I haven't gone more than one step when I'm confronted by the first Beta Challenger. Jake is a good male, but he's known to be impulsive. He's the second of four brothers, but the oldest died years ago after joining the Marines right out of high school. Jake stepped into the oldest brother role, and he's struggled to prove himself ever since.

I stop to deal with Jake first because just behind him I see Mom and Dad closing in. An angry male is preferable to dealing with my parent's questions. I'm sure they have some doozies. The entire pack saw Sean and Braxton covered in my sister's blood. I tense up as Jake approaches, ready to take whatever vitriol he spits at me.

"So, you two are what?" Jake glares at Sean and Braxton, just behind me. We all wait. Neither male answers him. It's moments like these that I wish I had eyes in the back of my head, like a spider, so that I could see the expressions on Sean and Braxton's faces. My she-wolf huffs at the thought of being a spider. She's much more important than a tiny, insignificant bug with too many legs, scurrying around looking for blood.

"They are here to help me support the pack," I answer after a beat. Before Jake can get his fur ruffled (even more), I add, "can you assemble the heads of household in the ballroom? Make sure everyone gets there discreetly."

Jake takes the bait. Of course, I don't delude myself into thinking that I'm the reason why. I'm sure it has more to do with the hulking brutes at my back. As my parents step forward, I see that the packmembers who remained here at the picnic grounds are all staring our way. I should have kept Jake here longer.

Dad stops in front of me, a few feet away. Out of striking range, I realize, as he tucks Mom slightly behind him. My heart sinks a little. He looks startled at his own actions. It hits us both at the same time; I'm the Beta. I have two dangerous, wild wolves as my personal guards. That makes me a threat. Everyone always gives Beta Teague a wide berth, just in case. I think that's why he has two mates and so many pups, so he has some actual contact that isn't steeped in violence.

Too bad one of his pups grew into Braxhole. My she-wolf quivers. Braxhole. That's a good one. She starts digging into the dirt, completely distracted by our successful nickname for the male who Marked us so violently.

"Iliana," Dad says, "where is Georgina?" Unlike Jake, Dad keeps his eyes steady on me. I can't see any accusation in them, but I know it must be there.

"Alpha Carmichael has taken custody of her," I say as calmly as I can.

"For?" he rasps out, looking upset.

One of my silent stalkers moves forward. Braxton's warmth lights that damn inconvenient fire inside my belly. "Jailbreak," he murmurs into my ear.

Another deliciously male body sidles up on my other side. "Accessory to flight and interference with fugitive apprehension," Sean says softly.

I have to work hard to maintain my outward composure while my she-wolf lays in her hole shivering ecstatically, tongue lolling out of her mouth ridiculously. Clearing my throat delicately, I say, "accessory to flight and interference with fugitive apprehension." It sounds very authoritative. It would be even better without the two fugitives themselves right next to me wearing yummy ninja-warrior outfits and smelling so damn good that my she-wolf wants to roll in it.

It doesn't escape my notice that Sean and Braxton don't say anything about Georgina's crimes against me. The hypocrisy stings, because it wasn't so long ago that Georgina was the golden girl. In fact, it's so completely ludicrous to arrest Georgina but allow Sean and Braxton to roam free that my brain needs a moment to just shut down.

I snap back to reality when Dad asks his next question, "and these two? What the fuck are they doing out of prison?"

"Gerald!" Mom hisses at him. Without missing a beat, she changes the entire direction of the conversation, "Ili, are you still training? Samantha can't compete yet!"

Oh, shit. Skating. I promised Will I would skate in the competition that's only a couple of weeks away. "I have to check with Conner," I tell her.

Mom smiles slyly, "very good, Beta Iliana," she says smugly. Her eyes flash at something behind my left shoulder. I'd bet money it's Sean. Her face falls a little, then she glares at him. I feel my body tense. Mom is taunting Sean with his lost position.

A memory hits. Georgina, in the kitchen with Mom, telling her how she would be the Beta female of this pack. Georgina thought her mating to Sean was a done deal years ago. Mom, I remember, wasn't as enthusiastic. She had cautioned my sister about pinning her hopes on a male who wasn't her mate. Georgina had screamed at Mom that Sean was her mate. He just needed time to come around to the idea.

Mom hadn't responded, but for the rest of the day, she had been quiet and withdrawn. I wonder if Mom was the one who put this whole Beta thing in Alpha Alex's head? Oh my goddess, did Mom come up with the 'make Ili the Beta' plan?

"Beta," Sean rumbles loudly enough that the wolves queuing up behind Mom and Dad can hear him. "It's time to go inside."

---

"Right. So... I'm your Beta," Ili announces with a small tilt of her chin. "So..." she rubs her palms down the front of her dress nervously. Usually, she's wearing cotton leggings or sweatpants, so the dress crinkles oddly. "That's not the best way to start, is it?" she asks Sean.

His devil-black eyes just stare back at her, expressionless except for the longing deep in their depths. "Stick to facts," he says quietly.

"OK. Right." Ili nods and pulls at her skirt. "ClearHowl, I'm sorry to say Alpha Alex... no, I shouldn't mention him. Alpha Conner has informed me that-"

"You are the Beta," Sean interrupts. "You don't need the alpha's permission to address the pack."

"Don't apologize, either," I add. "No matter what."

She frowns, "isn't that sort of an asshole move?"

"Wolves look for weaknesses," I point out. "Be strong, babydoll."

"OK," she blows out her breath and purses her pretty pink lips in a pout. "Everyone, Alpha Conner- shoot!"

Sean steps in front of her, capturing her attention. Her gaze swings up to him, wary and alert. "ClearHowl, as your Beta, I am informing you of recent events that directly affect our safety."

Ili repeats his words.

"Alpha Alex and Gamma Lyall will be in Denver for the foreseeable future," Sean adds. He moves a little closer. Ili, beautiful grey eyes wide, sways toward him as if he's hypnotizing her. Softly, she repeats his words again. Her small white teeth bite into her lower lip nervously, making me want to grab her and kiss her. My wolf paces, head swiveling to guard the tasty morsel our brother entrusted to our care.

"Due to this, ClearHowl will be in a lockdown until we have determined the threat to be eliminated. Patrols will be increased and pack land will now be considered zoned according to the colors; red, green, and yellow. All activities held out of the green safety zone are to be ceased immediately without direct permission."

Ili sucks in a frightened breath. I move closer, on her other side opposite Sean. He should step back. His dick is an inch away from poking her in the belly. "Babydoll," I wait for her to look my way, "straighten your shoulders. A little less. Look relaxed but determined. Perfect," I croon when she tightens up her edible little body and throws her shoulders back.

"Daisy," Sean murmurs. Ili looks back at him. "All ClearHowl wolves are to return to packlands immediately. This includes all RedMoon wolves."

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow.

"It's dangerous for them, too, Brax," Ili says to me. She has to swivel around to speak directly to me. Sean and I truly have her hemmed in. It's tempting to swoop in and kiss her, but my wolf and I control ourselves, barely.

"Visitors to packlands must gain permission prior to their arrival," Sean continues.

"Should I tell them who the threat really is?" Ili asks.

Sean pauses, thinking. "Not yet, Babydaisy."

"They'll want to know," I point out.

"No questions," Sean says. "It's our job to prevent that," he tells me.

"No one questions Ili. Got it," I agree.

"Alright, Daisy. Repeat it back to us."

---

Ili's soft voice has the ring of steel in it as she addresses the pack. Just as I predicted, everyone immediately starts shouting questions at her, but she maintains her poise and confidence like a champ.

My wolf rolls his shoulders in agitation. Outwardly, his Ili is calm, cool, and collected, but inside she is a raging mass of nerves. When she seems at her breaking point, I step forward to intervene.

"Curfew starts immediately. All requests are to go through Beta Iliana's office, starting tomorrow," I stress.

The pack eyes me warily. I avoid looking at any of my friends directly. I don't exactly have the authority to demand anything of them. Conner only told Sean and I to guard Ili, not speak for her.

Ili wraps up her speech and we turn to leave, but her head is swiveling back and forth as she tries to look for someone.

Sean's hand comes within a half-inch of her shoulder without actually touching her. "Babydaisy," he says quietly, "who do you need?"

"Hank," she says. "We drove here together."

Sean and I share a look. "You have to live in the Beta apartments, now," I say, gently. "The pack expects it. A lot of wolves will be staying there, moving tonight probably."

"Your family doesn't live there," she points out.

"Yes, but... Hank's house isn't within the safety zone, babydoll," I tell her gently.

Tears spring into her eyes. She tries to hide them, but Sean and I are so close to her that I can smell the salt. "Shh, mate," Sean rumbles. "It will be alright."

"I don't want to move again. This will be the fourth time in a month!" she snaps a little petulantly, blinking angrily until her tears dry up. "Fine," she huffs. "But I still need to go collect my things from Hank's house."

"We will handle it, Babydoll. We just want you safe," I murmur reassuringly.

A wary look is all I earn in response.

---

I sit cross-legged, staring at myself in the mirror across the bedroom. My new bedroom is in the Beta apartment of the packhouse. The entire place drips of subtle wealth and luxury. The down comforter I've plunked myself on is thicker and softer than most mattresses. Everything holds the sharp scent of newness, which makes me wonder how long Alpha Alex, Conner, and Bailey were planning this fiasco. Maybe I'm being paranoid. Maybe they were just preparing for another new Beta? Only... that was supposed to be Sean.

I twist around to frown at Sean. "Did you ever bring Georgina here?" I rasp out to him.

The dark-eyed male looks back at me through the door to the open living room beyond. "No," he replies simply. At least I don't have that problem.

I look back toward the mirror. My eyes are red-rimmed, with shadows under them. My she-wolf and I stare at my reflection in quiet contemplation. I look simultaneously healthier and more exhausted than a year ago, during the worst of my rejection.

A bulky shadow moves behind me in the mirror. Like a horror movie, a wolf with four eyes, four clawed limbs, two snarling mouths filled with gnashing teeth. It really is the stuff nightmares are made of, except I can hear them.

"Move over, you fat feral fuck!" Braxton growls. His words are punctuated with grunts of exertion as he attempts to shove Sean to the side. I told them they weren't allowed in my bedroom. They were both smart enough to not argue, but I didn't consider the living arrangements past that rule. The double French doors are thrown open wide. It took both of them time to wrestle the heavy couch into place. Then they seem to realize that only one of them could sleep on the couch and I wouldn't have a place to sit to watch t.v. They moved it back.

Sean snarls back, "Brat." The sound of a pained-filled hiss follows. The mass of males turns darker as fur sprouts all over nearly-nude limbs.

"Ili, Sean's being mean to-" Braxton's words are cut off with a choking noise. The nightmare solidifies, fangs and claws, complete with fur flying and foaming maws. They struggle for a brief moment, then one monster becomes two again.

"Ha, didn't the Great Luna make sure you got taught all the holds up north?" Braxton taunts a moment later. "Fuck! Ili!"

"Enough," I snap out. "I'm tired. You two are sleeping out there, not in here. You Marked me without my consent, Braxton, and Sean... I don't even want to waste my breath talking about it!"

"Sorry, babydoll."

"We're sorry, our mate."

"You're not actually calling her 'our' mate, are you?" Braxton suddenly asks.

My she-wolf tilts her head to one side. Huh. I've been so twisted up by their sudden reappearance I didn't even think about Sean's odd way of referring to himself as two different people. I guess maybe I did think that Sean was referring to himself and Brax. I'll think about why that didn't bother me later.

"She is our mate," Sean replies.

"Yeah. You suck, Sean. Your feral fucking brain just decided that Ili belongs to you solely, right? Fuck you. I've Marked her and it didn't fade."

"It's not up to you-" I start to snap, but Braxton isn't finished.

"Remember all those times you were shitting yourself up on the rock? I cleaned your ass and you won't even acknowledge that Ili may belong to me, too?"

"I do not-" I start to say.

"And fuck you for thinking that because-"

"Shut up, Brat," Sean snarls.

"Then, when you fucking couldn't move because you were so weak you were paralyzed in your own vomit, I cleaned you up! I did everything for you because I knew Ili couldn't let you die, but I'm fucking disposable, yeah?!" Braxton sneers.

How did this happen? My mind is spinning as I rush across the room to stop them from killing each other. I really don't think I could take that, handle either of them dying, just like Braxton said.

"So fuck you, Sean. I'm not letting you take Ili from me!" Braxton hurls himself toward Sean when I'm only a hairsbreadth away from them.

Sean grabs Braxton by the nape and slams his mouth down on Braxton's open, snarling mouth. My she-wolf and I freeze, shocked. My mouth drops open. The males snarl and growl, teeth clanking into each other's mouths before their tongues tangle up. Muscles strain as their bodies press and roll against each other.

Those black shirts are really flimsy. They rip and tear too easily, leaving naked torsos gleaming with sweat as they both fall to the floor, each seeking to dominate the other, lips and tongues still fused together.

They each tear away from another abruptly. Two pairs of glowing eyes turn toward me, barefoot and wearing pajama pants and one of Braxton's old oversized sweatshirts. Their nostrils flare as they stand back up in unison, sporting matching hard-ons, lips swollen from the brutal kiss.

Oh. My. Goddess. They can totally smell my arousal. Why am I aroused? Just because it was a live porno in my new living room... Welp, there goes the like-new scent in this place. I catch the sharp taste of my own arousal. My she-wolf is presenting herself to the two of them, ready to be mounted because of the viral all-male sex show they just put on for us.

I step back, holding my palm up. "N-no," I say shakily.

"You need us, mate," Sean says quietly as he eyes me up and down as if he can see right through my baggy outfit.

"Nope. No. No, I don't."

"Just our tongues and fingers," Sean offers.

"No," I manage to say more firmly, even though my she-wolf is still begging for them. Stepping back, I start to shut the door.

"No," Sean's hand catches the door and gently stops it mid-swing. "Leave it open so we can make sure you're safe."

"I'm... I'm going to bed," I announce. Turning on my heels, I speed back to the bed and duck under the comforter. Its downy thickness settles around me while I hyperventilate a little. Sean and Braxton totally made out, more like mauled each other's mouths, right in front of me. Did they get frisky with each other in prison? Oh. My. Goddess. It is so damn hot. There's something wrong with me. Wrong with us.

"Go to sleep, Babydaisy," Sean says quietly. "We're right here to keep you safe."

Damn it. I do feel safe. I'm also horny as hell and refuse to relieve myself in front of them. Maybe I can go to the bathroom? Oh, goddess. They'll know what I'm doing.

"Let us help you?" Sean asks again. He sounds worried. "You need to sleep, Ili."

Braxton is oddly quiet. Curiosity, that bitch, takes hold and I toss the cover off my head. His beautiful caramel eyes dart around, taking quick glances at me before shifting down to his feet. The tips of his ears are red. He looks intrigued and embarrassed. A bead of sweat rolls down his chest. He bites his reddened lip.

I saw my thighs together. Goddess, stop, Iliana.

"Baby," Sean begs a little. "Please let us help you."

"No," I snap.

He inhales again, a sound very much like a purr reaches me. "Then touch yourself, Daisy. We won't watch."

"You'll hear it and smell it," I point out, but oh, it's tempting.

"Yes," the word emerges as a plea.

Their lust is heightening mine, I realize. There is some thread connecting us all and right now it's red-hot. "Don't look," I command.

"We won't," Sean rasps.

I close my eyes and pull the covers over myself again. Tentatively at first, I reach between my legs. I'm soaked. So slippery that my fingers glide through my folds easily. When I penetrate myself, the sound is audible. My breath is trapped under the covers. My skin is quickly covered in a fine sheen of sweat. I thrust harder, rolling my hips, and chase the orgasm down with a muffled cry.

When the shivers of pleasure fade, so does the adrenaline racing through my body. I pull the covers down, just so my nose is free and I can breathe the cooler air.

"Goodnight," I murmur.

I hear Sean whisper goodnight back, then he adds a soft, "love you, Daisy."

The acerbic scent of male release mingles with my own.

---

"Easy, Brat," we murmur.

He rolls away from me, trying to hide his sniffles. "Fuck you," he rasps, quietly enough that our mate can't hear. He buries his face in the thick carpet that is our bed, miserable and with a dick hard as a stone.

"Brat," we say softly.

"Just stop it, Sean!" he snarls.

Ili rolls over under her thick covers, mumbling in her sleep. We both freeze guiltily.

"Do what you need to," we tell him. He is being foolish, our brat.

"Like you did? Coming right in your pants?" he snaps.

"We added to our mate's pleasure, and you are ruining her restful sleep."

"I know I am, but I can't. It hurts to touch my dick," he says. We sit up, worried. If he hurts, our Ili hurts.

"Do you need the clinic?" we ask. It would be better if the Brat can handle it here so that our mate is still protected fully.

"When you told her we could make her come using our mouths and fingers she looked afraid. I assaulted her and some part of her remembers," he says quietly.

"You don't know that she was afraid of you."