Alpha Wolf (Darkmore Penitentiary, #2)

by Caroline Peckham

A man who was supposed to be my enemy had given me that tattoo. He'd shown me that I could take the pain of my past and turn it into something beautiful, powerful, unstoppable.

I saved his life. He left me to rot. And if I ever got out of this stinking hell and there was even the slightest part of me left able to fight then I would direct all of my hatred his way for what he'd done to me. Mason Cain was a dead man walking. He just didn't know it yet.

So a man who had lived through just as much agony as I had taught me how to take my pain and turn it into strength.”

Blue balls was my name. And raging hard ons was the game.

I wasn’t a natural born killer, but for her, I would commit any sin.

I mean sure, everyone knew the story of what had happened to the last person to try and force the stars to change their mind on fate and I did not want to take the Darius Acrux route. I shuddered at the mere thought of what had happened to him and I wondered if he was up there somewhere thinking the sacrifice he'd made had been worth it.

Anyway, I was looking to make a bargain to break a bond so maybe my situation was completely different to what Darius Acrux had been attempting. I certainly wasn't going to die to get it done though.

Although the word pretty when directed at Rosalie Oscura was an insult. She was the epitome of beautiful.

I’d only ever taken a real interest in it a few years back when the Vega princesses had been vying to take the throne from the Celestial Heirs. Total fucking shit show, but the press had lapped it up and the stories that had come out had been more riveting than prime time television. No one could have predicted the way that would turn out. Glad I was in here when everyone started dying.

"Any man lucky enough to be blessed by the stars to have you as their mate should be praising their fortune and holding onto you as tightly as they can. You're one in a million, Rosa, you shine brighter than any star and you burn with more heat too. If I was blessed with a mate even half as beautiful and fierce and strong as you then I would wrap my arms around her and never let go. I'd give anything to have a girl like you, little pup."

"My own, personal obsession. My drug of choice, the answer to all of my desires rolled up into one little, Faetalian ball of danger. I think you might be my downfall, wild girl. But I think I like the idea of that too."

And I was dragged down into a sleep full of my past, returning to face the man who’d raised me as a monster. My personal nightmare. Benjamin Acrux.

The words Horny for the Horn were painted beneath it in rainbow coloured lettering and I had to wonder what Caleb Altair would have thought of it if he'd seen it and laughed louder before I could stop myself.

Fear knew my name and whispered it on the breeze.

"I love you, Rosa. I love you in all the ways I thought I shouldn't and I'm sick of being afraid of that. I'm sick of wanting you and not having you. Of needing you and not owning you. I meant it when I said I wanted to run away to a desert island with you. But I'd stay in Darkmore for the rest of my life if this was the only place where you were too."