04: Summons & Leverage

It was barely a week later when Evren was summoned by the Alpha of Embermoon pack.

A pack he had heard of only in fragments, a pack that was surrounded by cold and were indeed very brutal.

A pack which most packs would either make an ally or avoid entirely.

Featherwaters was one of them.

Which was why the summons shook the pack.

The Alpha of Embermoon, one of the greatest out there had no business with the Featherwaters pack, much more a warrior of its pack.

Evren already knew.

Still, he went.

Because refusing would bring consequences on Featherwaters, and that was a price he wasn't willing to pay.

And of course, his mate went along with him. It was never up for a discussion.

It was a smooth journey until it was not.

Featherwaters sat in a valley surrounded by greenery even as the seasons shifted. But the farther they went and the closer they approached Embermoon, the colder they became.

Breaths fogged in the air as the cold crept in quietly.

Both on one horse, they spent two days on the road, Eira sitting secured between his arms, back pressed to his chest, his cloak wrapped around both of them.

Evren barely slept, barely relaxed.

They had encountered a fae who almost stole Eira. Evren had been away hunting when the fae had appeared to Eira.

friendly, smiling innocently.

It asked for Eira's name.

Before the female could reply, Evren had appeared behind and slit the creature's throat with his claws.

That night when they had stopped to rest, a bush baby, an egbere cried from the surrounding forest.

Its voice shrieked as it wailed, disturbing Eira's sleep until Evren rose and roared into the trees.

The crying stopped instantly.

By the time Embermoon came into view, the cold was brittle and unforgiving.

The pack was built like a fortress from the snow, stone walls dark and heavy, iron gates taller than any Evren had ever seen.

He pulled a thick cloak around his mate before she could protest. She rolled her eyes at his possessiveness but said nothing.

At the gates, he presented the seal that had been used to summon him and once the guards saw it, their eyes widened bowing instantly.

"Alpha heir," they greeted and Evren gritted his teeth.

Eira touched his thigh, grounding him. He breathed out and nodded, settling.

Inside the walls, the town was frozen over. People were bundled in shawls, claaks, gloves.

It was busy though, very busy and eyes turned to look at them as guards escorted to the streets.

Fifteen minutes later, they reached the pack house.

Servants appeared in a linear line, heads bowed. A man stepped forward from the shadows.

"Welcome, Alpha heir." he greeted formally. "My name is Morcant, your father's beta."

Evren only nodded.

Eira noticed the servants never lifted their eyes and it unsettled her. She couldn't help but think about how strict Embermoon had to be to leave their servants bowing permanently at the sight of authority.

"Your father waits at the fighting arena," Morcant continued. "We will go to him now."

Beta Morcant snapped his fingers and a woman came forward reaching for Eira by hand.

Evren reacted instantly.

He grabbed the woman's wrist and twisted it without reason. The woman screamed in pain as beta Morcant quickly spoke.

"That is our head maid, Tina. She will see to your mate while you meet your father."

Evren's grip loosened as he eyed beta Morcant.

"She will be safe, well cared for and will lack nothing. You will see her again as soon as your meeting ends."

Evren didn't answer but he let go of the woman who rubbed her wrist in pain and pulled Eira closer possessively as if saying...NO

Eira sighed. "Evren, I'll be fine. I know you're worried but they wouldn't dare hurt me, you've made sure of that," she whispered looking up at him.

Evren looked down at her, his eyes searching hers for some sort of reassurance, restless. "Evren," Eira touched his face affectionately, voice as soft as wool.

The Alpha heir exhaled loudly, long and heavy before letting her go then he turned to the row of servants with their heads still bowed.

"If so much as a strand of her hair is harmed," his voice was oddly calm and eerie. "Your Alpha will not be able to help you."

"Yes Alpha heir," they chorused.

Evren kissed her before muttering, "be careful."

Eira smiled faintly. "I should be the one telling you that."

Then he left her.

The fighting arena was bigger than that of Featherwaters.

Warriors of all positions paused mid spar to bow to the bastard Alpha heir that was no longer a rumor.

Alpha Ethan stood at the edge of a fighting ring, sweat on his skin as he had just finished sparring.

His hair had greyed but his posture was still spot on.

Evren looked everything like his father, in physical looks, that is.

Too much like him.

Beside him stood uncle Eric, deep in discussion only to stop as soon as his eyes landed on Evren.

A slow devilish smirk crossed his face.

Alpha Ethan turned fully to look at his son. His hands were crossed in front of him as he thoroughly vetted Evren.

"So," Alpha Ethan began, voice aged from experience. "You grew into the body."

Evren said nothing.

"You rose fast," the Alpha continued. "Third in command by age twenty four. Impressive."

Still nothing.

That was when the Alpha stepped forward. Close enough that the scent hit Evren properly. Old authority, familiar in a way Evren already hated.

"You must be busy so I shall make this quick." The Alpha said. "I want to correct an absence."

The whole arena quieted down.

"I need an heir," Alpha Ethan stated plainly. "And you will provide one."

Dead silence.

Evren stared at him.

More dead silence.

No movement.

Then, he chuckled.

It slipped out before he knew it.

Then he laughed, loudly, maniacally, disbelievingly.

Evren laughed from his lungs, loud and unrestrained so much that half of the arena stared at him in fear, the others in disbelief.

"You abandoned us," his voice carried heavily when he finally spoke. "Left my mother to die on cold floors."

A murmur rippled through the watching wolves. The Alpha lifted a hand and it died instantly.

"I did what was necessary," he said calmly. "And now I am doing so again."

He gestured to his beta. "A marriage has been arranged. A neighboring pack. Strong blood, fertile line. You will take their daughter as mate."

Evren didn't even hesitate.

"No."

The answer was loud and absolute.

Uncle Eric’s eyes flickered.

The Alpha’s expression hardened. “This is not a request.”

Evren stepped forward. He didn't bow neither did he lower his gaze.

“I already have a mate."

The silence that followed was violent.

Until uncle Eric stepped forward and whispered something to his father.

“An Omega?” he said amused. “You would throw away lineage for a servant?”

Evren’s jaw set. “I already chose.”

Alpha Ethan simply chuckled and nodded his head.

"We shall see."

Uncle Eric stepped even closer, eyeing Evren like a livestock. "You should not have brought her."

Evren glared at him. What was that supposed to mean? "She's under my protection."

Eric smiled wider. “Everything inside these walls is.”

The Alpha turned away as if the matter bored him already. “You will remain in Embermoon for the duration of this visit,” he said over his shoulder. “You will attend council. You will be seen. You will be… considered.”

Evren took a sharp step forward. “I didn’t agree to stay.”

Alpha Ethan stopped.

Uncle Eric’s eyes flicked once, toward the direction of the pack house.

Evren caught it.

His jaw tightened, anger sharpening into something else, something more dangerous. Too late understanding crawled up his spine.

This was never about lineage alone.

This was leverage.