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Section 1
### Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Brand new storyline. I hope you enjoy it! Much love to my readers! Please Do Not Republish My Book! It’s simple plagiarism.. as some people are learning.. it’s criminal, once you have been warned. 😁 Colton McBride. An Alpha without a pack.. without a wolf. Had his life figured out. Four years military.. Ascend to Alpha.. find his Luna and have two beautiful little pups. He wanted the wolf realm to know his mighty pack were rogue hunters. Knowing rogues were responsible for killing his mother. As fates do, all his dreams and aspirations disintegrated on the night of the Blood Moon. Shayna Tempest. Born a rogue. And determined to find the pack and Alpha that had caused her father to become one. The paths of our two main characters intertwine in the oddest of ways. Interesting. Captivating twists.
Complete Chapters 20 Rating 4.9 ( 99 reviews ) Age Rating mature {"language":"en","storyId":1610510,"genres":[{"name":"Fantasy","path":"/genres/fantasy"}],"authorName":"topperjoslin","authorPath":"/topperjoslin","status":"complete","lastUpdatedAt":1771222732,"chaptersCount":20,"rating":4.888888888888889,"reviewsCount":99,"ageRating":"mature"} Chapter 1 ~ Your Time Is Near Colton McBride stood, staring out the floor to ceiling windows that provided him a 360• view.
Denver to the northeast, mountains to the northwest.. forests directly west that housed his home pack. Sacred Pines. To the south, was his own small territory. A pack, if you will.. made up of his very own platoon. Men and women he proudly served with in the Marines.
His people had been recruited and trained by the CIA as special black ops. Missions that were covert and generally death inducing as well as death defying. The kind that required signing a significant number of Non disclosure agreements.
Colton turned his focus toward Sacred Pines. His eyes squinted as he found the roof of the pack house. A low rumble released from his chest.
In the last three years, he has tried not to hate his brother, Chaz. Stupid name for a Wolf, let alone an Alpha. Colt choked on calling that thief an Alpha.
His hand raises to his chest and rubs against his heart. He met his mate on his 21st birthday, when he was home on leave for thirty days.
Alastair McBride was so happy and proud. The father and son had planned it out. Colton would roster out of the service in his 25th year. Come home. Ascend to Alpha and make Clarice his Luna.
Clarice and Colton spent twenty five enchanted days and nights together. His refusal to mark her, in case one of his missions went horribly wrong.
When he had to leave, she cried hysterically the whole night before. Their whispered promises of making it right in four years.
Three months later, Colton had just climbed into his hammock for some sleep. The platoon was deep in the jungles of Venezuela on the backend of a search and rescue. They were just waiting for evacuation.
As he dozed, he realized it was his brother’s twentieth birthday. He smiled to himself. He was dreaming of Clarice.. seeing their wolves run and play.
Suddenly, he awakened to an excruciating pain in his left shoulder. So sharp and painful, he fell from his hammock. Archimedes was raging in his mind.
Losing control, he shifted and tore through the jungle. Howling out his agony. It was crushing him. They both knew. They felt the snap and realized their Goddess given mate had marked a chosen.
Colton had to be carried on a litter, to the extraction point. A letter arrived two weeks later.. simple, concise, and absolutely devastating.
Clarice had written the equivalent of a dear John letter for wolves. Colton stared at it for an hour. Trying to bring himself to open it. After an internal argument, he finally tore the seal.
I know you felt me mark and claim another. I probably should have made sure you knew it was happening.
I rejected you the night of the full moon, before I marked my chosen. You must accept it on the next full moon. I apologize for the pain Archimedes will feel. I hope he heals.
The reason I wasn’t able to wait for you is complicated. The pack was attacked by rogues and Alastair was critically injured. As he lay dying, he commanded I mate Chaz before he ascended to Alpha.
Colton growled. Turning the single page letter over and over. “That’s it? That’s… What the fuck!?” His confusion had him frustrated.
He shook his head, pulled himself out of his reverie. His second in command knocked on the office door, receiving a ‘Come’ in response.
Cody “Max” Maxwell walked slowly in the room. “All good, Captain?” Colton smiled “Yes, Max. Just reminiscing.”
He sat down at his desk “Where are we with the new contracts? Have you established which team is going out on the governor’s detail next Wednesday?”
Max sat down “Yep. Beta team 4 will all be going. Eight should be enough, since he has his own detail visible.”
Colt nodded “Good team! Some of our best Shadow Warriors. Where are we on the intel on the rogues who attacked my father?”
Max shook his head “We haven’t found anything new to speak of. That’s why you have those interviews tomorrow with the cyber experts. One of them’s a woman. Maybe she’s pretty.”
Colton smirked and shook his head “No, Max. We aren’t getting involved with the women we hire.” Max nearly pouted.
Max looked at his best friend. He observed the deepened frown lines and the dark circles underneath his eyes. It’s only been two years, but being without Archimedes while he heals is taking its toll.
“Any word from Archie?” Max asked.. causing a chuckle to escape from Colton. “No. But he’s there. I can see him. It’s like he’s in a coma or hibernation.. something. It’s confusing. I’m not overly concerned yet. I still have his power. Speed, vision, hearing and scent on a lesser scale. But, please do keep calling him Archie. It may piss him off enough to wake him up.”
Max chuckled “Okay. Let’s get tomorrow’s schedule down. You have interviews with a Mitchell Conrad, Daniel Farrow and Shayna Tempest. She came all the way up here from Key West.”
Colton nodded “Why? Don’t they need computer analysts in Florida? Seems like a long way for just a possibility. She’s the last interviewee.. odds are she won’t qualify.”
Max gasped “Dude! Sexist much? Damn! She may be the best for what we need. You going straight for the knock out punch.”
Colton shrugged and went back to replying to emails. An hour later, alarms sounded throughout his 27 story building.
Dusk was falling into night and those alarms signal their territory had been breached. Both men headed to the private elevator hidden in a corner alcove.
By the time they had reached the ground floor, the building was secured and twenty of his men had arrived. Half of them already wolfed out.
They took off south and east, breaking into teams of four.. each flanking one another. Running into over twenty rogues jumping his border.
Colton charged at them, barely giving the rogues the opportunity to shift. Snapping two in half while they were mid shift. The battle lasted about ten minutes.
He looked around and marveled at the quick work his team made of this garbage. “Clean up the site, Max. Then somebody better be telling me something! How are these rogues here?”
A voice spoke from between the trees “My pack chased them this way. I admit to being curious why another Alpha is in my territory and has yet to approach me.”
Colton linked Max 🐺 I really did not want this to happen this soon. “Explain Chaz! Why in The Fuck would you chase rogues onto MY territory! This IS My land! The only part of my inheritance you couldn’t steal!”
Chaz laughed “Holeee Shit! Colt? It’s you? Damn brother! Why didn’t you let us know you were back?”
Max chuckled. Colton shook his head “Goddess, Chaz! You really are an idiot. Why? Why would I let you know ANYthing about my life?”
And Chaz, who really does seem to be a colossal idiot responded “You aren’t still mad about the Clarice thing? Why? The bond should have snapped when she marked me.”
Colton’s body began to tremble and he was rumbling deep in his chest. Max growled “LEAVE! Now! He’s fighting himself not to kill you.”
Chaz shifted and ran as fast as he could towards Sacred Pines. Colton watched him go.. whispering “Run, Coward. Your time is near.”
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### Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Boarding my flight to Denver, I got situated and settled in to read. My father’s journals have become not only a source of comfort since I lost him three months ago. They are a veritable fount of information.
My father passed away when he fell off a shrimping trawler. His wolf had remained severely weakened since my mother died. I never knew her. We lost her when she gave me life.
I was born a rogue. My father was Beta born, set to ascend when he met my mother. She was a rogue due to extenuating circumstances and had hunted too close to my dad’s pack.
The Alpha refused to allow her to join the pack.. giving my dad an ultimatum. Either choose the pack or be banished forever.
My father chose his mate and took the banishment. He never regretted choosing my mom and me. But he resented the banishment. The Alpha had put the word out and blacklisted Daddy from ever joining another pack. Even the council refused us lone wolf status.
Losing my mom devastated Dad. His wolf was crushed so he decided we would completely hide our scent and I would grow up in the human world.
We would go to forests or local woods, letting our wolves run. Bella lived for those moments. As soon as we shifted, Daddy submitted her, essentially becoming Alpha of our two wolf pack.
It’s why we didn’t go feral. It’s also why I applied for a cybersecurity gig with McBride Enterprises. Well. That and being close enough to Sacred Pines. That was my father’s pack. It’s where he grew up.
My cousin lives there and she’s going to help me get into their system without me hacking it. I want to know why they hate rogues. Why the Alpha punished my father so harshly.
That’s IF I get the job. My interview is with the CEO, the VP and the CFO. The three uppity up mucky mucks. McBride. I wonder if they are any relation to the Alpha family over at Sacred Pines.
Okay. Even so. I can deal with that. I know it was Alastair McBride who was set to ascend with my dad as Beta. And it was Alastair’s dad Edgar who banished Dad.
That would make this McBride like a third generation. Unless he’s old. Oh My Goddess! I bet that’s it. He’s like Edgar’s brother or something. So really old. Must be why he claims a different territory.
Makes sense. Okay. I can handle an old guy boss. He’s a McBride. So he’s a wolf. All right. Just keep my scent hidden. Right. I can do that.
I pulled up McBride’s website and searched all the photos. But all their faces are covered. Spooky little ninja monsters! I mean, I get it. The need for anonymity so I can’t say anything.
Like only a handful of people know I own Cybersecurity Inc. The board.. of course. Jenna and Ironic. Well, I call him that. Everyone else calls him Tiny. Because he’s 6’5 and a decent 280 on the hoof. So even I see the irony. Hence.. Ironic.
My mind is scrambling and rambling and Bella is over in a corner covering her ears. Oh Come On, Bella! Everyone does it. A thought pops into our heads and we automatically begin questioning our very existence. Before you know it, an hour has gone past.
🐺 No, Shay. It never happens to Wolves. It only happens to humans. You have spent entirely too much time with that subspecies. I cannot relate. At all. It’s just annoying as fuck!
Great. Now she wants to be sassy. I laid my seat back and closed my eyes, thinking I could quiet my mind enough to rest.
I actually slept and only woke up when the attendant touched my shoulder to remind me to fasten my seatbelt. And we landed.
Luckily, Jenna had prearranged a car for me. CEO perks. I drove straight to the hotel and ordered dinner on check in.
After a long, hot shower and some food in my belly.. I stood watching the snow fall. It’s not something I’m used to. Not much snow falls in Key West.
I stretched out across my bed and opened my laptop. I pulled up the proposal sent to us by McBride Enterprises.
It’s pretty cut and dry. Although, I’m a little concerned that he wants me to investigate not only his father’s death, but his mother’s, as well!?
Seems she died by a rogue attack.. just like his grandmother. Then his dad, too? How did Edgar die? Everything points to being bad luck to be a McBride. I’m going to see how far this goes back.
This poor guy. Wait. His mom. Dad. And Grandma? He’s not an old guy. Brother. To the Alpha. I gasped.
I spun my laptop back to me and opened an encrypted file titled “Sacred Scum”. I know! Petty.
Alpha Edgar McBride - the one who banished Dad
Wife - Luna Agnes McBride - died in rogue attack when her son Alastair was 13.
Alastair McBride - died on the night of his youngest son’s twentieth birthday by rogue attack
Mate - Luna Bethany McBride - died in rogue attack when her oldest son, Colton was 15 and her youngest son, Charles or Chaz was 13.
Chaz was 13.. Alastair was 13. A coincidence? One that bears looking into. Edgar took on the role of pack elder after Alastair died. Does Chaz have a lot to do with him?
I know Colton joined the Marines right out of high school. That he’s the oldest. He is… oldest.. He is Alpha. Wait. Why isn’t he Alpha?
I could feel my mind trying to take me down another rabbit hole. I put on some brown noise for background to quiet my brain.
I snuggled down and fell asleep within minutes. I woke with the first rosy fingers of dawn reaching for the horizon.
I sent Jenna an email to draft a new contract. I will accept nothing less than full disclosure. Which means, I owe him the same. I will be upfront about it, even knowing how much his family hates rogues.
I will also let him know that I won’t go down easy. Cybersecurity sometimes requires brute strength. I am trained in five separate disciplines. Including weapons.
I have a feeling that’s gonna come in handy, if I’m accepted for this case. Especially if I’m going to traipse out splashing through the mud and the muck.
I dressed in business chic. A fitted skirt to my thighs, then it flared to my knee. A beautiful navy blue. White silk cami and navy fitted blazer. I tied a navy and white blocked silk scarf around my throat.
Faint natural daytime appropriate makeup, leaving my blonde hair loose and flowing in beachy curls to my upper back.
I slipped on white four inch heels, grabbed my white clutch and leather satchel and out the door I went.
I stopped at a little coffee shop across from the McBride building. I still had a little over an hour to kill before my appointment.
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Readers can read all books for free, without any ads and give the authors feedback.
Books that perform well based on their reader engagement are published on our Galatea app.
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