VIKTORI take my place beside Rowan, lying down beside her even as Jhenelle rushes towards us and collapses in my arms.โLouis,โ she calls as she smiles at me. โCan you come push me on the swing?โโSure,โ I tell her. โBut after we have all eaten.โโOh, come on. I am not hungry.โโYou are hungry, you just don't feel it yet because you are too excited. We will eat first and then go play in the swings. Okay?โโFine,โ she says with a pout before slouching down on me. Rowan chuckles at our conversation before passing me a kiddies plate for Jhenelle.โWhat about mine?โ I ask with a pout.โYou have your hands full with her, I will feed youโ she replies with a smile.โOh, please. Don't be disgusting,โ Rina pleads and Lisa just chuckles at her. โYou, don't get to make a sound,โ she replies to her sister. โYou have joined the bandwagon. I am all alone, now,โ she whines before flopping down on the blanket.I notice Rowan and Lisa exchange a glance but before I can comment on it, Jhenelle takes
ROWAN.โWhat are those two whispering about?โ Rina winders at me and I look over to see what she is talking about.Viktor is kneeling in front of Jhenelle, both of them staring intently in each other's eyes as he whispers something to her.โHmm, she is most likely drilling him about him being her daddy and him assuring her of it,โ I reply.โRight,โ she whispers as she turns back to her plate, her eyes downcast. โSo, it is settled then? You are moving here?โI look around and I notice that neither Andre nor Lisa are around us and Alden has most probably gone to skulk in the shadows, watching us from there.โWe haven't settled anything. We haven't really talked about that, yet.โโBut you are going to, right?โโIโฆ I was thinking more along the lines of shuffling my presence.โโHuh?โโSome time here, in the pack and the rest, back at the settlement,โ I clarify. โIt will take some adjustments and some time to get used to the new arrangement but I think it can work.โโHmm, I suppose. That m
VIKTORโAlpha!โI turn towards the sound to see one of my wolves running to me, as well as the strange looks the humans give him at his shout.โAlpha,โ he gasps as he reaches me.โWhat the hell is wrong with you?!โ I snap at him, even as I bring Jhenelle's swing to a standstill. โDon't you realize there are humans around us? Why are you shouting like that?โโMy apologies, alpha. It is justโฆโโJust what?โ I demand.โOne of the alphasโฆ the missing ones, the ones that you went with to the coalitionโฆโโWhat about them?โโOne of them has been found. He was being chased and he crossed into our territory.โโWhere is he now?โโAt the pack clinic. He was in bad shape.โโI see. Thank you, Smith. You may return.โโWhat is wrong, Louis?โ Jhenelle asks as he walks away, her intelligent eyes fixed on me.โIt isโฆโโAdult business?โ She asks with a pout. โI am not stupid you know. You can tell me things.โโOf course, you are not,โ I say with a smile. โYou are an intelligent girl, mature for her own a
DOMINIC โWelcome back, Alpha,โ the wolves greet me as I storm into my mansion. โWhere is Clarisse?โ I demand as I head towards my study.โThe Luna is at the training fields,โ one of them responds. โHmm. Tell her I am back.โโYes, alpha,โ he says before disappearing from my side.LouisaLouisa is alive.And strong.The leader of the Coalition.โHah!โ I scoff out as I take my seat beside the deskJust what are the chances of that happening?A wolf less, pathetic creature being the leader of a pack of savage mutts.What has the world turned to?And for the fact that all those gathered wolves had fallen for her ruse.PatheticWhat do I do now?Thanks to that bastard, Viktor, my plans have not only been completely destroyed, but I have also been completely humiliated No one, not even a single soul had stood up to him after he had thrown me out of the window Is that how they all see me?As some pathetic wolf that does not deserve their respect or sympathy.If any of them had gone throu
ROWANโOf course, it is fucking Dominic again,โ Viktor mutters as he paces away from Alpha Donald. Andre had to leave. Apparently, something urgent had also come up.โIt is always him. Why can't the guy just take a fucking chill pill?!โ he continues to rant.I snort a little laugh at that.Dominic?Chill?That is ridiculous.โYou think this is funny?โ He asks as he turns towards me with an incredulous look on his face. โThe man knows about him!โ He says pointing at the man on the bed, who is staring at him with wide scared eyes.How can a wolf be soโฆ ugh.โNo,โ I say as I approach him. โIt is not funny. It's Justโฆ you saying Dominic should take a chill pill is like saying a snake howls. Impossible. He is always so uptight and unbearable.โโWell, you have got that part right,โ he mutters.โBut,โ I continue. โI don't think he knew about this, at least when he was here.โโWhat do you mean?โโI mean, if he had an alpha in his hands why didn't he mention it?โ I ask before turning to Alpha
ROWANโWe found the wolf. The one who tried to kidnap the other alpha. He is in the dungeons.โWell, isn't that just wonderful?Even the world is on our side.โShall we?โ Viktor asks and together, we make our way to the dungeons.โAndre?โ He calls.โYes, alpha?โโI need you to contact the Luna of the Herring pack. Let her know that her mate has been found.โโYes, alpha,โ he says before leaving.โWould she cause trouble?โ I ask himโNo, at least, I don't think so. Kaylee is aโฆ character, it is true. But she is a straight shooter and can't stand any bullshit and she has made her opinion about Dominic and his behavior very clear, especially when there are gatherings that we are obligated to attend.โโSounds like my own kind of woman.โโAre you trying to make me jealous?โโDo you get jealous that easily?โ I retort.โWhen it comes to you, apparently yes.โโWell, fortunately for you, I like men.โโFortunately.โAs we get closer to the dungeon I am stunned by the strong and imposing structur
VIKTOR For a good minute, I stare down at the wolf. He is of average build, with enough muscles to hold his own in a fight, a defiant gaze that is common amongst his pack. He is also very bruised. With a burst lip, two black eyes, a few scrapes on his chest and arms, and judging from the way it is hanging, I am pretty sure his shoulder is dislocated. โWhat is your name?โ I ask him. โFuck you!โ He spits. Classy. โTommy,โ Rowan says and I see the wolf jerk in surprise at that. โWhat?โ I ask, turning to her. โHis name is Tommy,โ she repeats. โHe is the usual buffed up, dumb brute. More brawn, less brain. Lives by every word that comes out of Dominic's mouth and breathes by the air that comes from his ass and is unnecessarily cruel. You can't break him. To him, Dominic is the beginning and the end. Which is good,โ she finishes. โWhy is it good?โ I ask โIt is good because he is loyal and Dominic recognizes that. From what I remember, he is one of Dominic's trusted people, pa
VIKTORKnock.Knock.Knock.โAre you going to answer that or do I have to kill someone this morning?โ Rowan grunts from over my chest, her eyes still closed in sleep.โI might settle for the killing,โ I tell her grumpily as I slowly blink open A glance at my alarm clock tells me it is just past five.In the goddamn morning.Death, it is.Knock.Knock.Knock.With an annoyed growl, I get off the bed and stall toward the door.โWhat?!โ I snarl as I pull it open. Andre rears back from me with a wide eyed look.โWhoah!โ He says. โCalm down. Why are you in such a mood?โโIt is barely five in the morning and you are asking me that?โ I growl at himโYou have been up earlier than this before!โโWell, I didn't have my beautiful mate sleeping by my side before, did I?!โโAll right, fair point. I am sorry.โโJust tell me what was so urgent that it couldn't wait.โโAh, right. Dominic is here.โIt isโฆ beyond annoying how almost all my problems and issues seem to revolve around that man.โWhat do
ROWANโMummy looks like a princess!โI 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.โYou are right,โ Lisa tells Jhenells as she adjusts the waist, while Rinaโs fussing over my hair, placing small white flowers into the delicate braids. โBut a queen instead. You are the princess.โKaylee stands off to the side, smiling at me like she already knows what I am thinking.โYou look... perfect, Rowan,โ she says softly, her eyes filled with warmth. โViktor wonโt know what hit him.โI 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 donโt feel it. Not really.
DOMINICThe fight surrounds me the moment I step into the clearing, chaos, mouse, bloodshed, everything swallowing up the night. Wolvesโฆ mone and outsidersโฆthey are everywhere. It is impossible to tell who is who at first, just teeth, fur, and blood under the slivers of moonlight. Theyโฆ Viktor and Rowan, they were ready for us. That much I expected, but what I didnโt 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
DOMINICโLet me out! I hate you!โJhenelleโs 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 doesnโt 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?โJhenelle, stop!โ 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.โWhat are we doing here, Rowan?โ She asks, her voice cutting through the low murmurs of the other wolves. โYou 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. Dominicโฆ 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 โSpeak,โ I say, my voice calm but laced with the authority that makes sure nobody disobeys me.โAlpha,โ Martinโs voice is quiet, like he is whispering, and there is an urgency behind it. โThere has been a development.โโWhat is it?โโAlpha- 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. Everyoneโs going to be there.โI