Chapter 4

~STORM

Kieran stared at me with an intensity that made my heart race. His striking green eyes were unmistakable, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Kieran?” I managed to ask. He tilted his head, taking in the sight of me with a curious gaze. The way his eyes roamed over my body made me shrink inwardly. I regretted the way Richard had twisted my mind and battered my confidence.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

His lips curved into a smirk, a wicked glint in his eye. “Won't you say a little hello to your new Alpha?”

The shock of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. I gripped the object behind me to steady myself, fighting the dizzying sensation that threatened to overwhelm me. His smirk widened as he noticed my instability.

Kieran was a ghost from my past, one I never expected to see again. Deep down, I sensed that his arrival had something to do with the fight that had just taken place, something to do with me. His gaze drifted to the dried blood splattered on my clothes.

“Did I do that?” he asked, feigning sympathy, and my fists clenched at my sides. But even in my anger, the familiar scent of him was oddly calming. When I didn’t respond, he clicked his tongue dismissively.

It was my turn to scrutinize him. Dressed in a leather jacket, a snug black shirt, black jeans, and sturdy boots, he exuded a casual yet sophisticated air. His eyes traced the mark on my neck, and I pretended to look away, aware of what he was searching for. That mark, while I refused to acknowledge it, was effective at inciting jealousy in others.

Great.

“So where are you going?” I asked, attempting to shift the focus.

“To meet the council members,” he replied, nodding toward the door I had just exited from, his jet-black hair sweeping wildly in the motion.

My wolf was buzzing with energy, eager to draw closer to him. Hadn’t I felt this way before? I couldn’t still be the same girl I used to be…yet, parts of me hadn’t changed at all.

“Would you at least not get them changed?” I asked, harboring a hint of hope that he hadn’t come to extract revenge on me.

“Do you want them here?” he countered. I nodded meekly. “They’ll stay. But trust me, I’m going to change a lot of things.” He scanned me from head to toe one last time before turning on his heel and walking away. The faint scent of him lingered in the air, mingling with the sound of his boots echoing on the floor.

Danielle lingered in the corridor, and even as I felt a pull toward her, I tried to pass without stopping, but she called out.

“Will Richard really get replaced?”

“The new Alpha is here to take over. I have no idea what he will do with either of you, to be honest,” I replied.

Her eyes filled with tears, and confusion washed over me. Why was she crying? She was the one who had contributed to our defeat, yet there were no visible injuries on her apart from a few fresh bruises. The urge to question her about how she got them was strong, yet I remained silent. After all, she deserved what was coming to her.

There was an unexplainable energy drawing me toward her. I shook my head, forcing my eyes shut for a moment before resolutely walking away.

But then she called out to me again.

“Has Richard ever raped you?”

I froze. Despite the turmoil within me, she approached, tears streaming down her face.

“He raped me this evening. I told him I didn’t want it, but he didn’t care,” she admitted, her voice shaky.

I shook my head in denial. “He never touched me without my consent.”

More tears spilled from her eyes, sorrow transforming her features. It was all starting to make sense now, the excessive pain I had felt in my own body after the confrontation.

Judgment crept upon me, yet I pushed it aside. She had taken Richard from me, believing she would become the future Luna. Perhaps if she could somehow charm Kieran, she still had a chance. But deep down, I knew Kieran wouldn’t give her a second glance.

I patted her hair awkwardly as I turned to leave, my mind flooded with unwanted images of her panic and despair.

---

Staring into my wardrobe for what felt like the thousandth time, I searched for a distraction, something to pull me from my self-pity and insomnia. My sparkling black dress caught my eye, the perfect remedy after so many weeks of moping. With Kieran as our new Alpha, maybe I wouldn’t have to think about strategies to regain control at night.

I finally seized the dress and paired it with my black heels, feeling a sense of empowerment ripple through me. For the first time in three months, I was dressing like myself again. Gone were the oversized garments that had engulfed me. I should be mourning the loss of my pack, but somehow, that emotion felt misplaced.

Avira crossed my path in the hallway, her own stunning purple dress twinkling in the dim light. She did a double take upon seeing me.

“Are you planning to seduce everyone tonight?” she teased, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.

I flipped my high ponytail over my shoulder and laughed. We linked arms and headed toward the hall together.

The hall was bustling, filled with wolves from each pack, their excitement sparkling. A wide space remained empty at the front, reserved for the council chiefs.

He kept his word, then. Interesting.

I settled beside Avira, feeling a sense of camaraderie. Lincoln, Richard’s beta, approached me with his head bowed.

“I’m sorry we lost the battle, ma’am. And I apologize for Alpha’s behavior.”

“Ex-Alpha,” I corrected him, and he offered a small, grateful smile before drifting away.

A hush fell over the hall as the door slid open, and in strode Kieran, his beta following closely behind. Kieran’s confident steps commanded attention, and the crowd erupted into cheers.

“Good evening, Navarre, Blood Moon, and last but not least, the Lock Heart pack. I am Kieran Blackwood, and I am grateful for the swift submission of the Lock Heart pack following such an easy fight. I’m here now,” he declared, a glint of authority in his voice. “Clearly, the pack needs better leadership. Changes are coming.”