chapter 3

Damien

Three Years Later

Being alpha isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Today, like most days, I’m staring at the reports stacked on my desk, the irritation building with every passing second. Shifters are dying, and no one knows why. Or at least no one’s willing to admit it. The neighboring packs are tossing accusations our way, like we’ve forgotten how to run our own territory. Meanwhile, I’m here trying to keep this whole damn situation from spiraling into chaos.

The worst part? I can’t shake the feeling that we’re missing something huge.

I push the papers aside and glance out the window. Giant redwoods surround my cabin, dense and quiet. Peaceful, unlike the compound back at the pack’s main grounds in the city. Out here, I can breathe. No noise, no pack members hounding me to fix every tiny problem. Just me and the trees.

If it were up to me, I’d spend all my time here, away from the tech company our pack owns and operates, away from city life. I handle as much as I can remotely, but there are still days when I’m dragged into the city to play alpha and CEO. The slow pace of life out here suits me better. It’s where I can think.

I roll my shoulders, trying to loosen the tension that’s been clinging to me like a bad rash. Alec, my best friend and the guy who should be standing beside me as beta, has been distant for months now. The fact that he turned down the beta position when I took over still doesn’t sit right with me. He’s been avoiding me, and no matter how many times I’ve tried to ask him why, I get the same vague answers.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I already know who it is. “It’s open.”

Alec steps in, and his expression is closed off, just as it’s been ever since Jade left. His eyes flick to the mess on my desk before landing back on me.

“You’re still hiding out in here?” He crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe like he’s been dragged here against his will. “Can’t keep avoiding the city forever.”

I snort. “You’d avoid it, too, if you had to deal with the crap I do.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Like I don’t already?”

“Could’ve fooled me.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest to mirror his posture. “You’ve been pretty scarce lately. Not exactly jumping in to help.”

Alec’s jaw tightens, and for a second, I think he’s going to snap back. But instead, he walks over to the window and starts staring out at the trees, just like I was a few minutes ago. He’s quiet for too long, and it sets my wolf on edge.

“What’s going on with you, man?” My voice comes out sharper than I mean it to, but I’m done tiptoeing around this. “You’re not yourself.”

He doesn’t respond right away. Just keeps looking out at the forest like the answers are hiding somewhere between the trees. When he finally turns to face me, his expression is guarded, and I can tell he’s trying to figure out how much to say.

“I’m just dealing with some stuff, Damien. It’s nothing to do with the pack.”

“If it’s not about the pack, then what the hell is it about?” I ask impatiently. “We’ve got people dying, Alec. This isn’t the time to go off the grid.”

He rubs the back of his neck and shifts from foot to foot. “I know. I’m not trying to disappear, but—”

“But what?”

He doesn’t finish the sentence, and my frustration spikes. Alec has been my right-hand man for years. He’s always had my back, no questions asked. And now? Now he’s acting like there’s something pulling him away. Something more important than his responsibility to this pack.

“Look,” he says, finally meeting my gaze, “I’ll help however I can. But I’m not taking the beta position.”

I stand up, pushing my chair back with more force than necessary. “You’ve already said that. What I don’t get is why. If this is about Jade—”

Alec’s entire body tenses, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. Jade. I haven’t brought her up once in three years, not since the day she left, but I’d be a fool to pretend she wasn’t at the center of all this. Her banishment fractured more than just her place in the pack. It fractured Alec, too.

“This isn’t about Jade,” he insists, his voice hard.

“You sure about that?” I step closer, not backing down. “Because ever since she left, you’ve been different. And you had every intention of serving as my beta until after she left.”

“Damien, don’t.”

I keep my gaze locked on him. “You’re pissed at me. Is that it?”

His fists clench, and for a second, I think he might actually take a swing at me. But he takes a deep breath and forces himself to calm down. “It’s not about her. And even if it was, that’s none of your business.”

My wolf bristles at the way he says it, like I don’t have the right to ask. Like she wasn’t part of this pack—part of my pack—before everything went to hell. But I’m not about to push this any further. Not now, at least.

“Fine,” I grit out. “But I need you to step up. I’m not letting this place fall apart just because you’ve got personal shit going on.”

Alec’s expression softens for a moment, and he looks more tired than I’ve ever seen him. “I’m not trying to leave you hanging, man. I’ll be around when you need me.”

I don’t respond right away. Instead, I glance out the window, trying to shake the frustration that’s been digging at me for weeks. The trees sway in the wind, and for a second, I wish I could disappear into them. Just run until everything makes sense again. But that’s not how this works. I’m alpha. I can’t afford to check out, even when it feels like everything is crumbling around me.

“You hear about the psychic?” I ask, changing the subject.

Alec frowns. “The one in Glory Town?”

“Yeah. The neighboring packs are talking about going to see her. Apparently, she’s got some kind of ability to see things. Visions, or whatever.”

He crosses his arms again, looking skeptical. “You really think a psychic is going to solve this?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, but I’m out of options. We’re blaming each other, and if this keeps up, we’re going to end up in a full-on war. If seeing her gives me any kind of lead, I’ll take it.”

Alec sighs, shaking his head. “I’ll see what information I can dig up about her. When are you going?”

“Soon. I’ve got a few things to wrap up here, but after that, I’m heading out.”

He gives me a long look, like he’s debating whether to say something more. But whatever it is, he keeps it to himself. “All right. Let me know what you find.”

“I will,” I reply.