who my fourth mate could be
- Help Kai face his inner demons
- Rescue Joaquin and my grandmother

Pierce isn't going to give me up so easily. If we have any hope of taking back our home, and protecting the gift Mother Moon entrusted me with, we're going to have to take the fight to him.

Enemies beware, for we are The Renegades of Kingsrose!
Wolf Moon is the second installment in a reverse harem, rejected mates, shifter trilogy. This book is packed with shifters, myth, action, and medium-burn steam! For mature readers only!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Finley Quinn
• Release date: Jul 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223489085

Book preview

To my mother-in-law, Leslie. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your home. Thank you for allowing me to marry your son. Thank you for making me feel like part of the family. Thank you for your continued support throughout the ups and downs of my career.

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Rest in peace, Mama. You’ll forever be missed.

1

Byron

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Making sure that my presence wasn’t known, I silently watched from the shadows as Rosie and her entourage made their escape from Kingsrose. I wasn’t sure why I stood by and let them go, especially since I was told to make sure they didn’t escape. I never once disobeyed a direct order from Alpha Pierce and doing so now left an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I should’ve stopped them. I should’ve captured Rosie and brought her to Pierce like I was told to. What made me hesitant to follow orders was the wave of information surrounding Pierce wanting to mate with Rosie that I gathered tonight; both from Rosie and Sabina.

I couldn’t properly register what Sabina was telling me before all hell broke loose. Now that the worst of it was over, it was all I could think about. Was what Sabina divulged to be true? Could a children's story that I was told as a pup really be more than fiction? It was hard to fathom—or believe—that Rosie had some kind of magical power inside her that Mother Moon granted at birth. Then again, our very existence was a myth to humans, yet here we were, secretly living among them. If supernatural beings were real, why couldn't this mysterious gift of Rosie's? It would explain why she seemed unfazed by the mate bond.

Just what kind of power did this gift possess? I had no doubt that Pierce knew what it was, considering the lengths he was going to obtain it. Suddenly his relentless need for Rosie to accept the mate bond made sense. It wasn’t because he wanted her as a mate, it was the power he was after. For as long as I served under him, I knew Pierce’s obsession with being number one. Not just within our pack, he wanted to be the strongest wolf alive. He wanted to make sure nobody could stand up to him. It made him insane and dangerous.

I internally sighed, wondering what the fuck we had gotten ourselves into. I wasn't sure what I should do. It was no secret that Pierce was an asshole, but he was still my alpha. I swore an oath to abide by his ruling and obey all orders so long as he remained my alpha, but now I'd just broken my vow. It shouldn't matter what my personal beliefs were. It shouldn't matter what I deemed was right and wrong. I was a wolf who was raised to put my thoughts and feelings aside for my alpha. I was raised to never defy the laws of life and fate.

Then why did I let her go?

Even my wolf seemed conflicted by our sudden defiance, unsure if we made the right decision. The only thing he and I seemed to agree on was that we needed answers. Staying close to the shadows and remaining in wolf form, I ran back towards the lodge. The area was illuminated with red and blue flashing lights. The police and paramedics swarmed the lodge after hearing gunshots. The dead bodies of pack mates and hunters still littered the open field, but some have already been carried off. Luckily, we had pack members in both fields, so any records of our existence would vanish in a day or two. Still, it was a massacre that would haunt the minds of many.

Our territory being invaded by wolf hunters wasn't something any of us were expecting to happen tonight. Whoever they were, they seemed to have been sent here to retrieve Rosie and her mates. I wasn't aware she had such strong connections. Then I remembered there was a former wolf hunter who was a member of Rosie's former pack. That must've been where they came from. Was that where she was headed? Back to her old pack? It would be the first place Pierce would look for her, but she would have her former pack mates protecting her. Not to mention, there would probably be more hunters on standby.

I hoped Pierce wasn’t planning on going to war with them, not while our pack was in shambles. What would the protocol be for this situation? Could this be considered an attack by the Blue Moon Pack? According to pack laws, it would be within our right to strike back if they came for us first. But technically, it wasn’t the wolf pack who attacked us, only the human hunters. Rosie clearly found a loophole that would leave her former pack unscathed.

Making sure that none of the human cops spotted me, I stealthily crept to the back of the lodge where I quickly shifted back and threw on the clothes I left behind. I came back out to join everyone in front of the lodge. Many of our pack mates took off when the guns started firing, but those that remained were currently being questioned by police about the events that took place. I did a mental body check on all remaining betas that I could see. Out of thirty, I could only see twenty-three of them; not including Joaquin who was captured but couldn't be found amongst the crowd. Pierce must've moved him somewhere before the police arrived. Chances were, he was locked in one of the basement cellars waiting for punishment.

I also couldn’t spot Pierce amongst the faces. Maybe he was inside? While everyone else was distracted, I went inside the lodge. Several windows were shattered, glass shards were spread all over the ground. Aside from that, the lodge remained in one piece.

If you’re looking for Pierce, he’s dealing with the traitor down in the cellar, a feminine voice spoke from the direction of Pierce’s office. I looked over to see Whitney resting against the door to the office, her wavy blond hair draped over her shoulders. She was one of the few betas to survive the attack, which slightly disappointed me, but I had to give her credit for being one of the more skilled betas when it came to combat. She managed to get herself dressed, but there were still streaks of blood that ran along her fingers and arms.

Interrogation? I asked.

Whitney nodded. Hopefully Joaquin will spill where that cunt and her twin traitors took off to.

Do you really think he would turn Rosie in like that?

If he was smart, he would. Then again, nobody in this fucking pack seems to have any brains around here when it comes to the girl. You dumbasses spent too much time thinking with your dicks rather than your brains. She stomped her foot before stepping forward until she was in my direct line of sight. I told Pierce she was no good for him. I told everyone, but did anybody bother to listen to me? No! Instead, you all chose to let her do whatever she wanted.

There wasn’t much we could do anyways, Whitney. Despite what you may think of her, Rosie is still Pierce’s fated mate.

I don’t give a fuck what she is! Whitney snapped. If you jackasses would’ve let me kill her when I had the chance, maybe none of this would’ve happened.

A growl rumbled in my throat, my wolf not liking the tone of her voice. I took two steps forward, my eyes shifting to my lupine’s feral glare. Whitney’s body stiffened but held her ground. Her bravery would be considered admirable, but there was the subtle hint of fear lingering off her. She knew very well I could snap her neck before she even had time to react. Part of me wanted to, but I had more self-control than that.

I’d advise you to watch who you’re talking to. My voice dropped a few octaves. With Joaquin branded a traitor, I’m the new second in command. I suggest you keep that in mind before I make you remember who’s your superior.

Whitney gritted her teeth but was smart enough to keep her retorts to herself. Not so much as wanting to breathe the same air as her any longer, I whipped around and headed down the hall where the entrance to the basement cellar was located. The door remained closed and locked unless you had the code. I punched in the code on the keypad then hit enter, hearing the click of the door unlocking.

Opening the door, I took two steps down the flight of stairs before pausing when I got a whiff of something alarming.

Wolfsbane.

Shit, Pierce was torturing Joaquin all right. Wolf shifters didn’t have very many weaknesses, but silver was one of them. Our skin burns at the touch of silver, and long contact could make us sick. Wolfsbane was another. The poisonous plant could easily kill anybody, but for wolf shifters, once the effect slowed down our heartbeat, our rapid healing slows to a snail’s pace. Wounds that would normally close in a matter of seconds would take minutes, depending on how much of the toxin was in our system.

I hiked back up the stairs and headed for the supply cabinet to grab the first aid kit we kept around for human guests. I stuffed the red rectangular box inside my jacket before making my way back to the basement and climbed down. The scent was faint from the outside, not enough to affect me right away, but I wasn’t sure how much Joaquin inhaled. We normally reserved this brutal method for the most dangerous of wolves who brought harm to the pack. I guessed Pierce deemed Joaquin dangerous enough. I tried to warn him. I knew this would end badly if he continued pursuing Rosie, but he wouldn’t listen.

The air was damp with sweat and musk when I finally reached the floor. The cellars were wall-to-wall with silver bars, making sure the captive shifters couldn’t escape. Ten cells total, five on each side. Most were empty except for the one farthest to my right. That was where the groaning sound of pain and the stench of blood and wolfsbane came from. From where I stood, I could see Pierce staring down at a hunched over Joaquin. His hands bound in silver chains and raised over his head. His bare chest and arms glistened with moisture and coated in blood. Pierce, for his part, wore an oxygen mask so he wouldn’t breathe in the wolfsbane. The scent of the poison grew stronger the closer I reached them. My head began to feel dizzy, but I pushed through it.

Straightening my posture, I sauntered over to Joaquin’s cell. Pierce heard me approaching and turned to face me. I assume you couldn’t catch the girl?

I shook my head. She managed to escape. It wasn’t a complete lie, I just left out the fact that I let her go. Hopefully I didn’t make a grave mistake, otherwise I’d find myself in Joaquin’s current predicament.

I see, Pierce muttered. Such a shame.

It was difficult to tell if Pierce knew there was more than I was saying or not. I kneeled before my alpha and tilted my head to the side, exposing my neck in submission. My apologies, my alpha. I take full responsibility for my actions. If you wish, I could go after her.

Good luck with that, Joaquin said in a weak, raspy voice. You’ll never find her. Even I don’t know where she’ll be going.

No need, Pierce said to me. She’ll come back.

I looked up at him in confusion. How can you be sure?

Because we have one of her mates. She’s already bonded with him, which means she won’t be able to stay away from him for too long. The pulse would be too strong. Sooner or later, the distance—plus Joaquin’s distress—will be too much for her to handle. It’s just a matter of time.

You’re a sadistic fuck, Joaquin growled. Blackmailing people, kidnapping old ladies, and using people as bait to get what you want. What kind of monster are you?

Pierce seemed unfazed by the list of crimes his stepbrother listed. Judging by the fact that he hadn’t denied any of them, that meant what Rosie said must’ve been true about him kidnapping her grandmother. It was unsettling knowing Pierce was doing all this just to claim his fated mate. No, not just that. He wanted the power of the Wolf Moon too.

Why would fate deem him worthy to claim such a powerful force hidden inside a girl? Then again, if Pierce was meant to have it, why was Rosie immune to the mating pull? This situation ran deeper than I thought, but I was left with lots of unanswered questions.

A smarter one than all of you, Pierce said, answering Joaquin’s rhetorical question. Even though Rosie escaped, as long as we have you, she’ll come back to me. And this time, I’ll be ready to make her mine. Your little trick to make a clean getaway was cute, but your selfless sacrifice ruined any chances she had of hiding from me. Eventually I’ll have what’s owed to me, and once I do, I’ll have no need for you.

Pierce’s words must’ve sank into Joaquin, enough to know that our alpha had a point. I was once mated, so I knew he was right about Rosie not being able to resist being away from Joaquin forever. Eventually she’d feel compelled to return, which meant running away was a waste of time, effort, and lives. Joaquin dipped his head in defeat, which amused Pierce. He chuckled before turning to me. He stretched out a hand and gripped my shoulder.

I want someone watching his cellar every hour on the hour. I also want patrol around the entrance to Kingsrose. As soon as Rosie is spotted, I want to be notified.

I nodded. Yes, Alpha.

Pierce exited the cellar, leaving me and Joaquin alone. I thought about going too, but I could see the effects of the wolfsbane taking its toll on Joaquin physically. His breathing was heavy, his heartbeat pumping too slow, and his wounds weren’t closing. Thankfully the smell of wolfsbane faded as soon as Pierce left. Eventually his healing would return to normal so long as he doesn’t inhale anymore of the poison.

I'm sorry, but you brought this on yourself, Joaquin. You should've known this would happen when you planned that chaos with Rosie and the twins.

Joaquin kept his head down, refusing to look me in the eyes. His mouth and the wounds across his body were still dripping with blood.

Huffing out a breath, I squatted down in front of him and pulled out the first aid kit. I began cleaning his wounds, bandaging the minor ones, and stitching the deeper gashes Pierce inflicted on him. It took almost an hour, but when I finished, I was back on my feet. Joaquin still hadn't spoken a word. He just sat there with his wrists chained above his head, the skin frying from the silver. I was amazed he was enduring it without so much as a wince, but maybe it was because of how weak the wolfsbane made him.

Was she worth it? I hedged. Was a girl you barely know worth going against your alpha—your stepbrother—and putting yourself and the pack in danger? Now Alpha Pierce will probably kill you for treason. Are you really okay with that?

Thinking he wouldn't respond, I turned and was prepared to leave the cellar, but my feet halted from the sound of Joaquin's scratchy voice. You don't get it.

I turned to face him in surprise. Joaquin had his head raised, his dark eyes glaring up at me. He looked sickly pale with dark circles under his eyes and droplets of sweat along his brow, yet there was strength blazing in his gaze.

Get what? I asked.

That I love Rosie more than I fear Pierce, or death. If I'm destined to die, then so be it. I'd endure pain and torture for the rest of my life if it means she's safe. That's what it means to love someone, something that Pierce will never understand.

Love isn’t strong enough to prevent the laws of fate, Joaquin. Don’t you get it? Fate is absolute, you can’t fight against it!

At least I’ll die trying! Joaquin fired back. How can you even side with fate after all that you’ve lost? If not for fate, you’d still have your wife and child!

His last statement sent a chill running down my spine. An image of my mate, a beautiful red-headed woman with eyes greener than the rainforest, and a belly rounded with our first born, flashed in my mind. With it came the pang in my heart knowing fate deemed them unworthy to keep alive.

Despite the anguish of loss threatening to claw its way into my soul, anger fueled me for the briefest of moments. How dare you speak of them to me, I hissed at him.

Joaquin bared his teeth at me, despite his weakened state, he still managed to draw forth his sharpened canines. "No matter what you may think, even if it is a losing battle, I’ll still fight for my right to decide my fate. Not have it made for me."

I wouldn’t be able to make him see reason. Joaquin was set on going against forces he couldn’t comprehend. He was bold but foolish. I understood his desire for wanting to go after something with all his might. How many times had I wished I could change my destiny? Or my wife and son’s fate? Everything in life happened for a reason and we had to accept that. But Joaquin didn’t. Instead, he stole someone who was meant for Pierce, as did the twins. Now they were suffering the consequences.

Have it your way then, I said with a long sigh. I walked out of his cellar, closing the door behind me, and headed upstairs with memories I spent years trying to black out. Memories of a death I couldn’t change because Fate deemed it final, and a heart that never completely healed.

He’s not going to give her up. I hope you know that. I halted halfway up the stairs and looked over my shoulders to find Sabina staring up at me, her body leaning against the wall.

Looks like it, I grumbled. I’m surprised you’re still here. Why didn’t you run off with Rosie and the twins? I thought you’d be siding with them.

"No, my path isn’t to follow Rosie, nor is it to stand behind Pierce. I’m needed... elsewhere."

Sabina emphasized elsewhere with an air of mystery behind it. I furrowed my brow in confusion. Where? I asked.

Can’t say, she retorted. But what about you, Byron? When this results in an all-out war, and trust me when I say it will, whose side will you be on?

It was on the tip of my tongue to say Pierce. Mother Moon knew it would’ve been the right thing to say... right? But it was Mother Moon’s power that granted Rosie her immunity. It was Mother Moon’s power that Pierce was desperate to claim. Was it right for him to obtain it, or was it right for Rosie to stay away from him? I wasn’t sure anymore.

Something else Sabina said came back to me, and I latched on to that instead. Wait, what do you mean by an all-out war? How do you know this?

Sabina chuckled with an impish grin plastered to her face. You’d be surprised by how much I know, Byron.

Why are you being so cryptic? I asked. And what is this path of yours? Where do you need to go?

Sabina’s only response was to wink at me before pulling herself off the wall she was leaning against and headed for the front door.

Wait! I called out to her, jogging down the stairs to stop her. You know you can’t leave the pack lands without Pierce’s permission. If he finds out you took off and he goes after you, I won’t be able to stop him.

Sabina rested a hand on the doorknob then turned her head to face me. If I were you, I’d worry less about what I’m doing and figure out what you’ll be doing. Think of it this way, Byron, the choices you make can help decide whether Rosie succeeds, or if Pierce gets what he wants.

What are you talking about? What are you trying to tell me? I was so confused. How could my choice be a deciding factor? How did that make any sense? How would Sabina even know something like that? She was talking as if the future opened to her and revealed all events that have yet to come to fruition. Was that what was happening? Was Sabina some kind of psychic who saw what would transpire from all this?

I started to think about what all I knew about Sabina, which I now realized wasn’t a lot. She and I weren’t close. I knew she and Joaquin grew up together, but I worked with him more than her. Was there some big secret about her that I never knew about?

Sabina sighed heavily. Look, there isn’t a whole lot I can talk to you about, nor do I have the time to explain everything. I have a long trip ahead of me. What I can say is this; pick a side, Byron. For your sake and for the pack’s. It’s important. If Carly was still alive, what would she say to you?

Hearing my deceased wife’s name felt like a high-pitched ringing in my ear. Why was everyone bringing up my fallen mate all of a sudden? As if the pain of her absence wasn’t present in my subconscious whether asleep or awake. The constant dread over what could’ve been. Never being able to see her beautiful face again. Never getting to watch my son being born. Never getting the chance to hold either of them. The entire future was ripped to shreds by an angry, jealous wolf shifter.

It took me a moment to realize that I hadn’t said anything. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and my breathing was shaky. The somber look on Sabina’s face told me she knew where my mind wandered. I almost forgot what she asked me, but then it came back. What would Carly say to me?

Think about it, and look after Joaquin for me, Sabina said before opening the door and walking out, leaving me standing there dumbfounded, confused, and shaken up.

2

Rosie

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They said life was about the choices we make; that our decisions could alter the course of our path. As I sat in the bed of the truck huddled between one of my mates and my older brother, I began questioning whether or not the choices I made were the right ones. It was easy to say no to being the fated mate of someone who didn't even see me as a mate. Pierce didn't want me in a romantic way, all he cared about was what was buried inside me. A special gift bestowed on me since birth by Mother Moon.

An old fairytale told to young pups about the Wolf Moon turned out to be real—a special power that could forge the strongest wolf pack in a generation. The same gift that also granted me immunity to all forms of influences, including Fate's. We were barely able to scratch the surface of the mystery surrounding this gift. We still didn't know what it was exactly, or how it was supposed to birth the strongest pack. All I knew was whatever it was, it couldn't go to someone like Pierce.

I didn't heed his warning. I defied Fate and rejected him as a mate. I may have escaped his clutches for the time being, but the price I paid was having me second guess myself. How could I feel like I did the right thing when I ended up having to leave two people I loved behind?

Grandma. Joaquin. I hope you guys are okay.

Kai and Javier didn't bother trying to talk to me since leaving Kingsrose, and I was grateful for that. Silence was my security blanket, the only thing keeping me sane. My emotions were a tornado in my brain; chaotic and destructive. I was heartbroken for the loved ones I had to leave behind. Pissed that they weren't with us. Driven to get them back and hungry for vengeance.

We were on the road for over an hour, the sky was still darkened by night. The stars glittering above like an ocean of diamonds. Ka1 had already fallen asleep, his head resting on my shoulder and both arms looped around my left one. Javier had his eyes wandering about, mainly to the two vehicles tailing behind us. Del rode her motorcycle while the truck behind her was occupied by her four remaining mates.

We should probably take a rest stop soon. I think we're far enough away from Kingsrose that we don't have to worry about anyone following us, I said, unable to take the silence any longer. I'd been dwelling in my own pity party long enough.

Agreed. We'll stop at the closest gas station, then figure out where to set up camp for the night. Javier slammed his palm on the roof of the truck to get Kao's attention. When my mate behind the wheel rolled down his window, Javier relayed the plan to him. We were on a nearly deserted road for another five minutes before spotting a Shell station to our left. All three vehicles parked in front of the lit building. Thankfully, ours were the only ones on the lot.

Kai. Honey, wake up. I gently nudged my mate awake.

Kai let out a groan before opening his eyes and setting his bronze-colored gaze on me. Rosie? Where are we?

We're stopping for now. I figured you'd need to stretch your legs.

Kao and Javier had already hopped out of the truck, and I could hear the cacophony of voices huddled around Del. As Kai stretched his arms, I stood and was getting ready to jump out of the truck.

Here, Rose, let me help you, a familiar voice rang.