Here's the next chapter. I won't say much since I know you'll all anxious to check in on Saf, Zara, Jess and the kids! 

I'm having such a hard time deciding who to dedicate this to. You guys are all so awesome, and I'm getting so many comments! Plus, I can't remember who already got a dedication!!! So, front now on: ♥ If you want a STAWP chapter dedication: (a) vote on all parts, then (b) comment here and let me know you want a dedication. ♥ I'll try to get to everyone! 

This chapter is dedicated to: monicaiscute for some awesome Beta Female vocab alternatives! 

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 

Saffron

Saffron, a soft, melodic voice whispers in the wind. It takes me a second to remember why it's familiar. It reminds me of Mom. Every night, she would tuck me into bed and tell me a story. Sometimes it was about a brave werewolf princesses going on adventures, rescuing princes, and defeating dragons, but other times, I would convince her to tell me my favorite story. The one about how she came to name me Saffron.

"Close your eyes, my little treasure," she'd whisper, kissing me softly on the forehead.

The memory resurfaces now from somewhere deep inside me, and I hear Mom's melodic voice as she says, "and then I heard it, one word, Saffron, whispered in the wind."

Open your eyes, my Saffron. The female voice isn't Mom's, but it sounds like it's straight out of that story. I don't know why I think that, I just do. I think it has something to do with the way those words are whispered in the wind, floating over me like magic.

I listen to the voice and slowly pull my eyelids apart. I feel like I'm waking from a wonderful dream, ,like this morning when Luna woke me with breakfast. Sun filters in through my eyelashes, and I smile groggily as I look around. A towering figure looms over me, a giant... tree?

Get up, child, the wind calls, circling me.

I lift my head and pain shoots through my skull. The wind stays with me, soothing it, and I slowly turn my head. Then, my heart nearly stops. Two large, angry, wolves are advancing on me. Beta and older brother.

Memories come flooding back. Walking home from school. Kaitlin talking non-stop and then finally rushing off back to her locker for her math book. Walking some more and stopping in this clearing. Then, Zara, Jess and I forming a wall between the kinds and the Wolves attacking us. My stupid plan. Followed by Nicki running to get POW. Fighting to keep the enemy distracted and, finally, getting flung at the tree.

I know I must have only been out of it for a few seconds, since Beta and Older Brother hadn't had a chance to tear me to shreds. When I glance around the field, Jess is still perfectly fine as she circles the white wolf, but Zara is injured. Her light gray coat is coated in blood, and a growl from older brother reminds me that if I don't act fast, I'll be next.

As I struggle to get to my feet, the world around me spins. I feel drunk, though the dizziness I feel isn't from beer. Nope, it's entirely thanks to my collision with the tree. I've actually never been drunk—not after seeing what alcohol does to Dad—but I figure this is what it would feel like. Except I can't clear it the way he does, by making me cook, binging on food, and then passing out on the living room couch. My only choice is to fight through the nausea and stay strong.

Older Brother realizes my struggle and breaks into a run. He moves fast—I know he does—but it all feels like it's happening in slow motion. My vision blurs and the world around me spins, bringing his triumphant look in and out of focus. I edge backwards, until my tail brushes the solid truck of the tree.

Older Brother growls, prepared to strike, and pushes off the ground with his hind paws. As he launches himself at me, his drooling muzzle opens wide, putting his sharp teeth on full display. I watch them move closer and closer to my throat and count down the seconds I have left. Ten, nine... my pulse starts to race wildly in my chest... eight, seven... Older Brother's white canines come closer and closer, until they're only inches from my flesh... six, five... I've never so near death and I know this could be it... four, three... I hold my breath... two, one... then, at the last possible second, I throw myself to the side.

I regret it the moment I crash to the ground. The impact rattles the contents of my skull and reverberates through my entire body. For a split second, the dizziness gets so bad that I think I might actually throw up. I really don't want to regurgitate the remnants of Joe's pizza. If I do, there's no way I'm ever eating there again. Which means I can kiss my 50 dates with Logan goodbye. Well, assuming I get out of here alive and he doesn't change his mind.

I whine pitifully from the pain, but I know no matter how much I hurt, it can't even begin to compare with Older Brother. As I land on the ground with a thud, he continues on a direct trajectory with the tree. He tries to stop himself, desperately, but momentum keeps him going. There's no way for him to prevent what's about to happen, and I see a momentary look of 'oh, shit' on his wolf face before he slams head-first into the tree. There's a loud crack and then he slides down and falls limp on the grass.

I don't have time to check if he's still alive; I have to help my friends, which means taking down Beta. Now that he and I are about to fight one on one, the odds are a thousand times better. His shoulder injury has stopped bleeding, but but it probably hurts like a female dog. My own head is still throbbing and the dizziness doesn't quite dissipate, but at least my nausea ebbs and my aversion to Joe's Pizza dissipates. Hurray for more days.

I get to my feet and glance at Zara. Her coat is covered in even more blood now. The multiple, heavily bleeding wounds and missing chunks of flesh on her left side don't look good, but at least she's still standing. Her opponent is covered in blood too, though it's hard to tell if it's his or Zara's. I watch him briefly, and it's a relief to see him moving slowly, like he's tired, injured, or both.

I dread checking on the kids, fearing Nisha's already dead, and maybe little Joshie too. I swivel my head and then gape in surprise, tongue lolling. Nisha is panting next to the Rogue kid, who's lying on his side, unconscious. Nisha's throat glistens in the sun, which means she's bleeding, but she seems fine otherwise. Meanwhile, Joshie—the hero—is holding a large rock over the unconscious wolf's head. The Rogue kid starts to regain consciousness, and Joshie smashes the rock against his scalp, rendering him unconscious again. Brutal.

I turn to Jess next, and of course she's still circling the white wolf like she's got all day. She's made literally no progress—her opponent's coat is a pristine white, and Jess doesn't have a single wound on her beautiful red coat. It's like she's not even trying—like she's at some lame school dance and she plans to shift her weight back and forth while the rest of us die.

I feel a wave of disgust and I'm about to look away when I see her send Zara a panicked look. She tries to rush to help her, but the white wolf cuts her off, head-butting her in the side and sending her sprawling. Jess gets to her feet and tries to rush past him again, but he keeps her contained. She tries to switch strategies, attacking him, but he just dances out of the way and keeps circling.

I frown as she attacks again and again, and he moves out of her way every single time time. He doesn't try to harm her, even though she's wide open to attack. It's like he doesn't want to hurt her—or he's just toying with her like she's a pup. What's going on?

I'm so busy trying to figure it out, I almost don't notice when Beta lunges at me, his snapping jaw aimed straight for my throat. 

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 

Um, guys... 

I'm a little freaked out because... 

in the next chapter... 

*swallows nervously* 

Well...

You'll see....

On Friday.

Also, what did you think of this chapter? Be honest. I'm strong, I can take it! 

♥ Vote to save Saffron. Comment  to save Zara. Go to the Sold to a Wolf Pack Facebook group and participate in the poll to save everyone else* ♥

*Voting, commenting and participating on FB does not ensure they'll live. It will make it more likely though... you know, peer pressure.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

• Sign up at miameade.com to get your free copy of Saffron vs. the Rogue Brothers

• Check out my story Hunter's Luna, to find out why Luna (a human) just beat up her Alpha mate, Hunter, in front of the whole school!

• Join the Sold to a Wolf Pack, Hunter's Luna group on Facebook to hear all book-related news first.