Chapter 4

Jeremy’s POV

The heavy iron door shut behind me with a bang as Lisa’s desperate cries echoed faintly as I swalked away from her cell. I ignored it as I couldn’t afford to let her words sway me.

She was a vampire. A vampire. And not just any vampire—Lord Alireza Firouzja’s daughter. The implications of that alone were enough to make my wolf growl.

Mate. My wolf had called her that, back in the woods when I’d pinned her against the tree, her scent—or lack thereof—flooding my senses. It didn’t make sense. She didn’t smell like a wolf and neither did she have the metallic smell of bloodlust that clung to vampires like a second skin.

And yet, the pull was there. It was undeniable and it was tugging at me. I’d dismissed it as a mistake at first, some trick of the mind after a long night of hunting. But now, I wasn’t so sure.

I emerged from the tunnel into the cool night air, the mist making for poor visibility. The trek back to the palace was short, but my thoughts made it feel endless. Lisa had claimed her father wouldn’t care if she lived or died—illegitimate or not, she was still his blood. Alireza Firouzja, that cold, calculating bastard, had been a thorn in my pack’s side for decades.

His clan and my pack had clashed over territory more times than I could count. A daughter, even an unwanted one, could be a weakness he couldn’t ignore. Or so I hoped.

I pushed through the heavy oak doors and climbed the winding stairs to my office, the weight of the day settling into my bone. I could still hear the distant laughter of my packmates echoing from the great hall below. I’d trade this headache for a tankard of ale in a heartbeat, but duty called louder than revelry tonight.

I’d barely settled into the leather chair behind my desk when the door creaked open. Alex Crawley, my Beta, stepped inside, his broad frame filling the doorway. His dark hair was tousled, and his bloodshot eyes narrowed as they landed on me.

He didn’t bother with formalities—never had—and I appreciated that about him. Alex was a straight shooter, even when I didn’t want to hear it.

“You look like hell,” he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “What’s this about dragging some girl into the dungeons? There is some rumors buzzing around already.”

I rubbed a hand over my face, feeling the stubble scrape against my palm. “Her name’s Lisa Adrian. She was caught in the woods—thought she was a witch at first. She’s not.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, waiting. He knew me well enough to sense there was more.

“She’s a vampire,” I said, keeping my voice low, though the room was soundproofed against prying ears. “Alireza Firouzja’s daughter.”

His reaction was immediate—eyes widening, a sharp curse slipping past his lips. “What the hell. You're sure this isn't a trap. A vampire? Here? And Firouzja’s blood, no less.”

I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming on the desk. “She says he doesn’t care about her, that she’s illegitimate and he’d be glad to see her gone. But I’m not so sure. A man like Alireza doesn’t let his blood wander free without some angle. She could be useful.”

Alex pushed off the wall, pacing the room with restless energy. “Useful? You’re talking about keeping a vampire in our territory under our roof. The pack will lose their minds if they find out. You know how they feel about bloodsuckers.”

“They won’t find out,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “We tell them she’s a witch. Witches get better treatment here than vampires ever will. It’s safer that way—for her and for us.”

He stopped pacing and stared incredulously at me like I had said something crazy. “You’re serious. You’re going to lie to the pack about this? This isn’t some stray we can dress up and pass off. She’s Firouzja’s daughter. If he comes looking—”

“He won’t,” I cut in, despite the doubt in my head. “She escaped his dungeons, ran all the way here. She’s an outcast, Alex. Even if he does care, he’s not storming our gates over a child he locked up himself.”

Alex shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this. You’re playing with fire, and not the kind we can control. What’s your endgame? Ransom her back to him?”

“Maybe,” I admitted. “Or use her to draw him out. Force a confrontation on our terms. But there’s something else.”

He stilled, sensing the shift in my tone. “Why do I feel like this is going to get worse?”

“Stop being dramatic. Anyway, she’s my mate.” I said and the words felt foreign on my tongue as they left my mouth. “My wolf recognized her. I don’t know how or why, but it’s there.”

Alex’s jaw dropped, and for a moment, he just stared at me. Then he laughed—a short, incredulous bark. “A vampire? Your mate? Moon goddess must be drunk.”

“I’m not laughing,” I growled, and he sobered instantly.

“You’re serious,” he said, voice dropping. “That’s… impossible. She’s not a wolf. The bond doesn’t work like that.”

“She doesn’t drink blood,” I said, recalling her ashamed confession. “No urges, no fangs—she’s different. Maybe that’s why.”

He frowned, processing. “Different or not, the pack won’t accept it. You know that.”

“They don’t have to,” I snapped. “Not yet. We keep her locked up, figure out what she is, what this bond means. But we need answers first.”

Before Alex could respond, a knock sounded at the door and it swung open the next minute. Durham North, my Gamma, poked his head in. “Alpha, I’ve got reports from the eastern border. Thought you’d want to know.”

“Not now, Durham,” I said, waving him off. “I’ll hear it later.”

He stared pointedly at Alex then nodded and retreated, the door clicking shut behind him. Alex raised an eyebrow, but I ignored it.

“I need you to do something,” I said, leaning forward. “Research vampires with golden eyes. Lisa’s got them, and I’ve never seen that before. Could be a clue to what she is—or why the bond triggered.”

Alex nodded slowly, accepting the task with his usual efficiency. “Golden eyes, huh? I’ll dive into it right away and see what I can find. I have a feeling this could blow up in ways we can't predict.”

“I know,” I said, voice rough. “That’s why you're going to shut your mouth and do it as discreetly as possible.”