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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18 and all characters represented as 18 or over.

Published by Arran Publishing

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Editing by Craft Write Editing

CHAPTER ONE

Amanda

“So, this must be weird for you? Coming back here, I mean.”

I glanced at Tarq from the corner of my eye, then looked back at the large house in front of me. The wide, two-story building had once been impressive to look at, from its wrap around porch to the vaulted roof. But what had once been the heart and home of the pack now stood in a state of disrepair I couldn’t wrap my head around. Or my heart. This house had been in my life for so long. I had so many memories from my childhood, running through the rabbit-warren of rooms, playing hide and seek as my mother and father discussed pack business with Great-Uncle Colin.

But he was gone now, and so were they. And this house, the Smithrock packhouse, belonged to me now. At least temporarily, until the Council decided on who should be the new Alpha. James hadn’t been happy when they had awarded him that honor, and had quickly passed it over to me. But I didn’t mind. He was right, Smithrock was in my heart. And my blood.

Tarq whistled through his teeth, his sleet-gray eyes widening as he took in the sagging steps and the peeling paint.

“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed!” I snapped, for some reason annoyed that he was passing judgment.

“Hey, babe, easy! I wasn’t—”

“I’m not your
babe
. I’m your Alpha,” I snapped back, and regretted it immediately.
Calm, cool, and collected
. I took a deep breath.

Tarq held his hands up in defense while grinning, showcasing a perfect set of white teeth.

He was always grinning. Or smiling. Or smirking. I had never met anyone so easygoing in all my years! Life was just a fun ride for him, a never ending joke. He was always laughing. And flirting. Not that he had to flirt too hard, not with the way he looked. I could appreciate a little eye candy, and he was a treat all wrapped up and ready to be—

Not that I was interested!

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image of Tarq sprawled out on a bed, unwrapped and ready for action. But it was stuck, and try as I might, I couldn’t stop myself from drinking in every imagined detail, my mind conjuring up visuals to match what I had seen so far.

Tall, with short dark hair, he had muscles that would make the Incredible Hulk wince. But he wasn’t bulky, not in that bodybuilder way that I detested. No, he had the kind of definition that made you think of fine architecture, the smooth lines that reminded me of a work of art.

And I could see all this through the thin t-shirt he was wearing, because it molded to his chest like a second skin. Inviting me to look. Inviting
everyone
to look. I knew this because emblazoned across his chest were the words ‘Better Naked’.

I scowled at him, deliberately looking at his chest, then letting disgust show in my eyes. Better than lust, much better.

Tarq quirked a dark eyebrow at me, his grin widening even further, something I hadn’t thought possible. “Hey! Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!”

“Let’s get one thing straight. We’re working together, you’re my Beta, for the time being—” and I was going to kill James the next time I saw him for pairing us together, “—and I would never go
there
.” I flicked a perfectly manicured finger at him, watching with satisfaction as his grin faltered slightly, his eyebrows freezing mid-wiggle.

Then, the grin was back. Wider than before and more infuriating than ever. I mean, did the man ever stop smiling?

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“I’ll live,” I replied dryly. I turned back to the house. I didn’t have time for fun and games. I had a pack to sort out, treason to uncover, and on top of all that, I had to select a suitable mate.

It was for the best that James and I hadn’t worked out. Now that he was so happy with Kara, I wouldn’t wish anything else for him. But the rejection still stung, and he had been perfect. Good looking, powerful, kind. The perfect genes to pass on to a pup. But maybe there would be suitable candidates here at Smithrock? It had been a long time since I had last visited, and I had already dismissed everyone in the Colstone pack.

Anticipation lifted my spirits, the thrill of the hunt spurring me on to enter the house.

Taking a step forward, I put a swing in my hips, stalking toward the door, aware that people would be watching from the many windows. They were about to meet their new Alpha, so I’d better put on a good show!

I called over my shoulder, not bothering to look back, “Are you coming, or are you just going to stand there?”

“Oh, I’d follow you anywhere, babe.” Despite myself, his deep drawl sparked a shiver down my spine, and it took every ounce of control I had to keep my spine rigid, but his low laugh told me that I hadn’t fooled him. Not one bit.

***

Tarq

I stayed a few steps behind, enjoying the view of Amanda stalking up the steps, her ass flexing in the tight jeans she wore, her long legs powerful and determined. Now those were a pair of legs I wouldn’t mind wrapped around my waist, her heels digging into my back, pressing and insisting.

I don’t know what possessed me to wind her up. Maybe because she was such an easy target, who knew? But ever since I had comforted her in the clearing, the night her Great-Uncle Col had been killed and James had battled with Eric, my wolf had perked up, his usual sunny disposition gone, his target—the petite woman in front of me. Holding her in my arms, absorbing her gut-wrenching sobs into my chest, it had felt like something had clicked inside me, like a lightbulb had been turned on.

At the time, I had just held her and savored the moment. I had found my mate, and she had been right under my nose the whole time. Then the difficulty of the task ahead had sunk in. Amanda was a prickly woman, her nose pointed in the air half of the time. From her perfectly painted fingernails to her matching toes, she was a handful. A sarcastic, glossy-lipped, self-assured, gorgeous alpha bitch. Wound so tight, I was surprised she didn’t have permanent frown lines between those beautiful blue eyes.

The Mother of All sure wasn’t setting me an easy task, but I couldn’t wait to start my chase. The first step had been volunteering to be her Beta. Which wasn’t a hardship—I would have brutally hurt any other man who’d offered. I might be easygoing, but I could be a mean motherfucker, same as the other lieutenants. I just hid it better.

Now that I was assured we would be spending a lot of time together, it was time to bring out the charm offensive and see what really made her tick, get under her skin. That smooth, silky skin. It shouldn’t be hard, all I had to do was wind her up and wait for her to blow. Where there was fire, there was heat, and man, did I want to wrap myself up in Amanda’s heat.

I wanted to push her to the brink, break that icy control, that dismissive air that she had. And when she shattered? Then, I wanted to ride the wave with her. And claim her.

Still grinning, I followed her into the house, cataloging every nook and cranny, my easygoing attitude masking that I was alert to the slightest sniff of danger, any threat to the woman in front of me.

I knew what she had in mind, that she was looking for a mate. She had been looking for quite a while. What she didn’t know yet was that she had been claimed.

I bit back a chuckle. I was looking forward to re-educating her.

***

Amanda

I could feel his eyes on me, burning into me, as I strode through the open door and swung left into the main lounge. Multiple eyes rose to meet me, the chattering I had heard cut off, silence blanketing the room.

Scanning the people congregated, I was amazed and dismayed to see only the young. No elders—nobody I would peg above the age of thirty-five. What Kara had said was true. Unless they were hiding in their homes, the elders of the pack had been driven out, or killed.

Scanning the faces for a second time, my heart sank. I didn’t recognize anyone. I had been gone for too long, I had no allies here. Then I felt heat at my back, Tarq reassuring me silently with his presence, backing me up in front of this hostile crowd. As a Beta should, I reminded myself, forcing my feet to stay still and resisting the urge to take a step away.

I cleared my throat. “I am Amanda Smithrock, and—”

“You’re not a Smithrock!” one man sneered, his body tense and angry. “We’ve never seen you before!”

“Toby’s right!” a woman added, clinging to the sneering man’s arm—Toby, I noted. “Never seen you, never heard of you.”

“Smithrock is my family name, one I’ve not used in a long time, but still my name,” I stated calmly, directing my gaze at Toby, who glared back at me. “As some of you might have heard, Colin was killed by Eric, his own son.”

“So, Eric’s now our Alpha?”

I glanced at the woman who had spoken, taking in her shaking hands and her wide eyes. “No. Eric was killed by James Colstone, Alpha of the Colstone Pack.”

“Why?”

“How?”

“Does that mean—?”

The whole room erupted with noise as everyone fired off questions, their faces agitated and anxious.

“Eric fought over a woman. A woman that wasn’t his true mate, but he wanted her anyway. Some of you might know her? Kara?” I saw recognition in a few eyes, others quickly glancing at the floor. “Kara is now mated to James Colstone, so I think that should explain things. The Shifter Council has designated James as Alpha of Smithrock, who then made me proxy on his behalf. So, I am your new Alpha.” I didn’t let any doubt creep into my voice, any worry. I stood strong in front of this pack of strange wolves. It was the only way they would accept me. “Colin Smithrock was my Great-Uncle, therefore it is my blood-right to lead this pack.”

“But you’re a woman!” the man in the front spluttered. Toby, I reminded myself. One to watch?

“Yes. I’m aware of that. Is that a problem?” I stared at him, allowing my power to unfold and my wolf to flash amber in my eyes. She viewed this man’s words as a challenge, and she was furious, snapping and snarling under my skin.

The man flinched as the weight of my power licked at his skin, tasting him, deciding he was weak and not worth the effort.

“As you can see, I
am
an Alpha wolf, female or not.”

BOOK: Healed: True Mates Book 3 (Wolf Shifter) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance)

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