Chapter 1: New Home
Sarah stepped into her beautiful new home. The floorssparkled, the living room was perfectly furnished-everything looked ideal. Butbeneath the pleasant domestic scents lurked something else. Something WRONG.
Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, bristling. It wasotherworldly, yet strangely familiar-it was ancient, primal. DANGER.
Her eyes swept the room, landing on the mantle. Familyphotos smiled back at her. There was David, her new husband, in their weddingpictures from just last month. And beside him-a younger man in his earlytwenties. Dark dreads. Mesomorphic build.
Jake, she thought. The son David spoke about sowarmly.
Then-footsteps. Slow. Measured. Majestic. Coming from thestairs.
The scent slammed into her fully now.
She froze, eyes locked on the staircase. Her wolf pressedagainst the inside of her chest like a caged storm.
David stepped beside her, puzzled.
“Honey, is everything okay?”
Submit... or flee, her wolf whispered.
He finally arrived downstairs-and with him came theoverwhelming presence of an Alpha.
He stood still for a moment, reading the room.
“Hey, Dad,” he said casually to David, a bold smilestretched across his face. His gaze slid to Sarah.
“Wow... she's even prettier in person.” He chuckled lightly.“Isn't my dad the luckiest man in the world?”
He walked forward, hand extended in greeting.
Sarah's body stiffened. Her face held a strange mix of fearand defiance. The closer he came, the more the weight of his presence presseddown on her.
She reached toward him-hesitantly. But before their handscould meet, her body gave in. She collapsed.
“Is everything alright, my love?” David asked in panic,rushing toward her.
Jake was faster. He caught her effortlessly and laid her onthe couch with care.
“Ma'am, are you alright?” he asked, concern etched into hisvoice.
David pulled out his phone.
“911? My wife just collapsed!”
“I'm alright... it's OK,” Sarah murmured, still dazed.
“Are you sure you're okay, honey?” David asked.
“Dad, I really think we should still take her in for acheck-up,” Jake added, his tone more serious now.
“I said I'm fine, goddamn it!” she snapped, suddenlystanding.
What's he playing at? Sarah thought, her eyesflicking briefly to Jake, then darting away.
“Sorry... I've just been busy. Haven't had much sleeplately,” she said with a weak smile, masking the storm brewing inside.
Busy? Jake frowned. She just had a whole one-weekpre-wedding bash.
Sarah avoided his eyes. She glanced toward the door-like shewas waiting for someone... or ready to bolt.
“Don't worry, dear. Let me take you upstairs so you can resta little,” David said warmly.
“Oh yes, that would be lovely,” she replied quickly, eagerto escape the tension.
Jake sat still, silently watching them both-especiallySarah.
I knew he shouldn't have gone for someone so young,he thought bitterly. She's definitely here for his money... Damn. What do Ido? I've never seen the old man this happy in years.
“You guys have fun. I'll be out for a while,” Jake said,rising from the couch.
“Anything the matter?” David asked.
“No, Dad. I've got plans with a friend,” Jake repliedgloomily.
“Alright. Be safe-and come home soon. But not too soon,”David said with a wink.
“Ah, Dad...” Jake muttered, uncomfortable, as he steppedoutside.
David chuckled to himself. “He almost never leaves thehouse...”
Sarah heard that and stiffened. Panic buzzed through herveins.
What have I gotten myself into? What if he informs hispack? What if he knows I'm Obsidian? Will he inform the Alpha? What if theyfind me? Maybe they were right-no one escapes the Alpha...
“Honey, you sure you're okay?” David asked, pulling her fromher spiral.
“Oh yes, yes... Let's go have some fun, like he said,” shepurred, voice low and sultry. “Might just be your lucky day... I might even let you do that thing you've been begging for.”
David's eyes widened. “Oh-oh, I like the sound of that.”
