ROWAN.Am I crazy?I definitely am, right?What else can you call me coming to The Vale pack, with not only my child and trusted friends but with also twelve other wolves.Rogues.In the vale pack.For a conference where alphas would be in.Where he would be in.It probably wouldn’t look well if I slit Dominic’s that at the table, right?“No, it will not,” my wolf remarks. “So control yourself.”“I can control myself just fine, thank you.”“Are you talking to your wolf?” Lisa asks from my side in the car.Rina is sitting up front with Alden while Jhnelle is tucked between me and Lisa.The other twelve wolves are in three car convoy behind us, all of us waiting for the gates to open and let us in.Jhenelle had nearly jumped out of her skin in excitement when I had told her that we were going to Viktor’s pack.A very clear mistake as she has not been able to calm down since then.Even now, her eyes are trained outside the window as she leans across Lisa to watch.Lisa and Rina just seem
ROWANBy the time six comes around, I am already awake and dressed.I had taken extra care in selecting my clothes, and even Rina helped.I really do want to make a good impression on his pack, because if things go the way we want, or at least the way I think it is going, I will become the Luna of his pack.As I turn towards the door, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I see a wide eyed, a little anxious but confident woman string back.My hair is neatly styled in a sleek, low bun, with a few loose strands framing my face which goes well with the elegant but understated outfit I have chosen to wear for the dinner.I am dressed in a tailored green blouse that goes well with my eyes and which also has a delicate lace detailing along the neckline and cuffs. The fabric is crisp and smooth, gracefully draping over my shoulders and matched with a pair of dark gray tailored trousers that fit me perfectly and just end above my shoes.Speaking of shoes, I decided to go for a pair of hi
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“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