Chapter 14

Marcus' POV

The tension in the room was suffocating. Every face around the table reflected the same frustration, fear, and a thirst for vengeance.

Three of my most powerful werewolves had been beaten up— not just beaten up, but humiliated. The rogue responsible had made a spectacle of it, and it was a huge sting on my ego.

It wasn't the first time we'd dealt with outsiders, but this? This was different. No one messes with me and goes away with it.

I sat at the head of the table, my hands clenched tight in front of me as I listened to the others speak. The meeting had dragged on for nearly an hour, and with every word spoken, my blood boiled hotter.

"Two dead, Marcus," said Ryan, my second-in-command. His voice was steady, but I could see the barely concealed rage in his eyes. "One more wounded, and the rogue didn't even bother hiding his tracks. It's like he's daring us to come after him."

"Daring us?" Jaxon scoffed. "He’s mocking us! He’s mocking *you, Marcus. What kind of wolf dares challenge a Lycan king like this?"

I didn't answer immediately. My mind was already racing ahead, thinking about the consequences, the next steps. Whoever this rogue was, he wasn’t stupid.

He had to know that striking at my pack — at me — was a declaration of war. There was no turning back now. He had drawn first blood, and it was my responsibility to end it. Permanently.

But even with my thoughts racing, the anger pulsing inside me was becoming too much to contain.

“You think we should let this go, Marcus?” It was Jaxon again, his voice high with frustration. “Because that’s what it feels like. We’re sitting here, talking about this, and the rogue is out there, probably planning his next move.”

That did it.

With a roar of anger, I slammed my fist onto the table, hard enough that the entire room jumped at the sound. The wood cracked under my hand, splintering from the force, but I didn’t care. I pushed myself up from the chair, my eyes scanning the room, meeting each one of theirs in turn.

“Enough,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. The entire room fell silent. “You think I’m sitting here doing nothing, Jaxon? You think I’m just going to let this rogue walk away from what he’s done?”

I leaned forward, my fists still pressed into the now-broken table. “The battle line is drawn. This rogue has no idea what kind of war he just started. He thinks he can strike at my pack, kill my wolves, and escape unscathed? He’s dead wrong.”

I could feel the weight of my words settling over the room, the anger rising in every one of my wolves. They needed this — they needed to see my fury, to know that I wasn’t going to rest until the rogue was dead, his body nothing but ash beneath our feet.

“I sent out our best Lycans for a reason,” I continued, my voice rising. “Because I intend to finish this. This isn’t a matter of revenge. This is about protecting our pack, protecting our future. If we don’t strike back now, this rogue — and any other fool who thinks they can take us on — will see us as weak.”

I glanced at Ryan, my most trusted lieutenant, and nodded. He stood silently, his expression firm, ready to follow whatever orders I gave him. My pack would follow me to the ends of the earth if that’s what it took to end this threat. And they knew I would lead them there, without hesitation.

“I want every wolf in this room prepared. No one rests until we find this rogue, and when we do, we make him regret ever laying a paw on our territory.”

The pack murmured in agreement, the bloodlust rising as I’d hoped. My words had ignited the fire within them. This was no longer just a meeting; this was war council. The rogue had made the first move, but I would make the last.

Before I could speak again, the sharp buzz of my phone cut through the charged atmosphere. I growled in irritation, pulling it out of my pocket to silence it, but the name flashing across the screen made me pause: Jacob

“Hold on,” I said to the room, stepping aside as I answered the call. Jacob wasn’t one to bother me unless it was important.

“Jacob, this better be good,” I growled into the phone, my patience wearing thin.

"It is," Jacob’s voice was calm, but I could hear the urgency behind it. “We need to meet. I’ve got information — something you need to hear in person. Trust me.”

“What is it?” I asked, annoyed. “I’m in the middle of something right now.”

“I can’t say over the phone, Marcus. It’s too risky. But it’s important, I swear. Meet me at Old Ridge. You know the place.”

I gritted my teeth. I didn’t have time for this. My pack was waiting for orders, and I needed to focus on the rogue who had crossed me. But Jacob sounded serious. He never called unless it was something significant.

“Fine. Old Ridge in an hour.”

I hung up, turning back to the room. Their eyes were on me, waiting for direction.

“This isn’t over,” I said coldly, my tone making it clear that I wasn’t asking for input. “But I have something to take care of first. Ryan, you’re in charge while I’m gone. I want our best trackers out there — I want that rogue found by the time I return.”

“Yes, Marcus,” Ryan said, his voice steady. He was as loyal as they came, and I knew I could trust him to keep things under control.

“Everyone else, prepare for what’s coming. When we find this rogue, we end this. No mercy.”

With that, I turned and left the room, my mind already shifting to what Jacob had to say. Whatever it was, it better be worth the interruption. And if it wasn’t, well… I had more than enough fury left for both the rogue and Jacob.