Prologue
A war cry rose above the silence of nighttime, a piercing howl that woke every wolf within the pack. Athalia's eyes shot open, the whites shining in the dark. She began to move, ready to bolt to her feet. But a hand immediately fell onto her shoulder, another clamping her mouth shut.
The girl began to kick, ready to bite and fight her way free. But the familiar voice of Eloise calmed her, "Get down!"
Athalia and Eloise lay with their bellies to the ground, listening as the house erupted in chaos. She could hear the Fighters rushing to the first floor, their footsteps so heavy she could feel them in her chest. Shouts and growls reached her ears, even through the soundproofed walls of the pack house. Athalia clutched her friend's hand, trying desperately get words out of her mouth. But they caught in her throat, refusing the move.
Suddenly, the door burst open, the noise from the outside louder now. Athalia muffled a scream, squeezing her eyes shut as the heavy steps quickly moved towards her. Her slim body was suddenly lifted, feeling Eloise's hand slip from her own. As her eyes opened to confront her kidnapper, she was suddenly face-to-face with Vince.
"Dammit, Vince! You scared the s**t out of me!" She hissed as she was flung over his shoulder like a doll. He glared, silencing her as he took off towards the back of the house. She watched in horror as bodies lay on the ground of the hallways, blood staining the wooden floors.
Vincent rounded a corner, his fist slamming against a wall in a harsh knock as he whisper-shouted, "It's us!"
Lia looked back, seeing what looked like a panic room embedded in the walls. Several of the pack house's children were there, crouching in fear as they hid. Eloise quickly crawled in, moving towards the back and gesturing Vincent to put the Alpha daughter down. He complied, scooting her to the side as he made room for himself next to her.
Just as the door was closing, Athalia caught sight of something horrifying: the lifeless body of her mother with an arm stretched out towards her room. Her scream drowned out as the door slid shut, encasing them in darkness.
