Lucien.
Sunlight slipped through the blinds and cut across my face, dragging me without mercy, from sleep. I turned and lifted an arm to shield my eyes, hoping—foolishly—that I could steal a few more minutes to sleep.
It didn't work.
With a sigh, I reached for the clock on the bedside table.
6:09 a.m.
I closed my eyes again, but my thoughts refused to quiet. After meeting her last night, I had lingered beneath her window until nearly eleven, long after she slept, and long before she dreamt. Exhaustion should have claimed me the moment I returned home—but duty never spared me that.
Instead of resting, I spent hours drafting letters to the Alphas of neighboring packs, summoning them for a meeting. The movement of the rogues had increased too rapidly for any of us to ignore.
I finally slept around one in the morning.
Since drifting back to sleep was no longer an option, I rose and dressed up, preparing to face the day.
Stepping out of my cabin, the familiar sight of the serene forest greeted me. Winter had dulled the its colors, but I appreciated the beauty I beheld regardless.
This was why I chose to live here rather than the pack house or in town.
Long before I inherited the Alpha title, this cabin had been my hiding spot. The only place where I didn't have to wear the heavy weight of leadership. Where I could exist without pretending that perfection was easy to achieve.
That was why I forbade almost everyone from visiting.
When I became Alpha, the elders had relentlessly pressured me to reside in the suite prepared for me in the pack house.
Eventually, I gave in. But I regretted it almost immediately.
The chaos, the constant noise, the endless requests—it was unbearable. And when night fell, unmated wolves found excuses to wander far too close to my quarters—offering companionship.
I endured but one month before leaving.
Now, as I walked toward the pack house once more, the disruption of my peace awaited me.
Kael stood outside, as he always did.
"Good morning, Alpha," he greeted.
"Good morning." I handed him the sealed letters I carried. "Send these to the neighboring packs."
He nodded and received them.
No sooner had we crossed the threshold than Hugh, my gamma, approached, a thick stack of documents clutched in his arms.
"Alpha," he greeted, bowing respectfully.
When he lifted his head, I noticed the deep shadows under his eyes.
My chest tightened.
Aside from me, Hugh bore the heaviest burden in Everlone. Combat training, discipline, pup education, military defense—every responsibility that required strength or structure rested on his shoulders. And with unrest brewing, his workload had only grown.
Even with Kael volunteering to train the newly awakened wolves, it was never enough to ease his burdens.
"I need to discuss something with you," Hugh said, his voice hoarse.
I nodded and led them both into my office.
Once seated, I gestured for him to tell me what it was that he sought me out for.
Hugh placed the documents on the desk and slid one forward. "Two patrol members stationed at the Southern gate got into a fight last week," he said gravely. "One nearly lost his head."
I frowned. "The cause?"
"None. It started during a game of chess."
That wasn't all.
He pushed more reports toward me. "These are similar incidents. And it's no longer just the younger wolves. The older ones are becoming increasingly agitated."
Kael scanned the pages. "What punishment was issued?"
"They're suspended from pack duties for two months." Hugh exhaled slowly. He wasn't convinced it would help.
Neither was I.
The aggression wasn't entirely their fault. A pack without a Luna lacked balance—a foundation. Without her presence, emotions flared and instincts ran unchecked.
Everlone needed her now more than ever.
"But," Hugh continued, breaking the silence, "I haven't received a single report like this in the past week."
I looked up.
"And yesterday," he said carefully, "a deep sense of calm settled over the pack."
Kael's gaze flicked to me.
"You've found her," Hugh said quietly. "Your mate. Our Luna."
I almost laughed at myself. I had underestimated the pack's sensitivity.
If her presence could be felt from that distance, then she was far more powerful than even I had realized.
Pride stirred alongside unease.
"There's no need to worry," Hugh said when he sensed my concern. "Most wolves haven't sensed her yet. But some of us have. Still…" He hesitated. "Why are you hiding her, Alpha?"
Kael shifted. "Hugh—"
I raised a hand, stopping him.
"I never intended to keep this from you," I said honestly. "I found her less than a month ago. And you've barely had time to breathe."
I drew in a breath. "After the meeting, I'll introduce her to you."
Before he could respond, a knock sounded.
"Alpha?"
"Come in."
A slender blonde omega entered and bowed. "The elders are waiting."
I sighed before I could stop myself. "Very well."
Kael and Hugh followed as we made our way to the council room.
Behind the door, we heard voices clashed loudly.
And when I stepped through the doors, silence fell instantly.
Every elder rose and bowed. No one spoke until I took my seat at the head of the table. Kael and Hugh stood behind me as the meeting began.
As expected, the discussion centered on the rogue attack. Kael and Hugh handled the reports. I listened—halfway, before I found myself lost in thoughts.
Then—
Mate. My wolf stirred sharply.
The door creaked open.
Vance entered first. Behind him came a familiar, delicate figure.
For a heartbeat, I froze. Then quickly, I regained my composure.
I severed my link immediately, locking away the surge of emotion threatening to seep out of me.
When I looked up, I saw her standing just behind her cousin—her gloved hand curled into the hem of his shirt.
I took my eyes off of her for a moment and looked ahead.
It was then that I noticed a pair of eyes I couldn't ignore. Elder Velma.
Her lazy gaze lingered on me. A slow, knowing smile curved her wrinkled lips.
The old fox!
"Who invited a halfbreed into sacred grounds?" one elder scoffed.
"Watch your tongue," Kael growled.
"Enough," I ordered through the link.
Elder Zora's glare burned. "Velma. You invited them."
"I invited all four of them," Velma replied smoothly. "These two were simply the only ones available."
Zora bristled. "Vance alone would have sufficed."
Their argument soon dissolved into noise, but Zora did most of the talking. Velma only retorted with short arrogant remarks as usual.
I barely heard it though.
She was the only person in my eyes. Her scent was muted—masked beneath Vance's.
My wolf snarled in displeasure.
He's protecting her, I told it. Calm down.
"Enough!" Hugh thundered. Then, silence returned.
"Squad leader," Elder Madrin said. "Your assessment of the rogue attack?"
Vance squeezed Amara's trembling hand before answering. "I've fought rogues for years. But never in numbers like this. Their force was large enough to rival a pack."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
"They showed coordination," Madrin observed.
"Yes," Vance agreed. "That was the strangest part."
Elder Yva cleared her throat, and I tensed. She was going to raise a controversial topic. I just know it. She was surely going to speak of the presence of my mate they had felt.
My fingers curled into a fist.
I couldn't allow for that topic to be discussed, at least not now—not in her presence.
Before she could say anything—
"Excuse me."
Amara's soft voice cut through the tension. Despite how quiet it was, it resounded too clearly in the room.
She stepped forward—hesitant, but resolute.
"The rogues," she said carefully, "weren't acting alone."
An elder scoffed, "and what would the likes of you know?"
The room dropped under the weight of my wolf's fury.
"Did I permit you to speak?" I demanded coldly.
"For-Forgive me, Alpha," he stammered.
I turned back to her. "Speak, Amara."
She faltered.
I reached through our bond. Please. Tell us.
She inhaled shakily. "There was someone else," she said, quieter this time. But the silence in the room made her voice echo. "A man. I saw him when the rogues were retreating."
The room leaned in.
"I think," she whispered, "they moved according to his orders."
The council erupted.