POV Avery
“The Bloodfang Alpha will arrive at dawn,” Father announces, his voice cutting through the morning air like a death sentence. “The mating ceremony is set for the next full moon.”
I’m standing in his office, still catching my breath from training, and the words hit me harder than any blow I took in the pit this morning. My hands go numb.
“Father, I—”
“It’s decided, Avery.” He doesn’t even look up from his documents.
There he is, The Prime Alpha Camden Shadowmere, leader of the most feared pack in the northern territories. Can’t be bothered to meet his daughter’s eyes while he sells her off.
“Bloodfang’s alliance will strengthen our borders. Secure our future.”
Our future. Right.
Because my future apparently doesn’t matter.
“What about the leadership trials?” I manage to ask, though my voice sounds smaller than I intended. “You said I had time until my twenty-first birthday to prove myself.”
“That was before the eastern packs started moving south. Before the vampire attacks increased.” His finger traces a line across the papers. “Before you proved you’re too soft to lead.”
The words sting because there’s truth in them.
This morning’s training session was a disaster. I hesitated when I should have struck, pulled my punches when I should have drawn blood.
Others saw weakness, and in our world, weakness gets you killed.
Or married off to psychopaths, apparently.
“Alpha Bjorn has had four mates already,” I say quietly. “They’re all dead.”
“Unfortunate accidents.” Father’s tone suggests he couldn’t care less about those women. “He’s a strong Alpha. His bloodline will produce worthy heirs.”
My stomach turns at his words.
I’ve heard enough of the stories about Bjorn Bloodfang. How he keeps his mates collared, how the last one tried to run and was found three days later with her throat torn out.
How he considers wives property and treats them accordingly.
“I just need a bit more time.”
“Time for what? To embarrass me further?” He finally looks at me at last, and his gray eyes are cold as winter stones. “You’re twenty years old, Avery. Most Alpha daughters are mated and producing pups by your age or at least showing some leadership as a proper alpha she-wolves. You’ve been coddled long enough.”
Coddled. Right.
Because daily combat training, pack leadership lessons, and diplomatic negotiations since I was twelve counts as coddling.
The door opens without a knock and only one person in this pack has that privilege.
Joanna walks in, still sweaty from her own training session, and the temperature in the room immediately drops another ten degrees.
My seventeen-year-old sister might be smaller than me, but she’s got the kind of presence that makes seasoned warriors step aside.
“Did I just hear you’re trading Avery for a military alliance?” she asks, her voice deceptively casual.
“You heard correctly,” Father replies. “And you’ll show proper respect when addressing me.”
“Respect?” Joanna laughs, and it’s not a nice sound. “For selling your own daughter to a monster?”
“Bjorn Bloodfang is a powerful Alpha—”
“Bjorn Bloodfang is a sadistic piece of shit who gets off on breaking women,” Joanna cuts him off. “Everyone knows it. Including you, Father.”
The air in the room crackles with tension.
Father’s jaw tightens, and for a moment I think he might actually strike her. But Joanna just stands there, arms crossed, staring him down like she’s not challenging the most dangerous Alpha in three territories.
“Watch your tongue, child.”
“Or what? You’ll marry me off too?” Joanna’s grin is all teeth. “Good luck finding someone desperate enough.”
I step forward before this escalates further. “I want a trial.”
Both of them turn to look at me. Father’s eyebrows rise slightly—the most surprise I’ve seen from him in years.
“What kind of trial?” he asks.
My mouth goes dry, but I force the words out. “I’ll bring back a vampire. Alive. From the Crimson Coven itself. To show you that I’m strong enough and can lead the pack.”
The silence that follows is deafening.
Even Joanna looks shocked.
“If I succeed,” I continue, “the mating bond is void. If I fail…” I swallow hard. “I’ll go to Bloodfang willingly.”
Father studies me for a long moment.
The Crimson Coven isn’t just dangerous—they’re legendary perhaps. Ancient vampires who’ve been hunting our kind for centuries.
And the fact that I’m even suggesting it probably confirms every doubt he’s ever had about my sanity.
“One chance,” he says finally. “You have until the next new moon. Three weeks.”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
“And Avery?” His tone carries a warning. “When you’ll fail there will be no more delays and no more chances. You’ll honor the alliance, or you’ll be cast out of this pack entirely.”
The threat hangs between us like a blade.
Cast out means death sentence. No pack, no protection, no family. Rogues don’t survive long in our world.
“Understood,” I whisper. “Thank you, Father.”
He turns back to his documents, dismissing us without another word.
Outside his office, Joanna grabs my arm. “Are you completely insane?”
“Probably.” I lean against the wall, legs suddenly shaky. “But I’d rather die trying than live as Bloodfang’s breeding pet.”
“Crimson Coven vampires don’t take prisoners, Avery. They don’t play games. They kill for bloodshed and food.”
“Then I’ll have to be better than they expect.”
Joanna stares at me for a long moment, then sighs. “Fine. But you’re not going in blind. We need intel, weapons, and backup plans.”
Back in my room, we spread maps across my desk.
The Crimson Coven’s territory is marked in red ink, a sprawling estate fifty miles north, surrounded by dense forest and protected by centuries of dark magic.
“You’ll need silver weapons,” Joanna says, tossing items into a leather pack. “Holy water. Wolfsbane for scent masking.” She pauses. “And probably a miracle.”
I strap silver knives to my thighs, slide throwing stars into my boots. The familiar weight of weapons should be comforting, but my hands won’t stop shaking.
I’m not just fighting for my freedom. I’m fighting for every other Alpha daughter who might face the same choice.
Fight or submit. Live free or die caged.
“I’m not going to be just someone’s forced mate,” I whisper. “I’ll be an Alpha. Or I’ll be ash.”