Alpha Wolf Rising by Eliza Gayle

leaned forward and licked her neck. The heat of the movement caught her off guard, and her pussy squeezed in reaction.
    A slow growl sounded behind her that she did her best to ignore.
    “How do you plan to fix this? As far as I can tell, our little romp last night, while fun, did little to change my situation.”
    “You could have killed her, and you don’t even appreciate the sacrifice she made,” Marek spat.
    “What the hell are you talking about? Kill her? Why would I want to do that when she fucked my brains out?”
    Marek glowered, a tic in his jaw flaring. “She went too far in her effort to save you, and if Nolan and I hadn’t held you down, she’d be in pieces right now. You need to start listening, because we can’t emphasize enough how dangerous transformation is, and the black moon intensified that.”
    Cole looked confused.
    “Both of our memories from last night are a bit skewed, but he’s right. The pleasure hit me hard, and I lost control. At the point of frenzy, neither of us cared about anything anymore. Not even life or death.”
    “But it didn’t work…”
    “It’s science we don’t understand, and biting you in the first place was a huge mistake—and very much forbidden.”
    “So what now? I leave and you go on about your merry life while I deal with being a freak?”
    She couldn’t answer. Didn’t want to face her responsibility. He did look different now, but freak would not be the word she’d have chosen. She allowed the silence to stretch on and the tension to build in the room.
    “I’m not going to be allowed to leave, am I?”
    Sierra shook her head, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.
    Resignation quickly gave way to anger, contorting his features until they were even more wolf like. She took a step closer and touched her fingers to his cheek.
    “I’m truly sorry.”
    “Get away from me.” He jerked from her touch. “You’ve done enough.”
    She dropped her hand to her side, pain lancing through her. Sierra had never gotten over Cole, no matter how hard she’d tried. She’d understood the emotional connection, but now a blood bond connected them. She loved him.
    And now she had to kill him.
    * * *
    “Sierra, the situation is spiraling out of your control. You must do something to fix this soon.”
    Her father’s words pushed at her pride and pricked at her anger. “I’m not sixteen anymore. Do you think I don’t know this is serious?”
    “I’m not sure what I think anymore. First Nolan, and now a changeling of your own creation. It’s like you’re out of control. How did I go so wrong?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Quit being so melodramatic. I’m a big girl and have been for quite some time. I’m perfectly capable of making my own choices as well as my own mistakes.”
    “Then what are you going to do? This information won’t stay quiet for long, and you’ll be challenged.”
    Her blood chilled. “Are you threatening to reveal this information, Father? Because I’d hate to think my own blood would betray me like that.”
    His face turned bright red, his eyes opening wide. He took a step closer, invading her personal space.
    “The changeling can’t be allowed to live no matter what feelings you may have. He’s an abomination.”
    Sierra rubbed at her temples and the ache growing there. Her father’s preaching stretched her last nerve. Her lack of options was already crystal without him lecturing her.
    Her duty as alpha came first above all else, yet the feelings she harbored for Cole fought against her at every turn. He’d had no idea who or what she was when he’d gotten involved with her, and now she was expected to take away his life. There had to be another way.
    “Sierra, are you listening to me?”
    “Yes, Father.” Not really.
    “You don’t have much time. Your changeling will only get worse, and someone will be hurt or killed because of it.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him.
    “I know how conflicted you