Chapter 17 — Between Two Lycans

The private room was isolated from the rest of the event. The lights were lower, and the air inside carried the weight of hierarchy. Only the most influential leaders and councilors of the allied clans were present.

Dmitry entered with a firm posture and eyes as cold as the Russian winter. His black suit seemed tailor-made to intimidate, and his presence was impossible to ignore.

He walked to the head of the long dark oak table, where everyone waited for him in silence.

Irina Vasiliev sat with her chin slightly raised, eyes attentive. Ivan Volkov analyzed documents in front of him. Lev Orlov, older and silent, observed with a calculating gaze. And Viktor Dragovich, an Alpha with a history of veiled disagreements with Dmitry, looked impatient.

Without wasting time, Irina was the first to speak.

“The Demidov Clan is on the move.”

Dmitry crossed his arms, his expression impassive.

“Be more specific.”

Ivan cleared his throat, pulling a tablet from his leather folder.

“We’ve received reliable information that Konstantin Demidov has been making contact with figures from the vampire underworld.”

The name echoed like thunder in the room. Konstantin was the direct heir of the Demidovs. Young, ambitious… and dangerous.

“Licking the feet of bloodsuckers… Pathetic.”

The deep voice of his Lycan echoed inside his mind with a contained growl.

“We should rip the skin off that son of a bitch and hang it on the city gate as a warning.”

Dmitry remained motionless. Not even a muscle in his face twitched.

Lev Orlov leaned forward.

“The vampires? Do they really have the nerve?”

“It seems so,” Ivan replied, passing the tablet to Dmitry.

The images showed nighttime meetings, discreet conversations captured by surveillance cameras. Dmitry analyzed every detail with clinical eyes.

“These aren’t just casual conversations,” Viktor Dragovich said, his tone acidic. “They’re negotiating something big.”

Irina rested her elbows on the table.

“The Demidovs never accepted Rurik leadership. And now, with vampire support, they might be trying to change the game.”

Dmitry said nothing. His silence was more unsettling than any answer. He slowly turned the tablet in his hands, as if analyzing every pixel of the images.

“He dares to betray his own bloodline, Alpha… The rotten blood that dared to touch our mother, and now wants to breathe the same air as her.”

The Lycan roared inside, agitated.

“Kill him. Kill anyone who looks at her.”

“What would Konstantin gain from this approach?” he asked coldly.

“Military support, political influence among the dissident clans…” Ivan listed. “And if he manages to get the vampires to strengthen him, he could challenge your leadership directly.”

“He doesn’t have the strength for that,” Dmitry said dryly.

“But maybe he thinks he does,” Irina countered. “And that’s dangerous enough.”

Lev drummed his fingers on the table.

“The balance is hanging by a thread. If the Demidovs break this pact of silence, the vampires will have the perfect excuse to act.”

Silence fell over everyone for a few moments. Dmitry then leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.

“I want surveillance increased. I want eyes on Konstantin day and night. If he sneezes outside his territory, I want to know.”

“We already have men in position,” Ivan confirmed.

“Involve the smaller allied clans. If any of them are being used as intermediaries, cut the ties.”

“This will start a chain reaction, Dmitry,” Irina warned.

“Then let them start running,” he replied with a dark half-smile. “If Konstantin Demidov is digging his own grave, I just want to be there to throw the dirt over him.”

The other leaders nodded. There was no longer room for illusions. A veiled war was about to explode.

But even amid the tension in the room, Dmitry’s mind involuntarily returned to the main hall. To her.

Susan.

And no matter how much the Demidovs and the vampires were a threat, Dmitry knew that all it would take was one more look, one improper approach… and he would break anyone’s neck without blinking.

“She is ours. And if any other male dares to touch her…”

His Lycan’s breathing trembled in his mind.

“I take over. And no one survives.”

Dmitry closed his eyes for a moment. Just one moment.

Then he stood up. The meeting was over. But the war, the real war, was only just beginning.

***

Susan was still smiling at Alexei’s last joke when Aleksandr’s hoarse, provocative voice sounded behind her, like a cold breath on the back of her neck:

“Leaving me out of the fun?”

Alexei didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He simply closed his eyes for a second, as if feeling the storm approaching.

“We were talking about books, Sasha. Hardly something that would interest you.”

“Books?” Aleksandr walked around the group, stopping beside Susan. “Don’t underestimate my intellect, Alexei. I’ve read a few… survival manuals.”

Susan laughed, surprised, and he turned to her with a victorious smile.

“See? I’ve already scored points with the redhead.”

Alexei crossed his arms, staring at his friend with a sideways look.

“It’s not a competition.”

“Of course not.” Aleksandr raised an eyebrow. “Especially since you’ve clearly already lost.”

Susan widened her eyes, unsure whether to laugh or disappear. Alexei sighed but kept his tone light.

“Susan, this is Aleksandr Volkov. A laboratory accident with excess charm and zero filter.”

“Pleasure, Susan,” Aleksandr said, leaning slightly in a playful bow. “Call me Sasha. Everyone who survives my presence for more than five minutes earns that right.”

She smiled, a bit awkward.

“Pleasure… Sasha.”

“See?” He looked at Alexei with a smug smile. “Five minutes. Didn’t even need to try hard.”

“There’s still time,” Alexei shot back. “You usually ruin everything by seven.”

Aleksandr ignored the provocation and turned back to Susan, with that curious sparkle in his amber eyes.

“So you’re the new star of Rurik Motors. I heard you’ve drawn more looks than the expensive wine tonight.”

Susan blushed instantly, and Alexei intervened before things got out of control.

“She’s just being polite, Sasha. Something rare around here.”

“Politeness and intelligence are aphrodisiacs, my dear,” Aleksandr said, taking a sip from his glass. “Even more so when combined with a beautiful laugh. It’s not every day someone challenges the monotony of these events.”

“Maybe you should attend fewer events, then,” Alexei retorted.

“Maybe. But then I’d miss moments like this.”

Susan stared at the two of them, somewhat stunned. It was like watching two felines playing, with claws hidden under their paws.

“Have you two known each other for a long time?” she asked, trying to understand their dynamic.

“Since forever,” Alexei answered, almost at the same time Sasha said:

“Too long.”

They looked at each other in silence, then laughed.

“He’s my best friend,” Alexei said.

“And he’s the reason for my gastritis,” Sasha added, giving a dramatic look.

Susan laughed more than she should have, and both men joined her. But Alexei still carried tension in his shoulders. And Aleksandr noticed.

“Relax, Lex. I didn’t come to bite anyone.”

“Yet.”

Aleksandr gave a crooked, malicious smile.

“Afraid I’ll bite the wrong person?”

Alexei narrowed his eyes, serious for a moment.

“I’m just looking after what matters.”

The exchange of glances between them was brief, intense, and silent. Susan didn’t understand, but she felt it. The connection. The warning.

Aleksandr looked away first, returning to his carefree persona.

“Well…” he said, looking at Susan. “You’re more interesting than they told me. And they told me quite a lot.”

“Like what?” she asked, half defensive.

“That you’re beautiful, intelligent, dedicated… And that you make Dmitry Rurik break out in a cold sweat.”

Silence. A heavy silence.

Alexei took a step forward, cutting the mood.

“Sasha…”

“I’m just stating facts, brother,” Aleksandr raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t say anything she doesn’t already know. And if she didn’t, she should.”

Susan looked confused, so Alexei lightly touched her arm.

“He likes playing with fire. But he doesn’t always understand the size of the bonfire.”

“I do understand,” Aleksandr countered. “I just don’t mind getting burned.”

He winked at Susan before slowly walking away, leaving in the air that mixture of provocation, charm, and danger.

Alexei breathed deeply, letting the air out slowly.

“If he comes back, throw the juice in his eyes. It works most of the time.”

Susan laughed, still with a red face.

“You two are… intense.”

“He’s chaos. I’m control,” Alexei replied. “But together? We’re a walking problem.”

She smiled, still watching Aleksandr disappear among the guests.

“I imagine Dmitry hates this.”

“With every fiber of his being,” Alexei murmured. “And that’s exactly why Sasha won’t stop.”