ROWAN. “Of all the things you have done, this has to be the most reckless!” I snap as I intentionally increase the pressure in a particular wound. He winces before sending me a glare over his shoulder. “I am already hurt!” He snaps. “You don't have to make it worse.” “Of course I do. How else am I going to get into your head how incredibly foolish your actions were? He is rabid. You said it yourself. Rabid! You know how unnaturally strong those wolves can get. And you still fought him. He could have killed you!” “But he didn't.” “But he could have!” My heart had almost flown out of my chest when he had walked into the room, holding his sides. It was torn, deep cuts from claws ripping through his skin. The wounds are still very fresh, showing his muscle and sinew, with the blood still flowing. His face is swollen and bruised, especially around his jaw where a punch must have hit. A cut above his eye bleeds down his cheek, mixing with dirt and sweat. His clothes are torn and
DOMINIC I check the digital clock hanging on my wall for what must be the hundredth time today. Still no news. What is taking them so long? How hard is it to get moving from the settlement to back here?! The knob of my office door begins to turn, and I look over in expectation only to see my mother walk in. Right. She is still here My hand instinctively goes to my cheeks where she had slapped me last night. I still haven't forgiven her for that. And so, with an annoyed huff, I turn away from her and head to my chair. “What do you want?” I grunt at her. “Were you expecting someone else?” she asks as she walks up to the desk. “I am busy. Get to it already. Why are you here?” “Is that the way to talk to your mother? We haven't seen each other in years, and you are already trying to rush me out.” “You should have thought about that before you slapped me yesterday. And in front of my beta, no less,” I retort “You deserve that slap and more. I had heard rumors of how ins
DOMINICI stare down in shock at the wolf, his words still ringing in my ears.“There was no response from the coalition, alpha!”It is my mother's low and sarcastic chuckle that pulls me out of my thoughts “What,” I begin. “Do you mean there was no response?” I demand.He drops to his feet, trembling as he answers.“I… I stayed at their gate… for a… a whole day, alpha. They didn't let me in.”“I did! I swear I did. They didn't respond.”“What exactly did they say?” I ask “They… they didn't say anything. The only thing they asked was who I was and when I introduced myself and the pack and told them my message from you, they just locked up.”“Who did you tell?”“The wolves at the gates, alpha.”“And did they go report it?”“One of them went in, alpha. And then he retired and just went back to his position. I called out to him. Demanded to know what the response was but they just ignored me. For a whole day. That is why I am late, alpha.”“And Louisa never showed up once?” I ask.“No,
ROWAN.“What is wrong?” I send a glance over my shoulder to see Viktor walking up to me, his hands going around my waist as he rests his head on my shoulder.“It is no big deal,” I mutter as I turn off my phone.“Rowan,” he calls quietly. “I can tell you are worried. What is it?”“It is Lisa,” I say. “She just called to brief me on the going ons of the settlement and was also wondering when I will be back.”“They know you are coming back tomorrow, don't they?”“Yeah…” “Then why are they so anxious?”I let out a heavy sigh before answering“It is Dominic.”“Of course, it is,” he mutters as he steps away to come lean on the banister with me.It is the one connected to my bedroom, overlooking the pack.“What did he do this time?” He asks.“At first, he sent someone to come get me-”“I am sorry, what?!” He exclaimed. “What do you mean by 'get you?”“You heard right. I was being summoned by the great Dominic Valor, himself.”“Why?”“No idea.”“They didn't say?”“They didn't ask and hones
ROWAN.He doesn't even respond.He just keeps playing with my breasts, driving me to insanity and I just know he is going to pull the same stunt of leaving me high again.Deciding on a little payback, I lean forward and grab at his member.His hiss of pleasure and shock is satisfying to me.I watch as his head falls forward, even as he keeps trying to keep his grip on my breasts.We can't have that.With one move, I flip him over so that I am now over him, with his never still in my hands “What…”“My turn,” I mutter at him as I lean over his length, tightening my grip on it.He falls silent at that, arcing deeper into my hand even as his member jumps around in my hand.The feeling of his arousal in my hand makes the fire in me burn hotter. I fix my gaw on his as I lower my head above his lap and bring the tip of his erection to my lips.He takes in a sharp breath as I pull him into my mouth, taking him as far past my lips and deep into my throat as I could.He twitches in response a
ROWAN.“You are back!”Rina's head splitting aceea reacwhamy wars moments before the woman herself flings her self onto me.“Oof, Rina. Easy on me,” I grunt as I stumble back into the car, my arms going round her body to embrace her.“Is that the way to fewer your friend that you haven't seen in over two weeks?!” She demnds with a pout as she leans away from me.“We had a video call this morning,” I remind her.“That was a video call,” she retorts. “It is not the same as seeing you in person. Oh, man. How am I even going to live without seeing either you or Lisa or even my pretty Jhenelle every day?” She whines as she leans down and plucks my daughter off the floor, twirling her around and elicting delighted squeals from her.“You will survive,” I say as I walk into the mansion.“Your mumy is a mean person, do you know that princess?”“Not true,” Jhenelle corrects her. “Mama is nice.”“Hmph! You are just saying that because she is your mummy!”“No! I am saying that because it is true!
ROWAN.“Louisa?!”At the name, whatever I had planned to say died out.Turning slowly, I come face to face with a familiar face.FLASHBACK“I don't know how she can still be so calm,” the woman sneered. “If the alpha hated me as much as he does her, I will be finding a way to escape the pack or better still, kill myself.”“Go away, Melissa,” I mutter at her, as I finish putting away the last of the dishes.“Oh, look! She speaks! I thought you had grown dumb from the death of people to communicate with.”“What do you want?” I ask her in a completely bored and detached torn as I turn to face her. “Is there an issue with your panties? You have forgotten how to wash them again? Or wait, maybe it is the mountain of dirty clothes in your room and you have forgotten the way to the laundry.”A smatter of gasps and giggles echo around us and I watch in mild amusement as her face flushes red in embarrassment.“Don't talk to me like that!” She snals as she pushes me against the sink, her hands
VIKTOR “...oh, I had no idea she had returned so soon,” Kaylee says on the line. “I knew she was planning on it but…” “It has been more than a month that she has been here with me,” I tell her as I stare out the window of my office. “It was about time she left.” “And you don't mind?” She asks. “Letting your mate go?” “Mate?! What do you mean my mate?” I ask, too shocked to think of something smarter. “Rowan is not… we are not… it is…” “Don't do that,” she says and I am very sure she is laughing at me from the other side. “It was pretty obvious.” “It was?” “Of course! I am surprised the others didn't notice. But then again, they are men and your lot are notoriously self absorbed.” “Hey! That is mean. But how do you mean it was obvious? How did you figure it out?” I ask as I turn to take my seat, putting my legs up on the desk “It is the way you behaved around her. Well, the way both of you behaved around each other, but mostly you. Your eyes never left her for more than two m
ROWAN“Mummy looks like a princess!”I laugh at the remark as I stand in front of the full-length mirror, fingers trailing over the delicate fabric of my mating dress. The soft white folds cling to my body like a second skin, flowing down in elegant waves to pool around my feet. The intricate gold embroidery along the bodice and hem catches the soft light, making it glimmer like stars across a night sky. The dress is modeled after ancient Greek designs, and yet it feels uniquely mine, as if it were made for this exact moment. Which it was.“You are right,” Lisa tells Jhenells as she adjusts the waist, while Rina’s fussing over my hair, placing small white flowers into the delicate braids. “But a queen instead. You are the princess.”Kaylee stands off to the side, smiling at me like she already knows what I am thinking.“You look... perfect, Rowan,” she says softly, her eyes filled with warmth. “Viktor won’t know what hit him.”I let out a small laugh, a nervous tremble in my chest
DOMINIC The world narrows down to just Viktor and me, as it was always going to be. This fight has been a long time comingHis eyes burn into mine from below, and I snarl down at him from the balcony. All the noise, all the chaos around us fades into nothing. Just him. Just me. My pulse thunders in my ears as I leap from the ledge, muscles coiling, ready to tear him apart.In mid-air, the change rips through me. Bones snap, skin stretches, and fur bursts from my skin. The transformation into my wolf form is savage, overwhelming. And in the space of a heartbeat, I am no longer a man but a beast. I barely register Viktor doing the same, his massive body surging upward to meet mine.We collide like thunder.Teeth flash, claws slash, fur and flesh tear. I drive him to the ground, snarling, biting, desperate to tear out his throat. But he fights back just as viciously, his teeth sinking into my shoulder with a brutal snap. The pain is white-hot, but I don’t feel it. Not really.
DOMINICThe fight surrounds me the moment I step into the clearing, chaos, mouse, bloodshed, everything swallowing up the night. Wolves… mone and outsiders…they are everywhere. It is impossible to tell who is who at first, just teeth, fur, and blood under the slivers of moonlight. They… Viktor and Rowan, they were ready for us. That much I expected, but what I didn’t count on was the sheer number of them.I should have been warned. I should have seen this coming. But no one told me. Not even Calvin.I can see Viktor and Rowan through the mayhem, cutting through my wolves like they knew every move we would make. Like someone had informed them of my protocols When I find who that fucking traitor is, he or she would wish their parents had never met.How the hell did they get so close? I wonder as my pulse quickens with anger, as I push through the bloodied mess to get to them.But then I see the others- Maxwell, Fin, Sven, Kaylee and her weakling husband, Donald. Traitors.Wha
DOMINIC“Let me out! I hate you!”Jhenelle’s voice rings out again, shrill and desperate, making the fragile peace I had hoped for, to be nothing more than a dream Her words slam into me, causing a visceral reaction that surprises even meHer small fists bang against the door, over and over, relentless. Each hit feels like a direct assault on my patience. She doesn’t understand. No.She refuses to understand. I stand just outside the door, my hands pressed against my temples, trying to drown out her cries. But no matter how hard I press, her voice breaks through, each shout like a blade carving away at my restraint. I have given her everything, more than Rowan ever could, more than anyone could. A life free from struggle, safety, power, a future in her rightful place by my side.As the future Alpha of the obsidian pack.What more could she possibly want?Why does she keep rejecting me? Why does she keep fighting me like this?“Jhenelle, stop!” I snap, but my voice is lost bene
ROWAN They say the truth always finds a way to come out.And that is better you let it come from your own mouth than anotherI just hope that is true.Especially now.The tension in the air is so thick, I can almost taste it. This the first time the settlement has been this packed, with wolves from all over have gathered, and it is like the entire place is holding its breath, waiting for an explosion. Their eyes are on me, waiting for answers. You can differentiate my wolves from the others.They are angry, confused, a little scared because of the foreign pack wolves but more than anything, they are restless. Dominic has crossed a line, touched their little wolf and they want blood.The other wolves are just curious about why they have been summoned and are waiting for an explanationIt is Kaylee that first steps forward first, her mate, Donald, right behind her.“What are we doing here, Rowan?” She asks, her voice cutting through the low murmurs of the other wolves. “You have e
ROWAN SLAM!The door to my study bursts open, crashing against the wall with a force that sends a shudder through the room, making me whirl around, heart racing only to see Alden dragging a trembling wolf behind him. A familiar wolf.Martin.One of the deserters.Oh, I knew it!I knew I shouldn't have accepted these scums into the Coalition Martin's face is ashen, his eyes wide with panic, darting around the room like a trapped animal. I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "Alden, what is this?" My voice is steady, but there is a hint of rage that I can't hide.Alden says nothing at first, simply steps aside to let two others enter. A young woman and a young man, both wolves from the obsidian pack, step forward. Their faces are tense, their eyes locked on me.Lisa, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, rises to her feet, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the scene. Viktor, standing by the window, moves closer, his presence commanding the room while Rina
ROWANEverything is moving too fast, yet not fast enough. Wolves are running, voices are shouting, and I feel trapped in a slow-motion nightmare, each second dragging on while the urgency inside me screams for action. My heart is racing in my chest, fear gripping every part of me, and I know -I just know- that Jhenelle is no longer here. Dominic… he was here.He must have taken her out of the park.The bastard. "She is not here," I whisper, more to myself than to anyone else. But Viktor, standing close, hears me."Rowan, we are doing everything we can," he says firmly. His voice is calm, but I can see the tension in his eyes. He is scared too. But that fear, it is not enough. It will not bring her back. We have to do something. I have to do something. Sitting here, waiting for others to find her, is not an option. It just will not work."No," I say louder now, my throat tight as I turn to face him. "No, Viktor. You do not understand. She is not in the settlement. He would
DOMINICThe audacity!That fucking bitch!I can't help but seeth as I stand at the edge of the clearing, just beyond the flickering light of the bonfire, cloaked in shadow. The night air is heavy with the scent of pine and smoke, mingled with the sharp tang of burning wood. Wolves are scattered around the fire, their faces lit with joy and warmth. The air hums with celebration, laughter ringing out into the night as if they have nothing to fear.But they should fear me.I watch them, my eyes narrowing on the center of the celebration. There, in the glow of the fire, are Rowan and Victor, laughing together as if they have won. My chest tightens, a bitter taste rising in the back of my throat as I watch how her hair catches the light, gleaming like embers in the dark, her smile that should have been mine is now directed at that bastard, ViktorI clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. Louisa. How dare she get another mate after being rejected by me?How can the fucking goddess
DOMINICA DAY AGOThe crackling of the fireplace is the only sound in my study as I sit behind my desk, fingers drumming against the polished wood. The flickering flames cast long shadows across the room, but they do little to dispel the cold that has settled into my bones. It is taking too fucking long.How hard is it to get such simple Intel.This is what I get when I work with incompetents.My phone buzzes against the desk, bringing me out from my thoughts and I glance at the screen. It is Martin. It is about time.I bring the phone to my ear, answering in a curt manner “Speak,” I say, my voice calm but laced with the authority that makes sure nobody disobeys me.“Alpha,” Martin’s voice is quiet, like he is whispering, and there is an urgency behind it. “There has been a development.”“What is it?”“Alpha- Viktor Thorn is here. He arrived today. And then Ro- Louisa annoyed that there will be a bonfire party. They are holding it tomorrow night. Everyone’s going to be there.”I