rankings

Eliara remained standing in the corridor long after the women had left. Their voices had faded into the distance, but the words they had spoken remained clear in her mind.

Alpha Ronan.

She had known he was powerful. She had known from the moment she saw him that he was not someone ordinary. The way he carried himself, the way people moved around him, and the absolute confidence behind every word he spoke had always suggested that he held a position most people could only dream of.

But an Alpha?

That was something she had not expected.

Her eyes drifted toward the empty corridor as she tried to understand the pieces that suddenly fell into place. The man who had kidnapped her wasn't simply wealthy or influential. He wasn't just someone with enough power to take what he wanted.

He was someone this entire place answered to.

A soft sound behind her pulled her from her thoughts.

Eliara turned and found a guard standing a short distance away, accompanied by a woman who carried herself with quiet elegance. She hadn't noticed them approaching, which immediately annoyed her.

"How long have you been standing there?"

The guard remained expressionless.

"Long enough."

Eliara narrowed her eyes.

That answer somehow irritated her more.

The woman beside him offered a polite smile.

"My name is Liora. I serve within the royal household."

Eliara looked between them.

"And you?"

The guard gave a small nod.

"Lucian."

"And why are you both here?"

Lucian answered without hesitation.

"I was instructed by Alpha Ronan to accompany you during your stay."

Eliara stared at him.

"So you're assigned to watch me."

"To accompany you."

"That sounds like a nicer way of saying watch me."

Lucian didn't argue, which somehow made it worse.

With no desire to stand in the corridor any longer, Eliara began walking, and the two followed beside her.

As they moved deeper into the estate, she slowly realized how different this place was from anywhere she had ever known. Ronan's residence was not simply a mansion. It was a vast territory of its own, with training grounds, gardens, libraries, and entire wings dedicated to different purposes.

Yet even this grand estate was only a small part of the world surrounding it.

The Velkaris Dominion was one of the oldest and most powerful werewolf territories among the Six Nations. At its heart stood the great royal palace of Velkaris, built at the center of the kingdom where the ruling family and the highest authorities resided. Surrounding it were the noble territories, military districts, and ancient lands that belonged to the different ranks of wolves.

The Apex Wolves, the strongest warriors of the Dominion, lived closest to the heart of power. Their districts were built around training grounds and military strongholds, where those chosen to protect the kingdom prepared for battles that most wolves would never witness.

The Highblood Wolves occupied the elegant districts known as Aurelian Heights, where noble families, royal attendants, and influential bloodlines resided. Their homes reflected their status, built upon generations of wealth, tradition, and connection to the ruling family.

Further beyond the center were the lands known as Silverwood Reach and Stoneveil Plains, where Clan Wolves and Lesser Wolves lived. These areas were filled with farms, villages, markets, and smaller settlements that supported the foundation of Velkaris. They were the majority of the population, yet their voices rarely reached the ears of those who ruled above them.

For centuries, the lower ranks had remained separated from the affairs of the powerful. Information about the royal family, the inner workings of the kingdom, and the true nature of the Alpha bloodline were considered privileges, not knowledge. To many, Lesser Wolves were not expected to understand the matters of rulers and warriors. They were expected only to serve their place within the hierarchy.

Which was why Eliara knew so little.

She had lived a life far removed from this world.

As they walked through another section of the estate, Eliara looked around before finally asking the question that had been sitting in her mind.

"Where exactly is this place?" Eliara asked.

Liora looked toward the large windows that overlooked the distant mountains.

"This estate belongs to Alpha Ronan. It is located outside the central territories of Velkaris."

Eliara remained quiet, allowing her to continue.

"The main palace of Velkaris stands at the center of the Dominion. It is where the royal family, the council, and the highest-ranking officials reside. The surrounding regions are divided according to the different classes and duties of our people."

"Is Ronan really an Alpha?"

Both Liora and Lucian looked at her.

Not because the question was strange, but because they couldn't believe she didn't already know.

"Yes," Liora answered.

Eliara waited.

There was something about the way she said it that suggested there was more.

Liora continued.

"Alpha Ronan Velkaris is a member of the royal family."

Eliara's expression changed slightly.

"Royal family?"

"Yes. The Velkaris bloodline has ruled the kingdom for generations. They are among the oldest and most powerful wolf families in existence."

She paused before continuing.

"Ronan is the second son of the Velkaris family. His elder brother, Kael Velkaris, is the heir to the throne and the future ruler of Velkaris."

Eliara absorbed that information.

So Ronan wasn't the one who would inherit the kingdom.

Yet he still carried enough authority that people treated him like royalty.

"Then what exactly is Ronan's position?"

Liora smiled faintly.

"His own strength and achievements gave him influence beyond his birth. Being a member of the royal family is not the only reason people respect him."

Eliara looked away.

Of course.

Even without knowing the details, she could tell Ronan was not someone who depended only on his name.

"And Kael?"

"Kael Velkaris is respected as the future ruler of Velkaris. He is known for his leadership and his role in protecting the kingdom. While Ronan has built his own reputation, Kael carries the responsibility of the crown."

The explanation left Eliara strangely quiet.

And somehow, she had managed to get involved with one of them without even knowing who he was.

She looked around the massive estate again, realizing how little she understood about the world she had stepped into.

For the first time, she wasn't just wondering how to escape.

She was wondering what kind of place she had truly been brought into.

Eliara continued walking, her thoughts becoming more tangled with every piece of information she received. She had always considered herself someone who understood the world around her. She knew how to read people, how to survive difficult situations, and how to keep herself from depending on anyone else. She glanced at Lucian, who had remained quiet throughout most of the conversation.

"So you are an Apex Wolf?"

Lucian looked at her briefly before nodding.

"Yes."

"Meaning you're one of the strongest?"

"Among the warriors."

The way he answered was modest, almost as if he didn't think it was worth mentioning.

Eliara found that strange.

Everyone else she had encountered seemed eager to remind others of their status. Yet Lucian spoke about his rank as if it was simply a responsibility.

"Tell me about him."

The request surprised them both.

Liora looked at her.

"Alpha Ronan?"

Eliara nodded.

She didn't know why she wanted to hear it from them. Perhaps because every version of Ronan she had seen so far belonged to her own experience. The arrogant man who had appeared at the market. The man who had kidnapped her. The man who spoke as if her choices were nothing compared to his own certainty.

She wanted to know who he was when she wasn't the person standing in front of him.

Liora took a moment before answering.

"Alpha Ronan Velkaris is someone many people misunderstand."

Eliara raised an eyebrow.

"To those who do not know him, he appears cold, arrogant, and impossible to approach. But those who have served beside him know that he is far more complicated than that."

Lucian remained quiet, but he did not disagree.

"He has always been different from others of his rank," Liora continued. "Many Alphas rely on their status. Ronan never has. His strength, his reputation, and his influence were built through his own actions."

Eliara listened.

"He is known throughout Velkaris as one of the most dangerous warriors of his generation. Not because he seeks violence, but because very few have ever been able to stand against him."

She remembered the way he moved.

"He commands respect," Liora said. "Even those who dislike him acknowledge his ability."

"And his family?"

"His relationship with the royal family is complicated."

Eliara looked at her curiously.

"Complicated?"

Liora nodded.

"Kael and Ronan are both exceptional, but they are very different. Kael carries the image of a future ruler. He is disciplined, strategic, and devoted to the responsibilities placed on him. Ronan, however, has always walked his own path."

That sounded exactly like him.

"He does not enjoy being controlled," Liora added. "Even by those above him."

Eliara almost smiled.

That was probably the one thing she could agree with.

"Do you have any idea why he brought me here"

"That is something only Alpha Ronan knows."

Eliara looked toward the gardens ahead.

A man powerful enough to have anything he wanted had chosen her.

A Lesser Wolf.

Someone who, according to everyone here, should have been beneath his notice.

And that was the part she couldn't understand.