ArcKnight (The ArcKnight Wolf Pack Chronicles #1)

Lilliana

I smeared the mascara down my cheeks, leaving behind angry stripes where my fingers dug into the dampened skin. No matter how much I wanted to claw my dang eyes out, scream and slam my fists into the moldy walls of the alleyway buildings, I hated to admit that I’d been incredibly wrong about everything up until now.

So. Very. Wrong.

It wasn’t hard to understand the how or why of it all. It was the who, the what, and the when of the situation that killed me. My stupidity had taken a dive into an all-time low, and I felt like I was drowning in a puddle of putrid, bottomless muck. There was no air in shit this deep.

And it was all my fault. All. My. Fault. How could I have been so naïve?

Dammit! I screamed out into the rain. It was pouring and blinded me when I attempted to peer up into the disappearing sky. I couldn’t see much above the buildings, the rain shot down like spears dropping from the sky. It pelted my head and forced me to look down to shield my already reddened eyes.

At least the rain absorbed my tears as it washed away my makeup. It was befitting, really.

You see, I’d failed tonight. In more ways than one. I was so screwed. If there was a remedy for the problems I’d caused this evening, I was all ears. No one could help me now, and I was on my own. There would be no pack for this wolf girl. I was a loner now. Kicked out of my pack for my stupidity, defiance and utter belief that I was invincible… untouchable.

How wrong I’d been. So trusting and vulnerable.

I was as good as dead out here.

Chapter One

Rafaela

The room shut down when I stepped into it. It was obvious what the subject was about, but I didn’t have time to be offended. Even though it wasn’t just about me, I should’ve been told first.

Jutting my chin out, I kept walking. No one could know the turmoil tossing inside my mind. I had to appear composed, calm and undeterred. There could be no weakness showing. Weakness meant death and inferiority. It wasn’t a trait of a leader of a wolf pack. Especially not one like the ArcKnight pack.

It wasn’t enough that I had to deal with the banishment of my only sister, Lilliana, who’d been relieved of her Ardent talisman and thrown out last night for losing an important artifact from our pack’s store of weapons. Without both, our pack magic was weakened just that much more. Banishment was the only thing left to do with her, but I should’ve been there when they made her leave. She’d been nothing but a thorn in my side, a constant splinter digging its way through my epidermal layers until the infection she tends to spread overcame me in a feverish rage. She’d pushed me to the limit, and no matter how much I loved my younger sister, her behavior could not be tolerated any longer if I were to remain in control of the ArcKnight werewolf pack. I was to be queen, and any disrespect from any of its members, even my dear sister, couldn’t be forgiven.

Regardless, I should’ve been notified when she was taken to the gates and unceremoniously let go. Why I hadn’t been told was a sore point between me and my soon-to-be husband Gil, and I was intent on finding out the reason for it.

Holding my head high, I strode through the main meeting room of the mansion our pack inhabited in the outskirts of Temple, California. It was a rather large city smack dab in the middle of the state’s coastline, but the amount of supernatural activity here tilted the scale in favor of groups like ours. The landscape was pleasing. It was surrounded not only by mountainous desert, orchards, and thickly forested mountains, it also had an affinity to magic. Regular people settled here too, yes, but the ones with an affinity to the supernatural far outnumbered them.

These were dangerous times to be lacking magical talents.

I made my way to the front of the room and felt every single pair of eyes raking my hide as I reached the podium where Gil waited. The amusement dancing in his eyes made me even more furious. He enjoyed attention from anyone who would give it to him. I was pretty sure I’d committed happiness-suicide deciding to stay with him as my betrothed, especially after catching him many times over surrounded in the company of women with questionable intentions. I didn’t stay with him for love. There were other things far more valuable, far more desirable.

I hadn’t actually caught him technically cheating as of yet, but I had my suspicions. If I ever did, there would be hell to pay, and I made sure he knew that. I aspired to far greater things than just being his wife. Power was one thing I craved, and this position would grant it to me. I’d waited a long time for it.

For now, it was time to clean up the fine mess Lily had left me. I’d have to organize a search party to find and retrieve the artifacts Lily had lost. It hadn’t truly been her fault. She may have been a conniving sneak and smart as a whip, but someone had outsmarted her. All her scheming to play with an ancient artifact had turned on her when her accomplice stole it, leaving her to take the blame and rot in banishment. I’d find this traitor and hopefully bring my sister home. But I had other issues to deal with first.

As I reached Gil’s side, I gave him an unreadable, hard stare before spinning toward the crowd of eyes awaiting the next move from its royal rulers. Gil and I were practically married, and everyone knew we were the leaders of the pack ever since Gil’s father had fallen ill a few days ago. He was dying a slow, painful death at this very moment in a bed down the hall. It sucked that he’d be gone soon after being fatally wounded and infected with a rapidly progressing virus by an unknown perpetrator, but that was the law of the land. Kill or be killed. Fight or die. There was no leniency in times like these. His attacker would pay soon enough.

I let out a long, calming breath as I observed the restless crowd before me. My thoughts were chaotic and lingered with my dear little sister. No matter what, I loved Lily, and the worry choking me inside was all for her. I hoped she made it out alive. Without a pack to back her up, she was as good as dead or forever cursed to the endless dangers plaguing any banished supernatural in the city or the wild. Most died within a year of banishment if they remained in the city, but some survived by seeking refuge in the vast wilderness surrounding Temple. I hoped she was smart and found isolation to her liking because the city was full of hungry souls looking to devour everything that happened to tumble into their embrace. Lily was known for making some rash and spontaneous decisions that usually didn’t pan out well, but she was an experienced fighter and could take down wolves twice her size.

I hoped her smarts would kick into play now more than ever.

Still, such hopes did nothing to settle my nerves as I faced my pack with nothing but humiliating rumors circulating around the group faster than a wildfire on gasoline. It was time to squelch the flames before it consumed my pack and destroyed all I held dear.

Welcome, ArcKnights. I’ve called this vital meeting to address some urgent issues currently needing attention. I hope someone is willing to volunteer this time. I really hate assigning positions when those who are better suited for certain things should just go ahead and show some initiative and take the positions offered. This is the time to come together and fight for what we hold dear. Our pack. Our family. We really want to avoid what happened last time, don’t we?

A ripple of murmurs ran the course of the room, and I turned toward Gil, giving him the signal to continue the speech. Alphas had to present as united or the pack was in danger of complete disintegration. We’d been conditioned for this very thing since we learned to speak.

Thank you, Rafaela. My love. As acting Alpha of this pack, I am required to inform you that our ruling Alpha died twenty minutes ago.

The pack burst into a flurry of murmurs, gasps, and whispers. The room vibrated with movement and unrest as the realization that we were leaderless washed over every soul. I drilled my eyes into Gil for a brief moment, trying my best to camouflage the effects of the shocking news. Why hadn’t he told me before the meeting? How could he withhold such vital information from me?

I thanked my solid composure for keeping my face from crumbling, and I ripped my gaze from him, focusing on the exit sign at the rear of the room. The red light glowed indifferently as I let its outline mar my sight with its destitute existence. Gil’s face had betrayed nothing of the news earlier, and it was usually easy for me to read. Years at his side had trained me to anticipate every move, every need, every want, every emotion he could ever have. Yet, as of late, I’d discovered how very little I truly knew about not only my fiancé but also my own sister as well.

There were strangers all around me, and I’d never felt more alone than I did at that very moment.

Later, I’d let Gil have it for leaving me out of such a critical loop. He’d have to learn to respect me as co-leader of the pack and as his spouse if this union was to work out. If not, the consequences would be grave, not only to my family, but to the entire pack as well. This included Gil.

The services will be held later this evening, and I suggest everyone be in attendance. He turned toward me. A lingering question in his eyes he failed to voice remained. That is all. He stepped down off the stage and made his way toward the rear of the room before disappearing through the doorway.

Everything changed today. I knew that more than anyone here. I followed behind, not trying to catch Gil but hoping I would make it out of the auditorium and back to my rooms before my anger surfaced, before I broke down, before the tears.

This was just another thing I couldn’t control. I never had control over anything from the start. How could I let myself think otherwise?

It was time for changes indeed.

Chapter Two

Lilliana

A movement caught my eye from a darkened alleyway at my right. I clutched my useless, soaked jacket and scurried past the ominous opening, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. The city was no place to wander at night. Especially for a girl like me. Even the humans were smart enough to stay indoors and out of the desolate avenues, crooks and crannies of the city, especially when the dark skies poured out endless rain.

Hey. A voice hit me from behind, and I craned my neck around to get a peek without stopping. The stranger wore a dark rain jacket with a hood that completely covered his face. Perfect. Hey, lady, don’t I know you? I do, don’t I?

No. I don’t think so, I hollered back and sped up, crossing the street and stepping into a curbside river of dirty city water. I gasped as the freezing liquid hit my skin and soaked through my socks and shoes. I’d have to dry them out somehow, if I could even find a dry enough place. Every doorway, every staircase I passed was locked up tight for the night. If I came across any viable shelters, it would be a blessing. The way things were looking, I was going to shrivel up and die from pneumonia before anything good happened.

Wait! I do know you! Just hold up there, lady! The man yelled at my back, echoing closer than ever.

My heart raced in a panic. Could I risk a confrontation with someone? I was frozen to my marrow and exhausted. It wasn’t faring well for a fight in these conditions.

His steps crept closer. I could still hear him through the raindrops and my thumping heart.

Shoot!

I’m sorry, I’m really in a terrible rush— My body jerked back as the words left my lips and he grasped my jacket, giving it a good, hard tug.

I’m talking to you! Don’t you know it’s rude to ignore someone? A haughty chuckle escaped the man’s throat as I managed to peer up through the hard rain slamming into my face. I was sprawled onto my knees as he pulled me to the ground. Stupid jerk!

What the hell is your problem? I barked at him, jumping to my feet and backing up enough to pull out one of the weapons secured to my belt: two short baton sticks. They weren’t my favorite weapons, but they’d been the only ones I’d been able to grab before they tossed me out of the ArcKnight palace.

The man was two heads taller than me and showed off his shiny grill as he threw me a menacing smirk. He was out here to cause trouble, nothing more.

I cracked my neck, readying for the struggle. At least it would warm me up in this icy rain.

Got yourself some pretty sticks, I see. He swatted at one of my arms, smacking the back of my hand hard. It stung enough I stepped back, taking in a quick sniff of wet, earthy air.

You shouldn’t have done that. I jolted forward, swinging my arm in a full arc to slam one of my batons against his temple. The satisfying crack and his subsequent stumble felt incredible. It'd been weeks since I’d actually sparred with someone, but a street fight would definitely do the trick to oil up my skills.

Before he could recover, I kicked his thigh with the heel of my boot, right where the muscle would spasm and give, bringing the giant man crashing to the ground. I miscalculated a spin kick toward his face by a millisecond and joined him on the ground as he grabbed my ankle and pulled me off my feet.

My breath rushed from my lungs as I slammed against the concrete. The smell of rancid garbage, weeks-old leftovers and whatever else strewn across the alleyway filled my nostrils as stars sprayed across my vision. Staring up into the darkened, cloudy night sky, I considered calling my wolf forward. I hated shifting to fight a human, and this man was nothing more than a mere mortal, but he had almost over two hundred pounds plus a few feet on me. Even with his clumsy, oversized body, he was faster than I’d given him credit for. He’d bested me with nothing more than a mere snatch of my legs. If things didn’t turn in my favor, I wouldn’t have any other choice.

Shit, I muttered. I shut my mouth and eyes as the pouring rain assaulted my face. I coughed and sputtered, blinking to try and stay focused on my assailant.

His darkened eyes—colorless in the washed-out night—narrowed, followed by a sinister grin.

That’s right. Stay down, bitch. Just the way I like my women.

I lifted my leg with a snapping jerk, kneeing him in the balls and bringing his body, now crouched over me, falling into a massive heap, pinning me down.

He exhaled a rumbling complaint that shook my chest as I struggled to breathe under his weight. The behemoth wasn’t rolling off me anytime soon, for the pain and subsequent collapse had angered him even more. If I didn’t get out of this precarious wedge, I’d be more than just breathless.

I resorted to smacking his face with my fists in rapid succession.

Get the hell off me!

You bitch! You’ll pay for that! His acrid breath filled my nostrils, adding to my discomfort.

Thwack!

A loud crack resonated near my face right before the jerk went slack. Great. A freak ice storm hail ball must’ve hit him right in the head or something. Now there’d be no way I could roll him off me before I’d pass out from lack of oxygen.

Death by suffocation via squashing. What a way to go.

I wondered what the people who found us would say. Both dead in the alleyway come morning light, one by hail, one by suffocation. I could see the headline now: Former Princess Dead from Suffocation, Buried Under Giant Assailant Killed by Freak Storm. She shall be missed, yada, yada, yada. Yeah… I don’t think so.

Give me a break! I yelled as loudly as I could, but my chest was burning with a thousand tiny prickling spasms with each shortened breath. I pounded on the guy, shoved and bucked to no avail.

The next second, a rush of freezing air encircled me as the weight of the man fell away to the side. Another man in a drenched hooded jacket now stood over the body of the would-be rapist creep. I took the opportunity to crawl away and use the nearby building wall to lean against as I caught my breath. My batons were somewhere in the wreck of the alleyway, but I couldn’t even concentrate enough to try and find them. Almost suffocating was no walk in the park.

You all right? The new guy didn’t approach but waited to see how I would react. How nice of him. He was probably waiting for me to catch my breath to ask me for something obscene. Like that was going to happen. I’d die before any man could do anything to me, and I’d make sure he’d pay for it dearly.

I’m all right. I barely managed to speak above a whisper before another cycle of violent coughing arrested my efforts.

You don’t look all right. Royalty shouldn’t roam the city unescorted, especially during violent downpours.

I scoffed at his rough voice and made the mistake of taking my eyes off the guy as I kept trying to inhale without pain. When I looked back up, I found nothing. I darted my eyes across the alley, but the culprit intruding on my destitute mood was now nowhere to