LOGINRowena I knew he was avoiding me; what I didn't know was whether it was from guilt or fear. Whatever it was, I will be waiting here for him to come. I sat at the edge of the bed with a glass of wine in my hand, staring outside the window. From where I was, I could see the moon shining bright down onto our territory, as if it was making sure whatever sins that were hidden could be seen in the lights. My heart was still humming with fear from earlier when I felt the panic through the bond. I looked all around the house for him and found out he was nowhere to be found in the private room, that's where I discovered his crazy plan, a plan that he kept Lucian and me out of, especially me! He knows that together we are stronger, but here he was putting himself and everyone else in danger. I took a sip of my wine; it was my favorite, a Moscato. Usually, it would help calm my nerves, but not tonight. Tonight, every nerve in my body feels alive. My wolf is pacing nonstop, and that's bo
Lukan I felt the silence; it was louder than anything I had felt before. Dane should've checked in 10 minutes ago, as we waited; nothing came through. I waited; the absence only grew louder, making me uneasy. Dane knows not to play those kinds of games, not when things are this serious. I see the man was full of revenge. I give him the benefit of the doubt of not going AWOL on me. I got on my feet, eyes snapping at the opening of the tunnel, my wolf surged, restless and snarling beneath my skin. “ He should've been out already,” I whispered. Rich looked up. “ He is making a sweep.” Yeah, I know, and that's what scares me. “That sweep takes five minutes, “ I say, my voice darkening, “ he knows not to go radio silent.” I started to doubt myself for making a reckless decision by letting a go-revengeful man into a dark tunnel alone. I didn't wait for Rich to answer. I stepped into the same dark tunnel, and cold air hit me, not the same as before. This one felt more l
DaneAfter making the plan, I walked into the supposed tunnel, my boots crunching softly against damp gravel, the flashlight making a beam into the darkness. The world down here was quiet, too quiet, no echo, no movement, not a drop of water. Pressing a finger to my ear, I let the others know I was inside. “ I'm inside, it's the same entrance, there's nothing new here.” Lukan’s voice came on strong and clear, “Take your time, if you feel anything doesn't feel right, pull out.” “I know,” I say softly. “I'll be right out.” As the words left my mouth, I could feel an unease settle in my gut. The walk down the tunnel was almost the same, only the air felt thicker, as if a storm was coming. After three more steps, I felt the ground shift under my feet. It's not collapsing; it was deliberately placed there. I froze, waited. I touch the common in my ear, “ Lukan, you here?” Nothing, radio silent, I try again, “ Rich? come in”My voice was met with nothing but silence before I could mak
Lukan I've been up since dawn looking down at those maps, checking every picture that was taken in the tunnel, and nothing makes sense, nothing jumps out to me, and the news that they already got another land to contain their dirty work didn't go well with me. I had to call on some of the guys while keeping others in the dark as I came up with a plan to check the tunnel farther along. When Rich and Dane walked in, their eyes went immediately to the maps lying on the table. I stood over the table, both hands braced against the surface, and I waited for them to take their seats. “You being here doesn't mean your punishment is over,” I made clear to him. Rich bows his head. “ I know, Alpha.” Good. “I have a crazy idea that I know only the two of you will be able to help with,” I say, pushing the maps and pictures towards them to check. “ What do you want from us, Alpha?” Rich asks, ready or do whatever it is to get over his probation?” I explained the plan and everyt
Rowena Quiet was supposed to feel like relief. Instead, it pressed against my skin like the heavy air before a storm. I rolled the pen between my fingers, tapping it once more against my cheek as the same thought looped relentlessly through my mind. The Council didn’t seize land without a reason. Not prime territory bordering Alpha Zane’s pack. Not land that once hid a tunnel tied to a rogue leader who vanished like smoke. Too clean. Too deliberate. The memory of that night crawled back in sharp fragments, the four of us slipping onto the property under the cover of darkness, the way the earth itself seemed wrong beneath our feet. We searched longer than we should have, every minute a risk, yet there was nothing. No entrance. No false wall. No disturbed ground. Just absence. And yet. I could still smell it. Old wolf. Not fresh. Not living. The kind of scent that clings to stone long after blood and breath are gone. Time-worn. Intentional. Covered, but not erased. Which meant
Lukan Days later, the boardroom at the Ravencliff pack was buzzing with chitchat as the Alphas gathered around the table. Some had confusion on their faces, while others were just curious and worried about what the news would do to their packs. With everyone seated, Alpha Harris broke the silence: “Although this meeting is happening on my territory, I did not call it; which one of you did?” I saw Alpha Robert stand up and move to the front of the table. “ I called this meeting, thank you for coming, gentlemen, and we all know the reason why.” As I looked around the table, I thought, “You of all people know the real reason.” “ We need answers. Is the Council really involved in this matter? Is this a threat against our packs?” Alpha Leo from Storm's Pack questions. I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers. Let them squirm. Let them whisper. I would let the council’s own fear do my work before I even spoke. “We’ve all heard the rumors,” I began, my voice smooth, mea







