The smell of cinnamon, dust and wood polish clung to Grandma's house like a memory that just wouldn't let go. Afternoon light spilled through the cream lace curtains, catching the dust in golden swirls as Clio leaned across the kitchen table, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.
I genuinely hate my sister
"You're going to grow up all alone, Ingrid, I hope you know that." she said, wagging her silver spoon like a wand. "Cold-hearted girls never find love."
I didn't look up from the puzzle I was trying to piece together —an impossible mosaic of wolves running through snow. My fingers moved with careful precision, the picture slowly taking form.
Physically unbothered by her usual taunts, I replied, "Love is overrated," my voice flat, unbothered. "It makes people stupid."
Clio gasped dramatically. "Says the girl who cried when Grandma wouldn't let her keep that stray puppy." She scoffed
"That was different," I muttered, not giving Clio any of my attention. "It was practical affection."
"Practical affection?" Clio snorted. "You sound like Grandma's tax receipts."
Nonna's laugh floated in from the kitchen hallway, warm and delightful
"Careful now Tesori miei" her soft footsteps made their way into the beautiful rustic dinning room
"You think you know everything at 10 years old, but even the moon learns something new each day."
"Wise saying Nonna" Clio smiled proudly
"Thank you Amore" she patted Clio's long dirty blonde hair
"Now, what was the banter about hmm?"
She pulled out a wooden carved chair from below the mahogany table and sat down
"Clio said I would die old and lonely" I spoke up, not bothering to look away from the very intriguing puzzle
My sister spluttered in disbelief " uh oh- I- I did not!"
Nonna turned her suddenly sharp gaze at her
" now now Bambina mia, no honey glazed carrot cake for you tonight, you've been a naughty little lass"
The bustling spark of excitement in Clio dissipated in an heartbeat
I snickered, she got what she deserves
"Love will come when the time is right care mie, never forget that"
And I never did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The clock ticked softly, the slow tick tock always had a way of syncing my brain to its repeated relaxed motions. My pen scratched across the page — patrol reports, border rotations, supply lists, warfare supplies — everything that kept the pack running like a well-oiled machine. Order. Control. Structure. Chaos had no place here. Not in my pack.
Outside my window, the forest pressed close to the compound, dark pines swaying in the wind. I could feel the pack's pulse through the bond: steady, controlled, loyal. Just how I liked it.
A knock at the door broke the quiet. Two short raps. Hesitant.
"Come in," I said without looking up
The door opened. Cayden, one of my guards, stepped inside. His uniform was a bit torn at the sleeve, a smear of dirt across his jaw, his breath fell out in short rasps
"Alpha," he said, voice low but urgent. "We've got a problem."
I paused mid-sentence, pen hovering over the paper. "Define problem."
"Rogues," he said. "Three of them. Crossed the north border near the naiads river. We've got them in custody."
Rogues. My jaw tightened. "Anyone hurt?"
"No fatalities. Just a few scrapes."
I stood and walked to the window, smooth and silent, feeling the leather of my chair creak behind me. "Where are they now?"
"Detention wing. They claim they're just passing through, but…" He hesitated. "They knew our patrol routes."
Then they're lying. "Hold them," I said finally. "No one touches them until I've had a word."
"Yes, Alpha Ingrid." He gave a small nod and exited the room, the door thudded shut behind him. The office went quiet again — except for the faint hum of tension in the air, the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat and of course…. The damn clock.
And for a moment, I wondered which would break first — the rogues outside my walls, or the cold I'd built around my own heart.
I left my office without a sound, the leather of my boots whispering against the polished stone floor. The compound was quiet, but the tension in the air was thick enough to taste — a familiar scent that followed every time rogues crossed our borders.
Cayden met me outside the detention wing. "They're ready," he said. His eyes flicked to mine, cautious. Not afraid — just careful. Everyone knew better than to show fear around me.
I nodded. "Good."
I ran a gloved hand through my short dirty blonde hair and let out a deep sigh right as the door to the holding cells opened with a metallic click.
Inside, the rogues sat on a wooden bench, heads bowed, hands cuffed behind them. Three of them. Young, reckless, and utterly arrogant. a real way to waste time I don't have. They hadn't realized how tightly my pack's walls could close.
I stopped a few feet away, letting my gaze sweep over them. My voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "You've been wandering in my territory."
The tallest one looked up. His jaw was set, defiance burning in his eyes. "We didn't mean any trouble, we were just passing by, I swear on the moon goddess." he said.
I took a step closer. "You know the law. Trespassers are dangerous. Rogues are dangerous." My grey eyes caught each of theirs, unflinching. "I need to know why you were here. And I need the truth."
A faint tremor passed through the smallest one. The girl — I could smell her fear, even beneath her bravado. "We… we were just passing through," she stammered.
"Passing through?" I echoed. "You knew the patrol routes. You avoided the traps. And you weren't alone. Lying to me will only make it worse."
They exchanged nervous glances. Their confidence faltered. My jaw tightened, but I didn't let it show. That was my edge — calm. Controlled. Precise.
I leaned slightly forward, letting the shadow of the doorway stretch over them. "You're not just in my territory. You're in my city, my laws, my pack. And I don't forgive carelessness. I don't forgive deceit. You've crossed a line, and now it's your choice: tell me everything, or face the consequences."
Silence hung between us, thick as the smoke from a dying fire. I could feel the pack's pulse at my back — alert, waiting, loyal. They trusted me to act. I would.
And for the first time in the day, a flicker of something I didn't like — amusement — crossed my mind. Sometimes, breaking people's bravado was almost… enjoyable.
Almost.
The last girl had been quiet, her head hung low as deep waves of chestnut hair fell around her taut shoulders.
I hunched my black pants up a bit as I squatted before her, I could feel the guards outside stiffen up.
I placed a finger on her chin as I lifted her view towards mine …. I blinked a few times
She had a few worn-out light scars on her cheeks, and her deep brown eyes surveyed my face
I radiated my alpha aura and felt everyone flinch… but her
She…. She wasn't scared
"Oh please," she scoffed as she yanked her face away from my light hold
"Look" her tone was bold and bitter… like I was wasting her time for keeping them here
"We're from a pack not too far away from here, we were just passing by, heading somewhere, so if you could please let us go, it would be tremendously appreciated, Alphaaa…" she trailed off, as if she were asking for my name
I cleared my throat as I stood up erect
"Unbelievable" I muttered
Turning to the door, I walked out of the cell leaving an instruction for them to be prosecuted in front of the entire pack tomorrow night which was the full moon
"Alpha, are you okay?" Jaena, my personal assistant inquired as I walked into my wing
"Perfect jaena, you may excuse me."
The day went on, not without me reminiscing about light scars and deep brown eyes.