Alpha Wolf Rising by Eliza Gayle Page A

are, and despite what you might think, I understand. I’m not without feeling, but the alpha has to make hard choices. You have to be able to take the road that benefits the whole of the pack, and sometimes that means sacrifices to others. If you can’t do that, you will be challenged.”
    She jerked her arm from her father’s grasp and stepped closer, invading his personal space now. “Do you honestly think I don’t already know that? You’ve stepped down as alpha. It’s time for you to accept it.”
    Her father sighed. “I may not be the alpha anymore, but I’m still your father. Don’t expect me to sit idly by while you destroy your life or the pack.”
    She bared her teeth and lunged for him when the door swung open and Marek and Nolan entered the cabin. “Looks like we’ve made it just in time.”
    “I was just leaving. Sierra has a lot to think about, and I certainly hope her mate will help her make the right choice.” With that, her father swept from the room, leaving her with two men and a roomful of anger.
    “I don’t need the two of you to start on me either.” She paced back and forth across the living room. “I’ve had enough lectures to last a lifetime. My relationship with Cole was over the minute he rejected me, and I never expected anything like this to happen.”
    “You didn’t? You know getting mixed up with humans puts a shifter on a direct path toward trouble.” Marek glanced at Nolan. “No offense to you. You may not be a shifter, but you are part of the pack.”
    “Yet, I’m as off-limits as Cole.”
    “I’m not stupid and I think I've more than learned my lesson. I would never bite you on the night of a new moon.”
    “Are you sure about that? You’re aren’t always in control of your actions.”
Marek’s reasoning burned through her. No, she would never let this happen to Nolan. Ever. “Isn’t that what you’re for, then? To make sure I don’t go too far.”
    More guilt washed over her at the stricken look on Marek’s face.
    “Enough. We shouldn’t be attacking each other. We’re a team. A family. And together we’ll figure this out. But not while everyone is so pissed off. We all need to cool off. Sierra, when was the last time you ate something?”
    She shrugged. It hadn’t exactly been a priority since the attack.
“Give me a minute to whip up something, and then we’ll start figuring this out.”
    She nodded her assent, but she didn’t really feel like sitting around. She’d pissed off her father, insulted Marek, annoyed Nolan, and was holding Cole against his will in the basement. So far, she’d really scored as the alpha.
    “You worry too much, babe.”
    She turned to Marek, guilt already churning in her veins. “I don’t deserve your understanding. I’ve been acting like a bitch ever since I saw Cole again.”
    “You still have feelings for him.”
    She wasn’t sure whether he’d meant that as a question or not, but just thinking about everyone’s emotions made exhaustion sweep over her. She shoved her fingers through her hair and paced to the window.
    “He was my first love. He may have ripped my heart out in the end, but there’s something about your first that sticks with you.”
    “I know exactly what you mean.”
Something about the way he said that made her turn and look at him. “Do you have a first love, Marek? Someone who got under your skin and never quite left you?”
    “You, Sierra. It’s always been you.”
She sighed. How had they gotten down this road? She’d known he was interested in her before she ever left for college, so if she’d given half a thought to his feelings, she’d have known.
    “I’m sorry, Marek. I had no idea something like this would happen.”
    He held up his hand to stop her. “Doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. What’s important now is what happens next.”
    “You want me to put him down?” She didn’t really want the answer. “Just kill him like someone who has no rights. Someone