Chapter 1 Betrayal

• That night felt a little different from the others, not just because the moon cast no glow, but because a war was raging deep within the forest on the outskirts of Ames, Iowa, in the United States. Thunder rumbled through the night, accompanied by howls and growls that could send chills down any human’s spine. Lightning slashed across the sky, illuminating the dark, rainy night that washed away the trail of blood left by the Blood Moon pack.
• “Give it up, Philip. The pack’s already been taken, and you’re in no shape to fight,” Quinton said through their mental link.
• “How could you betray your pack and your Alpha? You were my best warrior, my Gamma,” Philip said, his breath ragged.
• “You’re right about one thing—I *am* the best warrior in the pack, and I can expand our territory even further, something you’ve always refused to do.”
• “I’m trying to avoid a pointless war, can’t you see I want to protect my pack?” Philip shouted as a bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
• The massive black wolf with amber eyes staggered again. His trusted confidant had betrayed him and managed to dose him with a generous amount of wolfsbane. Quinton hadn’t injected the full syringe—enough to kill his Alpha—but it was still enough to leave Philip weak and debilitated.
• Philip watched as his Beta was struck down and collapsed to the ground. His worst fear, the thing he wanted least, had just come to pass: a war, a betrayal, his warriors being slaughtered, and innocent pack members dying.
• The Alpha lunged at the traitor once more. Under normal circumstances, even as his best warrior, Quinton wouldn’t stand a chance against him. But the wolfsbane coursing through his system was already slowing his movements, making him weaker and more vulnerable.
• A howl pierced the air, and Philip collapsed. His shoulder had been bitten, and he was bleeding. He looked around and saw other wolves fighting, children who hadn’t yet shifted running in panic, and some she-wolves shielding their pups. Chaos reigned. He was gravely wounded and couldn’t fight back.
• “If you give up and hand over the pack, I’ll be generous. I’ll order my wolves to stand down, no one else will get hurt, and I’ll just banish you,” Quinton said.
• “You know you can become the Alpha of the pack, but you’ll never earn their respect. This wasn’t a fair fight—you cheated,” Philip said, struggling to stand.
• “Respect? If I have their fear, that’ll be enough. Don’t forget, besides your friends, I’ve got your sister. I know you’ll think of all these wolves who’ll suffer, so hand over the pack.”
• Quinton shouted, with some of his wolves still nearby in case Philip tried to fight back, but Philip couldn’t. He had never felt as powerless as he did in that moment. Even though his pride was crushed, he still had to think of his pack members.
• “No one dies,” Philip said quietly, before locking eyes with the traitor. “You have to give me your word that no one else will die if I hand over the pack.”
• “You have my word. Don’t forget, this is my pack too. I don’t want harm to come to my people.”
• Philip disagreed, but he didn’t press the argument. He simply nodded, unwilling to let more lives be lost. Even if his final act as Alpha was to surrender his pack, he would do it to protect his family—for that’s how he saw every member, even the omegas who were considered weak.
• With Philip’s agreement, everyone was brought to the center of the pack’s territory. He watched his members gather, unable to meet the eyes of the wolves around him. He had failed to protect his pack. The weight of that truth crushed him inside, and his wolf had never felt more resentful or humiliated than in that moment.
• “Everyone’s here. Say the words,” Quinton growled at Philip.
• “I, Alpha Philip Dorson, of the Blood Moon pack, relinquish my leadership to the new Alpha, Quinton Perse,” Philip said, bowing his neck with deep reluctance.
• Growls and whimpers echoed through the rain. The members of the pack could never have imagined seeing their Alpha in such a state. He was known for being generous and just, but also fierce and unrelenting in battle, always guarding their borders against rogues and lone wolves. Yet on that stormy night, they saw him with his head bowed, bleeding and vulnerable.
• “Very well, so no one can say their new Alpha isn’t generous, I won’t kill your former Alpha,” Quinton said, circling Philip and speaking through the mental link to everyone. “I’ll simply banish him. As of today, Philip Dorson is exiled from the Blood Moon pack, and I am your new Alpha. Show your respect.”
• Quinton watched as those who had shifted back to human form bowed their necks in submission to the brown wolf before them. Some didn’t, and he knew they’d need a lesson to understand that things were going to change.
• “Escort him to the border. I want to be certain he’s off my lands,” he ordered a few wolves.
• Philip glanced at his Beta, who was kneeling beside his sister, both battered and bruised. In a final effort, before the mental link severed completely, he connected to his Beta’s mind.
• “Take care of her. I swear I’ll be back!” Philip vowed through the mental link.
• Summoning what little strength remained in his body, Philip trudged toward the forest. Every eye was on him as he stumbled, nearly collapsing at times. His breathing was shallow, and his entire body ached. The wolfsbane was lethal, but he couldn’t die yet—not until he reclaimed his pack.
• As they neared a cliff, the hairs on Philip’s neck bristled. Even in his weakened state, his instincts were still sharp. He turned to see the wolves escorting him poised to attack.
• Philip cursed under his breath. He’d suspected Quinton wouldn’t take the risk of leaving him alive to return and challenge for the pack. The traitor had sent these wolves to finish the job. The attack began. Though they were weaker, Philip managed to injure one, but his reflexes were dulled. He was bitten on his legs and again on his shoulder. The two wolves lunged at him simultaneously, knocking him over the cliff. They watched as he plummeted into the river below.