The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Fang’s POV

I had so many wrongs to make right and I had some hell to raise too. I would not be the Fang everyone had grown to know and dislike if I did not raise some hell but I would make amends first. I had to put a stop to something. I could not leave the pack house with Friday still in heat. She had yet to shift but the fact that her foot had heeled meant her she-wolf powers were flourishing. I doubled all of the patrols, adding guards to each group. If she shifted, she would run away for sure and go to the woods to seek out Thaddeus and Maze. I could not have that happen. Theo was with her now so I had some time to handle my business.

I went to the Beta floor. It was night-fall. I was not sure of the time exactly but we had gotten through Friday’s second day of heat which would have been the tenth day of the challenge. I could not believe we were only a third of the way into this thing. f**k! Twenty more days of this bullshit. And most of the

remaining time was to be spent in Berryndale with a bunch of hippie wolves.

Astrid was asleep. She tossed and turned, her slumber fitful. I stroked her hair. I was not good at apologies and I could not leave this place to buy her something so I wouldn’t have to say sorry. I sighed. I pinched one of her butt cheeks.

“Ow!” She squealed. She woke up and fixed me with a glare. I stifled my laughter and hid my smile. “What?!” She said, folding her arms. “Friday has a wolf,” I told her.

She raised her brows, her eyes wide with shock. “Really?” She whispered.

I nodded.

Astrid smiled slightly. “I’m happy for her. She’s not what you made her out to be you know. She’d make a good Luna even if …she didn’t learn to shift,” said Astrid begrudgingly, smiling in spite of herself.

Inodded. We stared at each other. “Ok, well, good night,” she said dismissively, turning away from me. “Oh, come on,” I said, giving her a pointed look and grabbing her forearm.

“I’m…”Itook a deep breath. Two apologies in one day, Friday and now Astrid. “I’m sorry, Astrid. I’ve been a jerk and it’s really nothing to do with you. It’s my own mess I have to clean up,” I admitted.

Astrid nodded, her lower lip trembling. She scooted towards me and I wrapped her in a bear hug. She sobbed quietly in my arms while I ran my fingers through my hair. I was tired of comforting crying girls. I had compassion fatigue (that’s a thing ok, I read about it in some chick magazine). Ugh! And I still had to confront my mother. I could leave it alone but I sure as f**k wouldn’t. I needed to know if there was anything between her and former alpha Malachi.

Astrid locked me into a kiss. I could taste her tears. I bit her lower lip and she opened her mouth, allowing my tongue to explore it. The other things I had to do today would have to wait a bit.

Theo’s POV   ir nappiness over Friday’s recovery mage nim come to ner? wnat ir ne ana maze rougnt at the cottage because Maze craved a now possibly not wolf-less Friday? I grumbled to myself. I hated being conflicted. A good Beta was quick to act in his Alpha’s best interests. I just was not sure what those were right now. The Fenestra family and the Marigold atmosphere was quite complicated. I had never liked soap-operas and now I felt like I was in one.

Friday moaned, keeling over on the bed. She could thrash about more now due to her healed foot but it was making her more restless. She kept looking at the windows and the door. Not today, princess. She was not going anywhere. Thaddeus gave me a job to do and it would be completed in full.

She pouted at me. I knew she was silently pleading to leave. I fixed her with a black expression. “I want a muffin. I’m hungry. Please!” She said emphatically, widening her doe eyes.

banged on the door. “Friday wants a muffin!” I called to the other side. I remained sitting on my chair by the

of water. I offered it to her. She wrinkled her nose but took it and put the water jug on

let’s go,” I said, offering her my arm. She did not take my arm. She buried her face in a pillow groaning. “I don’t have to go

whispered. “The first heat is always the hardest but you’re the

me too and she was not going near those horny alphas.

and even then, I had to stay

Maze’s POV

I said. I had dreamt that Thaddeus and I shared Friday but why such a specific

that also?” I

said nothing but nodded. There was an eternal awkward silence. I could hear crickets chirping in the woods at night and

talk. What’s for dinner? You’re the only one who can cook,”

hate him because being a likeable

of a Marigold Alpha?” Asked Thaddeus, adopting the accent of a haughty Marigold

expression. I recalled judging Friday for playing with her

you’re young and full of potential,” Thaddeus said. “You only officially took up your post as Alpha the night

the night I

to speak and never have to rule a single day without her,” Thaddeus admitted, eliciting my good old friend regret to pop in

know I’m stupid,

the floor where we were sitting making it shake. I pressed the back of

Maze,” he said, reminding me of my

brother I could have

brothers like?” I asked, changing

you, aloof and high-strung, mixed with Fang’s temper so he’s a

not high-strung, I grumbled to myself. Thaddeus’ POV “Do you like being an only child?” I asked Maze. “I think I do,” Maze said,

I murmured. “Her mother and your father are fated. I remembered that day you found them…er…making up for lost

Maze, raising his eyebrows, “they never stopped…having…meetings like that despite the rejection. And my Dad

to raise my eyebrows. “Wow, your Daddy is Friday’s Mommy’s Daddy,