ROWAN “Why are you still crying?” I ask in exasperation as I wipe my daughter's face. “I haven't even scolded you yet.”Her face is red and blotchy, her eyes are more vibrant with the pools of tears in her eyes and her nose hasn't stopped running.Yes, my daughter is a messy crier.“You told Louis to go away!” She cries out. “ you sent him away. I thought you liked him,” she continues.“I did but then he lied to me. I-”“I lie to you too, will you tell me to leave too,” she hiccups.“What?! Now!” I answer in despair. “You are my baby and I love you. I could never kick you out.”“But you kicked Louis out. And he is your mate. You are supposed to love your mate too.”“Jhenelle…”“You are also supposed to forgive them when they offend you. And he even said he was sorry. Why don't you want to forgive him?”“It is complicated, sweetie. I-”“Everything is always complicated with you. Go away!” She screams as she turns away from me. “I don't want to talk to you anymore!”I stare at her in s
VIKTORVALE PACK“Welcome back, Alpha!”“Welcome home!”“Thank the goddess, you are safe!”“We feared the worst!”“The Alpha is back! Alpha Viktor is back!”On and on it went, as different members of the pack came up to welcome me back to the pack.A month I have been away for a month.And it feels like a lifetime “Welcome home, Alpha,” Andre greets me warmly as we head up to my wing. “Thank you, Andre. I missed it.”“Hmm, I am sure you did. And what of our Luna? When will we be welcoming her?”I sigh heavily at the question.I have been doing my best not to think about Rowan since I left.I feared that if I did, I would turn back and make a nuisance of myself “Alpha?”“I don't know, Andre. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms.”“What happened?” He asks with concern as he holds open the door to my room.It is a large space, one that I am occasionally embarrassed about My room, or should I say, my suit, contains a double sized, king bed, right at the center, with a six feet
NB: NAMES OF MENTIONED ALPHASAlpha Maxwell of the Grange packAlpha Sven if the Sky packAlpha Fin of the Indigo packVIKTOR“Are you for real?” Fin, alpha of the Indigo pack demands as he stares at me. “You of all people are telling us that the coalition has no interest in taking over the packs? That they are peaceful?”“Rogues are not peaceful, Viktor,” Maxwell says.“These ones are,” I tell them. “They have no desire whatsoever to tangle with the packs. All they want is to be left alone to their peaceful existence. It is just a Shame that I had to find that out in such a… an unfortunate way.”“Yes, about that. Why were you with the other alphas?” Alpha Maxwell asks. “They are not your usual sort of circle you run with. You know, scheming, ambitious, icky.”“I know. And I am ashamed to have even been caught in their crowd… but, they knew how to get to me. They were well versed with my innate distaste for rogues and had played on that. And I had fallen for it.”“So, after you realiz
VIKTOR“I cannot believe you told them that! Are you insane?! What if they used that information against you?!”Andre paces around the study, ranting as he has been for almost fifteen minutes.It is impressive actually.To be talking, non stop, on your own in a high and frustrated pitch, for fifteen minutes.He should be a singer.“Your mate, our Luna,” he continues. “Is an important and integral part of our pack, the mother of the pack and you just decided to broadcast it to other wolves?! Other alphas?! Do you not know how we are regarded among the wolf community?”“With fear! Fear, Viktor. I mean we are probably just below the Winter wolf coalition and you went ahead to reveal that important secret? Are you out of your mind?!”“If they were the kind to reveal my secret, I wouldn't have told them,” I reply calmly, finally able to get a word in.“Still!” He snaps. “You can't just trust anybody with something like that. Least of all, strangers.”“They knew something was up,” I tell hi
ROWANMy eyes fly open with a start, instantly alert to any foreign movement.It takes me a few moments that there was no one in the room and that it was just the running footsteps of the wolves outside that woke me up.That is how it has been, ever since I had killed Vance and Viktor had left two weeks ago, I, as well as the rest of the settlement had been on alert.An attack is coming, there was no if about it, this fact was for sure. The only issue is where it would come from. Viktor or Dominic.Or even worse…Both.A glance at my alarm clock shows that it is way past breakfast, and yet, I have no motivation to get off the bed.The truth is that I haven't had any since Viktor left.I hadn't realized how… much I liked his presence. How much I liked firmwad to it everyday and now that he is no longer here…It hurt.Goddess, it hurts.This ache in my heart.It almost makes me sick.Not even when Dominik had… assaulted me or rejected me did I feel this bad.I… was hurt, yes. But not h
VIKTOR.It has been almost fifteen minutes since Alden went to inform Rowan of my presence and I have been locked in a staring match with Gaines.Fifteen minutes.I swear it.He had locked eyes with me in a defiant and challenging scowl and teg. damn alpha genes in me will not let me look away.So, yes.Two grown men have been having a pissing sans staring match with each other to the amusement of anyone that passes by.“She will see you,” Alden's voice breaks the contest and we both look over at himI didn't even hear him walk up to us.Childish, Viktor.You are supposed to be more mature than this, allowing a mere pup to get under your skin.“She will?” I ask in delighted surprise.“She will?” Gaines asks in dismayed surprise.“Yes, she will. But first, we need to ensure that you are alone, as you claimed,” he answers.“Of course,” I agree. “Um, how are you going to do that?”“We have already sent out wolves to check the perimeters and any other place they might be hiding,” he answe
VIKTOR.Stepping into the room is like entering into another place entirely.I mean, the difference in style from it and the other part of the house is so jarring it takes me a few seconds to recenter myself.While the rest of the settlement has that rustic, elegant warm style going for it, not shabby or poor but not flashy either this place feels… cold.Impersonal.DetachedDefinitely a place to revive people if you don't want them to feel comfortable.And don't get me wrong, it is beautifully furnished, there is just no… warmth here.Expected really, for a place used to pass judgment.The room is lit up by fixed ceiling lights that bear down on a person with such focus, it is uncomfortable.The light gray walls don't exactly lift the mood, in fact the only thing warm and fuzzy is the plush carpet that cushions my step as I walk in.The centerpiece is a meticulously crafted wooden table with intricate grain and subtle sheen with just four straight high backed chairs, three of which a
ROWAN. I watch as Viktor takes one more glance at me before leaving. “Wow,” Rina says as she gets to her feet and stretches. “That was so tense, I can feel.my muscles knotting up as you two were speaking.” “I think it went quite well,” Lisa remarks. “She didn't try to hit him and he was very calm.” “Calm?” I ask darkly. “That was calm to you?!” “For an Alpha, yes. You know how quick to temper they are, especially when they are felt to be challenged or disrespected. More less by one who is their mate. It speaks volumes of him to still maintain his cool, be worried about you and not blame you for your anger. I mean, he practically apologized, he came here to warn you of who your enemies are and offer allies?” “We don't know that for sure,” I say. “Oh, come off it. You know he is telling the truth,” Rina grouches from behind me. “What more do you want? For him to crawl in glass for you.” “Don't be silly,” I snap at her before slouching down into the chair. “I don't know. I
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