Twist of fate |||

Chapter 8

Vikron’s POV

The 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 match. They were my immediate family here. The pack members were family, but Demuel and Skyla shared a deeper bond.

Before opening the door, I pictured her with her hair pulled up in a bun, an iPad held in her hand, making notes about the test results from the girl last night.

The door to the office swung open, revealing her back to it, iPad in hand.

"Good morning, Alpha," Skyla greeted, bowing slightly.

"Good morning, Skyla," I replied.

"She’s the one," she exclaimed, excitement brimming in her voice.

"What one?" I feigned ignorance.

"The vision I told you about. She's the one with—"

With a wave of my hand, I gestured for her to stop. "Tell me about the tests," I instructed in a sharp tone. This wasn't time for her dreamy casts or visions or whatever she called them. I needed fact.

If she was offended by my interruption, I couldn’t tell, as she never displayed it.

She straightened in her chair, her hair still neatly arranged. "The tests are in, but some aspects don't quite add up."

"Like what?" I probed.

“ESRs, elevated leukocytosis, and energy transfer.”

"Please, make it clear for me, will you, Skyla?"

"I'm sorry, Alpha. What I mean is, the test results indicate that the rogue is heavily infected, and the girl might be as well." Her gaze was firm.

"Might be?"

"I’m uncertain how, but I tested her, and there are no signs of infection. However, she's exhibiting several levels of chromosomal mutations, and there are remnants of various stored energies in her blood.

I cleared my throat, "when you say stored... stored energies, you mean..."

"She can absorb energy?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "Yes."

"The rogue watching her last night?"

"She absorbed his energy, likely when he slashed her thighs. Additionally, the results show that she hasn’t shifted yet but has accumulated a considerable amount of energy."

"She's not a wolf, then?"

Worry lines creased her forehead. "Uhmmm… I'm afraid so."

I looked up, moving my pen across the bridge of my nose while trying to process what she had said. "So you're saying she can absorb energy from another wolf?" I frowned.

"Yes, but not just from wolves—from anything that exerts enough force on her, and I suspect she doesn’t even realize it."

"How old is she?"

"She appears to be 18. So I estimate she's around that age or possibly 19," Skyla responded, her fingers gliding across the gleaming screen before her.

Then why hasn't she shifted? I raised an eyebrow.

"You should investigate why she hasn't shifted and what breed she is," I suggested.

She bowed before striding out of the office.

Typically, wolves shifted at 18, while Skyla had shifted at 19 due to her Lycan trait.

I wasn't ready to share Demuel's news with Skyla just yet. If I did, she would insist we keep the girl. My motivation to retain her wasn't solely about torturing Sigewuf; I wanted to understand if I still harbored resentment for his betrayal or if I had truly healed, as Skyla had claimed.

If she couldn't shift and Sigewuf still wanted her, then he must have known what she was. He never pursued worthless things. He had his toys—those he needed and used to gratify his carnal desires—but she didn’t seem to fit that bill.

He was on to something if he intended to keep her, and I sensed there was still much more to the girl than Skyla would uncover.

I linked up with Beta Demuel. “Find out her name, her pack, and her family. We're going hunting tonight.”

His reply was prompt: “Okay, Alpha.”

"She's awake. I'm going in first. See you later." Dr. Skyla’s message popped up on my phone.

You little daredevil! I knew she would go in first.

"I'll be there in thirty. Save your sorry self for later," I texted back.

I moved the shelf against the wall back, revealing the entrance to the basement. I hadn't seen her in three weeks, but the moment was drawing near.

I needed to remember the assignment. Holding a flashlight, I navigated the stairs before clicking the switch to close the shelf behind me.

Turning to her body, I said, "Hello, mate." A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

I moved to the side of the bed and lay close to her. She didn’t stir. She couldn’t.

But I stayed. It had always been our ritual—to remind me of what lay ahead and what needed to be done.

I stood up, pulling my hair back into place before leaving, stopping only to plant a soft kiss on her cold forehead.

As I stepped outside, my phone beeped in my pocket. “Where are you?”

“You need to be here?”

I didn’t reply. Instead, I headed to the cottage, instructing Demuel to wait at the office in case he returned before I did.

I opened the door to the cottage and took a seat beside Skyla.

Then I saw her. Younger, yet possessing the same audacity. I immediately resented her but had to maintain appearances for Skyla’s sake.

Skyla cleared her throat, signaling for me to take over.

Her eyes were piercing, pointed, and daring. “Who are you?” I asked, genuinely curious.

************one hour later*************

She was fuming. Outraged. I had anticipated it.

I knew I should have stopped her, but I didn’t. She left.

"I shouldn’t have mentioned your name," Dr. Skyla apologized.

"She's struggling with a lot in her mind. It has nothing to do with us," my voice was strained.

"The energies?" Her eyes lit up.

“Yes. And she doesn’t even realize it,” I replied, my tone reflective.

"What's that?" I pointed at her sides.

The silver dagger was safely held in a satchel. “It's hers.”

“She had it tucked in her pocket last night,” Skyla said, delicately grazing the hilt with her finger.

Then we heard the familiar growl from outside. The patrol team had likely found her.

Skyla dashed for the door first, and I followed closely behind.

Samm, Lloyd, and Narberth were growling, poised to attack.

"Looking for this?" Skyla yelled out behind her.

She turned slowly, adrenaline sparkling in her eyes.

Skyla motioned for them to stand down before attempting to speak again.

"You can't do this alone"

She was cynical, and her questions were guarded. "What do I get?" she asked, her gaze still locked on me.

But it was Skyla who responded. "What do you want?"

She oriented her body toward me, giving me her full attention. "To hunt. Attend Aston-Lakenheath Academy."

I studied her, rolling my lips as if to weigh my words. "Maybe the Vikings Academy?"

She remained undeterred, her eyes unreadable. "Okay."

She was intelligent. Years ago, I would have cheered at the thought of the sheer horror on Sigewuf's face, but now, I just sought redemption—for myself.

I extended my hand, knowing she would hesitate before taking it, so I patiently waited.

Fingers linked, hand in hand. "Welcome to the Vikings Pack," I said, genuinely grateful for her choice.

This moment marked the end of one war and the beginning of another. I could feel it coursing through her veins.