cr guiliano

Sometimes…being a hero hurts.

Vann was thrilled for this alpha, Dryden claiming his mate, and now expecting a pup. Thanks to the alpha-beta link between them, the only downside was how much Dryden’s happiness emphasized Vann’s own loneliness.
There was a wolf that caught Vann’s eye, possibly his fated mate, but Vann couldn’t claim a male. It was too engrained in him to seek out a female mate. An alpha female.

Then, the unimaginable happened. Once again, Arri was abducted, and held captive. Except this time, Vann was as much a prisoner as Arri. Day after day, Vann endured Kale’s cruel torture so that Arri would be as safe as possible.
And the pup was soon coming…

…and Vann’s vow as alpha guardian took on a whole new meaning.

Unable to bear the shame, and guilt of his actions, and unwilling to return to Woodlynn to face his alpha, Vann fled, abandoning Dryden now that the male had his mate back safe, and sound.
*~*~*~*

Dryden was beyond worried that his lead beta, his alpha guardian—his best friend—had disappeared without a trace. Knowing what drove the male to take off didn’t matter to Dryden. Vann had saved his mate, his family. He’d fulfilled his vow, and then some. Dryden was indebted to Vann, and missed the beta desperately, more than he thought possible.

But Vann’s disappearance was only the tip of the iceberg. There was no peace for his family, he was depending on Rovyn more, and more, and yet, couldn’t because the beta had claimed his mate, another male omega, and needed time with Anrean.
Then there was Border pack, his brother Massey having stepped down, and gone home, leaving Dryden as alpha to both Woodlynn, and Border. Not something that was going over well with the Border wolves. Even Kasp, a psychotic wolf that once belonged to Woodlynn a few years ago was challenging his right to lead Border as the alpha who bested Sbrel.
And to top it all off, Truin, one of his beta-in-trainings, and Vann’s fated mate, had left in search of the missing alpha-guardian, without permission.

His life in chaos, Dryden wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Would he defeat the challengers bent on destroying him? Would he, and Arri ever have time to raise their pup without constant threats?
Would Vann ever return?