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.

the door. “Friday wants a muffin!” I called to the

offered it to her. She wrinkled her nose but took it and put the water jug on her night table and the muffin plate on her bed. She lay down staring at the muffins she supposedly

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 again,

I whispered. “The first heat is always the hardest

eye wrinkled and I knew she was smiling at me calling her pixie. Friday was like a little sister to me too and she was not going near those horny alphas. I

until Fang and Astrid took over and even then, I had to stay close to keep an eye on them keeping an eye on her. Ugh. This would be a

Maze’s POV

I said. I had dreamt that Thaddeus and I shared Friday but

that also?” I asked, scrutinising Thaddeus’

eternal awkward silence. I

one

hate him

is that befitting of a Marigold Alpha?” Asked Thaddeus, adopting the accent of a

was a pretty good expression. I recalled judging Friday for playing with her food once. I had really been

said. “You only officially took up your post as Alpha

night I met Friday,” I

Luna the night of their coronation so to speak and never have to rule a single day without her,” Thaddeus admitted, eliciting my good old

know I’m stupid,

banging his hand on the floor where we were sitting making it shake. I pressed the back

my head. “Relax, Maze,” he said, reminding me

him but that would be super weird. Thaddeus was kind of like the big brother I could have used growing up but was glad I did not

younger brothers like?” I asked, changing the

Titus is a bit like you, aloof and high-strung, mixed with Fang’s temper so

child?” I asked

and your father are fated. I remembered that day

that despite the rejection.

to raise my eyebrows. “Wow, your Daddy