Chapter six

 

Christina’s POV

The wolf pinning me down was massive, with 

silver-gray fur and eyes that burned with fury. His claws 

dug into my shoulders, drawing blood.

“I asked you a question,” he snarled. “How did a rogue 

cross our border?”

Before I could answer, another voice cut through the 

air.

“Alpha, wait!”

The pressure on my shoulders eased slightly as 

footsteps approached. A younger wolf emerged from 

the trees, shifting quickly into a tall man with concerned 

eyes.

“She’s bleeding out,” he said. “At least let her speak 

before you kill her.”

The wolf above me growled low but stepped back. The 

The transformation was smooth, controlled. Within 

seconds, a tall man stood before me, maybe thirty, with 

sharp features and an air of command that made my 

instincts scream *alpha*.

Caleb Rhodes.

“You have one minute,” he said coldly. “Explain how 

you crossed our barrier.”

I pushed myself up slowly, painfully aware that I was 

naked and bleeding. My body trembled from 

exhaustion, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.

“I’m not a rogue,” I said, my voice hoarse.

“Then what are you?” Caleb demanded.

“Someone who needs your help.”

The other man laughed bitterly. “You break into our 

territory and ask for help?”

“I think your father was murdered,” I said quietly, 

looking directly at Caleb.

The forest went silent.

Caleb’s expression didn’t change, but something 

flickered in his eyes. Danger. Pain. Rage carefully 

controlled.

“What did you just say?”

I took a shaky breath. “Alpha Richardson was killed 

three months ago. Everyone thinks it was a rogue 

attack. But it wasn’t.”

“How do you know that?” Caleb asked, his voice 

deadly soft.

“Because the wolf that saved me told me,” I said. “The 

wolf that’s been inside your family for four hundred 

years.”

Caleb went completely still. “That’s impossible. Kyros 

died with my father.”

“No,” I said. “He didn’t.”

“Prove it,” Caleb said coldly.

I closed my eyes and called to Kyros. For a moment, 

nothing happened. Then I felt him surge forward, 

taking control.

My eyes snapped open, and I knew they were glowing 

red.

When I spoke, it was Kyros’ voice that came out, 

layered over mine.

“Hello, Caleb.”

The other man stumbled backward, his face pale. 

“Alpha… that’s…”

Caleb stared at me, his expression unreadable. 

“Kyros?”

“Yes,” Kyros said through me. “And we need to talk. 

About your beta.”

Caleb’s jaw tightened. “Inside. Now.”

They gave me clothes. A simple shirt and pants that 

belonged to one of the pack’s omegas. The other man, 

introduced as Finn, wouldn’t stop staring at me like I 

was a ghost.

We sat in what looked like a small meeting room. 

Caleb sat across from me, his eyes never leaving my 

face. Finn stood by the door, arms crossed, still 

suspicious.

“Start from the beginning,” Caleb said.

I told him everything. About being buried alive. About 

waking up with Kyros. About what the ancient wolf had 

revealed.

“Beta Vax killed your father,” I finished. “He made it 

look like a rogue attack, but it was him. He’s planning 

to kill you next.”

Caleb’s expression remained calm, but his hands 

curled into fists on the table. “That’s a serious 

accusation.”

“It’s the truth,” Kyros said, speaking through me again. 

“I was there when he struck. I felt my host die. Vax 

thought he’d killed me too, but I survived long enough 

to find a new vessel.”

“Why her?” Finn asked suddenly. “No offense, but you 

could’ve chosen anyone. Why a wolfless omega from 

another pack?”

Kyros was quiet for a moment. “Because she was 

dying. And because she wanted revenge just as badly 

as I did.”

Caleb leaned back in his chair, studying me. “If what 

you’re saying is true, Vax has been running this pack 

for three months. He has loyalists. Resources. 

Evidence.”

“Then we find evidence,” I said, my own voice 

returning. “We expose him.”

“And if we can’t?” Finn asked.

“Then we kill him,” Kyros said simply.

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “You realize that if you’re 

wrong, you’ll be executed for treason?”

“I’m not wrong,” I said firmly.

Caleb was silent for a long moment. Then he nodded 

slowly. “Alright. But there are conditions.”

“What conditions?”

“You stay here, in Ebonridge. You don’t leave until this 

is finished. And you don’t tell anyone who you really 

are or what wolf you carry. If Vax finds out Kyros is 

alive, he’ll disappear before we can prove anything.”

I nodded. “Fine.”

“One more thing,” Caleb added. “If I find out you’re 

lying to me, I will kill you myself. Understood?”

“Understood.”

Finn cleared his throat. “What do we tell the pack? She 

just appeared out of nowhere. People will ask 

questions.”

Caleb considered this. “We’ll say she’s a survivor from 

a rogue attack. Wolfless. Seeking asylum.”

My stomach twisted at the word. *Wolfless.* Just like 

before.

“Can you handle that?” Caleb asked, watching me 

carefully.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. “Yes.”

“Good.” He stood. “Finn will show you to your quarters. 

We’ll start investigating Vax tomorrow.”

As I followed Finn out of the room, Kyros whispered in 

my mind.

“Are you sure about this?”

I thought about Kael. About Caitlin. About the pack that 

buried me alive.

“I’m sure,” I whispered back. “Let’s make them all pay.”

But as Finn led me through the packhouse, I felt it 

again.

That pull in my chest. Faint but growing stronger.

The mate bond.

And somewhere, miles away in Riverstone, I knew 

Kael felt it too.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​