In the heart of Castle Rock, the full moon bathed the towers of the Brothers of the Shadow castle in its cold light. In the main hall, the fire crackled in the fireplace, but the air was thick with tension, as if every shadow on the walls whispered dark secrets. Lucian Nightshade, the Alpha, stood by a solid oak table, his golden eyes glowing like burning embers as they fixed on Jaxon, his beta and closest friend.
Lucian was a man over 150 years old, though in the human world he appeared no older than forty; standing 190 cm tall, his body was that of someone who understood the weight of effort and discipline. Broad-shouldered, every muscle in his anatomy seemed sculpted with the precision of an artist obsessed with perfection. His skin, white as snow, contrasted sharply with the deep black of his hair, always slightly disheveled, framing piercing golden eyes that were terrifyingly cold. His subjects said he was ruthless.
"They've crossed our border again," Jaxon said, his deep, controlled voice weighted as if every word pressed like a stone into the air. "The Iron Blood pack doesn't fear provoking a war."
Lucian clenched his fists, his claws threatening to emerge. His expression was a mask of rigid calm, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed the storm raging within. The rivalry between the packs had escalated dangerously since the death of his father, and the Iron Bloods seemed eager to test the young Alpha.
"How many?" he asked finally, his voice low but edged with a sharpness that cut through the room.
"Five. Hunters. They left marks on the trees as a warning," Jaxon replied, crossing his arms.
Lucian let out a low growl, a guttural sound that reverberated through the hall like restrained thunder. His mind worked quickly, evaluating possibilities, drawing strategies. He knew that any misstep could trigger a conflict that would destroy everything he had sworn to protect.
"We won't respond… yet," Lucian decreed after a long, tense silence, his voice laden with authority that admitted no dissent. "But I want the patrols reinforced. If they cross again, there will be no mercy."
Jaxon inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, but his rigid posture revealed deeper unease. He remained still, lips pressed together, as if fighting against words that struggled to escape. Finally, after a moment of hesitation that felt eternal, he spoke:
"There's been an increase in tracker sightings near Stanford University."
Lucian's gaze snapped to Jaxon, his eyes aflame like red-hot blades. The mere mention of the place triggered an alarm inside him. Stanford was no ordinary location; many of the younger wolves studied there, innocent and vulnerable. And he himself, though no longer teaching, maintained a connection to the Law Faculty. His presence on campus was occasional but significant. Though a neutral place, it gave him no comfort.
"Trackers?" he murmured, his voice low and cutting like a deadly blade.
"Yes, as if they're searching for someone," Jaxon confirmed, a barely perceptible shiver in his tone.
The silence that followed was thick, almost tangible. Lucian averted his gaze and walked to the window, observing the full moon hanging in the sky like a vigilant eye.
"Lucian…" Jaxon began cautiously. "The Ministry members require that you find your mate or choose a young woman to pair with."
"I don't want to talk about that right now," Lucian growled, spinning around with his eyes burning with fury. The echo of his voice filled the hall before fading into the crackle of the fire. "Leave!"
Jaxon stepped back, surprised by the intensity of the outburst. But he did not insist. With a respectful nod, he left the hall, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts.
As the sound of Jaxon's footsteps faded down the corridor, Lucian let out a trembling sigh and pressed his hands against the table. Something inside him was broken, something even the power of the Alpha could not repair. For years, a shadow had followed him wherever he went: the absence of his mate. Every Alpha had a destined mate, a being who completed their soul and gave them the strength to lead.
Some whispered he was cursed, that the lineage of the Brothers of the Shadow had been condemned since his father's violent death. Others said he simply hadn't searched enough. But Lucian knew the truth; without her, he was incomplete, vulnerable… and he hated it.
The idea of needing someone consumed him from within. He had learned to be strong alone, to bear the weight of leadership unaided. So why did that latent need devour him each night? Why did he feel that constant emptiness, as if a part of him were lost somewhere far away?
He closed his eyes and clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He had no time for such weaknesses. The pack depended on him. Yet… Jaxon's words echoed in his mind like a persistent refrain: "As if they're searching for someone."
Hours later, as the shadows stretched and the castle slept in restless silence, Lucian ventured alone into the forest. The moon illuminated his path as he moved among the tall, dark trees. His steps were firm, yet his mind was full of doubts and memories.
He transformed instantly, roaming the vast forest that was part of his territory. He didn't understand why the Iron Blood pack had been testing his limits, but if war was approaching, he would be ready.
Luca, his wolf, ran through the forest, feeling the delicious wind on his face. He let out a howl of pain, mourning the absence of his mate.
But he would protect his pack at all costs. With his mate… or without her.