Chapter 1

Alpha Julian’s POV.

The soil and leaves press between my claws. Faster, I force myself until the putrid stench tickles my nose. They’re close. I let out a threatening growl upon entering the clearing. If I could smile in this form, I would be grinning from ear to ear, like the damned Cheshire cat. Four males all rogue have turned to face me. One more stays focused on his prey; a tiny blond-haired beauty. I can see why they’re after her, but in this moment I decide I want her, she’s going to be mine.

Looking around to each shabby wolf, I size them up. They’re puny with no power. Not like me, I’m the Alpha. I may be young, but they don’t come close to comparing to me. Together they might give me a good fight, but individually they’re nothing.

"Do you need any backup, Julian?" My Beta links me.

"No. Just keep the pack safe," I answer.

One of the rogues growls at me like that’ll scare me off. Please. I think I’ll kill him first. I take a step closer, noticing their hackles rise. They’re afraid, they should be. In the blink of an eye, I launch toward the growler, catching him off guard. My sharp teeth sink in and the taste of his blood coats my mouth with that distinctly metallic flavor. I give my head a quick shake, snapping his neck. The other three have awoken from their stupor and all pounce for me at once. I drop the miserable carcass then turn to catch a rogue by the shoulder. I rip his flesh from his body while another has jumped to my back. With a quick spin, I off-seat him and he falls belly up. I waste no time disemboweling him, leaving him a bloody, dying mess.

The rogue that was blocking the girl has decided I’m the bigger threat and jumps in to attack my side. Too bad. I’m faster, I’m stronger, and I’m smarter. I see what he’s trying to do; free up my side for his friends to have an opening. Not going to happen. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are my focus as they’re trying to tag team me. I charge between the two, cutting between them like the Red Sea. Huh, how fitting; a sea of their blood is about to be shed.

The rogues get confused by my move. The idiots both spin to face me and end up knocking noggins. I would laugh, but I would rather just dispose of them. I swipe their legs and get the nearest one in my teeth. He struggles to get free, squirming with all his might, but I’m mightier. I bite down, my sharp teeth crushing his skull.

A stinging sensation erupts in my left shoulder. Son of a bitch! Oh this fucker is dead, but I’m not just going to kill him like his little buddies, no. This one will get to feel my wrath as I tear him limb from limb, starting with his fluffy little tail. I jump over him and catch his tail in my powerful jaws. With just a small amount of force, it rips clean off. He whimpers away just enough for me to surprise the last one with an unexpected swipe to his throat.

My focus now on the one remaining wolf, it’s time for fun. A crush of the front left leg leaves him gimping around delightfully, well at least delightfully for me, I’m having a blast. The tendons of his hind leg get shredded and he can barely move. The wolf shifts before my eyes, Goddess that has to hurt. The guy lies bleeding on the ground, panting. “Mercy. Mercy, please.”

I look at the woman. Her eyes are hypnotic blue, almost a lapis lazuli. She shakes her head no. That’s unfortunate. I claw down his back and grip the back of his neck. “No! No! Ple…" His words fall short as his lifeless body stills on the blood-soaked ground.

The woman steps away from the rock mound they had her cornered on, then sinks to her knees. Her dress is cut low and her perfect milky-colored breasts make my mouth water and my cock stiffen. I shift before her. Her eyes land right where I want them to, then she looks up to my face, odd. “Alpha. I did not realize I had trespassed onto your land. I beg your mercy.”

I look her over from head to toe. Her scent, that was previously masked by the rotten rogues, hits me and hum in satisfaction “You owe me a life debt, witch.” Life debts are sacred to witches. I’ve studied witches since I was a small boy, I find them fascinating. I’m probably one of the few werewolves that do. Most wolves are afraid of their power, but one with a life debt will never be able to kill me. I promised myself that if I ever met one, I would do whatever I could to make her loyal to me. Guess there’s no need to look any further.

She closes her eyes, but nods. “I’m afraid so, Alpha.”

“Name?” A witch’s name is even more sacred than a life debt and they rarely give it willingly.

“Giselle,” she answers easily.

I menacingly chuckle. “No, it’s not. Do you take me for a fool, witch?” I stare her down and release my Alpha power. Though she’s not a wolf, it still holds a little sway.

“I told you it’s Giselle.”

My clawed hand grips her throat. “You have one more chance to tell me the truth or your life debt is paid now. Do not pretend you don’t care whether you live or die, I know you do.” I step closer and stare her down while my claws just pierce her skin.

Her eyes squint in malice. “Callista,” she grunts out. I cock my brow knowing there’s more. She lets out a frustrated breath. “Callista of the White Ash.”

I remove my hand. “Make your vow, Callista of the White Ash.”

She closes her eyes and tilts her head away, after a deep inhale and quick exhale she stands. “I need your name, Alpha.”

“Alpha Julian Woodard of the Oakridge Pack.” Immediately her eyes turn white and she begins speaking, or rather mumbling. A faint blue light forms between us, connecting my heart and hers. The light fades and her eyes return to the beautiful shade of blue. “That wasn’t so hard, now was it?”

Callista rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. Her tantalizing breasts are pushed up even higher. I lick my lips, I’m dying to taste them. I have enough control to keep my hands to myself, after all, she is a witch. Although she can’t kill me, she can cause me a great deal of pain. “Now I’m stuck. My freedom is gone forever.”

“It won't be that bad, Callista. I’m not going to enslave you, but I will use you when needed. There’s a cottage just over the hill. It’s yours. It’s private and fully furnished.” I tilt my head showing her the direction. “My pack will keep you safe.”

“That is very generous of you Alpha, but I have needs as well.” I look her over, more than willing to fulfill those needs. “Not like that. I’m not blind, I see how much you want me. I would be willing on a few minor conditions.” I cock my brow allowing her to continue. “First off, my name is Giselle to anyone who asks. I require privacy, away from your pack. I want a mile in any direction from the cottage. And I would like freedom to roam at will. I pick my own herbs, but some are not always available to me.”

“I will give you to the river. It winds about half a mile along the west and southern portions of the cottage. Behind that, my territory continues for two miles. You’re free to roam my territory at will, but I must be notified anytime you wish to leave. I might even require an escort depending on where you’re going. My inner circle will be informed of your presence, but no one else. Your portion of the territory will simply be off limits.”

I can see she doesn’t like the terms, but it’s a take-it-or-leave-it situation. She stares unblinkingly into my eyes as she tries to figure me out. Normally this would be a death sentence, but Giselle is a witch, not a were, eye contact is part of being a witch. “Fine. Agreed. I have one more request from you, Alpha.”

“Go on.”

“I want a child. A daughter, in fact. From you.”

“You want me to father a witch's child?” I scoff.

“No, Alpha, I want you to father a daughter. She will be witch only. Any male offspring would be were, but I have no need for them. You can keep, or not, any males if I birth them, but my daughter is mine and mine alone. She will be ignorant of who sires her.” My fingers cuff my mouth as I think this through. “You’ll get to have me as many times as it takes.”

“What of my mate?” I remind the witch.

She chuckles. “Do you take me for a fool, Alpha?” My words are thrown back at me. “There is no mate mark anywhere on your body. Besides if she does show up and our deal has not been closed, I can make a potion that will prevent her from knowing of our... interactions. You’re a young Alpha, but I can feel your strength. That strength would make a powerful witch.”

I am a young Alpha. I took over this pack at 17 by winning a challenge against the previous Alpha. I’m just 19 now, but my place is solid. I’m a strong fighter with an intimidating size. I’ve had three challenges from within my pack and defeated each one easily. I’ve had two other challenges from outside my pack. They were a bit more of a fight, but I still defeated them.

This gorgeous witch that’s now tied to me wants to procreate. Why the fuck not? I grip the top of her arms and lead her back against the rock. Her lips tick up slightly, no fight whatsoever. Without any warning, I pull the top of her dress down revealing the most perfect set of tits I’ve ever seen. One swipe of my thumbs makes her nipples harden into little, suckable pebbles. My mouth falls to them like a suckling babe and she hisses in pleasure.

I reach under her dress and tear her damp panties off. With no warning, no preamble, I lift her leg against my hip and press into her. She gasps out. “No foreplay, Alpha? I’m surprised.” She breathlessly comments.

Pulling off of her supple breast just long enough to speak. “No need. You’re already wet and I’m not going to stop until you’re so full of my cum that it drips down to your toes.”

“So romantic.”

“I’m not here for romance, Giselle. I’m here to fuck, and fuck hard. You want my offspring, you get to bear it, but I guarantee you’ll be screaming my name either way.”

She bites her lip and slowly becomes putty in my hands as I continue to pound into her tight cunt. Her tits bounce as I continue to move back and forth between the two. Gripping her hair, I tilt her head back and sniff at her neck before licking and sucking. She’s not my mate, but she can bear my imitation of a mark. Moving up, I nip at her earlobe and her pussy tightens around me. That’s only the first of many, I plan to take her until the sun rises.

Her pussy clenches around my cock three more times before I release my seed deep into her. I then pick her up and carry her to the cottage that is to be hers from now on. I stand her to her feet and hold her breasts from behind. She looks around, studying each and every inch of the structure, my hands still attached to her. “It needs work. Not much, but I accept it as my home.”

“Great. There’s a bed through that door.” I inform her. She opens the door to look around. I savagely tear her clothes from her body, leaving her dripping and naked before me. “Shall we continue?”

“Of course, Alpha, but now you owe me clothing. That was my only dress.”

“I’ll have some brought to you in the morning. You won't need any until then. Now get on the bed so I can fuck you some more.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I growl in satisfaction as she slowly postures herself on the bed.