Chapter Two

Anna’s POV

Training was finally over, but my mind refused to settle.

Why had Kael summoned me to his office?

Whatever the reason was, I was sure of one thing.

He was going to find a way to irritate me.

Just like he always did.

“Anna!”

I barely had time to turn before Emma threw her arms around me, hugging me so tightly my feet left the ground.

I laughed despite myself.

“Emma! Put me down before you break my ribs.”

She finally let go, grinning from ear to ear.

“Never.”

I shook my head with a smile.

Emma, the Beta’s younger sister, had been my closest friend ever since I arrived at Ironfang a year ago. If it wasn’t for her, I honestly didn’t know how I would’ve survived living here.

“So glad to see you,” I said.

“You too.” She linked her arm through mine as we walked away from the training grounds. “Training with the Gamma team was terrible today. I swear they were trying to kill us. I wish I had been assigned to your group instead.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You call getting punched in the face fun?”

She burst into laughter.

“I heard you knocked Vanessa flat!”

“She deserved it.”

“Oh, she definitely did.” Emma laughed even harder. “I’ve been waiting for someone to humble her.”

I couldn’t help smiling.

Vanessa had spent the last year making my life miserable. Watching her hit the ground had been worth every bruise I’d gotten.

Emma suddenly stopped walking and looked at me with wide eyes.

“Oh! I almost forgot.”

“What?”

“I heard the Alpha summoned you to his office.”

I sighed dramatically.

“Unfortunately.”

Her mouth fell open.

“What did you do this time?”

“Why do you automatically assume it’s my fault?”

She gave me a knowing look.

“Because every time you and the Alpha are in the same place, you end up arguing.”

I couldn’t even deny it.

“Fair point.”

Emma laughed.

“Well, good luck. You’re probably going to need it.”

“I have a feeling you’re right.”

She clapped her hands together excitedly.

“Forget that for now. I’m more excited about tonight’s mating ceremony.”

A dreamy smile spread across her face.

“I can’t wait to dance with my mate.”

I nudged her shoulder.

“You’ve been talking about this ceremony for weeks.”

“Because it’s going to be amazing!”

I smiled at her excitement, even though I didn’t share it.

The mating ceremony meant nothing to me.

Not when I didn’t even have a wolf.

“Well,” I said, “I’ll see you there.”

She pulled me into one last hug.

“You’d better survive your meeting with the Alpha first.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Laughing, we went our separate ways.

I headed toward the pack mansion, the largest building in Ironfang. It stood proudly in the center of the pack grounds, surrounded by towering trees and guarded by wolves at every entrance.

The closer I got, the more nervous I became.

I hated that Kael could do that to me.

Not because I feared him.

Because he always managed to get under my skin.

I climbed the wide staircase, walked through the massive front doors, and followed the familiar hallway until I stopped outside his office.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked.

“Come in.”

His deep voice drifted through the door.

I pushed it open and stepped inside.

Kael stood by the large window behind his desk, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black pants. Sunlight poured through the glass behind him, outlining his broad shoulders and making his gray eyes seem even sharper.

He didn’t turn around immediately.

“You took your time.”

I closed the door behind me.

“Training had just ended.”

“It ended fifteen minutes ago.”

I folded my arms.

“I didn’t realize you were keeping track.”

He finally turned to face me.

“I keep track of everything that happens in my pack.”

“Good for you.”

His gray eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

“You enjoy testing my patience.” He stared at me

“And you enjoy ordering me around.”

A brief silence settled between us.

“I gave you a direct order Anna.”

“And I came, didn’t I?”

His gaze lingered on me for a second before he walked behind his desk.

“I didn’t call you here to argue.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Then what did you call me here for?”

He rested both hands on the desk, his expression turning serious.

“I received a report this morning.”

The humor instantly disappeared from my face.

“A report about what?”

“The rogue attack a year ago.”

Every muscle in my body froze.

“What about it?”

“There may be new information about the wolves responsible for attacking your pack.”

My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.

“What information?”

He ran a hand through his dark hair, his face giving nothing away.

“I’m still verifying it.”

Frustration rushed through me.”Then why tell me now?”

“Because if it’s true…” His voice dropped slightly. “It changes everything.”

I stepped closer.”Kael, stop speaking in riddles and just tell me.”

“I can’t.”

“Or you won’t?” I asked angrily

“They’re not the same thing.”

I stared at him, trying to decide whether I wanted to scream or shake the answers out of him.

“When will you tell me?”

“The ceremony tonight.”

I frowned.

“The full report will reach me before the ceremony begins. When it does…” He held my gaze. “You’ll have your answers.”

I searched his face for any sign that he was lying.

There wasn’t one.

“I hate when you do this.”

“I know.” He gave a small shrug, completely unbothered.

I let out an annoyed sigh.

“You’re impossible.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out of his office.

The questions chased me all the way down the hallway.

New information about the attack.About the rogues who had destroyed everything I’d ever known.

Could this finally lead me to the monster who had slaughtered my family and wiped out my pack?

“Just a few more hours”!