ROWANWith conflicting thoughts going around in my head, Viktor leads both I and Lisa to the dining area.Alden, Rina, and Jhenelle can be seen waiting by the doors.“Are you nervous?” He asks me as we approach them.“A little,” I say. “It has been a while since I have been amongst pack wolves.“Well, you have nothing to fear among mine, I promise you,” he tells me while giving my hand a firm squeeze.Where did you go?” Rina asks Lisa the moment we join them, while Jhenelle immediately latches onto Viktor's leg.She wasn't with me when I woke up, but for some reason, I wasn't really worried.I know Viktor would never let anything happen to her.“I needed a stroll,” I hear Kusa say while I look down on my daughter.“Where were you, missy?” I ask with a mock frown.“I was hungry and Louis made me three sandwiches! I ate them all.”“Is that wise?” I ask as I look over to him. “We are about to have dinner now.”“They were small cuts,” he says. “And with her energy, I am sure she has burnt
VIKTOR“That wasn't so bad,” Rowan says as I walk her towards her room.Jhenelle had fallen asleep across my lap, halfway through dinner, and is now safely snuggled in my arms as we walk.“Told you there wasn't any reason to be worried,” I tell her.“It is a way for you to say, but for someone with my history with packs, my anxiety was warranted,” she retorts as she opens the room set aside for Jhenelle.“Hmm, I suppose,” I mutter as I walk in.The room is decked with vibrant colors and fairy tale posters, just perfect for a five year old girl like Jhenelle.The walls are a soft, fluffy pink, like cotton candy that matches with a ceiling that is painted with big, white fluffy clouds so that it would like she is sleeping under the sky.The bed is a cozy little nest, with a soft, pink blanket and lots of cuddly stuffed animals snuggled up with a tiny, sparkly tiara at the head of the bed.The furniture is all white and shiny, with golden handles that twinkle and a dresser that has a big
ROWAN.“... And remember, you have to make sure to stay in your room. If you need something, ask Lily. Don't come out, okay?”“Yes, mummy.”I give Jhenelle a kiss on her head before getting to my feet.“Don't worry, princess,” Viktor tells her with a little peck on her hair. “We will be back before you know it.”“That is a lie,” she mutters with a pout. “You all are having some kind of adult meeting, it is going to take a long while.”“Okay, you got us. But I promise to make it up to you, okay?”“You promise?” She asks.“Of course, " he says. “What would you like?”“How about we go out to the park? Do you have one here? With plenty of swings?”“I am sure we can find one with swings,” he says as he pecks her in the head. “You have our word. Now, behave. Okay? For your mom and I.”“Okay.”I give her another peck before we both walk out of the room.“You need to relax,” Viktor says as he takes my hand. “These alpha can smell fear, you need to pull yourself together.”“I am not scared of
ROWAN.He isn't here.Right now, I am standing close to the entrance of the living room, watching as all the alphas mingle with each other.With one notable figure missingDominic.“What is he playing at?” I mutter.“Probably his way of disrespecting Viktor,” a familiar voice responds I look over and see Rina walking towards me.“Disrespect? If that is his plan, to not show up just to spite Viktor, then he just created a mess for himself. But I doubt it.”“Hmm? Why?”“Dominic wants this war,” I tell her. “For as long as I have known him, he has always been obsessed about glory. About putting Viktor in his supposed place. This council is meant to disrupt that plan, why would he not show up? He will have to if he wants to move forward with it.”“So, what isn't he here?” She asks as she leans against the wall.“I don't know. And Franky, I don't like it.”“Are you that eager to see him again?”“Don't be ridiculous,” I scoff at her. “I may not see him for the rest of my life and it still
VIKTOR.I know the exact moment he sees Rowan because of the way his whole body freezes up and his eyes go wide like he has just seen a ghost.Fear.That is what I see in his face.I wonder what is going on in his head right now.The woman he was supposed to love and cherish, the one he betrayed in the worst way possible is right here, in his enemy's house, surrounded by the alphas he is trying to convince to join his cause.Just how terrified is he?I really want to know.“Lo… Louisa?”Huh?Who is-I see the way Rowan instinctively flinches, just a tiny start that no one would notice even if they were looking at her.But I am looking at her and I know her well enough to read even the tiniest twitch.Louisa.That must have been her name before… well, before everything that happened.“It is nice of you to join us,” I call out to him, effectively getting his attention on me as I move through the crowd. “We had almost written you off and started the meeting without you.”A sneer breaks o
ROWAN.“What?!” He exclaims. “Her?!”“What is wrong? Have you met her before?” Viktor asks with a dangerous smirk.He really has been spoiling for a fight with him and I wonder if this meeting can go on without a hitch or without a little blood being spilled.In the meantime, I stare right at Dominic as he too stares at me, daring him to answer.Oh, he must be so confused.I am pretty certain he was convinced I was dead and he had gotten away with what he had done.It will be lovely, destroying everything that he holds dear.“Alpha Dominic? Are you okay?” One of the men asks.“What? I mean … Yes, I am fine. I am okay.”“So, have you met her before?” Viktor repeats “No. No, I have not.”“Ah, I see. Have you met any of the members of her coalition?”“No.”“Have any of your people come in contact with them?”“I… I can't say.”“Hmm, I see.”“If there is no other issue,” Maxwell says. “Shall we begin this meeting? Alpha Dominic, please have your seat.”It was an order and I know for a fac
ROWAN“...Rowan, the floor is yours.”At Maxwell's words, I finally break my gaze off Dominic.“I really don't know what more to say,” I begin. “Alpha Viktor here has spoken well on our behalf. There is just one thing I would like to add. You said it was a mercy that you have allowed us to live this long, frankly, that is a disturbing thought. It has been a while since I have been in a pack, so please enlighten me, is this the mentality of all alphas? That those they consider less or weaker than them should be killed off?”“Of course, not!” Sven remarks. “It is our duty to ensure that we teach and protect those too weak to protect themselves.”“They are rogues!” Dominic snaps. “They are dangerous creatures who have banded together to-”“The only reason we have banded together is to protect ourselves from packs who will seek to take advantage of us or kill us. Packs like yours!” I snarl at him. “Tell me, these past years that we have been in existence, have we contacted any of you, att
DOMINIC. With bated breath, I watch as Maxwell walks towards the box, picks it up, and begins it to the table. “I am going to be pulling out the marbles one by one, to avoid any… allegations of cheating,” he says and another smattering of chuckles is heard around the room. Are they mocking me?! “But before I do that, I would like to ask. Is there anyone who withheld their right to vote? If so, please raise a hand.” I look around and note that no single person raises their hand. Which is good, right? At least, if I can get a considerable amount of red marbles, it means I still have a chance to get rid of them. Of her. But… How? How is she still alive? I had the whole surroundings checked, how… is she- “Very well, then,” Maxwell says with a nod. “I shall begin the count. There are thirty six alphas present here, so there should be thirty six marbles counted. I will begin.” One by one, he begins pulling out the marbles, some of us counting under our breaths ho