Chapter 2 - Say yes.

V E R A

 

Suddenly, the room feels much warmer than it did a minute ago. 

All the voices in the room slowly drown out, and the only person I can focus on... is him... and the fact that I'm alone with him right now.

"So... what is it you wanted to discuss?" I ask, attempting to keep my tone diplomatic and composed, though my pulse has become completely erratic.

Alaric studies me for a second before speaking, his expression softening as he looks down at me.

"I wanted to commend you, Vera." He begins, immediately making my heart jump at his words.

"In your four years as Alpha, your pack has never stood stronger. You have more allies than any other pack in the region, trade between territories has improved dramatically under your leadership, and you've earned respect from wolves who used to dismiss the Ignis Pack entirely. I think you're becoming stronger every year." He says, and I stare at him for a second, caught off guard by how genuine he sounds.

Most Alphas compliment strategically. Every word means another favour, another alliance, another attempt at gaining influence. I've known this from the time I became an Alpha, that this is how female Alphas are usually treated, especially where weakness is shown. And so I had no choice but to choose strength...

But right now... Alaric doesn't sound like he's being manipulative...

He sounds sincere.

"Thank you... Alaric... That means a lot to me." I answer softly, finally using his first name aloud, and the second I do, his eyes darken slightly, sending warmth straight into my stomach.

"You're welcome," he says quietly before taking another step closer. "You truly are a remarkable woman, Vera..." He continues, and my breath catches instantly.

No matter how many times I've imagined moments like this in my head, none of them prepared me for how intense it actually feels standing this close to him while he looks at me like I'm the only person in the room.

Then he continues speaking.

"One I would love to have by my side."

The words hit me so suddenly that my entire body goes still.

"What?" I ask quietly, almost certain I heard him wrong.

But then he moves even closer until there's barely any space between us at all, and my heart begins pounding so loudly I'm certain he can hear it.

"I want you to be my mate, Vera," he says, holding my gaze without hesitation. "Together, you and I would form the strongest union this generation has ever seen. The Ignis Pack and the Talmor bloodline united together would change this entire region."

I blink a few times in disbelief, the air in my lungs stagnant for a few seconds before he huffs lightly, glancing between his eyes for any sign of doubt. But all I can see is certainty.

This is it.

This is the moment I've secretly imagined... every single time I've seen him over the past year, every late-night conversation after council meetings, every lingering glance during gatherings, every smile he ever gave me across crowded rooms...

And now it's actually happening.

"I... I don't know what to say..." I admit softly, still staring at him in disbelief.

A small smile appears on his face, softer than the confident smirks he usually wears around others, and I suddenly understand why so many wolves admire him.

He knows exactly how to make people feel seen.

"Say yes," he murmurs gently before lifting his hand toward my hair, slowly brushing my reddish strands away from the side of my neck to expose it, while his fingers lightly brush against my cheek. "Allow me to mark you... and let the Moon decide if we're truly meant to stand beside each other." He whispers and 

his touch alone nearly melts me.

I stare into his crystal blue eyes while my thoughts completely scatter apart, and for a second, I don't even care about the politics or the alliance or what the other packs would think.

I just want him.

I want him to choose me...

"Yes..." I answer softly, and the smile that spreads across his face afterwards nearly destroys what little composure I have left.

He steps closer again, slowly enough that I realise he's about to kiss me first before marking me, and the realisation sends another wave of nerves rushing through me while I instinctively tilt my head upward toward him.

His hand tightens lightly around mine, and I close my eyes slightly... I feel his lips brush lightly against mine, but before they are even to make contact, there is a sharp, loud banging noise that echoes through the entire hall, making every wolf in the room freeze instantly.

Alaric immediately turns toward the entrance while conversations abruptly die around us, confusion spreading through the crowd as the massive doors at the far end of the hall shake violently again beneath another impact.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The entire atmosphere changes within seconds. I can feel it immediately. The unease, the tension and the shift in everyone's demeanour.

Then the doors burst wide open.

A group of people floods into the hall, none of them dressed for the celebration at all. They're dressed in dark clothing, leather jackets, combat boots, chains and silver accessories.  They begin wreaking havoc by intimidating the guests, forcing them to move back in confusion, some of them taking full trays from servers and helping themselves to food and drink, all will scaring them away, some of them even shoving people to the ground and completely discarding the peace laws of the Moonfall Gala. They look rough, dangerous, completely out of place among the elegant gowns and expensive suits filling the ballroom...

And by the scent alone, I instantly know these aren't members of any recognised pack...

These are Rogues.

And as soon as I realise, my stomach drops immediately.

Rogues are feared for a reason. They are Wolves that have been exiled from their original packs and usually become unpredictable, violent, and impossible to trust. Most roam in small groups, surviving however they can, though over the years rumours began spreading about Rogue wolves gathering beneath one leader...

One Alpha...

One King...

And those rumours ended up being true.

Suddenly, every story I've ever heard comes rushing back into my mind all at once. Stories of the man they all knelt to, stories of the only man they will choose to follow...

The Rogue King.

Cole Drakov...

At this point, the music has gone completely silent and one by one, every pack begins moving away from the entrance instinctively until a clear path forms through the centre of the hall, nobody daring to block whoever is about to walk through those doors.

The Council Elders stand abruptly from their seats as several guards stand alert and ready, though the hesitation is clear on their faces.

Even Alaric has gone tense beside me...

And then... I finally see him.

A man dressed entirely in black steps through the doorway slowly, almost casually, like he doesn't care that an entire hall full of Alphas is staring directly at him right now. He's tall, taller than nearly every wolf here, taller than even Alaric, with broad shoulders stretching beneath a black leather jacket while dark tattoos disappear beneath the sleeves covering his arms. His hair is pitch black, and styled into a wolfcut, with loose strands that fall slightly around his face while the rest brushes against the back of his neck.

But it's his presence that truly makes the room freeze... 

Because everyone present knows exactly who this man is...

The Rogue King himself... Cole Drakov.

His scent crashes into the hall so powerfully that my wolf instantly reacts beneath my skin...

It's masculine and dark, like rich burning wood and fire... instantly overwhelming every other scent I can pick up...

Even Alaric's.

And the moment that realisation hits me, genuine panic crawls down my spine for the first time tonight...

Nobody speaks or moves as every eye remains fixed on him while his people spread out behind him silently, watching the room carefully like they're expecting a fight despite the sacred truce protecting tonight's celebration.

His eyes scan the room distastefully, until his gaze lands directly on me, and the moment it does, he doesn't turn away for a second.

Those eyes... 

They're grey, almost silver beneath the lights of the ballroom, cold enough that the entire room suddenly feels smaller while he studies me openly from across the hall...

Not Alaric... Not the Elders...

Me.

A strange feeling twists in my stomach instantly, like every instinct inside me suddenly realises this man is dangerous in ways the stories never fully explained...

Alaric subtly steps slightly in front of me, his stance protective and possessive.

And the moment he does, the Rogue King's expression changes almost imperceptibly, making his eyebrows rise slightly, curiosity covering his features.

Then slowly, without taking his eyes off me once, the Rogue King begins walking in our direction...

And that is the exact moment I realise the stories about Cole Drakov never once exaggerated the danger surrounding him...