Mag-log inI should have anticipated this. What was I thinking, believing everything would magically go smoothly just because Louis chose me of his own free will? Seeing that woman standing right in front of me now was all it took to crash back into the harsh reality of our twisted fate. His real mate was back... and she had walked right out of the shadows escorted by our worst enemy. Even though I had only seen her a handful of times when she was unconscious in the medical ward back then, I recognized her instantly. Louis’s fated mate. The bitter irony of it made my chest ache. "Is this the reason you asked for this meeting?" Louis growled from beside me, his grip on my shoulder tightening until it almost bruised. "I don't know what you're talking about, but he is the one who brought me here," the woman started, pointing a finger at the monster beside her. "He told me he would lead me straight to my mate, so I came along..." She drew a sharp breath, taking a step closer. "I didn't actually
LOUIS'S POV I stood outside the main entrance of the pack house for nearly ten minutes before I felt Tracy’s presence approaching me. I had spent the entire night locked in my office going over different protocols, so I hadn't seen her since I left her to go get my mother. I supposed that was why she wore such a deep scowl as she stopped in front of me. "I assumed you might have changed your mind about attending, Luna," I muttered, reaching out and pulling her smoothly into my side. "Like I would ever run away from a meeting like this, Alpha," she shot back instantly, prying my fingers off her waist. "Is my brother back yet?" she asked, putting a deliberate foot of distance between us. I shook my head. "He’ll be on standby directly at the venue, just in case things turn sideways." Tracy offered a curt nod. My eyes scanned her sharp features as she stepped past me, and I didn't miss the subtle way her eyebrows scrunched together every few seconds. "Did anything my mother said h
That sudden realization instantly silenced every stray thought and lingering noise floating through my head and i stood up from the bed immediately. I took a sharp breath and tried to reach out through our mind-link, but the connection refused to establish no matter how hard I pushed. That meant one thing: Mark wasn't anywhere within pack territory right now. How? When did he start slipping away from the pack without mentioning a single word to me—especially during a crisis like this? I didn't waste another second, instantly redirecting my link toward Denise. They had been working closely together, so she might have an idea. ‘Luna?’ Her response flowed through the link immediately, crisp and sharp. ‘Denise, have you seen my brother?’ I asked, my voice tight. ‘The Beta hasn’t been seen in the pack house all day, Luna,’ she said after a brief pause. ‘Any idea where he went or why? He wouldn't just vanish without telling anyone.’ ‘You might have to ask the Alpha about that, Luna
I know Louis told me to focus strictly on him, but it was harder than he made it sound—especially with the chaotic noises hitting my ears all at once. I couldn't help wanting to sink into it, to strain my hearing and catch every single conversation echoing across the pack. It felt like some wild power, something I had never dreamed of possessing. To think Louis had lived like this his entire life... How the hell did he manage to remain so calm amidst the constant noise? "Tracy! Tracy!" The faint calls of my name sounded muffled beneath the overwhelming sounds, until a warm hand suddenly clamped onto my forearm. The instant static sparks from our bond snapped me straight back to reality. "You never listen, do you?" Louis seethed softly, his voice low. "Stop trying to listen to everyone at once. Just focus on what’s directly in front of you right now." He gave my shoulder a gentle nudge forward. We were standing in front of the main pack house, and I had completely forgotten that
LOUIS'S POV "What do you mean I can’t go with you, Louis?!" "It means exactly what you think it means, Tracy," I cut in, swinging the bedroom door wide open. "It means there is zero chance in hell I am leaving this territory to face that monster with you tagging along. It’s never going to happen." "I can handle myself, and you damn well know it!" she huffed, stepping forward to block my path, her jaw set. "Besides, it’s a meeting, not a battlefield! I’ll be fine!" A heavy sigh escaped me as I looked down into her defiant eyes. I really picked a mate who’s going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, didn't I? "I wouldn’t have a single reason to worry if we were walking onto a battlefield, Tracy," I said quietly. "I know now that you can rip through enemies on your own. But not this meeting." "And why the hell not, Louis?! Why?!" "Because you can barely keep your composure when you hear that man’s name!" I stepped past her, running a hand down my face as I sat on the ed
You would have expected a wave of murmurs to erupt after Louis finished addressing the pack about the reinforced security measures. But instead, the hall dead silent . It was unsettling—especially for a pack that typically thrived on gossip and frantic rumors. I half-expected whispers of how the Craken were going to burn the territory to the ground to be floating around already, but not a single person uttered a sound. Even the brief, hushed conversations that drifted to my ears were nothing more than quiet expressions of anxiety—people worrying that extra patrols wouldn't be enough to hold back an ancient army. "They're taking my warning about spreading rumors far too seriously," Louis whispered lowly beside me, as if reading my exact thoughts. "That's why they're quiet. The moment we dismiss this assembly and step out of those doors, the chaos you're anticipating will explode everywhere else." "So your pack members are genuinely terrified of you, huh?" I breathed, raising an eye







