Chapter 1: My Arrival

Clark P.O.V

- Dream -

Run! Just run Clark! You need to get away – I kept repeating in my head over and over again. I knew that they were out there and that I would likely meet the same fate as the rest of my pack … death!

No! No! No! They were getting closer. I did the first thing my father taught me ever since I was able to walk, always run in a non-straight line, this will confuse anything that might be chasing you. I gave one last look behind me before all of a sudden I stumbled into something hard, making me fall down to the ground

- End of dream -

I woke up in a pool of my own sweat, panting and desperately needing air to infiltrate my lungs. I clutched the blanket and furiously looked around myself. Where was I? That was when it finally hit me – I was supposed to be in my safe heaven. “Took you long enough” I heard a rough voice say next to me, making me jump up into a defensive stance. I looked back at the most handsome wolf I have ever seen. He had a powerful aura basically beaming off of him, making my wolf want to submit, thankfully that didn’t have to happen seeing as I am an Alpha’s daughter – Correction, I was an Alpha’s daughter.

“Who are you” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. I couldn’t take my eyes off of his. They were emerald green and honestly, the most attractive quality of him, besides the muscles that were threatening to tear through his two sizes too small shirt. He just chuckled as he took another sip of his whiskey, crossing his legs and sitting back in the seat. “Feisty one you are” he said in a heavy Scottish accent – goddess help me! I just stared at him, waiting for the answer to my question.

“Okay then, seeing as you are one of the serious types. My name is Rowan Black, Alpha of the Bloodstone pack. You are Clark Hudson, Alpha’s daughter of the Midnight pack. You were found and saved by my mother, Maggie, in the forest. You were running from whoever assassinated your entire pack. She brought you here for safekeeping and you have been on and off sleeping for the past week I would say” Rowan said, just staring back at me with his head cocked off to the side.

I stared at him with wide eyes. Holy shit! How did he know who I was and what happened?! Did the news manage to spread so far in such a short time period?! I just slowly nodded my head. Seeing as I was basically now classified as a rogue, I was at Rowan’s mercy. “Something for the shock?” Rowan asked me as he passed me a glass of whiskey. I didn't really feel like trusting him. What would be the catch of me being here and they were just okay with it. Anyone knows that another wolf from an Alpha bloodline can challenge any Alpha and then take over their pack.

“Fine, then if you won't take it, then tell me … why were you running? Do you know who you were running from?” he asked in a more serious tone. This was his Alpha coming through. I just snorked. “My whole pack got assassinated and you are seriously asking me why I am running? For goddess sakes, I would have throught that it would have been quite obvious!” I said rolling my eyes. I could hear a growl coming from him. “Then I will leave you to it!” Rowan said as he abruptly stood up and left the room, properly slamming the door shut behind him.

***

A knock on the door managed to wake me up. I sat up quickly, ready to defend myself. An older woman walked into the room with a warm motherly smile on her face. For some reason I felt like I could trust her, but I didn’t know her. “Oh, I see you are awake. How are you feeling, dear?” she asked me. I just slowly nodded my head. “I guess I feel okay, I feel a little bit groggy but I am sure that it would pass” I said. She smiled and nodded her head before placing a tray next to me on the bedside table. “Some tea?” she asked, although I think she actually told me since she was already pouring it. I smiled as she gave me the cup before pouring one for her and sitting down on the bed.

“Now, I guess you are wondering why I have brought you here?” she asked, taking a sip of her tea. Confidence radiated from her in a way that I only saw it happen once, my mother radiated confidence like her. “I would really like to know. The Alpha was here earlier” I said, trying to choose my words wisely. Goddess knows what would happen to me if I managed to offend him in a way. I was sure that Rowan was more than capable of ripping my head off or something. Yikes!

“Ah, Rowan … he can be a bit of a grump when he wants to. Don’t mind my son, once you get used to him, you will learn to like him” she said. Wait … if Rowan was her son … and she was the one who brought me in, surely it would have been at his request? “Anyway, I am Maggie. Your mother and I were close friends. We would host each other for tea each month or so. When I came across you in the woods, I immediately recognized you and I could see you were running from someone. I couldn’t just leave you there” Maggie said. She knew my mother? I never really noticed my mother leave the pack. But then again, I would be out training with my father for most of the day.

“You know … when you were born, your parents and us made a promise that our eldest son, Rowen and you, would one day get married and unite our two packs. Your mother fully supported it. I knew she valued how Rowen treated you when you were still a pup” Maggie said, trying to test the waters. I just stared at her, my mouth completely agape. An arranged marriage? To that asshole? There was no way in hell!

“Obviously, this might come as quite a shock to you, and don’t worry … I won’t force you into anything, all I want for you is to be safe and recover here with us” Maggie said. For some reason, I didn’t trust her words, she had to have a motive for taking me in just like this. I just smiled and nodded my head. “I guess I have a lot of things to think over” I said with a smile just as there was a knock on the door. Maggie turned around and to my disgust, Rowan was standing there in front of me. “Mother” he said with a curt nod. Maggie just rolled her eyes at him before getting up and leaving the room.

A few days have managed to pass, and surprisingly enough, will all of my sarcastic comments toward Rowan, he hasn’t yet thrown me out on my ass. I was walking in the gardens, taking in the beautiful scenery. I had to at least give this to him, his gardens were like something I have never seen. I walked passed a gazebo and I heard Maggie call out to me. Ever since I came here, she has been the most supportive and I have come to start to trust her. I smiled as I walked over to her. She was sitting in the shade having her afternoon tea. I took a seat next to her as she poured another cup. I could see that something was clearly bothering her, but I didn’t know how to ask.

“Are you alright? You seem a bit down today?” I asked before I could even filter it. Maggie just smiled at me sadly and placed her hand on top of mine. Just as she was about to speak, we saw Rowan walking past us with some girl hanging on his arm. She just gave me a snide look for some reason. I looked back at Maggie with a confused look on my face. Maggie just sighed and shook her head. “That is what’s wrong” she said. I was still unsure of how that could be wrong, I mean … her son had a girlfriend, that was supposed to be good news to any mother.

“I’m not sure I’m following?” I said. Maggie sat back in her chair. “With that one, I won't be able to have any grandchildren, and this pack would not have a next in line blood Alpha. You might not know this, but in our pack, the only way our Alphas are able to produce children, is that they have to mate with another Alpha. And she … well lets just say she is more than welcome to be disposed of with the trash!” Maggie said with a scowl on her face. I couldn’t help but giggle at her remark.

Maggie also started laughing as soon as I did. We sat there giggling like we were school children. “That is also the reason why I want you to stay here as long as possible, hopefully, Rowan would come to his senses and realize that you are the one he should be looking at and not at her.” Maggie said. Wait … what? Was that the only reason that I was still here?

“I won't ask you … because I know that it would be completely unreasonable. But, I must say that my wish is for the two of you to mate. I want the lineage of this Alpha bloodline to continue. And besides, you don’t have to marry him or something. I heard that co-parenting is a thing nowadays” Maggie said. I knew she said she didn’t want to ask me, but I knew that it was expected of me. If Rowan’s parents and my parents had this planned years ago when I was born, then this was supposed to happen all along. I just nodded my head.

“Fine, I will help you … it is the least I could do for my parents. But … I’m going to have to need time” I said to Maggie. I could see she was relieved the moment those words came out of my mouth. “Believe me, time won’t be a problem. Rowan already told me you were driving him crazy on the inside for some reason. Something tells me that his wolf is pining for you” Maggie said, making my mouth hang open in pure shock.