I had failed.
I had failed as a father. If I had done my duties disciplining Camille as I should have, none of this would have happened. I had sensed it that night. The unwillingness of the goddess to give her a wolf and her list of options to attend Aston-lakernhearth Academy to begin her hunting career. I had felt something was wrong, the same way I had felt when she had challenged my authority in front of Sigewuf. Conrad was right. I had given her the authority, a right to decide for herself, to make her own choices and now she had become the thorn in my flesh. Maybe I should have been more cruel, like most alphas, subjecting her to work like the omegas and keeping her away from the boys. Starving her of my love and attention had not been able to quell the wildfire in her eyes. I stood outside the pack, Sigewuf's letter in one hand, as Devon and Conrad arrived. The red sports car swiveled its way onto the grass, sending particles into the air. Conrad was the first to take the note. A father's son, he truly was. Devon was an extension of his mother. What fierceness he lacked as the future alpha of the pack, Conrad had in wit and style. “What's this I hear, father?” Conrad asked, the skin of his brow folding into two parallel lines beneath the fringe of his hair. I nodded, taking in Sigewuf’s words a moment longer than I would before exhaling. “It's true. He found her hidden in a pack in the North.” A whistle escaped Conrad's lips. “I suppose Camille isn't as innocent or as little as we thought.” “North? Father, you can't believe that. She doesn't even know most of the people at Aston-lakernhearth,” a crease appeared on Devon's forehead as he frowned. “Please, Devon,” Conrad scoffed. “Did you really think you knew Camille?” Conrad asked, cocking his head to the side. “Look around you. Look at the mess she brought everyone into—the pack, mother, and even father. Have you thought of the shame hanging on our heads?” His eyes were glistening, seemingly lit up by a fire behind them, his upper lip curling in a sneer. I knew that look well. He was gearing up for a confrontation. “Enough! You will not disrespect your brother by speaking that way. As the future alpha, he deserves that respect—even from you, Conrad,” I commanded, my voice echoing through the morning fog. “We leave at exactly 7:30. Get some rest and prepare. We need to fix this mess,” I said, pulling the letter from Conrad's grip as I walked ahead toward the field. I needed some time away from the mansion to reflect. It was 7:24 when I stepped outside, feeling refreshed and ready to head out. Everyone was already seated in the car, waiting for me. The drive to the North was deafeningly silent. It was 8:43 when Conrad pulled up in front of the guards at the gate. “We're here for someone. Camille Loeka,” Conrad announced, her name like a pin in his mouth. The guard stepped into a small office, then came back out. “That way, straight,” he said, pointing at a massive building. “Alpha Vikron will be waiting for you there.” The man standing in front of the mansion did not look like someone who could hold Camille hostage; his angular-shaped face made him appear young and calm. “Good morning,” he spoke first, his deep voice resonating with authority, his hands clasped behind his back. “Good morning.” “I believe you know why we're here and who we came for,” I asked. “Yes, I do.” “We'll need her down here so we can take our leave.” “So soon?” His voice was cheeky. “Well, I'm afraid it's not going to be that simple,” he said, his expression deadpan. “Who the mountain-raving fvck do you think you are to say that, huh?” Conrad's foul temper had the worst of him. “I think it's too early for that. Some members of the pack are getting ready for the day. Don't you think it's wise not to provoke trouble?” “Alpha…” “Vikron,” he completed it for me. “We do not want any trouble. As Camille's father, I have the right to demand she come back home with us.” The door to the mansion swung open. If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was someone else. She looked different but still possessed the fierce presence of a wildcat. Camille walked over and stood beside the stranger whose relationship to her was unknown, completely ignoring her family. It stung. The sound of a heavy fist pounding on Conrad's face snapped me back to the present. “No one dares touch my mate,” he spat, pulling Conrad up by his sleeve. Vikron was speaking, but my mind was floating, like I was having an out-of-body experience, as if I were untethered from the earth. “Mate?” I mumbled the word. “You may take your leave now,” he ordered, pulling Camille with him as he walked away. I stood, stunned. There was something about Alpha Vikron that felt familiar. I couldn't quite place it now, but I had a strong sense of déjà vu the moment he spoke. His voice sounded like Ultima Rhaul Rawson's. He was from the North, too. Something did not add up.Sigewuf's POV Where's the girl? Vikron's words were echoing loudly in my ear.Camille wasn't stupid. She couldn't have left the Nightwatchers pack if someone hadn't asked her to or dragged her away. Or was Vikron trying to play a fast one on me? Probably he had the girl locked up somewhere so he could have her to himself, and now was putting up a facade.But he couldn't have driven for what? An hour? To come down here if it wasn't important. Even though he hadn't set foot through the gate, it had been eleven years since he was last seen around here.“So you're saying someone has Camille right now?” I asked, addressing neither of them in particular.“Yes,” Skyla replied.What was even wrong with the red-haired? Couldn't she just shut up? I had wanted a response from Vikron, not her.I stifled the anger brewing within me, an edge to my tone. “And that person signed out, was damn smart enough to include alongside her name that he was her family and that their relationship was based on m
Vikron's POVwas glancing through the third paragraph of the document in my hand. Alpha Reinhard from the Palmton pack had sent them two days ago. He wanted Skyla to come help train some healers in their pack.Glancing up to check the red and yellow old clock sitting on the wall, it was past 5 in the evening. Skyla was meant to be back at the pack by four and to see me first. I had asked her to visit Palmton and find out what she could about them. Now wasn't the time to act out of sentiments. We needed to apply caution.Skyla was probably back and had some emergencies at the pack hospital.The door of the study moved backwards with so much force, like it would have been pulled out. I glanced up halfway through the document in my hand. “You could as well break it down,” I said, stifling my irritation at Skyla's choice of showing respect.“I think Camille's gone,” she said, inhaling deeply through her nose and letting the air out slowly through her mouth. She ran from the hospital.I fe
Camille’s POV I stared at him for a long time. Was he dripping low on sense, or had his senses gone livid? What was he saying? You know what, up until today, I had always thought somehow, you were different. But no, you're a complete arse, and you sound more stupid than I ever gave you credit for,” I spat. What a shame he spewed out such nonsense from those lips I thought held beautiful hopes and promises. It wasn't him this time. It was the wavy, short-haired tagalong who strode toward me with fury in his handsome blue eyes. The slap was hard, forced—almost shutting up my airways. “Shut the fuck up!” he yelled into my face before backing away to stand with the others, his hands tugged gallantly behind him. I gave a painful smile, showing my blood-stained teeth and gums. “Does this make you happy?” But it wasn't a question I intended to wait for an answer to. “How did you become this monster? This soulless, ugly monster building a wall around your innocence?” He turned away. “
The cold air brushing against my skin roused me, yet the surroundings remained shrouded in darkness. I blinked away the rising fear that threatened to take hold of my mind. No, I couldn't be blind. I wasn’t blind. I could feel the weight of whatever they had pulled over my head. What exactly were they trying to hide? I had no clue where I was or where the muffled voices were coming from. But the echo of their voices indicated a spacious room, an expansive area. I couldn’t see anything. Something was covering my head. My wrist began to throb from whatever they had used to keep my hands bound to the chair. I heard the sound of a door opening and closing, followed by approaching footsteps. Some rustling echoed in the background, and the footsteps grew louder. My pulse quickened. The footsteps drew nearer, then suddenly stopped somewhere close by. “Who's there?” I asked from beneath the folds over my eyes. The footsteps did not pause. Cold hands on my knees made my blood run cold. “A
Camille's POV My hand was still on the handle of the door with the teal inscription on it: “Dr. Skyla.” She wasn't here either. The door of Skyla's office was firmly shut. This morning, she had left even before I woke up. My shoulders slumped awkwardly, the weight of frustration from Ariella's words pressing heavily on me. I did not want to ask Vikron about Skyla's whereabouts. He had information about everyone and their locations. They possessed an extensive amount of data and could retrieve any detail if they so demanded. Alpha privilege. I sank into the row of chairs beside the door. I didn't want to return to the pack house just yet. The sterile scent of chemicals and the constant beeping were the only features of this place. I hated hospitals. It was the last place I had visited with Grandma Noa before the funeral—a place that drained life, stole memories, and fostered grief. I grabbed the sleek black clutch purse, adorned with shimmering faux diamond stones. Skyla had
Chapter 8Vikron’s POVThe pack house was bustling. Some soldiers were diligently training, others were constructing additional pack blockades to reinforce the border, while a few were simply socializing.Skyla was in the pack office—my study, anyway—waiting to see me. She had sent a message through the pack link."I'll be there soon," I had linked back to her, redirecting my attention to Demuel, my Beta."Anything else?" I inquired."No, Alpha. But I'll update you on anything new as soon as the source informs us." He had received intel from an insider at Darkstar Pack about a new bride who had escaped the previous night, and Sigewuf was determined to find her.Demuel had once been a outcast, one of those labeled unfit for social packs by conventional standards. I had met him after one of his reckless escapades left him gravely injured during a hunt. I had taken him in, and after his recovery, he had chosen to turn his life around. I knew he had feelings for Skyla, but they weren't a