The atmosphere inside the pack hall felt heavier than usual that evening.
Pack members from across Central City had gathered inside the large meeting chamber beneath the villa, filling the room with low conversation and restrained tension. The older wolves stood near the front while younger members remained gathered further behind, all instinctively quieting the moment Marcus Stone entered.
As the current Alpha of the Stone Pack, Marcus naturally commanded attention without needing to raise his voice. The room settled almost immediately as he walked toward the center platform, Evelyn standing calmly beside him.
Alaric stood slightly behind his father while Leo and Serena positioned themselves nearby. His arms folded across his chest, his expression composed but observant as he scanned the room.
Marcus allowed the silence to settle fully before speaking.
"There are several matters regarding the surrounding packs that need to be addressed," he said calmly, his deep voice carrying clearly through the hall.
The pack members listened attentively.
"For the past several months, tensions within Fang Pack have continued escalating," Marcus continued. "Many of you have already heard rumors regarding the conflict between Alpha Eric Fang and his son, Sebastian Fang."
At the mention of the Fang Pack, quiet murmurs immediately spread through the room.
Marcus did not interrupt them immediately.
Everyone knew the Fang Pack carried influence among the eastern territories, and instability within a major pack affected far more than internal leadership alone.
After a moment, Marcus continued.
"Three nights ago, Eric Fang met with the council of neighboring Alphas."
The murmuring softened.
"He has officially decided to disperse the Fang Pack."
The entire hall reacted instantly.
Shock spread visibly across the room as conversations erupted among the gathered wolves.
"Disperse the pack?"
"That's impossible…"
"Eric Fang would never abandon his territory unless things were truly out of control."
"What about Sebastian?"
The reactions continued until Marcus raised one hand slightly.
Silence immediately returned.
His expression remained calm but serious.
"This decision was not made lightly," Marcus said firmly. "Eric Fang believes the current state of his pack can no longer remain stable under its existing structure."
The room remained tense.
"Rather than risk internal collapse or violence spreading beyond their territory, the Alphas agreed to support the dispersal process peacefully."
Marcus's gaze moved steadily across the gathered wolves.
"Several packs, including ours, will take in some members from Fang Pack. This is to ensure their safety, maintain discipline, and prevent unrest during the transition."
Some pack members still looked unsettled, but no one questioned the logic openly.
Taking in wolves from another pack was not a small matter. Wolves carried loyalty deeply within their instincts, and relocating displaced members always carried risks.
Marcus understood the concern immediately.
"That is why I expect all members of the Stone Pack to conduct themselves properly," he continued. "The wolves arriving here are not enemies. Many of them are simply losing the only home they have ever known."
The atmosphere softened slightly.
"We will maintain peace," Marcus said firmly. "We will maintain order. And above all, we will remember that they are still our own kind."
Evelyn stepped slightly forward beside him afterward.
"The transfer process will begin soon," she added calmly. "Several wolves will remain temporarily in Dunwall before relocation assignments are finalized."
Marcus nodded once before continuing.
"A selected group from our pack will travel to Dunwall to assist with the transition and escort incoming members safely into Central City territory."
Then his gaze shifted briefly toward Alaric.
"I will personally lead part of the delegation."
The implication was obvious. Alaric would likely accompany them.
The younger wolves immediately straightened slightly at the announcement, understanding the seriousness of the mission.
Marcus looked across the room one final time before ending the meeting.
"Remain disciplined," he instructed firmly. "Remain united. The survival of our kind depends on maintaining peace among ourselves."
One by one, the pack members lowered their heads in acknowledgment.
"Yes, Alpha."
As the meeting slowly dissolved into quieter conversations afterward, Alaric remained standing where he was, his expression unreadable.
But inwardly, his thoughts had already darkened the moment Marcus announced the Fang Pack's dispersal.
Sebastian Fang.
The name echoed heavily inside his mind. He had known this moment would eventually come.
A pack as unstable as Fang Pack could never remain hidden forever once Sebastian's behavior spiraled beyond control. Eric Fang had likely reached the end of his patience.
But hearing it confirmed still made something cold settle beneath Alaric's skin.
Because dispersing the Fang Pack meant wolves would scatter. And eventually, Sebastian would move too.
Alaric's jaw tightened subtly.
In his previous life, Sebastian had destroyed everything. His wolf stirred uneasily beneath the surface, reacting instinctively to the threat tied to that name.
Beside him, Leo noticed the subtle shift immediately.
"You're thinking about him," Leo said quietly.
Alaric did not deny it.
Leo studied him carefully before speaking lower. "Do you think he'll become unstable after the dispersal?"
Alaric's gaze lowered slightly.
"He was already unstable before it."
The answer carried enough weight to make Leo fall silent briefly.
Alaric slowly lifted his eyes toward the front of the room where Marcus remained speaking with several elders.
This life was different. Anya was alive. She trusted him and was slowly stepping deeper into his world. And because of that, Alaric already knew one thing with absolute certainty. When he met Sebastian Fang again this time, he would not allow history to repeat itself.
*****
After the meeting gradually dispersed, pack members began leaving the hall in smaller groups, their voices lowered into uneasy conversations about the Fang Pack and the incoming wolves from Dunwall. The atmosphere remained tense despite Marcus's efforts to reassure everyone. A major pack dissolving was not something that happened often, and everyone understood the instability it could create.
Alaric remained near the front of the hall while Marcus spoke briefly with several elders. His expression stayed calm outwardly, but inwardly his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
Sebastian Fang.
The name had not left his mind since the announcement.
Eventually, Marcus excused himself from the elders and walked toward his son. One look at Alaric's face was enough for him to understand what was troubling him.
"You've been quiet since the meeting ended," Marcus observed calmly.
Alaric folded his arms loosely across his chest before speaking directly. "Do we know where Sebastian is?"
Marcus's expression shifted slightly at the question.
"No," he answered honestly. "Eric didn't provide details regarding Sebastian's movements or future plans."
Alaric's jaw tightened subtly.
Marcus studied him carefully before continuing, "And if you're thinking of looking for him yourself, I strongly advise against it."
There was a warning beneath his calm tone.
"Sebastian is unstable right now," Marcus said firmly. "A wolf stripped of status, authority, and pack structure becomes unpredictable. Especially one already obsessed with power."
Alaric lowered his gaze slightly, though his thoughts were far darker than his father realized.
In his previous life, he had not paid enough attention to Sebastian in the beginning. At that time, Alaric had been too focused on building his own future in Central City, preparing himself to inherit the Stone Pack. He remembered hearing about Fang Pack's collapse, but he never truly considered Sebastian a real threat until it was too late.
In the previous life, Sebastian had challenged him openly for dominance. He wanted control and power of the Central City Pack. And when he failed to defeat Alaric, his obsession twisted into something far more dangerous.
Anya became the target afterward.
Even now, remembering it made Alaric's chest tighten painfully.
Marcus noticed the subtle darkening in his son's expression. "What are you thinking about?"
Alaric lifted his gaze again, forcing his emotions back under control before answering carefully. "I just want to understand why Eric chose to disperse the entire pack instead of letting Sebastian succeed him."
Marcus exhaled quietly before answering.
"Because Eric no longer trusted his own son."
The answer came without hesitation.
Marcus walked slowly toward the large windows overlooking the forest outside the villa before continuing.
"Sebastian showed ambition from a young age," he explained. "At first, Eric believed it was simply the natural competitiveness of a future Alpha. But over time, it became something else."
Marcus's voice lowered slightly.
"Greed."
Alaric remained silent as he listened.
"Sebastian became obsessed with authority, dominance, and status," Marcus continued. "He stopped valuing the pack itself. Everything became about control and power."
There was disappointment in Marcus's tone now, not anger.
"An Alpha is supposed to protect his wolves," he said firmly. "But Eric realized Sebastian viewed the pack as something to own rather than something to lead."
Alaric's hands slowly tightened into fists beside him. That sounded exactly like the Sebastian he remembered.
Marcus turned back toward him again.
"Eric feared that once Sebastian officially inherited the Fang Pack, things would only grow worse," he explained. "Rather than allow the pack's reputation and stability to collapse under poor leadership, he made the decision to disperse them while he still had authority."
There was silence for a moment afterward.
"It couldn't have been easy for him," Alaric said quietly.
Marcus nodded once. "No Alpha willingly destroys the structure he spent his life building."
The room fell quiet again.
Marcus then studied his son more carefully.
"You're unusually concerned about Sebastian," he observed calmly.
For a brief second, Alaric's expression almost shifted but he quickly regained control.
"I just think someone like him could become dangerous if left unchecked," he replied evenly.
Marcus held his gaze for several seconds before finally nodding.
"That's exactly why you need to stay focused," he said firmly. "If Sebastian appears, we deal with him properly through pack authority. Not personal emotions."
Alaric gave a slight nod, though inwardly he knew his feelings toward Sebastian were already personal.
Marcus stepped closer afterward and placed a hand briefly on his shoulder.
"Prepare yourself," he instructed calmly. "We'll be traveling to Dunwall soon."
Alaric straightened slightly. "How many wolves are we taking in?"
"Enough to require supervision and structure," Marcus replied. "Some younger members. Some families. Possibly a few higher-ranking wolves depending on the arrangements."
Then his expression grew more serious again.
"The transition period will be delicate. Wolves stripped from their territory and hierarchy can become unstable if they feel unwanted or threatened."
Alaric understood immediately.
"We'll keep order," he said calmly.
Marcus nodded once in approval.
"I know you will."
As Marcus walked away afterward to continue discussions with the elders, Alaric remained standing alone near the front of the hall. Alaric closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying himself before turning toward the exit.
Because no matter what happened in Dunwall next, he already knew the past was beginning to move toward him again.