Chapter 4

The clock struck midnight on the prophesied date, and nothing had happened. The pack was safe.

Lucian's presence as the fated mate had broken the first crisis.

But I didn't let myself relax. I knew this was only the beginning. Bigger threats lay ahead.

I promoted Lucian to Beta, then purchased a disguise potion from the Witch — one that erased his old identity completely and gave him a new face, a new voice, even a new build. Under a fresh name, he stayed by my side.

It wasn't long before Viktor invited me to a meeting under the guise of "pack business."

I knew the real purpose. He wanted to probe my defenses.

I knew he'd been eyeing my pack for years, quietly rallying other packs to move against me.

But it was a trap set in plain sight — one I couldn't afford to ignore.

Just as I was agonizing over it, Lucian stepped forward. "Let me go with you. If Viktor tries anything, I'll put myself between you and him."

He wasn't joking. I knew he meant every word.

I let a small smile play across my lips. "Then I'll be counting on you, Beta."

In the meeting room, Viktor was already waiting. The moment I walked in, he plastered on his usual fawning grin and extended a hand.

"Alpha Serena — truly impressive. Quelling that uprising in just a few days. I'm in awe."

I returned a thin smile. "You flatter me."

His gaze slid past me to Lucian, and his expression froze. His eyes went cold and sharp.

"New faces around you, I see. I'm curious — what exactly does your Beta here bring to the table to earn such favor?"

The look in Viktor's eyes sent a chill down my spine. Beside me, Lucian's palms were slick with sweat.

When Viktor leaned closer for a better look, I shifted my weight and stepped squarely between them, blocking Lucian from view.

"I had no idea you were so interested in my Beta. If you like him that much, he's yours."

Viktor quickly looked away with an uncomfortable laugh. "I wouldn't dare. You're quite the joker, Alpha."

The Witch might have been flippant about everything else, but her potions were flawless. The disguise altered not just appearance but voice and physique. There was absolutely no way Viktor could recognize Lucian.

The meeting proceeded normally until we hit a wall over a joint investment.

"Alpha, we can only give up three percent of the profits. We're providing the technology and the plan — three percent is our ceiling."

I laced my fingers together and stared him down. "Technology means nothing without capital. We're funding the majority of this project. Four percent. That's fair."

The room grew tense. Neither side would budge.

Then Lucian rose from his seat, leaned close to my ear, and murmured, "Alpha, let me handle this."

I gave him a questioning look but didn't stop him.

Lucian walked up to Viktor and whispered something. Viktor's face cycled through several shades of purple.

He shot Lucian a murderous glare, then through gritted teeth, agreed to four percent.

I had never seen Viktor make that face before. If I hadn't been in the room, he would have torn Lucian apart.

When we stepped out, I couldn't help but laugh. "What did you say to him?"

Lucian answered casually. "Viktor's been secretly manufacturing forbidden wolf drugs. I told him that if he didn't want the Alpha King to find out, he'd play nice."

I stared at him. "How could you possibly know that?"

"I read the entire novel, remember? I know every plot point." A hint of smugness crept into his voice.

I said nothing. Something unreadable stirred behind my eyes.

The car ride back was silent. I sat in the back seat, gazing out the window at the trees blurring past.

Lucian kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, words caught in his throat.

Finally, just as he seemed to work up the courage to speak, I beat him to it.

"Lucian. Did you know — you're only in this world because of me?"

He slammed the brakes. The car lurched, throwing me forward. Lucian looked back at me in disbelief.

At that same moment, in the Tidewater Pack's headquarters, Viktor was examining the contract they'd just signed. His eyes lingered on the name Lucian had written.

His Beta knocked and entered. "Alpha, Serena and her people have left. Should I send guards to intercept them?"

Viktor's lips curled into a cold smile. "No need. I got what I came for."