ROWAN“Well, who is talking?” the man demands.We are going to die.I am going to die.I may not know much about the outside world, but I do know this, the Vale pack are ruthless to outsiders.“Seize them!” The man orders and the wolves begin advancing on us.“Wait! Wait!” Lisa says as she gets to her feet. “There has been a misunderstanding and we can explain…”“When I say run you run,” Rina whispers to me .“What?”“Shh. Lisa is stalling for time, enough for us to get a moment. How do you feel about getting into the river again?”“A preferable choice to dying in the Vale pack,” I respond.“I knew I liked you.”We tune back to Lisa’s conversation, and even then I can't make sense of what she is saying.“...and then there were rabid wolves coming out of everywhere and Now!”My body reacts before my brain catches up, throwing myself back into the water and I begin swimming for dear life.I hear two other splashes join me in the water as well as the echoing screams of the wolves on th
ROWAN EIGHT MONTHS LATER.“I am telling you, she is about to pop!” “And I am telling you to be quiet! You are making her more nervous.”“She can't hear me, we are outside.”“You underestimate how annoyingly loud and irritating your voice is!”I can't help but chuckle at their banter, only for another lance of pain to cut it short.“Damn it!” I curse, wincing as another contraction rips through my body.This is hell.“Ro!” Rina exclaims as they both rush in. “Are you okay?”“Not really, where were you two?” I ask. “You weren't here when I woke up.”Here is a wooden cottage that we had come across a few weeks ago during our roaming.The girls as well as I, had been worried as to where we could stay, especially with what looks like my due date coming up.It was a well furnished home with all necessary appliances required for a comfortable living.Lisa had theorized that it belonged to some human who had probably migrated to the city for the winter.Either way, we thanked the goddess
ROWAN.FOUR YEARS AFTER.“Mama!”The shrieking voice of my daughter, Jhnelle, as she bursts into my office, a dazzling smile on her face followed by Lisa brings a fuzzy feeling over me.“Mama, save me. Aunty Lisa is going to eat me,” she shrieks as she heads for me only to be swept off her feet by Lisa.“Got you,” she crows as she lifts her up into the air. “Your mama can't save you now!” she announces before proceeding to pretend munch on her tummy.More shrieks of laughter fills the room, bringing a wide smile to my face and a respite from the documents before me.“Lisa, please don't eat my daughter,” I say as I get to my feet, heading over to them and placing a kiss on Jhnelle’s hair. “She is the only one I have.”“Very well,” she says mournfully before turning to the girl. “I will set you free on account of your mother who is working so hard for all of us here.”The all of us that she refers to are known as the Winter Wolf Coalition.It is a… large group of rogues who while not wi
ROWAN.It is a massacre.Limbs thrown all over the place ,blood soaking the ground, the trees.There is no sound.Not even the tweeting of the birds.“What the hell happened here?” I ask in horror.“It looks like some demon mauled all these wolves,” George, one of the permanent residents and fighters of our camp says.“They are not rogues,” Lisa says as she walks through the corpses. “But they are not from the same pack either.”“My question is how they managed to get this close to us without us knowing or hearing anything?” I growl out.There is no answer to that, and that in itself is worrying.We know how shaky our peace is.A bunch of rogues attacked a pack and won, taking over their territory .We are not friends to anyone.Still, it gave them pause and as long as we kept to ourselves, they left us alone.Mostly.So, who are these people and why are their corpses so close to us?“Spread out,” I command, my voice carrying in the silence and across the vast space. “Look for survivo
ROWAN.“Mate?” Lisa asks in confusion. “You are sure that is what she said. Mate?”“You repeating the word over and over again, is not going to change what I heard,” I drolly reply as I recline on the pillow. “She said mate.”“And did she say anything else?” she asks as she continues pacing the length of my bedroom.“No,” I answer as I close my eyes. “And can you stop pacing, you are making me dizzy.”“I think this is wonderful,” Rina pipes up as she strokes Jhenelle’s hair.She is sleeping on her lap, as we gathered in my room, our unofficial meeting room as Lisa likes to say.It is… rustic in a way. Nothing too over the top.It is a simple, charming room but with a touch of elegance. At one end of the wall, there is a sturdy, dark wood dresser with a mirror above it, reflecting the room back to me. Its surface is neat, with just a few essentials like a hairbrush, some makeup and a small jewelry box.Directly facing it is the bed whose headboard is a classic piece, with intricate ca
ROWAN .“Stop following me,” I snap at the two women as they chase after me, hot on my heels.“We are not following you, we are curious about your mate,” Lisa shoots back.“Stop calling him that, he is not my mate.”“Just because you don't accept it doesn't make it any less true,” Rina retorts. “Your wolf called him mate.”“And just because she called him that doesn't make it true!” I snap back.“Actually, it does. It is our wolves that recognize the mates, not the human, which means your feelings, thoughts and opinion on the matter has no bearing on the truth. Your wolf called him mate, he is your mate. End of discussion.”“Stop following me.”“No.”“Not a chance.”With an annoyed huff I quicken my footsteps as I head to the clinic, nodding and acknowledging the greetings of the people milling about as I pass by. “You know, we still have no idea as to why he was there in the first place,” I remark. “You two are so hell bent on making me accept him you are completely ignoring the fa
VIKTOR.Of all the places I thought I was ever going to find my mate, the Winter Wolf Coalition was not even on the list.Why would it be?They are made up of rogues, unknown rogues who came up from nowhere, took over a legitimate -abhorrent, useless, disgraceful but legitimate- pack and stayed in their territory.Never mind the fact that they haven't bothered anyone, yet, they are rogues. They are a threat.And their leader is my mate.What are the fucking chances of that happening?!“Louis. Louis what?” she asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.And there is that?The name just came out of nowhere. I couldn't exactly say, hi I am Viktor Thorn, Alpha of the Vale pack, one known to be ruthless to others especially rogues.I am not that stupid.“Hello. I asked you a question,” she repeats, her green eyes sparking with irritation.Beautiful green eyes.“Did he hit his head?” she mutters to herself as she eyes me with worry.“I… I can't remember,” I say, internally wincing at the lie.I
ROWAN.“Well, how did it go?” Rina asks the moment I walk out of the room.“He is lying, I just know it,” I say as I make my way out of the clinic.“How do you know that?” Lisa asks as they take places up my sides.“Said his name is Louis, but doesn't remember his last name. Has no recollection of how he got to that field or what he was doing,” I reply “He might be telling the truth,” Rina interjects.“He had broken bones, internal bleeding and a few more bruises. Nothing to his head, so where does the amnesia come in?”“Maybe it's trauma?” Lisa adds.“Really? Trauma? That is what you are going with?” I ask sarcastically.“I don't know. Look, all I am saying is… maybe you should just give him a chance. He might actually be telling the truth .” “He is not!” I snap at her.“How do you know that?!”she snaps back.“Because I looked into his eyes! Okay. There was no confusion, Los lost sense of direction, no desperation. He knows who he is and the fact that he is lying about it tells me
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