Destined for the Alpha by Winifred Lacroix Page B

the other side quietly.
    "We completed patrol, these are the sacrifices"
    "What does that mean?"
    "To the sages, these are the sacrifices to the forest."
    "To kill?" Catherine felt her heart drop, these people were going to be murdered and she helped these wolves round them up like a sheepdog.
    "None of my business what the sages do, but we have to deliver them."
    "Ivan we can't-"
    "We can and we must. That is our punishment" Peter cut in behind them he kissed Catherine on her head and she stared up at him in horror "I was going to tell you earlier. Did they hurt you?" His tone changed from authoritative to concerned as he checked her shoulder but frowned when he saw fresh bruises blossoming on her upper arm from where the man had grabbed her before, he brushed against them gently and when she winced away his eyes narrowed. "Ivan, I am disappointed that you put Catherine in danger once again, she and I were not meant to be part of this tonight."
    "It’s not my fault alpha, everyone has guns lately. I didn't realize-"
    Peter growled in disapproval before turning towards the hostages that were flanked by Gwen and Shawn "You," it was halfway between a growl and a roar and the balding Kevin was slammed up against a wall, emitting a strangled cry, she saw Peter's hand around the man's throat. "What did you do to my Catherine?"
    He didn't speak, just gasped like a fish out of water, the color draining out of his face "You bitch," Mary suddenly spat "You were just bait! We should have never helped you!"
    "Please I didn't know!" Catherine cried out but Ivan shoved her behind him.
    "Quiet! You will not speak to her unless you have no use for your tongue." Peter dropped Kevin who was barely conscious and gasping for air on his knees, he was surrounded by his companions immediately
    "I knew this would happen, you shouldn't have come." Ivan muttered
    Peter walked past them "That's an odd thing to say to the girl that saved your hide." he hissed and grabbed Cat.
    The tension between her alpha and beta was thick enough to cut with a knife; with one on either side of her she wondered when they fought it out if she would be caught in the middle? John walked behind the three of them followed by the sad procession of sacrifices. She didn't realize just how far they had gotten away from the compound until they had to walk back. Catherine stared at her feet, how was she going to live with herself knowing that she had led four people to her death? Her whole time with these werewolves had led to so many deaths, how many more would there be? "My Catherine, sacrifices are something that must be made for our safety." Peter said quietly, his voice warm and sympathetic.
    "Why?"
    "It has been that way for generations, we must make blood sacrifices to the forest. The creature that owns these woods only lets us live here if we give him sacrifices. If we please the creature, he will give us protection. The mystics are the only ones who can give to the creature. Just remember who tossed you to the wolves and shot Ivan, they are not good people. They should be honored to keep the woods at peace."
    "But people still!" She cried hoping somehow he'd understand her and let them go, she was frustrated and upset, she didn't want anyone to get hurt, not Ivan, not herself, not these people. She could see Peter tensing beside her, was she getting through to him? "Just let them go, please Peter!"
    "If I let them go, someone else must pay with their blood, and my clan has no blood to spare Catherine" his voice was so low it was almost sinister.
    Catherine shrunk away from him and ran into John who was walking too close behind her, he held her hand loosely as they hung behind the irritable pair of wolves. "They had wanted to spare you, but you had to come, that was the punishment, exposing you to this before your changing. It puts stress on everyone when you are this way, my alpha" John's voice was barely a whisper "Please be strong for us."
    "John I-"
    "Shhh, just walk