VIKTOR.“You are fidgeting,” Maxwell says as we head towards the settlement in a black SUV.Sven turns around from the passenger seat to glance at me before shifting his eyes towards my tapping legs.I immediately still it.“Anxious to see your mate?” He asks with a smirk.“Nervous, actually,” I answer as I look out the window. “Terrified really. She can be quite scary when she wants to be.”“Has she forgiven you yet?” Fin asks from the driver's seat.“Nope. Still cold.”“Come on, you are offering her three, plus you, four, powerful allies. She must be grateful,” Sven says“Grateful, yes. Forgiving, no.”“Damn, she sounds like a tough one.”“She is,” I say with a smile“Look at him,” Sven remarks as he turns back into his seat. “He is whipped.”“Do bear in mind that I was there when you found your own mate, Sven. You behaved more a fool than I.”“Hey!”“Not now,” Maxwell speaks up with a laugh. “There is no need to bring out our embarrassing stories. We are all mature men here.”“Sure
ROWAN.“Please,” I say as I turn towards the mansion’s entrance. “You must have had a long trip. Simone here will lead you to your rooms to freshen up.”“Thank you,” one of them says, the tall, blonde one, Maxwell, I think. “We will do that.”“You sure have made this place your own, even if you didn't build it,” the shortest one says. Sven.“Did you build yours?” I ask.Contrary to popular belief, most territorial packs were not built. In fact, long before we had become more civilized, our predecessors had fought physical combat for the right to retain land.Once the other was dead, the land was yours, well until another one rose to challenge you for itSo, none actually built their pack, it was won and claimed by blood.“Yo-”“We were just following the old traditions, that is all,” I continue. “If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with your ancestors, not me.”“Damn, Sven, the last one murmurs quietly. “I think she just owned your ass.”“Oh, piss off you.”I see Vikto
ROWAN.Viktor and I exchange a quick glance before I turn to the wolf.“Thank you, Carla,” I say before plucking Jhenelle off him and handing her to the wolf. “Can you make sure she gets to her teachers and ensure she remains there this time?”“Yes, Guia,” she says with a bow before leaving the room.“So much for that shower,” Viktor remarks.“I can have them delay it so you can have one,” I tell him.“Nah. There is no point in delaying. Let's get this show on the road,” he says as he walks out.I take one steadying breath before I follow.The dining room is designed with the same atmosphere as the rest of the mansion.Rustic elegance.The walls are painted a clean creamy white that creates a warm backdrop for the rich, dark wood of the furniture.A sturdy table made from solid oak is set in the middle of the room, with legs fitted with silver ornate etchings.The chairs are matched with the same design bit, with cushioned seats and curved backs, that helps make it more comfortable to
WARNING: SLIGHT MENTION OF RAPE AND TORTUREROWAN“Don't growl at me,” I say with a lazy drawl. “It doesn't do shit.”“Cool it, Sven,” FIN tells him before turning to me. “Can you explain what you mean by that?”“I am saying, you packs are not the saints you claim to be. Honorable, just, fair.”“Yo-”“Many, and by many, I mean most, If not all of us here, in this coalition are all victims of your packs.”“How dare you?!” Sven snaps as he rises to his feet. “How dare you disparage the packs. We are noble. Honorable. Not some fou-”“You do realize,” Lisa cuts him off. “My dear Alpha, that rogues didn't become evil or twisted when they were outside the pack. They became that way inside it. It makes you wonder, what would cause a noble, honorable wolf to descend that far, doesn't it?”“What did you mean?” Fin asks“I am saying that usually people are quiet when a weak or the destitute are abused and it is only when those same tortured souls lash out that they become evil. No one says a wo
DOMINIC“What do you mean, he can't see me?” I demand from the sorry excuse of a wolf standing in front of me“Exactly, what I said. Alpha Maxwell, is not available to see you now.”“Did you tell him I was here, and that this is about the safety of all packs?”“No.”“Well, why the hell not?!”“Because he is not available for that. I really don't know how else to say this to you. He is not around. He is not here.”“Do you expect me to believe that?!” I growl at the fucker through the barred gate.“Alpha Dominic,” another wolf calls as he walks up to the gate. “I am Liam, the beta of this pack.”“Finally, someone with sense. Tell your Alpha I want to see him.”“Like my subordinate said, the alpha is not available, I urge you to come back another time.”“How dare you talk to me like that? Is this how the Grange pack is taught to look down on others? If you didn't have the security of this gate, I would kill you where you stand for the disrespect.”He stares at me for a few shocked second
DOMINIC.For a long second, I stare in shock at Clarisse’s crumpled and still body on the floor, totally fearing the worst.It is the sight of blood that kicks me into motion.“Clarisse!” I exclaim as I hurry towards her body, lifting her head to see her eye closed. “Clarisse! Come on, babe. Please open your eyes.”I try to shake her awake a few times and that is when I notice the blood.A lot of it.Pooling underneath her.Oh, goddessPlease, please not our baby.I lift her in one swoop and race through the mansion, out the door and across the pack to get to the pack clinic.“George!” I roar as I burst into the building, panting and frantic. “Where the heel is George?!” I scream at the stunned and foolishly staring attendants.A few of them scatter, hopefully to go in search of him while two others rush over and wheel over a hospital bed.“Alpha,” they call as one gesture towards the bed, urging me to put her on it.“Get me George!” I growl at them, too scared to let her go.Oh, what
ROWAN.“…Good. Now x squared plus two x squared is equal to what?”I watch as Jhenelle scrunches her face in concentration before slamming her little hand on the table“Three x squared?” She answers.“Very good!” I exclaim with a smile. “See, this isn’t so hard.”“Ehn, I still don’t like math, though,” she retorts.“Well, you are going to have to learn to like it, because you are going to do a whole lot of calculations when you grow up.”“Do I have to?” She whines at me.“Hmm, yeah. It is apart of being an adult.”“Ugh, you guys don’t seem to have a lot of fun,” she pouts“What do you mean?” I ask.“Well, everything is always so complicated with you all. I don’t think I will enjoy being an adult,” she responds.“We have our good sides,” I defend.“Really? Like what?”“Walk, for one. We don’t have to do assignments all the time,” I reply with a little snarky tone. “And, we get to do things on our own rules. No more bed time curfews and no one forcing us to eat our veggies.No one tells
VIKTOR.“Hey, Lisa,” I call as I catch her around the bend of the stairs.“Alpha,” she greets with a smirk.“Don’t start,” I groan at her.“Couldn’t help it. What do you need?”“Have you seen Rowan? I can’t seem to find her anywhere.”“Have you checked the gazebo? You know she and Jhenelle do the homework there.”“Right. Totally forgot about that. Thanks,” I say before heading out of the mansion towards the back.The pathway leading out of the mansion is laid with field stones, weathered and worn, like they have been here for ages. Lining the paths are wildflowers and green shrubs with their leaves rustling in the breeze while the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, like nature’s own perfume.The pathway leads me through a groove of trees until I come across a small clearing where a gazebo is nestled in its center, surrounded by different colorful wildflowers. The wood is a warm, honey brown color, that makes it even more charming even though
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