Chapter 2: The Crash

Jeffery could sense something was off the moment his father called. Alpha Dominic never reached out first, unless it was something urgent or tragic. When the call came through with just a command to Come home immediately, it sent a quake of unease through him. The line cut out before he could ask questions, leaving him staring at his phone in disbelief. Across the cafeteria, Anna looked worried. “What happened?” she asked. Jeffery hurriedly slipped his phone into his pocket, trying to keep calm. “I have to go,” he said, his voice steady but his mind racing. “That Serious?” Anna pressed. Jeffery hesitated. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted, but deep down, he knew something was wrong. That uneasy feeling clung to him all the way home, making the drive feel longer than ever. By the time the Moonfang gates appeared, his hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The black SUVs lining the front of the manor only confirmed his fears.

************

Pack guards stood outside with hard expressions.

Nobody stopped Jeffery when he ran inside. The house was in chaos.

Servants rushed through the halls carrying medical supplies. Voices echoed upstairs. Somewhere in the distance, glass shattered.

Then his father shouted—he could have died!”

Jeffery froze. Fear hit him instantly.

Not for himself. For Lucien.

Jeffery grabbed the nearest doctor hard enough to yank the older man backward.

“What happened?”

The doctor looked shaken. “Your brother was in a car accident.”

Everything inside Jeffery melted.

“Where is he? “second floor.”

Jeffery ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

He almost slipped as he turned the corner in the hallway. Outside Lucien’s door, two guards stood like they were guarding the alpha heir from the whole world. Jeffery pushed the door open hurriedly, then froze in shock. Lucien was lying still on the bed, blood staining the bandages around his chest. His face was badly bruised with a dark purple hue on one side, and his arm was immobilized in a brace. Soft beeping sounds came from the machines beside him. Jeffery’s heart ached painfully—Lucien looked so weak. That feeling scared him more than the sight of blood. Selene sat close to the bed, clutching Lucien’s hand so tightly you could see her worry. As soon as she saw Jeffery, relief washed over her face. “He’s alive,” she whispered hurriedly, like she already knew what he was feeling. Jeffery moved closer cautiously. Lucien’s breathing was uneven and too slow. “What happened?” he asked, waiting for an answer. No one spoke right away. Across the room, Dominic stood with several pack elders, all looking tense. Finally, one of them spoke up. “The brakes failed.” Jeffery’s brow furrowed immediately. Lucien always checked his car carefully oil, tires, brakes everything. He once refused to drive because a warning light flickered for just two seconds. “Since when does Lucien forget to maintain his car?” Jeffery asked sharply.

**********

The elders exchanged glances.

Dominic’s expression darkened slightly. “This is not the time.”

“No,” Jeffery snapped. “Now is exactly the time. Something felt wrong, not unlucky, Just wrong.

Before anyone could answer, another elder stepped forward nervously, showing the concerns everyone was feeling. The sponsors already know about the accident, Jeffery stared, surprised. “What?” he asked. The man continued carefully, “The championship begins in two weeks. If Lucien cannot play...

Jeffery leaned closer. “What happened bro.

Lucien’s smile disappeared.

“The car lost control. That’s not an answer. Lucien looked away. And there it was again.

That hesitation.

Jeffery narrowed his eyes slightly. You remember something.”

Nah I don’t.

Jeffery knew Lucien too well, that his brother was hiding something.

Before he could push further, pain twisted sharply across Lucien’s face. The monitors beside the bed started beeping faster.

The doctor rushed over immediately.

“He needs rest.”

Lucien grabbed Jeffery’s wrist before the doctor could inject anything into his IV.

His grip felt weak, still desperate.

“Don’t let him do it,” Lucien whispered, Jeffery frowned. “Do what?”

But Lucien was already fading again. The doctor pulled Jeffery back gently.

You should leave. Jeffery stared at his unconscious brother.

Don’t let him do it.

The words stayed trapped in his head long after he left the room.

The next morning, Dominic called him into the study.

Jeffery already knew this conversation would be bad.

The study door shut heavily behind him.

Dominic stood near the desk holding several papers. Contracts.

Sponsorship documents, hockey reports.

The doctors confirmed Lucien cannot play. Jeffery crossed his arms. “Okay.”

“The championship cannot proceed without Moufang’s captain.”

“And?”

Dominic finally looked directly at him. You will take his place.”

Everywhere went dead silent. Jeffery thought he misheard him.

Then he realized his father was serious, No.

You and Lucien are identical, no one outside the pack even knows I exist.

Which makes this possible, that one hurt Dominic said it so casually, too.

Like Jeffery hiding his entire life was convenient now. Jeffery stared at him. “I barely know hockey.”

You trained beside Lucien growing up.

That was years ago, you remember enough. Jeffery shook his head slowly. “This is insane.”

Dominic stepped closer, If Moonfang loses this sponsorship, rival packs will tear through our borders within months.

And somehow that becomes my problem? You are part of this pack whether you like it or not.

Jeffery’s anger rose fast, Funny.

Moonfang only remembered he belonged to them when they needed something.

“You ignored me for seventeen years dad,” Jeffery said quietly. “Now suddenly I’m useful?

Dominic looked angry.Before he could answer, the study door opened violently.

Lucien stood there breathing hard.He should not have been out of bed.

One hand pressed against his ribs, while the other held the doorway for support.

You can’t force him,Lucien said.

Dominic looked irritated immediately. “You should be resting. I said no.

The room went silent,Jeffery stared at his brother. Lucien never challenged their father openly.

Dominic’s expression hardened. “Moonfang needs stability.”

Then find another solution,There is no other solution.”

Lucien looked toward Jeffery suddenly, for the first time since the accident, Jeffery saw real panic in his brother’s eyes.

Not fear of losing hockey, Not fear of disappointing the pack.

Something worse, you don’t understand, Lucien said quietly. Dominic’s voice cut through the room instantly.

“You were supposed to secure Moonfang’s future. Now your brother will do it instead.”

Jeffery felt the tension snap immediately. Lucien went pale.

His breathing changed.

And suddenly Jeffery understood something terrifying.

This was never just about hockey. He looked between them slowly.

What aren’t you telling me? Nobody answered.

Dominic stayed silent, Lucien looked away. That silence told Jeffery everything.

Something had been hidden from him his entire life. And whatever it was—

His brother had just gotten nearly killed over it.