Mated To My Biggest Enemy

Riley's POV

"You are holding back again." Like a blade, Dad's voice sliced through the morning air. "A real Alpha does not be kind to her foes."

After wiping the perspiration from my face, I turned to face the training dummy that I had just destroyed. There were wood chips all over the floor, but I could tell by Dad's frown that it was not enough. It was never sufficient.

I flexed my aching fingers and said, "I was not holding back." "I hit it as hard as I could."

"Then you are not strong enough." With eyes as cold as winter ice, Dad took a step closer. "You are a woman, so the Red Canyon wolves will not be kind to you."

The thought of our adversaries roused my inner wolf. She desired blood and to demonstrate our ability to destroy any Steele who ventured to approach us. I allowed that rage to drive me to strike again.

The dummy burst into splinters this time. One nod from Dad was as near to commendation as I ever received from him. I did not care that my knuckles were bleeding.

"Better," he said. But keep in mind, Riley. You will only have one job once you are Alpha.

I concluded the lesson I had heard a thousand times: "Protect the pack."

"No." His tone became gravely serious. "Destroy our adversaries before they destroy us."

From the valley below us came a howl. It floated up from Red Canyon territory like a challenge, long and melancholy. My own howl tore from my throat as my wolf responded before I could stop her.

That morning, Dad smiled for the first time. "All right. Inform them of our presence.

The first howl came from the valley, followed by others. The Red Canyon Pack was getting up and beginning their own morning rituals. I pondered whether their Alpha of the future was also training, learning to despise us as much as we detested them.

Even though I knew the story by heart, I said, "Tell me again why we fight them."

Dad's expression hardened. "Because they are dishonest and thieves. Your great-great-grandfather was killed when he attempted to stop them from stealing our hunting grounds a century ago.

"And ever since, we have been at war."

"And until the last Steele is dead, we will be." Dad grabbed a fresh training dummy and placed it. "Again."

I threw everything I had at the dummy. Every blow was dedicated to all the Blackwoods who had perished. Every kick served as retribution for all the slights our family had endured. We had lost so much to the Red Canyon Pack.

The dummy was just sawdust when I was done. In fact, Dad looked proud, which filled my heart with joy. The few times I made him proud were the ones I lived for.

He stated, "Your Alpha trials are in two weeks." "Your strength, wisdom, and loyalty will be put to the test by the pack