Chapter 4: Not the Wolf They Expected

l stared at Maeve.

"The Sovereign Wolf?"

She nodded slowly.

"What does that mean?"

Maeve looked towards the door before pulling the chair closer to my bed.

"It means the wolf inside you is extremely rare. But I don't want you getting the wrong idea. Having a rare wolf doesn't mean you suddenly know how to fight, control your abilities, or lead others."

I frowned.

"So I'm not automatically powerful?"

A small smile touched her lips.

"You're asking the right questions."

I looked down at my wrist. The faint glow had disappeared, leaving my skin looking perfectly normal.

"Then why has my wolf been silent all these years?"

"That is something we'll need to understand. But first, you need to recover. Your body has been through a lot."

The door opened, and Alexander walked in.

"What happened? I heard something break."

Maeve glanced at the broken glass on the floor.

"Serena's wolf has finally made contact."

Alexander looked at me.

"Are you feeling better?"

I nodded.

Then Maeve said something that made him stop.

"There's something else. I believe Serena carries the Sovereign Wolf bloodline."

For the first time since meeting him, Alexander looked genuinely surprised.

"Are you certain?"

"As certain as I can be without examining her properly."

He was quiet for a moment.

I looked between them.

"Can someone please explain why everyone keeps looking at me like I've grown another head?"

Alexander let out a short breath.

"Sorry. That's not what I intended."

"Then what is it?"

He pulled a chair closer.

"The Sovereign Wolf is a rare bloodline. Most wolves only hear stories about it. Some don't even believe it still exists."

I folded my arms.

"Wonderful. So I'm now a walking story?"

That made Alexander laugh.

And to my surprise, I laughed too.

It felt strange. Only yesterday, I had been standing in front of Damon, trying not to fall apart. Now I was sitting in an unfamiliar room discussing a wolf I barely understood.

Life had changed rather quickly.

Maeve interrupted my thoughts.

"There's one thing I want you both to understand. Serena is not a weapon, and she isn't something to be claimed because of her bloodline."

Alexander nodded.

"I agree."

Then he looked at me.

"Whatever this means, you decide what happens next."

I studied his face, searching for hidden expectations.

There were none.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Maeve stood up.

"I'll prepare something to help you regain your strength. And Serena, no trying to test your abilities without me."

I gave her a small smile.

"I wasn't planning to."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Good. Because I know that look."

When she left, Alexander remained seated.

"Have you thought about what you'll do after you recover?"

I looked at my hands.

"Honestly? No."

"That's all right. You don't have to figure out your entire life today."

I hesitated.

"Could I stay here for a little while?"

"Of course."

"I don't want to become a burden."

"Serena, I have enough rooms in this house. One occupied bedroom won't ruin me."

I smiled.

"You're quite confident about that."

"I try."

For a moment, the room felt lighter.

Then I remembered something.

"My bag. Did you bring it inside?"

"It's downstairs."

"There's something important in it."

Alexander stood.

"I'll get it."

When he returned, I immediately searched through the bag until I found my small notebook.

It contained my personal notes, a few photographs, and the plans I had made before everything fell apart.

I opened it and stared at a page where I had written about the little café I once dreamed of owning.

The dream suddenly felt so far away.

"What is it?" Alexander asked.

"Nothing. Just something I used to want."

He glanced at the notebook but didn't try to take it.

"Used to?"

I closed it.

"I don't know if I still want it."

"Then don't decide today."

I looked at him.

"Do you always have an answer for everything?"

"No. Sometimes I just know when someone needs time."

I smiled faintly.

For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to imagine a future that didn't include Damon.

Later that evening, Alexander was in his study when one of his guards knocked.

"Alpha, we have a situation."

Alexander looked up.

"What happened?"

"A representative from Blackthorn territory has arrived at the main gate."

His expression hardened.

"Why?"

The guard hesitated.

"He says Alpha Damon has sent him to retrieve the woman you brought here."

Alexander slowly closed the document in front of him.

"Retrieve her?"

"Those were his exact words."

Alexander stood.

"Tell him something for me."

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Serena is a guest in my territory. She isn't property to be collected."

The guard nodded and left.

Alexander turned towards the window.

He had no intention of allowing anyone to drag Serena back to a place where she had been treated as disposable.

But there was one thing he hadn't considered.

Damon had not sent someone to apologise.

He had sent someone to demand her return.

And Alexander intended to find out why.